Component

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

21,143 NHTSA complaints about electronic stability control (esc) issues across 50 makes and 861 models.

The electronic stability control (esc) is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 21,143 filings from 50 manufacturers and 861 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 1,006 crashes, 245 fires, 678 injuries, and 23 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET MALIBU with 1,234 filings, followed by CHEVROLET IMPALA and TOYOTA SEQUOIA. 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.

21,143
Complaints
861
Models Affected
1,006
Crashes
245
Fires
23
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 CHEVROLET MALIBU 1,234
2 CHEVROLET IMPALA 763
3 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 730
4 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE 476
5 FORD FUSION 438
6 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 389
7 HYUNDAI SONATA 374
8 CHEVROLET CRUZE 369
9 CHEVROLET EQUINOX 345
10 DODGE JOURNEY 274
11 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 265
12 JEEP CHEROKEE 259
13 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 248
14 TOYOTA PRIUS 233
15 HONDA PILOT 230
16 FORD ESCAPE 225
17 JEEP WRANGLER 216
18 FORD F-150 215
19 HONDA ACCORD 211
20 TOYOTA SIENNA 206
21 CHRYSLER 200 200
22 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 199
23 GMC ACADIA 196
24 PONTIAC G6 192
25 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 191
26 NISSAN ALTIMA 188
27 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 188
28 FORD EXPLORER 185
29 HONDA CR-V 182
30 FORD EDGE 180

Recent Complaints

2022 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became firm, making it difficult to steer the vehicle

2004 CADILLAC SRX

The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled, and the power steering and power brakes were inoperative. No warning lights were

2024 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving out of the dealer's parking lot at 4-5 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the messages "Service ESC System" and

2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, it lost power steering functionality. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the

2021 CHEVROLET TRAX

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, while the roads were clear, dry, and the weather was good, the engine seized, and the vehicle lost motive power an

2025 RAM 2500

The contact owns a 2025 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V882000 (Air Bags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for the r

2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated, and the message "ESC OFF" was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle experie

2015 CHEVROLET CRUZE

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the “Service Stabili-trak” message was displayed. The warning light turned on and off, and the

2019 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2019 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at high speeds, the steering wheel was shaking and the 4WD, ABS, and stability control features were inoperable. The dealer was

2016 HONDA PILOT

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that there was an abnormal engine knocking sound coming from the vehicle. There were recurring oil leaks and a misfire coming from the engine. T

2024 BMW X7

The contact owns a 2024 BMW X7. The contact stated that while his wife was driving, the braking system malfunctioned, and the vehicle hesitated to respond upon depressing the brake pedal. Additionally

2022 JEEP GRAND WAGONEER

The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the ABS, the ESC, and the Parking Brake warnings illuminated. The contact stated that the br

2021 CHEVROLET TAHOE

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH into the driveway, the engine seized. The contact stated that the service traction, service ESC, and engine warnin

2018 RAM 2500

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Th

2024 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2024 Ram 1500. The contact stated that after shifting to park(P) and exiting the vehicle, the parking brake had independently activated upon return. The contact released the parking

2016 CHEVROLET COLORADO

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to steer in the intended direction. In addition, the “Service Sta

2021 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V653000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control (ESC); however, the part to do the reca

2018 RAM 2500

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The cont

2026 GMC SIERRA EV

The contact owns a 2026 GMC Sierra EV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V594000 (Electronic Stability Control (ESC); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavaila

2021 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V653000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control (ESC); however, the part to do the reca

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve electronic stability control (esc) issues?
The NHTSA has received 21,143 complaints about electronic stability control (esc) problems across 861 vehicle models from 50 manufacturers.
How dangerous are electronic stability control (esc) defects?
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) issues have been linked to 1,006 crashes, 245 fires, 678 injuries, and 23 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most electronic stability control (esc) problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for electronic stability control (esc) issues is the CHEVROLET MALIBU with 1,234 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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