Component

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

1,457 NHTSA complaints about fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system issues across 38 makes and 270 models.

The fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 1,457 filings from 38 manufacturers and 270 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 11 crashes, 6 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER with 98 filings, followed by ISUZU RODEO and JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. 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.

1,457
Complaints
270
Models Affected
11
Crashes
6
Fires
0
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 98
2 ISUZU RODEO 87
3 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 63
4 CHEVROLET BLAZER 62
5 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 61
6 GMC ENVOY 33
7 NISSAN PATHFINDER 32
8 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 28
9 CHEVROLET MALIBU 27
10 FORD EXPLORER 25
11 NISSAN TITAN 24
12 CHEVROLET S10 24
13 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 24
14 NISSAN FRONTIER 21
15 JEEP CHEROKEE 21
16 GMC SIERRA 21
17 PONTIAC GRAND AM 20
18 HONDA ACCORD 20
19 CHEVROLET VENTURE 20
20 NISSAN XTERRA 19
21 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 19
22 NISSAN ARMADA 18
23 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 16
24 HONDA PASSPORT 16
25 JEEP WRANGLER 15
26 GMC JIMMY 15
27 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 15
28 FORD FOCUS 13
29 FORD TAURUS 12
30 CHEVROLET TAHOE 12

Recent Complaints

2024 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS

Fuel sending unit not reading properly. Cannot tell when I need to refuel.

2015 HYUNDAI GENESIS

The oil low-pressure warning light is frequently on while the engine is operating from idle to approximately 2,000 rpm. Engine operation is normal, including high performance. Complaints of this condi

2005 NISSAN TITAN

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Titan. The contact stated that the instrument panel fuel gauge indicated that there was fuel in the vehicle but there was no fuel detected in the tank. There were no war

2021 AUDI Q5

The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q5. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, she noticed that after driving several miles, the fuel gauge displayed that the vehicle was full. The contact then

2014 FORD F-250

The recall that expired July 31, 2022 was to fix the reductant heater and sender assembly. I've had this issue ever since I owned this vehicle, but it only occurs when the DEF tank is at half-volume.

1999 DODGE RAM

The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated he noticed a strong odor of gasoline inside the vehicle and the gasoline was leaking from the fuel pump. The contact stated he diagnosed the

2016 FORD EDGE

CARS ONLY AT 43K MILES AND CONSTANTLY STALLS. TAKES 10 MINUTES TO START. GAS TANK MAKES WEIRD VIBRATING NOISE AND MY GAS MILEAGE ON FULL TANK WILL GO FROM 330 TO E TO 160 TO E IN 15 SECONDS. MY WINDOW

2013 FORD FOCUS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY PAST 85 MILES UNTIL EMPTY. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNI

2010 TOYOTA YARIS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO ILLUSTRATE THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE STALL DUE TO A LACK OF FUEL. THE CONTACT STATED NO

2016 FORD FOCUS

VEHICLE HAS A INACCURATE FUEL GAUGE AND HESITATES WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE AND HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THIS IS ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME AND IS MOST COMMON AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK.

2014 PORSCHE CAYENNE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 PORSCHE CAYENNE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TRANSFER CASE SLIPPED. PORSCHE OF NEW ORLEANS (3700 N CAUSEWAY BOULEVARD, METAIRIE, LOUISIANA 70002, (504) 832-2112

2013 NISSAN SENTRA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE FUEL GAUGE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGE FLUCTUATED BETWEEN FULL AND EMPTY. THE

2004 GMC SIERRA 1500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF FUEL; HOWEVER, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE TA

2012 HYUNDAI GENESIS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI GENESIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO ACCURATELY DISPLAY

2018 SUBARU OUTBACK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE PUSHING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD, IT ROLLED OVER THE DRIVER'S LEGS. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORT

2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ODOMETER FRAUD. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL WHO DELIBERATELY MISREPRESENTED THE MILEAGE. THE S

2005 NISSAN TITAN

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM RECALL FOR 2005 NISSAN TITAN - NISSAN CLEARLY HAS A RECALL FOR THE 2005 NISSAN TITAN FUEL GAUGE THAT IS NOT DISPLAYING CORRECTLY. UPON CONTACTING NISSAN,

2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODER EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED INCORRECTLY. THE VEHI

2007 NISSAN XTERRA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN XTERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO DISPLAY THE ACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL SE

2012 BUICK ENCLAVE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK ENCLAVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR WOULD DISPLAY INACCURATE FUEL LEVELS AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TA

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system issues?
The NHTSA has received 1,457 complaints about fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system problems across 270 vehicle models from 38 manufacturers.
How dangerous are fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system defects?
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM issues have been linked to 11 crashes, 6 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for fuel system, other:storage:fuel gauge system issues is the CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER with 98 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.

Verify with FDA →