Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
3,866 NHTSA complaints about electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash issues across 49 makes and 501 models.
The electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 3,866 filings from 49 manufacturers and 501 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 61 crashes, 1,184 fires, 113 injuries, and 14 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD EXPLORER with 94 filings, followed by FORD TAURUS and FORD ESCORT. 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 | FORD EXPLORER | 94 |
| 2 | FORD TAURUS | 80 |
| 3 | FORD ESCORT | 70 |
| 4 | FORD AEROSTAR | 70 |
| 5 | PONTIAC GRAND AM | 67 |
| 6 | FORD RANGER | 61 |
| 7 | FORD CONTOUR | 61 |
| 8 | FORD F-150 | 60 |
| 9 | DODGE CARAVAN | 60 |
| 10 | CHEVROLET CAVALIER | 55 |
| 11 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 52 |
| 12 | JEEP WRANGLER | 52 |
| 13 | DODGE NEON | 52 |
| 14 | CHEVROLET CORSICA | 52 |
| 15 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 51 |
| 16 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 49 |
| 17 | FORD WINDSTAR | 49 |
| 18 | FORD EXPEDITION | 49 |
| 19 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 47 |
| 20 | LINCOLN TOWN CAR | 45 |
| 21 | MERCURY SABLE | 40 |
| 22 | CHEVROLET ASTRO | 39 |
| 23 | FORD MUSTANG | 38 |
| 24 | CHEVROLET BLAZER | 38 |
| 25 | DODGE DAKOTA | 37 |
| 26 | DODGE DURANGO | 36 |
| 27 | FORD FOCUS | 35 |
| 28 | DODGE RAM 1500 | 35 |
| 29 | DODGE INTREPID | 35 |
| 30 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 35 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2017 Lexus IS 200t. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the rain, water leaked into the dashboard causing the headlights to fail. The contact took the vehicle to
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the electronic parking brake was engaged, and the vehicle inadvertently shut off and failed to restart.
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH the vehicle control display had frozen. The contact said she had no information on the display, the contact
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that since purchasing the vehicle, the dashboard lights were significantly dim, affecting his visibility of the speedometer while driving. T
UPDATE TO COMPLAINT NO 11302124 DATED 2/26/2020 SPOKE WITH FORD CUST SERVICE REP REGARDING THE ISSUES AND WAS TOLD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER TO CHECK OUT THE SEAT AND ELECTRIC SYSTEM. THE
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V741000 (AIR BAGS) AND INQUIRED OF MANUFACTURER AND DEALER RESPOSNIBILITY IN REGARDS TO THE RECA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS FILLED WITH WATER AND THE ELECTRICAL SENSORS WERE ALL AFFECTED. SE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC YUKON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE P
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE FROM UNDER THE STEERING PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND FORMING INTO PIECES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX UNDERNEATH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE WIRE WAS HOT, WHICH CREATED A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. THE FAILURE ALSO
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE LOCAL
2016 CHEVROLET SONIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD WIRING. CONSUMER BELIEVES IT CAN BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE SAFETY ISSUE AND REPAIR COST. *A
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY TERMINAL BE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 BMW 335XI. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE DASHBOARD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A BURNT RUBBER ODOR WAS DETECTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED FLA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD FUSION. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS
2008 TOYOTA PRIUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ILLUMINATED WARNING LIGHT AND DASH NOT WORKING. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 BMW 328I. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 75 MPH AND THE HEATER AT 70 DEGREES, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE AND A FLASH OF LIGHT UNDERNEATH THE PASSENG
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI XG350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED UNDER THE CONSOLE WHERE THE STICK SHIFT WAS LOCATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO IN
Related Vehicle Components
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash 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.