Component

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

2,283 NHTSA complaints about equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc. issues across 45 makes and 445 models.

The equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc. is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,283 filings from 45 manufacturers and 445 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, 92 fires, 28 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the ACURA LEGEND with 93 filings, followed by TOYOTA CAMRY and FORD EXPLORER. 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.

2,283
Complaints
445
Models Affected
32
Crashes
92
Fires
0
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 ACURA LEGEND 93
2 TOYOTA CAMRY 60
3 FORD EXPLORER 60
4 HONDA ACCORD 55
5 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 42
6 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 38
7 FORD FOCUS 38
8 PONTIAC GRAND AM 36
9 NISSAN PATHFINDER 36
10 CHEVROLET MALIBU 30
11 DODGE CARAVAN 29
12 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 29
13 NISSAN MAXIMA 27
14 FORD TAURUS 26
15 HONDA CIVIC 25
16 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 23
17 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 23
18 FORD EXPEDITION 21
19 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 20
20 DODGE NEON 20
21 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 20
22 INFINITI G35 19
23 FORD F-150 19
24 CHEVROLET BLAZER 18
25 KIA SPORTAGE 17
26 DODGE RAM 17
27 NISSAN QUEST 16
28 FORD WINDSTAR 16
29 DODGE RAM 1500 16
30 PONTIAC SUNFIRE 15

Recent Complaints

2020 CHEVROLET BOLT EV

See attached document for complaint.

2024 HONDA ACCORD

campaign on recalls enabling remote murderings from eric young to used car dealership in ocean springs mississippi and brain body and eric young sex trafficing and silent making people need open heart

2024 CHEVROLET TAHOE

See attached document for complaint. We are writing to express our concerns regarding ongoing and unresolved issues with our 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country Deluxe Package, which we purchased on [X

2024 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT

See attached document for complaint.

2018 MAZDA CX-5

I've had issues with my infotainment system screen for years and have mentioned this to the dealership. But their response was that I wasn't in warranty anymore and that I'd had to just reboot the rad

2018 FORD EXPLORER

See attached document for complaint.

2017 GMC TERRAIN

Roughly every 8 months Sirius XM "radio" runs an automatically triggered free subscription period that includes "weather alerts". These alerts BLOCK part of the car's normal navigational (map) system,

2023 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

Radio cuts out, no sound. Can't even use hands free calling because the sound doesn't work. Driver will try to get sound back while driving, taking eyes of the road to fiddle with radio. No recalls a

2017 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

There was an electrical burning smell in the cabin of the truck and then the radio stopped working. I called the dealership who confirmed that they had issues with previous models and newer models as

2022 RAM 1500

Have had multiple issues with my radio deleting my preset channels. There has been a couple of times where when I start my vehicle my radio just says loading and I am not able to control any of my cli

2024 CHEVROLET TRAX

I bought my car in June of 2023 and after about 2 weeks of driving it I noticed when I drove 40-50 miles per hour my car would start to make a loud griding sounding noise... so last Friday November 10

2016 GMC YUKON

the radio control panel seems to quit working every 2 years. This will be the 3rd radio control panel that I have to replace in this car since 2017. GMC says it isn't their problem since they use othe

2018 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while reversing, the radio stayed on the display screen. The dealer was contacted, and the dealer stated that the vehicle needed to be d

2016 FORD FOCUS

The radio failed and yes it is able to be inspected.Screeches as your driving it comes and goes . Never sure when it will do it scares you . There was no warning on this just started to do it and then

2019 FORD FLEX

The radio turns on even when the car is off and the keys are not nearby . Sometimes it turns off while driving and will be off for days at a time while other times it just comes on full volume while p

2012 FORD FIESTA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while attempting to close the doors, the four doors failed to latch properly. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to be repaired; howe

2017 MAZDA MAZDA3

The electrical system in the dashboard will randomly Make its own decisions. It will choose to make phone calls or change and set radio stations. while becoming more frequent more items from the cons

2016 HONDA CIVIC

The BT will lag & skip while listening to music. Also, the home screen will malfunction & return to the default screen & beep constantly (during driving operations).

2016 FORD FOCUS

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the radio started making loud popping sounds and playing white noise at an extreme volume that was distractin

2018 CHRYSLER 300

The contact owns a 2018 Chrysler 300. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, she noticed that the Navigation System had become inoperable. Additionally, the radio would operate independently and als

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc. issues?
The NHTSA has received 2,283 complaints about equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc. problems across 445 vehicle models from 45 manufacturers.
How dangerous are equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc. defects?
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. issues have been linked to 32 crashes, 92 fires, 28 injuries, and 0 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc. problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for equipment:electrical:radio/tape deck/cd etc. issues is the ACURA LEGEND with 93 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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