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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
Related Vehicle Components
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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.