Component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
1,461 NHTSA complaints about engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan issues across 40 makes and 299 models.
Data updated August 2026
NHTSA ODI component intake brief
ODI category ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
1,461 filings · 299 models · 40 makes · vintage August 2026
- FILINGS MODERATE 1,461 ODI rows
- MODELS 299 nameplates citing this part
- MAKES 40 manufacturers in corpus
- CRASH 0.5% 8 crash-flagged
- RANK #128 of 696 categories
- SEV INJURY 5 deaths · 21 injuries
Filing-volume peers
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN sits MODERATE on ODI intake volume (#128 of 696 standardized categories) with a INJURY severity stamp (5 reported fatalities across 299 models). Open JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE (category leader) →
The engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 1,461 filings from 40 manufacturers and 299 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 8 crashes, 144 fires, 21 injuries, and 5 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE with 161 filings, followed by FORD TAURUS and FORD CONTOUR. 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 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 161 |
| 2 | FORD TAURUS | 115 |
| 3 | FORD CONTOUR | 65 |
| 4 | FORD MUSTANG | 56 |
| 5 | CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER | 53 |
| 6 | MERCURY SABLE | 36 |
| 7 | KIA SPORTAGE | 31 |
| 8 | DODGE CARAVAN | 29 |
| 9 | MERCURY MYSTIQUE | 26 |
| 10 | DODGE INTREPID | 26 |
| 11 | CHEVROLET S10 | 26 |
| 12 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 22 |
| 13 | FORD EXPLORER | 21 |
| 14 | VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN | 20 |
| 15 | GMC ENVOY | 20 |
| 16 | VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 19 |
| 17 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 17 |
| 18 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 16 |
| 19 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 16 |
| 20 | FORD TEMPO | 15 |
| 21 | JEEP LAREDO | 14 |
| 22 | DODGE NEON | 14 |
| 23 | PONTIAC GRAND AM | 11 |
| 24 | PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER | 11 |
| 25 | BMW 325 | 11 |
| 26 | CHRYSLER PT CRUISER | 10 |
| 27 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 10 |
| 28 | VOLKSWAGEN JETTA | 9 |
| 29 | VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO | 9 |
| 30 | FORD RANGER | 9 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the rearview camera was intermittently inoperative. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the radiator fan was running on high while driving or after turning off the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle had
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that upon turning off the vehicle, the fan remained engaged for approximately 10 minutes. Additionally, the contact stated that the A/C sys
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon his mother attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed t
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the cooling fan became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The con
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while opening the front driver's side door, the engine fan inadvertently turned on without starting the vehicle. The engine fan remained run
The contact owns a 2024 Ram 3500. The contact stated that after turning the vehicle off, the engine fan kept running for approximately five hours. The contact stated that the following morning, the ve
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while reversing, the RPM and engine surged while turning the steering wheel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was ta
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the engine overheated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an indep
No warning lights ever came on. We took the vehicle to the KIA dealer because the fan stayed on when we shut off the engine and the heat stopped working. The KIA dealer said the vehicle needs a new e
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport. The contact stated that while his wife was leaving a parking lot, the vehicle stalled with steam coming from the engine. The contact was unaware if there we
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Trax. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the hood of the vehicle. The contact’s wife
The radiator fan component was smoking. The car is available at anytime for inspection. I definitely feared that the car was going to explode in front of my baby cousins and elderly Aunt. The car has
The contact owned a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated while driving at approximately 15 MPH, she had turned the air conditioner on and felt that hot air was blowing out. The contact stopped at
The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE350. The contact stated while his wife was driving 70 MPH, the engine overheated. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated they had taken their vehicle to a local dealer for a crack in the water pump which the dealer repaired, After the repair, the contact noticed
Engine Fan / Radiator Shroud. During hot weather and engine temperature, the engine fan engaged. Due to the high ambient, I believe the radiator shroud was hot and the material was soft, it became de
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at 60 MPH, The contact heard a bell noise ringing from the vehicle. The contact the vehicle was running hot so the contact p
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the engine cooling fan seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and d
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while entering and starting the vehicle, after two minutes the contact noticed black smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The
Related Vehicle Components
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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. Component figures are computed directly from NHTSA complaint data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.