Component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:SEALS/GASKETS
29 NHTSA complaints about engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:seals/gaskets issues across 13 makes and 25 models.
The engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:seals/gaskets is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 29 filings from 13 manufacturers and 25 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, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD ESCAPE with 3 filings, followed by KIA OPTIMA and FORD F-150. 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 | FORD ESCAPE | 3 |
| 2 | KIA OPTIMA | 2 |
| 3 | FORD F-150 | 2 |
| 4 | VOLKSWAGEN TAOS | 1 |
| 5 | VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 1 |
| 6 | SUBARU LEGACY | 1 |
| 7 | NISSAN PATHFINDER | 1 |
| 8 | KIA SORENTO | 1 |
| 9 | HYUNDAI VERACRUZ | 1 |
| 10 | HYUNDAI SONATA | 1 |
| 11 | HONDA PILOT | 1 |
| 12 | HONDA CIVIC | 1 |
| 13 | GMC TERRAIN | 1 |
| 14 | FORD FUSION | 1 |
| 15 | FORD F-350 | 1 |
| 16 | FORD EXPLORER | 1 |
| 17 | FORD ECOSPORT | 1 |
| 18 | FORD E-450 | 1 |
| 19 | DODGE JOURNEY | 1 |
| 20 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 1 |
| 21 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 | 1 |
| 22 | CHEVROLET EQUINOX | 1 |
| 23 | CHEVROLET CRUZE | 1 |
| 24 | BMW 328XI | 1 |
| 25 | AUDI A3 | 1 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the low oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to Pepboys, and the contact w
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-350. The contact discovered that the vehicle was leaking oil from the upper oil pan. No warning lights were illuminated and the vehicle was drivable. The vehicle was tak
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact inspected the coolant reservoir and became aware t
See attached document for complaint
See attached document for complaint
The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Taos. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was dia
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal amount of smoke come from the exhaust system. The contact reversed out of the garage and parke
My dealership has confirmed oil consumption on my vehicle
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheating message was displayed. The contact's daughter pulled ove
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking an unknown fluid underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed th
The contact owns a 2007 BMW 328XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Th
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, after driving ½ mi
Head gasket failed at 75,000 miles and allowed coolant to mix with oil causing the engine to fail and needing to be replaced. Needless to say this is a very costly repair that I feel is Ford Motor Co.
The contact owns a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started overheating, emitted white smoke from the exhaust and then shut off. The c
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle was hesitating. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle th
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer for a routine oil change, and he was informed of an oil leak. The dealer informed him that the leak was on
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact was consistently topping off the eng
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact noticed an oil leak on the garage floor underneath the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local deal
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated to 20 MPH. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated
Related Vehicle Components
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Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:seals/gaskets issues? ▼
How dangerous are engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:seals/gaskets defects? ▼
Which vehicles have the most engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:seals/gaskets 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.