Component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

30,199 NHTSA complaints about engine and engine cooling:engine issues across 52 makes and 1042 models.

The engine and engine cooling:engine is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 30,199 filings from 52 manufacturers and 1042 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 344 crashes, 991 fires, 407 injuries, and 84 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD WINDSTAR with 1,685 filings, followed by DODGE INTREPID and FORD TAURUS. 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.

30,199
Complaints
1042
Models Affected
344
Crashes
991
Fires
84
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD WINDSTAR 1,685
2 DODGE INTREPID 1,494
3 FORD TAURUS 1,362
4 FORD F-150 856
5 DODGE NEON 842
6 MERCURY SABLE 719
7 DODGE STRATUS 588
8 FORD MUSTANG 439
9 FORD EXPLORER 438
10 NISSAN ALTIMA 432
11 FORD EXPEDITION 397
12 PLYMOUTH NEON 382
13 DODGE CARAVAN 368
14 TOYOTA CAMRY 362
15 DODGE DURANGO 360
16 CHRYSLER CONCORDE 348
17 PONTIAC GRAND AM 341
18 HONDA ACCORD 312
19 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 294
20 FORD FOCUS 294
21 FORD THUNDERBIRD 293
22 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 281
23 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 266
24 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 248
25 JEEP CHEROKEE 248
26 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 235
27 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 219
28 MERCURY COUGAR 211
29 SATURN SL 203
30 SATURN LS 200

Recent Complaints

2016 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Edge. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed and the dealer retr

2018 FORD FUSION

See attached document for complaint

2018 FORD ESCAPE

See attached document for complaint

2019 GMC ACADIA

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The low oil message was displayed. The contact added oil to the engine. The vehicle was take

2018 HYUNDAI SONATA

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled in traffic. The vehicle was misfiring, and the RPM was abn

2021 FORD BRONCO SPORT

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph and making a left turn, there was an abnormal rattling noise. There were no warning indicator ligh

2017 FORD ESCAPE

The engine is experience the COOLANT INTRUSION problem . This is a SAFETY problem driving on the roads. It may at some point emit white smoke out the exhaust and causing the engine to run poorly. Th

2018 JEEP COMPASS

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a stop light, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the oil pressure war

2017 HONDA CIVIC

I made a purchase a civic Honda 2017 on February 2020 and now in April 2022 stops working the A/C unit only blowing hot air

2015 FORD EXPLORER

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, there was an excessive amount of coolant fluid leaking from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated.

2006 DODGE CHARGER Fire

The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle approximately 30 minutes later flames were discovered coming from under the engine compartment. The fire depart

2018 KIA SPORTAGE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the contact noticed a strong odor of gasoline in the interior of the vehicle. Additionally, the check engine warning ligh

2014 KIA SOUL

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V750000 (Engine) however, while pulling into the driveway the contact heard

2017 FORD EDGE

Service light came on then overheat light - took to dealer to check. Told by service guy that the tech has performed a long pressure test on the coolant system to find a leak. There are no external le

2007 BMW Z4

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW Z4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IN

2016 RAM 1500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 RAM 1500. AFTER THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V757000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE COOLANT WAS LOW INSIDE THE

2018 TOYOTA CAMRY

2018 TOYOTA CAMRY XSE. CONSUMER WRITES WITH CONCERN TO A SAFETY HAZARD REGARDING UNEXPECTED SUDDEN BRAKING WITH VEHICLE. *AS *TR

2017 JEEP CHEROKEE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 JEEP CHEROKEE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT STATED T

2015 AUDI A6

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 AUDI A6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V229000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTAC

2011 BMW 328I

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 328I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V176000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve engine and engine cooling:engine issues?
The NHTSA has received 30,199 complaints about engine and engine cooling:engine problems across 1042 vehicle models from 52 manufacturers.
How dangerous are engine and engine cooling:engine defects?
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE issues have been linked to 344 crashes, 991 fires, 407 injuries, and 84 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most engine and engine cooling:engine problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for engine and engine cooling:engine issues is the FORD WINDSTAR with 1,685 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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