Component
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
915 NHTSA complaints about fuel system, gasoline:carburetor system issues across 39 makes and 242 models.
The fuel system, gasoline:carburetor system is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 915 filings from 39 manufacturers and 242 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 12 crashes, 50 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD CROWN VICTORIA with 53 filings, followed by MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS and BUICK LESABRE. 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 CROWN VICTORIA | 53 |
| 2 | MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS | 47 |
| 3 | BUICK LESABRE | 33 |
| 4 | FORD MUSTANG | 28 |
| 5 | LINCOLN TOWN CAR | 25 |
| 6 | PONTIAC GRAND AM | 23 |
| 7 | FORD EXPLORER | 23 |
| 8 | PONTIAC BONNEVILLE | 21 |
| 9 | CHEVROLET LUMINA | 20 |
| 10 | JEEP WRANGLER | 16 |
| 11 | TOYOTA TERCEL | 15 |
| 12 | FORD THUNDERBIRD | 15 |
| 13 | FORD TAURUS | 15 |
| 14 | FORD WINDSTAR | 14 |
| 15 | CHEVROLET MALIBU | 14 |
| 16 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 11 |
| 17 | OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS | 10 |
| 18 | CHEVROLET S10 | 10 |
| 19 | DODGE RAM | 9 |
| 20 | DODGE DAKOTA | 9 |
| 21 | OLDSMOBILE 88 | 8 |
| 22 | MERCURY SABLE | 8 |
| 23 | MERCURY COUGAR | 8 |
| 24 | FORD F-150 | 8 |
| 25 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 7 |
| 26 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 7 |
| 27 | MERCURY VILLAGER | 7 |
| 28 | HONDA ACCORD | 7 |
| 29 | FORD RANGER | 7 |
| 30 | FORD ESCORT | 7 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was stiff. The contact pulled to the side of the
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE O
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EDGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE WAS A STRONG BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CARBURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED AND WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO READ INACCURATE FUEL LEVELS. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER THE CONTACT WA
RELATED TO JAGUAR SERVICE ACTION PUBLICATION NUMBER 303-S514, "THROTTLE CLOSED POSITION OPERATION" THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT FOR JAGUAR. IN THE JAGUAR SERVICE BULLETIN, JAGUAR STATES "UNDER EXCEPTIONAL
CAR STALLS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK NOW WINDOW WANT ROLL UP. *TR
1998 MERCURY VILLAGER PURCHASED USED IN 2003. IDLE THROTTLE BODY FAILED IN 2006, MERCURY DEALER TOOK TWO WEEKS TO FIND THE PART AND REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. IDLE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AGAIN IN EARLY 200
WHEN ENGINE IS WARM AND CAR IS AT IDLE (EITHER WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT OR WHEN PARKING BEFORE SHUTDOWN) AND YOU OPEN/CLOSE SUN ROOF AND/OR POWER WINDOWS THE RPMS DIP, CAR SHAKES, AND ENGINE ALMO
SENSOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. CAR ALTERNATIVELY SURGED AND LIMPED ALONG.
I WAS DRIVING THE 2005 DODGE MAGNUM TODAY AND I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING UNTIL IT HIT ABOUT 6000 RPMS. I BRAKED, AND IT HAD
PLEASE NO: I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND DRIVING IN SUMMER I GO TO NORTH CAROLINA. THAT IS WHERE I AM NOW AND CAN BE CONTACTED AT [XXX]. MAIL ADDRESS IS: [XXX]. GOOD MORNING. I DID NOT KNOW IF THIS WAS
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET CHRYSLER TO HONOR ITS RECALLS ON MY 1976 DODGE ASPEN FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. ONE RECALL IN PARTICULAR HAS TO DO WITH REPLACING THE FRONT END BRAKES LINES. LAST NIGHT MY BRAKE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THERE IS A
WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY OUT OF PARKING THE VEHICLE ACCLERATED AT FULL SPEED AND CRASHED INTO TELEPHONE POLE. THE DRIVER DID NOT CAUSE THIS
2001 VOLVO S60 T5 W/MANUAL TRANSMISSION STALLED ABRUPTLY WITH A "REDUCED POWER" MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD COMPUTER DISPLAY WHILE ACCELERATING ON A HIGHWAY ONRAMP. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION,
EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON HAS NEVER GONE OFF SINCE, HIGHLY INCREASED RUNNING NOISE, ENGINE HESITATION THAT AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT CAUSES THE WHOLE CAR TO JERK FAILURE:
DT: 2001 CHEVROLET S10. THE CONSUMER STATED THE THROTTLE POSTED OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A FIVE MINUTE PERIOD. THE FIRST TIME HE THOUGHT THE CRUI
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2001 FORD EXPEDITON, RECENTLY (AUGUST 22,2005) I EXPERIENCED A SPARK PLUG BLOW-OUT IN THIS VEHICLE.I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST OF REPAIR FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, AND THE DANGER
GAS PEDAL STUCK WITH THROTTLE OPEN. CARPET (NOT THE FLOOR MAT, BUT THE CARPET) HAD COME UNHOOKED FROM ITS HOLD DOWN SYSTEM AND WAS JAMMED UNDER THE THROTTLE KEEPING IT OPEN.
THROTTLE STICKS WHEN DRIVING ON CRUSE CONTROL AND UPON START UP AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT. MY GM DELAER BLAMES UPON THE CHEEP BLEND OF FUEL. I WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER MECHANIC THAT GM REPLACED AND REPAIRED
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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.