Component
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES
34 NHTSA complaints about equipment:mechanical:wrecker and wheel lift devices issues across 14 makes and 23 models.
The equipment:mechanical:wrecker and wheel lift devices is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 34 filings from 14 manufacturers and 23 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 1 crash, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET SILVERADO with 5 filings, followed by DODGE DAKOTA and CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. 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 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO | 5 |
| 2 | DODGE DAKOTA | 4 |
| 3 | CHEVROLET SUBURBAN | 3 |
| 4 | FORD F-150 | 2 |
| 5 | FORD EXPLORER | 2 |
| 6 | VOLKSWAGEN JETTA | 1 |
| 7 | SUZUKI SIDEKICK | 1 |
| 8 | SUBARU LEGACY | 1 |
| 9 | SUBARU IMPREZA | 1 |
| 10 | PONTIAC MONTANA | 1 |
| 11 | MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT | 1 |
| 12 | INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONAL | 1 |
| 13 | GMC SUBURBAN | 1 |
| 14 | GMC SIERRA | 1 |
| 15 | GMC JIMMY | 1 |
| 16 | GEO METRO | 1 |
| 17 | FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL | 1 |
| 18 | FORD F-350 | 1 |
| 19 | FORD F-250 | 1 |
| 20 | DODGE RAM 3500 | 1 |
| 21 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 1 |
| 22 | CHEVROLET ASTRO | 1 |
| 23 | CADILLAC DEVILLE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT COME OUT OF LOW GEAR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TCM MODULE ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THERE WILL BE A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT
THE WELD THAT HOLDS THE LIFT WHEEL PIN IS NOT ADEQUATE TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER. *AK
THE CHROME WHEELS ARE STARTING TO PEEL. CONSUMER STATES TIRES ARE LOOSING AIR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
WHILE TOWING THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING COMING FROM THE REAR ENDED OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR
TOW HOOK BROKE OFF WHILE PULLING ANOTHER TRUCK, CABLE CAME BEHINED VEHICLE AND WENT THROUGH REAR WINDOW AND OUT OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, ALSO CABLE CAUSED INJURY TO DRIVER'S RIGHT EAR. MANUFACTURE
WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, FRONT END OF VEHICLE LOCKED UP, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NLM THE FRONT DIFFERE
CENTURY 602 WHEELLIFT INSTALLED ON VEHICLE DESCRIBED ON PRIOR FORM, WE FEEL IT IS A PRODUCT DESIGN FAILURE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL CAUSING SOLO CRASH TOTALING OUR TRUCK AND DAMAGING OUR CUSTOMER
TOW PACKAGE BENEATH VEHICLE BROKE AWAY, CAUSING BOLTS TO LOOSEN AND HITCH TO BREAK AWAY. METAL THAT GOES TO THE FRAME WAS BREAKING AWAY DURING TRAVELS OVER 5 YEAR PERIOD. NOT COVERED BY MANUFACT
THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED TOW FRAME WHICH DEVELOPED CRACKS IN/ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME THAT ATTACHES TO THE TRUCK FRAME. NLM
TRAILER TOWING PLATFORM HAS A 1 INCH CRACK IN THE REAR. *JB
TRAILER HITCH RECEIVER CAN NOW HAVE SAFEY TRIM FROM US PATENT 5,934,699-6,176,506 I CUT MY LEG , MY CHILD CUT HIS HAND ON RUSTING HITCH RECEIVER AND THE HITCH TORE UP A VEHCILE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PR
MANUFACTURER'S RECALL WX0-72; EARLIER DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS DUE TO WHEEL/TOW HOOK APPARATUS.. WHEN HITTING A PEBBLE AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY ON POINT OF CONTACT. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS AGAINST REMOV
WHEN TOWING VEHICLE OUT OF DITCH THE TOW HOOK BROKE OFF AND WENT THROUGH THE TAILGATE OF A 1997 FULL SIZE DODGE PICKUP. NOW THEY SAY IT IS NOT A TOW HOOK IT IS JUST A TIE DOWN TO GET IT HERE.*AK
THE FACTORY INSTALLED TOW PACKAGE WIRING IS DEFECTIVE. THE ELECTRIC BRAKE WIRING IS DEFECTIVE, FORD HAS FAILED TO FIX THE POROBLEM, I CAN GET THE WIRING REPAIRED FROM A THIRD PARTY, BUT MY CONCERN IS
DODGE HAS DENIED ME COMPENSATION FOR A 69% REDUCTION IN TOWING CAPACITY THAT WAS OFFERED TO OTHER OWNERS SOLELY BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED. IT WAS PURCHASED 3 MOS. OLD WITH 3K MILES BEFORE THE
CAR WAS BEING TOWED ON A FLAT BED TOW TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS SECURED BY 2 FRONT HOOKS/STRAP WHICH WERE ATTACHED TO A WINCH. THE REAR WAS SECURED BY A STRAP ATTACHED TO THE REAR TOW LOOP ON MY VEHICLE.
TOWING EQUIPMENT IS DEFECTIVE. ADVERTISED THAT VEHICLE CAN TOW 8500 LBS, BUT OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS MAX TOWING IS 7500 LBS. *AK *ML
ROADMASTER TOW BAR THAT WAS INSTALLED ON THE TRUCK CONTINUED RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRES, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIRES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
HITCH TOWING PLATFORM HAS A CRACK, CRACK DISCOVERED PRIOR TO COMPLETE FAILURE (FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING PLATFORM). *MJS
CONSUMER DROVE OVER RAILROAD TRACKS AT APPROXIMATELY 10-12 MPH WHEN DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT UNDERCARRIAGE OR ANY KIND OF IMPACT, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. REPAIRS FOR
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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.