Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
112 NHTSA complaints about electrical system:starter assembly:relay issues across 25 makes and 86 models.
Data updated August 2026. Counts render from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation standardized component field; severity flags cross-reference NHTSA ODI complaint flags for owner-reported crash, fire, and injury markers. This page is for informational purposes and does not replace NHTSA recall notices or a vehicle-specific inspection. Methodology · Corrections.
NHTSA ODI component intake brief
ODI category ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
112 filings · 86 models · 25 makes · vintage August 2026
- FILINGS SPARSE 112 ODI rows
- MODELS 86 nameplates citing this part
- MAKES 25 manufacturers in corpus
- CRASH 0.0% 0 crash-flagged
- RANK #290 of 696 categories
- SEV QUIET 0 deaths · 1 injuries
Filing-volume peers
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY sits SPARSE on ODI intake volume (#290 of 696 standardized categories) with a QUIET severity stamp (0 reported fatalities across 86 models). Open Honda Accord (category leader) →
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY severity reading
The standout signal for electrical system:starter assembly:relay is severity: 0 reported fatalities and 1 injuries (QUIET stamp) on 112 filings (SPARSE volume).
Sparse categories can swing on a single high-volume nameplate; treat the leader row as the actionable signal, not the category headline alone.
Next step: compare Honda Accord against ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID on filing totals before treating electrical system:starter assembly:relay volume as a purchase signal.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda Accord | |
| 2 | Pontiac Grand AM | |
| 3 | Ford Escape | |
| 4 | Mercury Mystique | |
| 5 | Volkswagen Jetta | |
| 6 | Volkswagen Beetle | |
| 7 | Nissan D21 | |
| 8 | Nissan Altima | |
| 9 | Mitsubishi Eclipse | |
| 10 | Mercedes-Benz 320 | |
| 11 | Jeep Cherokee | |
| 12 | Ford Focus | |
| 13 | Ford F-150 | |
| 14 | Ford Contour | |
| 15 | Dodge Stratus | |
| 16 | Chevrolet Trailblazer | |
| 17 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | |
| 18 | Buick Lucerne | |
| 19 | Volvo 850 | |
| 20 | Volkswagen Golf | |
| 21 | Volkswagen Eurovan | |
| 22 | Toyota Highlander | |
| 23 | Toyota 4runner | |
| 24 | Saturn SW | |
| 25 | SAAB 9000 | |
| 26 | Pontiac Sunfire | |
| 27 | Pontiac Firebird | |
| 28 | Plymouth Neon | |
| 29 | Oldsmobile Intrigue | |
| 30 | Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact was informed by his wife that when the start button was depressed, there was a loud boom coming from the vehicle. There was an odor of smoke comi
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle and the veh
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal burning odor coming from underneath the driver's side of the vehicle. The battery was
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 300. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly downshifted and stalled. The contact shifted the vehicle into park(P) and res
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET VOLT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PEARL MOTOR COMPANY (3100 S CLAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK LUCERNE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN SOURCE SH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 AUDI A6. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER WAITING MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUICK LACROSSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT PREMATURELY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE FOG LIGHTS FAILED AND CAUSED THE RELAY SWITCH
TWO YEARS AGO WE WENT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IN COCOA FLORIDA BECAUSE OUR AIR CONDITIONER WAS CUTTING OUT AND THEN COMING BACK ON, AND THEN CUTTING OUT. WE PURCHASED A $5 RELAY SWITCH AND PROBLEM ST
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK LUCERNE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STARTER RELAY SWITCH; HOWEVER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LAND ROVER LR2. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HDC AND TRANSMISSION FAIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE RELAY FUSE WOULD NEED TO BE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR. AFTER TAKING THE DOOR PANEL OFF, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CONTROL PANEL HAD MELTED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING AND ATTEMPTED TO LOCK THE DOORS, THE POWER LOCKS ON ALL DOORS FAILED TO WORK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCK AND UN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION TO THE START POSITION. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE BATTERY POWER FAILED; THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS RELEASED IN A D
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 AN 40 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED IN TRAFFIC. ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ,BY MYSELF, WERE FOR NAUGHT. A NEARBY GARAGE INITIALLY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS A
CAR WILL JERK AND CUT OFF SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING, WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION AND WHEN SITTING STILL IDLING. MAKES DRIVING VERY HAZARDOUS. FOUND OUT A RECALL ON THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR SO CALLED LOCAL
VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL, HEATING AND COOLING, SUSPENSION, POWER STEERING, LIGHTING, AND PURGE VALVE SYSTEMS. SPENT 7K IN LAST 3 YEARS ALONE. HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM WAS REMOVED AND REINS
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, NOISE CAME FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, VEHICLE SIGNIFICANTLY LOST POWER. DRIVER COULD NOT SHUT OFF ENGINE....STARTER WAS TRYING TO CRANK ENG
SECURITY ISSUE WHEN TRYING TO START THE ENGINE. SECURITY ERROR WILL FLASH WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START UP THE ENGINE WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER TO ALL SYSTEMS. THE ONLY FIX APPEARED TO BE TO WAI
1. 2004 BUICK RENDEZVOUS STALLS DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL IT SITS AWHILE. 2. STARTER STAYS ENGAGED AND WHINES AFTER ENGINE STARTS FOR APROX. 3 TO 4 SECONDS. 3. THE GAS TANK I
Related Vehicle Components
Verify with NHTSA · consumer-reported counts are not verified defect findings.