Component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION: OIL COOLER
26 NHTSA complaints about engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication: oil cooler issues across 15 makes and 22 models.
The engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication: oil cooler is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 26 filings from 15 manufacturers and 22 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 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 with 3 filings, followed by FORD ESCAPE and CADILLAC DTS. 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 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 | 3 |
| 2 | FORD ESCAPE | 2 |
| 3 | CADILLAC DTS | 2 |
| 4 | TOYOTA HIGHLANDER | 1 |
| 5 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 1 |
| 6 | SUBARU IMPREZA | 1 |
| 7 | SCION XB | 1 |
| 8 | LEXUS RX350 | 1 |
| 9 | LEXUS RX | 1 |
| 10 | KIA SORENTO | 1 |
| 11 | KIA OPTIMA | 1 |
| 12 | KIA FORTE | 1 |
| 13 | JEEP WRANGLER | 1 |
| 14 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 1 |
| 15 | HYUNDAI ELANTRA GT | 1 |
| 16 | HONDA CR-V | 1 |
| 17 | FORD FOCUS | 1 |
| 18 | DODGE CHALLENGER | 1 |
| 19 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 1 |
| 20 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 1 |
| 21 | BUICK LACROSSE | 1 |
| 22 | AUDI Q8 | 1 |
Recent Complaints
The oil cooler lines came disconnected and oil leaked out. Had to have it towed and repair shop fixed it said the front lines where broke and rear lines where coming apart
The engine failed. Transmission wouldnât switch. No prior warning but oil lamp. Was on Freeway when it happened. Problem has been confirmed but not with my vin. Lamp didnât come on until It starte
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact received an undisclosed recall campaign for engine oil and gasoline dilution. The contact checked the engine oil and noticed that the engine oil was bla
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a message displayed reading "Low Oil Pressure" prompting the contact to pull over
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. A warning light was illuminated which displayed that the vehicle was
The contact owns a 2020 Audi Q8. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact stated that the oil needed to be topped off frequently. The Check Oil
The contact's business owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while an employee was driving approximately 60 MPH, there was an abnormal sound detected. The engine cooler warning
Pin hole in oil line causing excessive oil leak. Loose oil very quickly. Could cause permanent damage to engine. Had old line replaced by mechanic with a metal line only inspected by my mechanic an
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT. The contact stated that while her wife was driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's wife w
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the oil pressure warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the oil level wa
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, she saw smoke coming out from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The check engine warning light illuminated. The con
The contact owned a 2017 Kia Sorento. The contact stated while driving 35-45 MPH on the highway that suddenly there was smoke and flames coming from underneath the vehicle. There were no warning ligh
The contact owns a 2012 Scion XB. The contact stated that the vehicle was exhibiting excessive engine oil consumption. The contact stated that the oil pressure warning light would illuminate approxima
The contact owns a 2013 Buick LaCrosse. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started jerking. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact continued to drive the ve
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 mph, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood and from behind the vehicle without warning. The contact
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the oil warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and checked the oil level of the vehi
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently started jerking. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the sid
2015 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUES WITH THE OIL FILTER HOUSING.
The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Challenger. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, she smelled a burning oil odor. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue to
The contact owns a 2015 SUBARU Impreza. The contact stated that the vehicle's check engine light was illuminated and they began to notice at an oil change that their vehicle was leaking excessive oil
Related Vehicle Components
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Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication: oil cooler issues? ▼
How dangerous are engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication: oil cooler defects? ▼
Which vehicles have the most engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication: oil cooler problems? ▼
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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.