Component

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

6,676 NHTSA complaints about forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control issues across 47 makes and 436 models.

The forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 6,676 filings from 47 manufacturers and 436 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 278 crashes, 23 fires, 242 injuries, and 102 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the TESLA MODEL Y with 1,181 filings, followed by TESLA MODEL 3 and HONDA ODYSSEY. 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.

6,676
Complaints
436
Models Affected
278
Crashes
23
Fires
102
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 TESLA MODEL Y 1,181
2 TESLA MODEL 3 1,151
3 HONDA ODYSSEY 319
4 TESLA MODEL S 210
5 HONDA ACCORD 192
6 HONDA CR-V 190
7 HONDA PILOT 133
8 RAM 2500 117
9 TESLA MODEL X 111
10 HONDA CIVIC 88
11 FORD MUSTANG MACH E 85
12 SUBARU OUTBACK 81
13 FORD F-150 79
14 VOLKSWAGEN ID.4 68
15 RAM 1500 64
16 ACURA MDX 52
17 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS 51
18 FORD EXPLORER 49
19 FISKER OCEAN 47
20 SUBARU FORESTER 45
21 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 43
22 FORD ESCAPE 42
23 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 38
24 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 37
25 HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 34
26 RAM 3500 33
27 NISSAN ROGUE 32
28 HYUNDAI TUCSON 31
29 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 30
30 GMC SIERRA 1500 29

Recent Complaints

2024 MAZDA MAZDA3

left-most lane of a three-lane highway, I pressed the accelerator to maintain the flow of traffic. The vehicle suddenly began revving between 4,000–5,000 RPM without increasing speed. When I attempt

2023 GMC SIERRA 1500

Onstar module stopped working

2025 NISSAN ARMADA Crash

On Saturday, February 7th, at approximately 1:00 PM, I was involved in a high-impact rear-end collision while driving cautiously with Adaptive Cruise Control and driver assistance systems activated, m

2023 TESLA MODEL Y Crash

I was driving with the car in Autopilot in the center lane of the highway. I could see a white vehicle move close on my right, and I confirmed that it had crossed over into my lane with both its front

2025 GMC SIERRA 1500

Car flashes "service driver assist system". Took to dealer and they referenced PIT6455 which states GM is still investigating the issue. Truck was returned to me - very concerning to have truck saying

2024 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT

am writing to formally report a serious safety issue with my Volkswagen Atlas. The SOS system is malfunctioning, and as a result, I am unable to use cruise control. The vehicle is displaying system er

2025 TESLA MODEL Y Crash

On January 28, 2026, the vehicle (a Tesla Model Y) was operating with the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system actively engaged in normal highway traffic conditions. Without any prior warning messages, chim

2017 HONDA ACCORD

The multifunction ADAS camera module failed due to "Internal Error" at only 9 years old. This means that critical safety systems such as automatic emergency braking/lane keep assist malfunctioned and

2026 HYUNDAI PALISADE

On at least 8 occasions, the vehicle has issued a warning to take control now of the vehicle and then begun to stop the vehicle. On 2/16/26, it tried to stop the vehicle on two occasions, and the dri

2018 HONDA ODYSSEY

The multipurpose camera that works to provide all the safety features failed In less than 8 years. These should be lasting for the life of the vehicle. There should be a recall for this.

2024 TESLA CYBERTRUCK

Since the release of V14, the Full Self-Driving (FSD) system automatically defaults to operating approximately 7 MPH above the posted speed limit. This occurs on all road types, including city streets

2025 PORSCHE CAYENNE

The attached photos show several instances where the car’s safety systems failed. These cases have been erratic, and begin and end frequently. The car is under warranty, but my dealer cannot discern

2025 TOYOTA GR COROLLA

The car showed a message that there is a system error and many warning lights came on, including the check engine light. Most of the warning lights indicated that many of the car's ADAS functions w

2018 PORSCHE MACAN

Engine failure

2025 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

On two separate long trips (over 4,000 miles total in recent months), the adaptive cruise control system has failed while driving on the freeway. This is the most dangerous situation I have ever exper

2025 HYUNDAI KONA

While the cruise is set, traveling on I44 with no other car in front of my Kona, the adaptive cruise control will start to flash and apply brakes immediately. The speed will drop instantly. Thankfully

2022 JEEP WAGONEER

Car software automatic update and sensor stuff not workin at all when some thing happen & Dealer Can’t fix that problem need to priority service from NHTSA

2018 TESLA MODEL 3

There is no checkbox for Full Self Driving (Supervised): 3 times in the last 4 weeks, my Tesla has become impatient at long red lights and lurches out into the intersection. I am very concerned becaus

2022 TESLA MODEL Y

On December 30th, 2025, my wife experienced a serious and unexpected safety event while using Autosteer in one of our Tesla Model Y cars (we own two of them). The version of the vehicle software in us

2019 HONDA ACCORD

All light come on brake system, ACC, road migration, collision migration, hill start assist problem, Vehicle stability system, electrical power steering, and it will not go when at a light. Almost cau

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control issues?
The NHTSA has received 6,676 complaints about forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control problems across 436 vehicle models from 47 manufacturers.
How dangerous are forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control defects?
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL issues have been linked to 278 crashes, 23 fires, 242 injuries, and 102 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control issues is the TESLA MODEL Y with 1,181 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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