Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
256 NHTSA complaints about electrical system:wiring: rear compartment/trunk issues across 38 makes and 156 models.
The electrical system:wiring: rear compartment/trunk is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 256 filings from 38 manufacturers and 156 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 7 crashes, 56 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD FOCUS with 13 filings, followed by TOYOTA CAMRY and JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. 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 FOCUS | 13 |
| 2 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 9 |
| 3 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 5 |
| 4 | FORD EXPLORER | 4 |
| 5 | FORD ESCORT | 4 |
| 6 | CHEVROLET VENTURE | 4 |
| 7 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 4 |
| 8 | TOYOTA COROLLA | 3 |
| 9 | SATURN LS | 3 |
| 10 | NISSAN SENTRA | 3 |
| 11 | LINCOLN CONTINENTAL | 3 |
| 12 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 3 |
| 13 | GEO STORM | 3 |
| 14 | FORD MUSTANG | 3 |
| 15 | FIAT 500 | 3 |
| 16 | DODGE NEON | 3 |
| 17 | CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | 3 |
| 18 | CHEVROLET BLAZER | 3 |
| 19 | VOLVO 240 | 2 |
| 20 | VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 2 |
| 21 | VOLKSWAGEN JETTA | 2 |
| 22 | VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE | 2 |
| 23 | TOYOTA TACOMA | 2 |
| 24 | SATURN SL | 2 |
| 25 | SAAB 9-5 | 2 |
| 26 | PONTIAC SUNFIRE | 2 |
| 27 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 2 |
| 28 | PONTIAC GRAND AM | 2 |
| 29 | PONTIAC FIREBIRD | 2 |
| 30 | PONTIAC BONNEVILLE | 2 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Civic. While the vehicle was parked, the contact opened the trunk to place items inside the trunk; however, after closing the trunk, the contact heard an abnormally loud
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V082000 (Back Over Prevention). The vehicle was dropped off at the dealer for service and remained a
I placed groceries in my front trunk âFrunkâ and they shifted while trying to leave. Once shifted they hit the emergency release button inside the frunk which opened the frunk hood unexpectedly. T
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Edge. The contact stated that the liftgate of the vehicle would inadvertently close on its own while loading or unloading the truck. The contact stated that the liftgate h
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 35-40 MPH, he looked in the rearview mirror and noticed that the trunk of the vehicle was open. There was no war
The contact rented a 2022 Ford Edge. The contact stated while moving items out of the trunk of the vehicle with the rear door elevated, the rear door inadvertently dropped and hit her on the face. The
2019 TESLA MODEL 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TRUNK HARNESS SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION REGARDING WHEN THE HARNESS MAY BE AVAILABLE.
The trunk has one of those built in sensors underneath so that you can close it by waving your foot under the trunk. This can end up being very dangerous, especially since the trunk is deep. On seve
The contact owns a 2008 Scion TC. The contact stated that the trunk rubber seal had melted onto the bumper, causing the battery to drain and the electrical system to fail with several unknown warning
The rear passenger brake/reverse light and rear camera were sporadically working until they all stopped working completely. After some research the cause of the problem is the trunk wire harness which
On multiple occasions the trunk has popped open fully on its own. I have woken up to my trunk open on multiple occasions. I even witnessed it open itself. I had used the keypad on my car, then locked
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving or stationary, the trunk would independently open without warning. The contact reached out to a dealer a
Trunk pops open unprompted frequently, often while driving. This is an electrical issue that Ford is not fixing
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while offloading items from the trunk, the trunk door independently closed and hit the contact in the head. The contact stated no warning light
TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2020 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPENING THE TRUNK FROM THE DASHBOARD AND UNLOADING GROCERIES FROM THE TRUNK, THE TRUNK LID INDEPENDENTLY CLOSED STICKIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TRUNK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED I
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYFOB FAILED TO UNLOCK THE TRUCK OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AT MAX DYE CHRYSLER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE LATCH. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN IND
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CHALLENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK RANDOMLY OPENED WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER (CAPITAL CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE, 919-
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE TRUNK, BUT IT WAS UNABLE TO UNLATCH AUTOMATICALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK COULD BE ACCESSED BY PULLING THE BACK SEAT
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.