Component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

9,765 NHTSA complaints about electrical system:ignition issues across 44 makes and 676 models.

The electrical system:ignition is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 9,765 filings from 44 manufacturers and 676 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 220 crashes, 436 fires, 162 injuries, and 30 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD FOCUS with 1,253 filings, followed by FORD TAURUS and HONDA ACCORD. 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.

9,765
Complaints
676
Models Affected
220
Crashes
436
Fires
30
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD FOCUS 1,253
2 FORD TAURUS 273
3 HONDA ACCORD 243
4 SATURN ION 230
5 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 217
6 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 209
7 NISSAN MAXIMA 180
8 PONTIAC GRAND AM 160
9 HONDA CIVIC 136
10 DODGE CARAVAN 136
11 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 122
12 FORD EXPLORER 117
13 FORD TEMPO 116
14 FORD ESCORT 113
15 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 108
16 FORD F-150 106
17 CHEVROLET COBALT 106
18 CHEVROLET MALIBU 99
19 AUDI A4 96
20 CHEVROLET IMPALA 89
21 FORD MUSTANG 88
22 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 83
23 FORD AEROSTAR 83
24 FORD WINDSTAR 82
25 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 73
26 MERCURY SABLE 73
27 LINCOLN TOWN CAR 69
28 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 68
29 FORD ESCAPE 65
30 SATURN VUE 63

Recent Complaints

2015 DODGE DART

The contact owns a 2015 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train). The contact stated that while turning off the vehicle, the key was difficult to

2016 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that on several occasions, while inserting the key into the ignition, the vehicle failed to start. Additionally, on several occasions wh

2023 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that the ignition switch was locked and failed to release the key. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the cause of the failure

2005 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

The contact owns a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V438000 (Electrical System). While placing the

2012 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY

The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition switch malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to turn off. The contact stated

2015 CHEVROLET CAMARO

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the ignition switch was hot. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer w

2021 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that upon arriving at the destination and turning off the vehicle, several attempts were needed to release the key from the ignitio

2017 FORD EXPLORER

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that at start up, the contact became aware that the ON/OFF ignition switch was fractured, and a half of the ignition switch was missing. No wa

2003 HONDA ACCORD

The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that there were several mechanical failures with the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a failure with the ignition switch, and the key

2019 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2019 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle jerked violently and downshifted unintendedly. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated, and the g

2014 GMC YUKON XL

The contact's wife owns a 2014 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that on several occasions, the vehicle failed to start with the key in the ignition. The failure persisted and a yellow anti-theft warn

2002 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while shifted in park(P), the key failed to release while the engine was running. The contact drove to a local O'Reilly's where one of the

2005 SATURN ION

The contact owns a 2005 Saturn Ion. The contact stated that the ignition key was stuck inside the ignition key slot, and the vehicle failed to start. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. T

1998 HONDA ODYSSEY

The contact owns a 1998 Honda Odyssey. The contact was unable to remove the key from the ignition switch. The contact was able to turn the key to start the vehicle; however, the contact was unable to

2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE Crash

The contact owns a 2002 Cadillac Deville. The contact stated that while driving approximately 7 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle suddenly shut off, causing the driver to lose control of the ste

2020 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start as intended. The contact waited for a while to restart the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated.

2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that on several occasions while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle did not start as intended. The contact stated that on sever

2004 HONDA ACCORD

The contact owns a 2004 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it was difficult to place the key into the ignition, and it was also difficult to remove the key from the ig

2010 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 15 MPH and making a right turn, the power steering malfunctioned, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn

2018 RAM PROMASTER

The contact owns a 2018 Ram Promaster 2500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it failed to start. The contact attempted to remove the key from the ignition; however, the key was st

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve electrical system:ignition issues?
The NHTSA has received 9,765 complaints about electrical system:ignition problems across 676 vehicle models from 44 manufacturers.
How dangerous are electrical system:ignition defects?
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION issues have been linked to 220 crashes, 436 fires, 162 injuries, and 30 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most electrical system:ignition problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for electrical system:ignition issues is the FORD FOCUS with 1,253 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

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.

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