Component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

7,122 NHTSA complaints about engine and engine cooling:cooling system issues across 50 makes and 649 models.

The engine and engine cooling:cooling system is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 7,122 filings from 50 manufacturers and 649 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 63 crashes, 178 fires, 88 injuries, and 12 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD TAURUS with 304 filings, followed by FORD WINDSTAR and CHEVROLET MALIBU. 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.

7,122
Complaints
649
Models Affected
63
Crashes
178
Fires
12
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD TAURUS 304
2 FORD WINDSTAR 159
3 CHEVROLET MALIBU 154
4 CHEVROLET BLAZER 153
5 DODGE INTREPID 139
6 HONDA GL1800 136
7 PONTIAC GRAND AM 132
8 FORD EXPLORER 132
9 HONDA CR-V 116
10 FORD CONTOUR 107
11 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 97
12 FORD MUSTANG 95
13 MERCURY SABLE 93
14 CHEVROLET VENTURE 92
15 NISSAN PATHFINDER 89
16 CHEVROLET IMPALA 82
17 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 72
18 LAND ROVER FREELANDER 71
19 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 66
20 MAZDA CX-7 66
21 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 64
22 CHRYSLER CONCORDE 64
23 FORD F-150 63
24 BUICK LESABRE 63
25 HONDA CIVIC 60
26 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 58
27 HONDA ACCORD 58
28 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 58
29 PONTIAC MONTANA 56
30 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 55

Recent Complaints

2019 FORD ECOSPORT

The contact owns a 2019 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The

2020 TOYOTA CAMRY

Coolant valve frailer coursing A coolant leak can cause the engine to overheat and cause a vehicle stall and engine to be replaced , or car Heads to be replaced .the engine may get damaged mechanicall

2014 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the heater occasionally failed to function as needed. The contact added coolant to the reservoir and the heater started to operate as neede

2015 BMW 328I Crash

The contact owned a 2015 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle lost automotive power and stalled. As a result, the vehicle was rear-ended b

2025 HONDA CR-V

The contact owns a 2025 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that he drove the vehicle the previous day, but the next day the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was powered by a battery. There was an abno

2019 TOYOTA RAV4

Toyota has a coolant control valve problem on the RAV4 that it has known is a problem but will not issue a technical service bulletin or recall. It is only covered by the extended warranty. Any other

2017 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle was making abnormal sounds and was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the engine hot me

2014 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the engine overheated, and the vehicle stalled with the high-temperature warning light illuminated. The vehicle was tow

2017 LINCOLN MKZ

While out of town, the check engine light came on and the car began sputtering. There was a Lincoln dealer a couple miles away so I went there. The scan found code p303 and coolant had intruded in cyl

2018 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while his son was driving at approximately 55 MPH, the check engine and low coolant level warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that hi

2015 HYUNDAI SONATA

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated when starting the vehicle, the vehicle experienced a hard start and shuddered. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to

2018 CHEVROLET TRAX

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, she noticed a leak on the ground underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the deal

2011 FORD EDGE

2011 Ford Edge Sport has had several issues with cylinder misfires. Check engine light will come on and rough idle and ride occurs. It will be different cylinders. The first time it was Cylinder 6 and

2017 FORD ESCAPE Crash

My vehicle shut off while i was driving on the highway. The check engine light flashed for a few seconds and then the whole car shut off while i was doing 70 on the highway. Thankfully nobody was hurt

2019 TOYOTA RAV4

"Engine Maintaince Soon" light continues to go off while driving the car making the dashboard impossible to use. Took the Rav4 to the dealership and said it would be $536 to replace the coolant bypass

2016 FORD EXPLORER

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the high engine temperature warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the A/C u

2012 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY Fire

The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the A/C was blowing out hot air. The contact stated that smoke began emanating from the engine compartm

2014 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact looked under the hood and noticed smoke, coolant, and wat

2014 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary, she became aware of a coolant leak. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the

2015 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while reversing at 5 MPH, the vehicle began to stall. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve engine and engine cooling:cooling system issues?
The NHTSA has received 7,122 complaints about engine and engine cooling:cooling system problems across 649 vehicle models from 50 manufacturers.
How dangerous are engine and engine cooling:cooling system defects?
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM issues have been linked to 63 crashes, 178 fires, 88 injuries, and 12 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most engine and engine cooling:cooling system problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for engine and engine cooling:cooling system issues is the FORD TAURUS with 304 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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