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.

Data updated August 2026. Counts render from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation standardized component field; severity flags cross-reference NHTSA ODI complaint flags for owner-reported crash, fire, and injury markers. This page is for informational purposes and does not replace NHTSA recall notices or a vehicle-specific inspection. Methodology · Corrections.

NHTSA ODI component intake brief

ODI category EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES

34 filings · 23 models · 14 makes · vintage August 2026

  • FILINGS SPARSE 34 ODI rows
  • MODELS 23 nameplates citing this part
  • MAKES 14 manufacturers in corpus
  • CRASH 2.9% 1 crash-flagged
  • RANK #365 of 696 categories
  • SEV QUIET 0 deaths · 3 injuries
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES (this)EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER…34EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:WATER HEATEREQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHIC…34ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTONOMOUS/SELF DRIVING:SOFTWAREELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:AUTON…33SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION:SPRINGS/BAGSSUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR…35
ODI filing volume neighbourhood: EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES vs nearest complaint-total peers

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES sits SPARSE on ODI intake volume (#365 of 696 standardized categories) with a QUIET severity stamp (0 reported fatalities across 23 models). Open Chevrolet Silverado (category leader) →

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES severity reading

The standout signal for equipment:mechanical:wrecker and wheel lift devices is severity: 0 reported fatalities and 3 injuries (QUIET stamp) on 34 filings (SPARSE volume).

Sparse categories can swing on a single high-volume nameplate; treat the leader row as the actionable signal, not the category headline alone.

Next step: compare Chevrolet Silverado against EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:WATER HEATER on filing totals before treating equipment:mechanical:wrecker and wheel lift devices volume as a purchase signal.

34
Complaints
23
Models Affected
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Deaths

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

2001 Chrysler Town AND Country

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

2003 Pontiac Montana

THE WELD THAT HOLDS THE LIFT WHEEL PIN IS NOT ADEQUATE TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER. *AK

1996 Cadillac Deville

THE CHROME WHEELS ARE STARTING TO PEEL. CONSUMER STATES TIRES ARE LOOSING AIR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

1999 GMC Jimmy

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

1999 GMC Sierra

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

1999 Chevrolet Silverado

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

1994 International Conventional

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

1996 Dodge RAM 3500

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

1995 Chevrolet Suburban

THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED TOW FRAME WHICH DEVELOPED CRACKS IN/ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME THAT ATTACHES TO THE TRUCK FRAME. NLM

1996 Chevrolet Suburban

TRAILER TOWING PLATFORM HAS A 1 INCH CRACK IN THE REAR. *JB

1999 Ford F-150

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

1995 Subaru Legacy

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

2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport

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

2000 Ford F-350

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

1999 Dodge Dakota

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

2000 Volkswagen Jetta

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.

2000 Chevrolet Silverado

TOWING EQUIPMENT IS DEFECTIVE. ADVERTISED THAT VEHICLE CAN TOW 8500 LBS, BUT OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS MAX TOWING IS 7500 LBS. *AK *ML

1998 Suzuki Sidekick

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.

1994 Chevrolet Suburban

HITCH TOWING PLATFORM HAS A CRACK, CRACK DISCOVERED PRIOR TO COMPLETE FAILURE (FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING PLATFORM). *MJS

1995 Subaru Impreza

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

Verify with NHTSA · consumer-reported counts are not verified defect findings.