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.

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.

1,461
Complaints
299
Models Affected
8
Crashes
144
Fires
5
Deaths

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

2016 FORD EXPEDITION

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

2016 FORD F-150

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

2021 CHEVROLET BLAZER

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

2018 FORD EXPLORER

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

2016 NISSAN PATHFINDER

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

2012 FORD FOCUS

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

2024 RAM PROMASTER 3500

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

2023 TOYOTA TACOMA

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

2018 FORD EXPLORER

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

2016 KIA SEDONA

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

2020 NISSAN ROGUE SPORT

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

2019 CHEVROLET TRAX

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 wif

2008 KIA SPORTAGE Fire

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

2021 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS Fire

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

2022 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 350

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

2013 FORD EXPLORER Fire

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

2016 RAM 2500

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

2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX Fire

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

2017 JEEP RENEGADE

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

2017 NISSAN ROGUE SPORT Fire

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan issues?
The NHTSA has received 1,461 complaints about engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan problems across 299 vehicle models from 40 manufacturers.
How dangerous are engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan defects?
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN issues have been linked to 8 crashes, 144 fires, 21 injuries, and 5 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan issues is the JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE with 161 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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