Component

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

594 NHTSA complaints about equipment:mechanical:accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift issues across 39 makes and 232 models.

The equipment:mechanical:accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 594 filings from 39 manufacturers and 232 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 14 crashes, 1 fire, 49 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the VOLKSWAGEN JETTA with 41 filings, followed by VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 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.

594
Complaints
232
Models Affected
14
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 41
2 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 13
3 FORD EXPLORER 12
4 CADILLAC DEVILLE 12
5 FORD RANGER 11
6 FORD TAURUS 10
7 DODGE RAM 1500 10
8 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 10
9 DODGE CARAVAN 9
10 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 9
11 TOYOTA CAMRY 8
12 HONDA ACCORD 8
13 VOLVO 850 7
14 MERCURY SABLE 7
15 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 7
16 FORD EXPEDITION 7
17 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 7
18 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 6
19 LINCOLN TOWN CAR 6
20 JEEP LIBERTY 6
21 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 6
22 GMC SIERRA 6
23 FORD F-150 6
24 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 6
25 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 6
26 BUICK LESABRE 6
27 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 5
28 CHEVROLET MALIBU 5
29 CHEVROLET IMPALA 5
30 BMW 325 5

Recent Complaints

2015 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

See attached document for complaint.

2017 TOYOTA TUNDRA

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving 65-70 MPH, the TPMS warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and became aware that the passenger's side rear tire was

2022 LAND ROVER DEFENDER

LAdder broke with me on it. I am 190 lbs. Well below what it is rated for. Both ladder hinges snapped with me falling on the ground as a result. Very painful. Informed LR and my dealer. No action take

2024 HYUNDAI PALISADE

I had a flat tire with 1000 miles on the vehicle. I lowered the spare tire and retrieved the jack from the trunk. I placed the jack under the proper spot on the vehicle. I raised the jack and the thr

2020 FORD TRANSIT

The bottle jack catastrophically failed while replacing a spare tire, and it is available for inspection upon request. The safety of my partner was put at risk while they were changing the tire and th

2011 FORD EDGE

On 12-11-22 I had a flat tire. I went to put on the spare, following directions step by step, and placing the jack where the arrow points in the correct spot. I jacked my car up and once the tire wa

2015 HONDA PILOT

The contact owns a 2015 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while changing a flat tire on the driver's side front, the OEM jack was placed under the hard point located under the frame behind the driver's

2013 CHEVROLET IMPALA

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Impala equipped with an OEM jack, Part Number: 13500018. The contact stated while jacking up the vehicle to change a tire, the jack folded and caused the vehicle to f

2015 TOYOTA CAMRY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS CHANGING HIS TIRE, HE NOTICED THAT THE HANDLE FOR THE JACK WAS TOO SHORT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED REMOVING THE LUG NUTS TO REPLACE THE TIR

2019 NISSAN SENTRA

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2019 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS USING THE MANUFACTURER SUPPLIED TIRE JACK, THE HANDLE FRACTURED AT THE CONNECTION POINT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RAISE THE VEHICLE TO CHAN

2005 FORD 500

2005 FORD FIVE HUNDRED. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE VEHICLES TIRE JACK. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE JACK RAISED THE VEHICLE IT TWISTED. A SCREW WAS BENT ON THE JACK CAUS

2019 CHEVROLET MALIBU

I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR MAIMED BY A DEFECTIVE TIRE JACK THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE TIRE CHANGING EQUIPMENT THAT CAME WITH A NEW IMPALA I RENTED FROM ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL. THE JACK BENT IN TWO WHEN

2017 FORD ECONOLINE

2017 FORD ECONOLINE SUPER DUTY VAN. CONSUMER WRITES WITH CONCERNS FOR MULTIPLE MALFUNCTIONS AND SAFETY ISSUES WITH VEHICLE. *AS *DT *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUAL JACK CONTROL COMPLETELY STOP

1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E320

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE REMOVING THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL, THE VEHICLE'S FACTORY EQUIPPED JACK FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FELL ON THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAIN

2007 SUBARU OUTBACK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE A FLAT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE, THE JACK COLLAPSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE JACK FAILED TO HOLD THE VEHICLE'S WEIGHT. AT TH

2009 HONDA CIVIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE THE SUMMER TIRES WITH WINTER TIRES ON THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE JACK FAILED. THE CONTACT'S ARM BECAME TRAPPED BETWEEN THE WHEEL WELL

2013 DODGE CHARGER

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE CHARGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER (ANDERSON TOYOTA, 6510 SHOWPLACE AVE, LAKE HAVASU CITY, AZ 86404, (928) 764-2886) FAILED TO MENTION THAT TH

2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE

DEFECTIVE JACK - THE CAR WAS STATIONARY ON THE SHOULDER OF AN INTERSTATE IN ORDER TO FIX A FLAT TIRE. THE JACK PRONG WAS INSERTED AS DESIGNED INTO THE HOLE UNDER THE CAR AND THE CAR WAS RAISED TO REM

2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE JACK IN THE REAR FRACTURED WHILE CHANGING THE TIRE. THE JACK WAS APART OF THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE PART WAS NOT REPLACED

2011 DODGE CHARGER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE CHARGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UTILIZE THE JACK, BUT IT FAILED TO OPERATE F

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve equipment:mechanical:accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift issues?
The NHTSA has received 594 complaints about equipment:mechanical:accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift problems across 232 vehicle models from 39 manufacturers.
How dangerous are equipment:mechanical:accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift defects?
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT issues have been linked to 14 crashes, 1 fires, 49 injuries, and 0 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most equipment:mechanical:accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for equipment:mechanical:accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift issues is the VOLKSWAGEN JETTA with 41 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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