Component
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WINCH
4 NHTSA complaints about equipment:mechanical:winch issues across 1 makes and 2 models.
The equipment:mechanical:winch is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 4 filings from 1 manufacturers and 2 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 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD EXPLORER with 3 filings, followed by 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 | 3 |
| 2 | FORD F-150 | 1 |
Recent Complaints
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CHAISE ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND HAS AGREE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BUT WONT TAKE IT IN UNTIL
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING WHEN WINCH CABLE BROKE. CABLE WAS FOUND TO BE RUSTED. FORD COULD ONLY SAY THEY HAD NO PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS.*AK THE SPARE TIRE WAS MISSING AS THE RESULT OF WINCH CABLE FAILURE
WHILE LOWERING SPARE TIRE THE WINCH FAILED TO ALLOW THE CABLE TO ROLL BACK UP INTO THE HOUSING, THE JACK HANDLE/WINCH CRANK ALSO JAMMED IN THE MECHANISM, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE WINCH WAS USED, CL
EA00012, SPARE TIRE WINCH CABLE; END OF THE CABLE, THAT IS USED TO WINCH THE SPARE TIRE TO BODY, RUSTED, RESULTNG IN LOSS OF SPARE TIRE. OWNER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE TIRE FELL OFF. DEALER WAS CONTAC
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.