Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
3,403 NHTSA complaints about electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator issues across 46 makes and 464 models.
The electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 3,403 filings from 46 manufacturers and 464 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 52 crashes, 494 fires, 61 injuries, and 13 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the NISSAN MURANO with 183 filings, followed by PONTIAC GRAND AM and DODGE CHARGER. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NISSAN MURANO | 183 |
| 2 | PONTIAC GRAND AM | 95 |
| 3 | DODGE CHARGER | 78 |
| 4 | FORD TAURUS | 75 |
| 5 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 73 |
| 6 | CHEVROLET BLAZER | 62 |
| 7 | NISSAN MAXIMA | 61 |
| 8 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 54 |
| 9 | CHEVROLET LUMINA | 50 |
| 10 | BUICK LESABRE | 50 |
| 11 | HONDA ACCORD | 49 |
| 12 | FORD CONTOUR | 47 |
| 13 | SATURN SL | 46 |
| 14 | PONTIAC BONNEVILLE | 46 |
| 15 | FORD F-150 | 45 |
| 16 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 44 |
| 17 | FORD ESCORT | 43 |
| 18 | FORD AEROSTAR | 42 |
| 19 | FORD WINDSTAR | 41 |
| 20 | FORD TEMPO | 41 |
| 21 | MERCURY COUGAR | 40 |
| 22 | CHEVROLET CAVALIER | 38 |
| 23 | FORD MUSTANG | 35 |
| 24 | DODGE DURANGO | 35 |
| 25 | CHRYSLER 300 | 35 |
| 26 | FORD FOCUS | 34 |
| 27 | CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | 33 |
| 28 | LINCOLN TOWN CAR | 29 |
| 29 | DODGE CARAVAN | 29 |
| 30 | ISUZU RODEO | 28 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2023 Lexus ES 250. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle abruptly stalled. During the failure, the vehicle lost power brakes and power steering fun
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle started to shake and vibrate and decelerate. The vehicle was taken to a nearby mechanic who dia
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair w
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at 20 MPH, the message "Alternator Fault Detected" was displayed. The vehicle lost motive power and came to a complete stop in the mi
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds or while idling, the contact observed a clicking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was tak
The contact owns a 2021 RAM 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds or while the vehicle was idling, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine compartment. The
The contact owns a 2019 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. No warnin
The contact owns a 2022 Genesis GV70. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the battery warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The cont
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. The accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed t
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able
The contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for an undisclosed recall repair, and the contact was informed that the valve cover gasket, an
The contact owns a 2024 Winnebago Revel RV built on a 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 Chassis. The contact stated while the RV was idling, the heater was activated, and the contact's wife made him aw
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to start as intended. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where i
The contact owns a 2019 Infiniti QX60. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the navigation system and battery warning lights illuminated. The vehicle then stalled. AAA arrive
The contact owns a 2023 Honda HR-V. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly shut off. The contact stated that the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted.
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and started to drift to the right side of the road. The brake pedal was depre
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway,
The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Murano. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the contact noticed an electrical burning odor and there was white smoke coming out of the hood. The contact pulled over
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 15 MPH, there was an abnormal sound intermittently coming from the engine compartment. Additionally, the contact sta
Related Vehicle Components
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator issues? ▼
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.