Component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

2,005 NHTSA complaints about engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:catalytic convertor issues across 43 makes and 420 models.

The engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:catalytic convertor is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,005 filings from 43 manufacturers and 420 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 15 crashes, 95 fires, 41 injuries, and 4 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the NISSAN ALTIMA with 101 filings, followed by KIA SOUL and HONDA ACCORD. 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.

2,005
Complaints
420
Models Affected
15
Crashes
95
Fires
4
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 NISSAN ALTIMA 101
2 KIA SOUL 83
3 HONDA ACCORD 59
4 JEEP WRANGLER 50
5 DODGE DAKOTA 38
6 FORD F-150 37
7 FORD EXPLORER 35
8 TOYOTA COROLLA 34
9 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER 33
10 FORD TAURUS 29
11 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 28
12 FORD CONTOUR 27
13 NISSAN PATHFINDER 25
14 KIA SPORTAGE 25
15 CHEVROLET BLAZER 25
16 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 24
17 JEEP CHEROKEE 24
18 CHEVROLET IMPALA 23
19 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 21
20 TOYOTA CAMRY 21
21 MAZDA 626 21
22 FORD ESCAPE 20
23 DODGE RAM 1500 20
24 MAZDA MPV 19
25 HONDA CIVIC 19
26 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 18
27 DODGE RAM 17
28 FORD MUSTANG 16
29 NISSAN SENTRA 15
30 NISSAN MAXIMA 14

Recent Complaints

2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder lane, engine oil w

2013 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jolted and hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning

2019 CADILLAC XT5

The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac XT5. The contact stated that while leaving the driveway, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, there wa

2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that after coming to a complete stop, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle went i

2015 CHEVROLET TAHOE

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and the temperature gauge failed to function as needed, with an abnormally loud sound comin

2016 KIA SOUL

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact became aware that there was oil leaking from th

2019 FORD EXPEDITION

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25E070000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact sta

2019 CADILLAC CTS

The contact owns a 2019 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an Auto Parts Store and was diagnosed with c

2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON

The contact's sister owns a 2018 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while his sister was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly jerked and jolted, prompting her to pull over to the

2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, there were abnormal sounds coming from the exhaust system. The contact stated that the vehicle

2016 KIA SOUL

Catalytic converter may become damaged due to overheating caused by and excessive increase of exhaust gas temperatures.

2013 KIA SOUL

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled and experienced a loss of automotive power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The

2016 KIA SOUL

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning lights

2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic w

2015 SUBARU OUTBACK

The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal exhaust odor entering the cabin of the vehicle through the vents. No warning lights we

2014 JEEP COMPASS

The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that initially, while driving approximately 65 MPH, the rear-end of the vehicle was swaying. Upon inspection, there was severe rust

2017 BUICK ENVISION

The contact's friend owns a 2017 Buick Envision. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic,

2019 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and an egg-like odor was present during start-up. The vehicle was t

2019 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle started to jerk and stalled while in fifth gear and depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning

2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500

The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intende

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:catalytic convertor issues?
The NHTSA has received 2,005 complaints about engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:catalytic convertor problems across 420 vehicle models from 43 manufacturers.
How dangerous are engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:catalytic convertor defects?
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR issues have been linked to 15 crashes, 95 fires, 41 injuries, and 4 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:catalytic convertor problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control:catalytic convertor issues is the NISSAN ALTIMA with 101 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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