Component
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
525 NHTSA complaints about equipment:mechanical:carrier/rack issues across 29 makes and 116 models.
The equipment:mechanical:carrier/rack is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 525 filings from 29 manufacturers and 116 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 9 crashes, 0 fires, 10 injuries, and 3 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD EXPLORER with 74 filings, followed by CHEVROLET S10 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 EXPLORER | 74 |
| 2 | CHEVROLET S10 | 74 |
| 3 | FORD F-150 | 38 |
| 4 | DODGE CARAVAN | 32 |
| 5 | FORD EXPEDITION | 23 |
| 6 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 22 |
| 7 | CHEVROLET BLAZER | 15 |
| 8 | FORD AEROSTAR | 11 |
| 9 | GMC SONOMA | 9 |
| 10 | FORD F-350 | 9 |
| 11 | FORD F-250 | 9 |
| 12 | DODGE DAKOTA | 9 |
| 13 | KIA SPORTAGE | 8 |
| 14 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO | 7 |
| 15 | OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE | 6 |
| 16 | GMC SIERRA | 6 |
| 17 | CHEVROLET LUMINA APV | 6 |
| 18 | HONDA ODYSSEY | 5 |
| 19 | DODGE RAM | 5 |
| 20 | CHEVROLET VENTURE | 5 |
| 21 | CHEVROLET TAHOE | 5 |
| 22 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 4 |
| 23 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 4 |
| 24 | FORD TAURUS | 4 |
| 25 | FORD RANGER | 4 |
| 26 | CHEVROLET ASTRO | 4 |
| 27 | TOYOTA 4RUNNER | 3 |
| 28 | PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER | 3 |
| 29 | OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS | 3 |
| 30 | GMC SAFARI | 3 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-350 SD. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the roof. The vehicle was taken to a local independent
Bike rack fell off of car on northbound interstate 294 less than 1/2 mile from the 127th street exit. I believe I set it up correctly. Pin was in and the knob was tightened. No accidents as traffic na
Roof racks are secured with double sided tape. Tape on both racks failed causing both racks to become up secured from roof of vehicle.
On March 21, after communicating several times with Yakima regarding difficulties I was having in installing the roof rack onto our car, I was able to install the racks, though the tower and clip syst
Bought these from a company called OMAC USA. Installed correctly and about an hour into my trip going about 65 mph down Hwy 54 traveling West one of the racks broke loose and blew off my car. Thank GO
2017 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE MOPAR ROOF RACK. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ROOF RACK WAS CARRYING A 51LB BOX SPRING WHEN THE FRONT CROSS PIECE DETACHED. THIS CAU
2014 SUBARU CROSSTREK VEHICLE CONSUMED OVER FIVE QUARTS OF OIL BEFORE REACHING 9000 MILES*CW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE DEALER DID NOT INSTALL THE KAYAK RACK SECURELY ON TOP OF THE ROOF. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIFT REAR GATE LATCH BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE GATE WOULD NOT REMAIN OPEN. THE SYMBOL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AIR BAG LEAKED W
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LUGGAGE RACK RUBBER CHROME STRIP ON THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE BECAME LOOSE AND FELL OFF. THE CHROME TRIP MOLDING FELL OFF THE DRIVERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE NITRO 4X2. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION PULLS, STUTTERS, VIBRATES, AND SHAKES. THE VEHICLE JERKS WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDA
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL BRACKET, WHICH HOLDS THE LUGGAGE RACK ONTO THE VEHICLE, WAS RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT IT
I HAD LEFT MY CAR FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. WHEN I RETURNED THE TIRE WAS FLAT, AND I NOTICED A SLIT IN THE SIDEWALL. LATER I FILLED THE TIRE WITH AIR. THE VISIBLE SLIT DID NOT LEAK AIR, BUT ANOTHER
DT: 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CONSUMER STATES THE RUN FLAT TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 20,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FOUND ON OTHER WEB SITES. THE DEALERSHIP STATED
THE CONSUMERS ROOF RACK ON THE VEHICLE BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE ROOF RACK WAS HANGING ON THE VEHICLE,THE OTHER HIT THE ROAD AND BOUNCED ON THE TURNPIKE. THE DRIVER SAW THE OTHER VEHICLE SWERVIN
THE ROOF RACK (WHICH WAS FACTORY EQUIPMENT) SEPARATED FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE RACK WAS LIABLE TO COME OFF AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO MOTORIST DRIVING BEHIND HIS VEHICLE. AL
THE ROOF RACK (WHICH WAS FACTORY EQUIPMENT) SEPARATED FROM THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE RACK WAS LIABLE TO COME OFF AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO MOTORIST DRIVING BEHIND HIS VEHICLE. AL
I RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT YOUR WEB SITE SERVICE AND DECIDED TO USE IT. BECAUSE I HAVE EXPERIENCED TOO MANY PROBLEMS (VARIOUS IN ADDITION TO THIS LIST) OVER THE PAST YEARS WITH THIS VEHICLE. DT
CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF A LOUD WHISLTE WHEN DRIVING OVER 40 MPH. THE FACTORY REP TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED IT TO BE THE ROOF RACK. THEIR SOLUTION WAS POSSIBLY A REDESIGN OF THE CROSS MEMBE
CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE SPEAR TIRE CARRIER HAD BROKEN CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO FALL FROM UNDER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE SPARE TIRE FELL FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
Related Vehicle Components
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Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve equipment:mechanical:carrier/rack issues? ▼
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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.