Component
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
2,750 NHTSA complaints about fuel system, diesel issues across 31 makes and 200 models.
The fuel system, diesel is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,750 filings from 31 manufacturers and 200 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 18 crashes, 45 fires, 22 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the VOLKSWAGEN JETTA with 521 filings, followed by RAM 1500 and FORD F-250. 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 | VOLKSWAGEN JETTA | 521 |
| 2 | RAM 1500 | 297 |
| 3 | FORD F-250 | 126 |
| 4 | FORD F-350 | 124 |
| 5 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 116 |
| 6 | DODGE RAM 2500 | 113 |
| 7 | FORD F-350 SD | 106 |
| 8 | FORD F-550 SD | 105 |
| 9 | FORD F-250 SD | 76 |
| 10 | RAM 2500 | 71 |
| 11 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 | 69 |
| 12 | FORD F-450 SD | 67 |
| 13 | DODGE RAM 3500 | 63 |
| 14 | RAM 3500 | 62 |
| 15 | VOLKSWAGEN GOLF | 55 |
| 16 | FORD E-350 | 50 |
| 17 | BMW X5 | 50 |
| 18 | VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 42 |
| 19 | JEEP LIBERTY | 39 |
| 20 | GMC SIERRA 2500 | 34 |
| 21 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 | 33 |
| 22 | BMW 328D | 32 |
| 23 | FREIGHTLINER FS-65 | 21 |
| 24 | FORD EXCURSION | 21 |
| 25 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO | 19 |
| 26 | BMW X3 | 19 |
| 27 | AUDI A3 | 18 |
| 28 | FORD LCF 450 SERIES | 15 |
| 29 | FORD F SUPER DUTY | 14 |
| 30 | BMW 535D | 13 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owned a 2023 Ford F-250 Super Duty. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the engine seized. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The contact exited the vehicl
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed after the vehicle
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine and loss of power warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the vehicle sputtere
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-250. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel) and 25V686000 (Back Over Prevention). The vehicle was taken to the loc
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-600 SD. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The
The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and w
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V411000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) and 22V406000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL). The contact stated that while
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, there was blue and white smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The c
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 328D. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle entered LIMP Mode with the message "Engine Malfunction" displayed on the instrument panel. The co
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local de
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. While the contact's mother was driving at highway speeds, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact used a code reader and retrieved a
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel), 25V626000 (Steering), and 25V686000 (Back Over Prevention); however,
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. During the failure, the warning message "Reduced Power" was displayed. The contact s
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250 SD. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-550. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The lo
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-550 SD. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal knocking sound, and there was excessive smoke coming from the exhaust pipes, before the v
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH and making a right turn, the vehicle started vibrating and almost stalled. The contact stated that the chec
The contact owns a 2015 Ram ProMaster 2500. The contact stated that the same day that the vehicle was purchased, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after shifting to p
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-350. The contact received a recall letter related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel). The contact was concerned about being involved in a crash. T
Related Vehicle Components
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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.