Component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

973 NHTSA complaints about electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module issues across 37 makes and 192 models.

The electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 973 filings from 37 manufacturers and 192 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 11 crashes, 6 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET MALIBU with 280 filings, followed by PONTIAC GRAND AM and CHEVROLET IMPALA. 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.

973
Complaints
192
Models Affected
11
Crashes
6
Fires
0
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 CHEVROLET MALIBU 280
2 PONTIAC GRAND AM 133
3 CHEVROLET IMPALA 61
4 OLDSMOBILE ALERO 44
5 SATURN ION 39
6 FORD FOCUS 18
7 AUDI S4 16
8 HONDA ACCORD 14
9 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 12
10 CHEVROLET MALIBU CLASSIC 12
11 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE 10
12 FORD TAURUS 8
13 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 7
14 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 7
15 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 7
16 NISSAN MAXIMA 6
17 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 6
18 FORD EXPLORER 6
19 CHEVROLET TAHOE 6
20 PONTIAC PONTIAC 5
21 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 5
22 FORD ESCAPE 5
23 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 5
24 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 5
25 CHEVROLET LUMINA 5
26 PONTIAC SUNFIRE 4
27 MERCURY SABLE 4
28 FORD RANGER 4
29 FORD F-150 4
30 FORD EXPEDITION 4

Recent Complaints

2013 BMW 750LI

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 750LI. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the door failed to open. The contact attempted to unlock the knob and open the door. There were no warning ligh

2013 KIA OPTIMA

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was stolen. The vehicle had been repaired by the dealer for an unknown recall for the anti-theft s

2001 FORD RANGER

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it was discovered that the anti-theft system was inoperable and failed to function as designed. The anti-thef

2011 FORD TAURUS

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal while driving uphill, the vehicle stalled. The contact was unaware of

2014 MERCEDES-BENZ C300

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that an unidentified recall was previously completed on the vehicle; however, the recall remedy failed to prevent the failure from occurr

2010 MERCEDES-BENZ C300

The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel locked. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicl

2012 KIA SPORTAGE

See attached letter

2020 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA

The SOS emergency that is supposed to work when you press the button or if your car is stolen the module failed and on months of back order

2008 HUMMER H3

The contact owns a 2008 Hummer H3. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The anti-theft system warning light illuminated. The contact waited 10 minutes for the vehicle to reset, per the

2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle would not start. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle started.

2023 SUBARU OUTBACK

The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that upon purchasing the vehicle from the dealer on October 3, 2022, he noticed that the automatic collision alert to the Emergency Services,

2012 GMC CANYON

The Passcode Anti-theft system randomly triggers when attempting to start the vehicle. When it triggers, the vehicle cannot be started for at least 10 minutes. I have had this system trigger multiple

2021 KIA FORTE Crash

A defect in 2021 Kia Forte vehicle engine start and security systems allows for the rear window to be broken without an alarm activation and the car to be started without a key or key-like device. The

2016 MAZDA MAZDA6

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the security indicator light was continuously flashing. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and diagnose

2010 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 75 MPH, the ignition key fell out of the ignition module. There were no warning lights illuminated. The

2019 NISSAN KICKS

The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the alarm activated independently and was deactivated using the key fob. Later that day the contact went to

2008 CHEVROLET MALIBU

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the anti-theft lock warning light was blinking. The local dealer was not contacte

2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ C300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO NOT BE ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ

2009 FORD FLEX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION, THE ANTI-LOCK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPEND

2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module issues?
The NHTSA has received 973 complaints about electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module problems across 192 vehicle models from 37 manufacturers.
How dangerous are electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module defects?
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE issues have been linked to 11 crashes, 6 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module issues is the CHEVROLET MALIBU with 280 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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