Component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

2,048 NHTSA complaints about engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control issues across 46 makes and 394 models.

The engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,048 filings from 46 manufacturers and 394 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 19 crashes, 28 fires, 40 injuries, and 2 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD WINDSTAR with 69 filings, followed by VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 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.

2,048
Complaints
394
Models Affected
19
Crashes
28
Fires
2
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD WINDSTAR 69
2 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 67
3 FORD TAURUS 65
4 TOYOTA CAMRY 52
5 FORD EXPLORER 50
6 TOYOTA COROLLA 47
7 NISSAN MAXIMA 44
8 DODGE CARAVAN 43
9 MERCURY VILLAGER 38
10 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 35
11 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 30
12 FORD CONTOUR 25
13 HONDA CIVIC 24
14 MERCURY SABLE 23
15 HONDA ACCORD 23
16 CHEVROLET BLAZER 23
17 FORD F-150 20
18 DODGE NEON 20
19 NISSAN QUEST 19
20 NISSAN PATHFINDER 19
21 FORD FOCUS 19
22 CHEVROLET S10 19
23 DODGE INTREPID 18
24 PONTIAC GRAND AM 17
25 KIA SPORTAGE 17
26 FORD MUSTANG 17
27 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 16
28 DODGE RAM 16
29 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 16
30 TOYOTA TUNDRA 15

Recent Complaints

2016 NISSAN TITAN

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Titan. The contact received notification of Manufacturer Recall Number: PD128; however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was cont

2021 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER

vThe contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The v

2017 BMW X1

The contact owns a 2017 BMW X1. The contact received a notification letter of BMW Campaign Number: SIB 01 02 24(Evap System Purge(Vent) Valve Extended Limited Warranty). The contact stated that while

2023 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Auto Zone where a diagnos

2011 KIA SPORTAGE

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle for the State Inspection, the vehicle failed the Emissions test. The State Inspector diagnosed a failure with the

2020 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken for the State Inspection and the vehicle failed the emissions test. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was

2014 FORD EXPLORER

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed

2018 HONDA CR-V

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for the recall repair; ho

2020 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA

Subject: Complaint Regarding Illegal Practices by Lemberg Group My name is [XXX] , and I am currently employed as a driver for Lemberg Group. I operate a white Freightliner Cascadia truck, unit numb

2010 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that while having a routine inspection with an independent mechanic, the contact was informed that the vehicle had failed the inspection d

2024 HONDA CR-V HYBRID

See attached document for complaint

2020 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the seal underneath the vehicle was fractured nearby the exhaust. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the loc

2018 CHEVROLET CRUZE

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Cruz. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a

2015 FORD F-250

The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the deal

2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnose

2020 GMC SIERRA 1500

See attached document for complaint

2018 RAM 3500

67A recall was not performed on my vehicle nor was I notified of it. I have had SCR catalyst issues and def issues and my vehicles constantly fails emissions. Ram and Cummins have stated that my vehic

2013 TOYOTA TUNDRA

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle in for inspection, the vehicle failed the inspection. The contact was informed that a failure with the air inject

2016 HONDA PILOT

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the emissions warning light illuminated. The light was illuminated for approximately

2020 ACURA TLX

I purchased a new Acura TLX in 2020. The following year it took it into get state inspected in Massachusetts. My care failed for emission 3 times. I brought it back to the dealer (Herb Connolly) in

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control issues?
The NHTSA has received 2,048 complaints about engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control problems across 394 vehicle models from 46 manufacturers.
How dangerous are engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control defects?
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL issues have been linked to 19 crashes, 28 fires, 40 injuries, and 2 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control issues is the FORD WINDSTAR with 69 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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