Component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

2,638 NHTSA complaints about engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys issues across 41 makes and 365 models.

The engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,638 filings from 41 manufacturers and 365 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 32 crashes, 26 fires, 41 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the DODGE CARAVAN with 239 filings, followed by DODGE GRAND CARAVAN and CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY. 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.

2,638
Complaints
365
Models Affected
32
Crashes
26
Fires
0
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 DODGE CARAVAN 239
2 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 198
3 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 116
4 DODGE INTREPID 112
5 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 111
6 SATURN LS 87
7 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER 66
8 FORD TAURUS 60
9 FORD F-250 41
10 FORD EXPLORER 35
11 FORD F-350 31
12 FORD CONTOUR 31
13 FORD ESCORT 28
14 CHRYSLER CONCORDE 28
15 AUDI A4 28
16 CHEVROLET ASTRO 26
17 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 25
18 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 25
19 CHEVROLET BLAZER 25
20 MERCURY SABLE 24
21 HONDA ACCORD 24
22 MAZDA 626 23
23 FORD F-150 23
24 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 20
25 CHEVROLET S10 19
26 CADILLAC CATERA 18
27 SATURN SL 17
28 PONTIAC GRAND AM 16
29 DODGE DYNASTY 16
30 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 15

Recent Complaints

2015 HONDA CIVIC

The contact owns a 2015 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly came to a stop. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 35 MPH, and the contact

2021 FORD BRONCO SPORT

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V267000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN) and 25V019000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact state

2016 FORD FOCUS

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud bagging sound that became worse while the brake pedal was depressed. In addition, the con

2020 HYUNDAI VENUE

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Venue. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the crankshaft pulley detached from the engine. Additionally, the battery warning light illuminated. The vehicle was dri

2017 FORD FOCUS

See attached document for complaint

2013 BUICK REGAL

The contact owns a 2013 Buick Regal. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a squeaking sound coming from the vehicle. While inspecting under the hood of the vehicle, it wa

2017 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the ABS warning light illuminated intermit

2021 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Edge. The contact stated while his son was driving 60 MPH, the vehicle was stalled. The contact stated several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not

2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 15-20 MPH, the battery warning light illuminated and the steering wheel suddenly lost power steering functionality. The vehic

2006 HONDA CIVIC

The accessory serpentine belt produced by gates triggers misfires faults. The part is available for inspection. The misfires escalated to a point where the MIL lamp flashed and the vehicle derated w

2013 ACURA TL

The contact owns a 2013 Acura TL. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and running, he heard abnormal rattling sounds coming from the hood of the vehicle. The check engine warning ligh

2012 BMW X5

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND. THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TUR

2012 BMW X5

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING 10-20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE BELTS WERE LOOSE. IN ADDITION, THE STE

1992 FORD F-150

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT INSTALLED A NEW CONTINENTAL CONTITECH SERPENTINE BELT IN THE VEHICLE FROM AUTO ZONE. THE BELT FAILED AND TORE INTO PIECES AFTER 65 MILES OF DRIVING,

2012 BMW X5

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW X5. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED TH

2008 MERCEDES-BENZ E350

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE SERPENTINE BELT TO DETACH. AS A RESULT, THE POWER STEERING AND BR

2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTAC

2011 BMW X5

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW X5. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP BOLT ON THE PULLEY FAILED

2007 BMW 335I Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 335I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER T

2015 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, A BELT FRACTURED AND CAUSED HEAT TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPR

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys issues?
The NHTSA has received 2,638 complaints about engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys problems across 365 vehicle models from 41 manufacturers.
How dangerous are engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys defects?
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS issues have been linked to 32 crashes, 26 fires, 41 injuries, and 0 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys issues is the DODGE CARAVAN with 239 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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