Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
2,373 NHTSA complaints about electrical system:ignition:module issues across 43 makes and 395 models.
The electrical system:ignition:module is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,373 filings from 43 manufacturers and 395 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 43 crashes, 57 fires, 36 injuries, and 3 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the SAAB 9-5 with 131 filings, followed by FORD FOCUS and FORD TAURUS. 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 | SAAB 9-5 | 131 |
| 2 | FORD FOCUS | 52 |
| 3 | FORD TAURUS | 46 |
| 4 | PONTIAC GRAND AM | 43 |
| 5 | NISSAN MAXIMA | 42 |
| 6 | VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 41 |
| 7 | SAAB 9-3 | 41 |
| 8 | GEO STORM | 40 |
| 9 | VOLKSWAGEN JETTA | 38 |
| 10 | FORD WINDSTAR | 38 |
| 11 | CHEVROLET CAVALIER | 35 |
| 12 | FORD EXPLORER | 32 |
| 13 | NISSAN SENTRA | 30 |
| 14 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 25 |
| 15 | CHEVROLET LUMINA | 25 |
| 16 | FORD TEMPO | 24 |
| 17 | FORD ESCORT | 23 |
| 18 | SATURN LS | 22 |
| 19 | DODGE CARAVAN | 22 |
| 20 | CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO | 22 |
| 21 | OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS | 21 |
| 22 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 21 |
| 23 | HONDA ACCORD | 21 |
| 24 | DODGE NEON | 21 |
| 25 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 21 |
| 26 | BUICK LESABRE | 21 |
| 27 | MERCURY SABLE | 20 |
| 28 | FORD ESCAPE | 19 |
| 29 | CHEVROLET S10 | 19 |
| 30 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 18 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be restarted
Mercedes has a design and installation flaw for the EIS Connector. Its location under the wheel by the metal wall allows for condensation to directly be absorbed into the connector causing corrosion.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JIM CLICK JEEP (701 W AUTO MALL DR, TUCSON, AZ 8570
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH OR VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY SHUT DOWN, BUT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD INDEPENDENTLY TURN OFF ONCE THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUMP OR A POTHOLE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO JACK POWELL CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (1625 AUTO PARK WAY, ESCONDIDO,
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN ROUTAN. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATO
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. WHILE DRIVING OVER UNLEVELED LAND, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOST OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORTHTOWN CHRYSLER DODGE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA ACCORD. WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED BY TWIN CITY HONDA (10545 MEMORIAL BLVD, PORT ARTHUR, TX 77640, (
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER 300. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE WIRELESS IGNITION NODE MODULE WAS STUCK BETWEEN THE RUN AND START POSITION. THE KEY DID NOT REMAIN IN THE RUN POSITION. THE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HANDLE FOR THE HATCHBACK FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE FAI
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THE WIRELESS IGNITION NOD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE CALIBER. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO START AND THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY BURNED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE R
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHI
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO IGNITE THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE KEY RELEASED OUT OF THE IGNITION AND FAILED TO GO BACK INTO THE IGNITION TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE
Related Vehicle Components
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve electrical system:ignition:module 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.