Component
PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT
64 NHTSA complaints about parking brake:indicator light issues across 22 makes and 50 models.
The parking brake:indicator light is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 64 filings from 22 manufacturers and 50 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 2 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD WINDSTAR with 9 filings, followed by HONDA ACCORD and FORD EXPLORER. 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 WINDSTAR | 9 |
| 2 | HONDA ACCORD | 3 |
| 3 | FORD EXPLORER | 3 |
| 4 | TOYOTA SEQUOIA | 2 |
| 5 | DODGE RAM 1500 | 2 |
| 6 | WORKHORSE P320032 | 1 |
| 7 | VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 1 |
| 8 | VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE | 1 |
| 9 | TOYOTA TACOMA | 1 |
| 10 | TOYOTA T100 | 1 |
| 11 | TOYOTA 4RUNNER | 1 |
| 12 | SUZUKI AERIO | 1 |
| 13 | SUBARU LEGACY | 1 |
| 14 | SAAB 900 | 1 |
| 15 | NISSAN MAXIMA | 1 |
| 16 | MERCURY SABLE | 1 |
| 17 | MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS | 1 |
| 18 | MAZDA B-SERIES TRUCK | 1 |
| 19 | LEXUS LS430 | 1 |
| 20 | LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II | 1 |
| 21 | KIA SEDONA | 1 |
| 22 | JEEP LAREDO | 1 |
| 23 | JEEP COMPASS | 1 |
| 24 | HONDA PRELUDE | 1 |
| 25 | HONDA ODYSSEY | 1 |
| 26 | GMC SONOMA | 1 |
| 27 | FORD THUNDERBIRD | 1 |
| 28 | FORD FOCUS | 1 |
| 29 | FORD F150 | 1 |
| 30 | FORD F-150 | 1 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle would not properly accelerate. After several minutes the vehicle accelerated at a high speed with the check e
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the parking brake light was illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the
THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BREAK DOES NOT WORK ON MY AUTOMATIC WHEN I PARK ON AN INCLINE IT JUST BEEP'S AND FLASHES BREAK ON DASHBOARD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHRYSLER 200. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED LIQUID LEAKING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE AREA AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN AD
I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND SUDDENLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT, THE ABS LIGHT, THE TRACTION LIGHT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE ODOMETER, AND DASHBOARD FUEL INFO SYSTEM DIDN'T WORK, THE SPEEDOMETE
BOTH THE ABS LIGHT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT COME ON IN MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR ONCE THE VEHICLE GETS WARMED UP. I HAVE CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AFTER HAVING A MECHANIC GIVE ME THE CODE THAT THE
PARKING BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON. VEHICLE IS SLUGGISH. BRAKES ARE SQUEALING. *TR
MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR HAS BROKEN BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT COIL SPRINGS. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, MY ABS AND REGULAR BRAKE LIGHT WON'T GO AWAY EVEN AFTER SERVICING. MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEEPS COM
MY AUTOMOBILE KEEPS GETTING MULTIPLE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND ABS ERRORS. THE LIGHTS COME ON AND REMAINS ON UNTIL TURNED OFF. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM IT APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE WITH FORD WI
I OWN A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR AND THE ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND DISABLING THE ABS SYSTEM AND THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE LIGHT THAT INDICATES THE PARKING BRAKE IS ACTIVATED WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND
I BOUGHT MY WIFE A 2000 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, AND IT HAS SHUT OFF WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING, PUTTING HER IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, WITH NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT...NOTHING, LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON WH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE 1500. THE TAIL LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE RELAY FOR THE FUSES WERE BURNED AND COULD NOT FIND THE PART TO MAKE THE REPAI
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) INDICATOR, VSA ACTIVATION INDICATOR, VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA) SYSTEM INDICATOR, PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP INSTRUMENT P
MY AUTOMOBILE KEEPS GETTING MULTIPLE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND ABS ERRORS. THE LIGHTS COME ON MULTIPLE TIMES DAILY. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM IT APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE WITH FORD WINDSTARS 200
I HAVE A 1999 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AND MY ABS LIGHT AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHT HAS CAME ON RECENTLY. THE BRAKING ON MY TRUCK IS NOT VERY GOOD IN WET CONDITIONS. I FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON CHE
VSC/ABS SKID CONTROL ECU FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THAT MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED 2 WD 53,500 MILES NEEDS A NEW ABS COMPUTER AT A COST OF $3,600. APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO I HAD THE EXA
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION ON MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR VAN. MY ABS AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT RANDOMLY COME ON, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I CAN SIT AND LET MY CAR IDLE, AND THE LIGHT WILL CO
VEHICLE WAS OFF AND PARKED. SMOKE FROM UNDER VEHICLE. DISCONNECTED BATTERY TO STOP FIRE. FIRE AT THE CONNECTION OF THE ABS COMPUTER AT SITE OF TWO 40 AMP CIRCUIT CONNECTIONS CAUSED ABS SYSTEM TO STO
EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN COMING ON RANDOMLY FROM TIME TO TIME. IT THEN BEGAN TO COME ON WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND WILL STAY ON WHILE BACKING OUT AND THEN TURN OFF WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED IN DRI
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.