Component

POWER TRAIN

127,919 NHTSA complaints about power train issues across 65 makes and 1661 models.

The power train is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 127,919 filings from 65 manufacturers and 1661 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 3,754 crashes, 858 fires, 2,053 injuries, and 59 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD F-150 with 6,760 filings, followed by FORD FOCUS and JEEP 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.

127,919
Complaints
1661
Models Affected
3,754
Crashes
858
Fires
59
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD F-150 6,760
2 FORD FOCUS 5,962
3 JEEP CHEROKEE 4,768
4 FORD ESCAPE 3,880
5 FORD FUSION 2,856
6 FORD EXPLORER 2,251
7 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 2,196
8 NISSAN PATHFINDER 2,144
9 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 1,898
10 NISSAN ALTIMA 1,892
11 FORD EDGE 1,820
12 JEEP WRANGLER 1,705
13 NISSAN ROGUE 1,672
14 HONDA ACCORD 1,641
15 RAM 1500 1,513
16 DODGE RAM 1500 1,466
17 HONDA ODYSSEY 1,454
18 FORD FIESTA 1,405
19 CHEVROLET MALIBU 1,401
20 NISSAN MAXIMA 1,248
21 GMC ACADIA 1,245
22 CHRYSLER PACIFICA 1,177
23 HYUNDAI TUCSON 1,136
24 NISSAN SENTRA 1,125
25 HONDA PILOT 1,040
26 GMC SIERRA 1500 1,030
27 FORD EXPEDITION 1,009
28 KIA SORENTO 967
29 FORD FREESTYLE 947
30 TOYOTA CAMRY 938

Recent Complaints

2014 NISSAN VERSA NOTE

My car has 2 codes, P285 and P0420. When i drive the car and accelerate the car starts to skip. At 1 point in time i was at a stop with my feet on the breaks and i tried to go once the light was green

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 HYUNDAI SONATA Crash

Car was parked, full stop, doors shut, seatbelt on. Foot on brake. Car then seemed to lurch forward by itself forward hitting parking cement block. Put in reverse to back away and car stayed still...t

2015 FORD F-150

truck goes into first gear shifts automatically at any speed

2018 JAGUAR E-PACE

The car shifts into neutral on the freeway.

2024 CHEVROLET COLORADO

upper radiator fitting is leaking, Chevy is replacing the radiator and the hose

2021 TOYOTA C-HR

I was told that the bearing was going out in the transmission. Toyota is charging $11,000 to replace it. Seems to be a common occurrence amongst these vehicles.

2026 GMC SIERRA 1500

Vehicle stalled in busy intersection in McKinney Texas , unable to start are shift into a neutral position on transmission to remove from extreme dangerous intersection, sheriff advised that road sid

2016 FORD F-150

I was driving down the road with the cruise set at 60 mph when I came over the top of a hill and I started to decend down the hill if felt like my truck had down shifted and the back tires locked up a

2014 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, and the vehicle failed to accel

2024 GENESIS GV70

I was entering a highway when my vehicle lost the ability to accelerate. Complete loss of acceleration, audible and visual notifications on my dashboard that were difficult to read as I was dealing wi

2024 JEEP WRANGLER

I was driving my car when it powered down and had an unrecoverable loss of propulsion. It's a miracle I didn't crash and kill myself or anyone else on the road. This aligns with NHTSA Recall Number

2020 INFINITI QX50

I am a [XXX] woman who purchased my first vehicle on December 6, 2024, with 43,000 miles. I have driven fewer than 20,000 miles since purchase, and the vehicle currently has approximately 62,000 mile

2006 NISSAN XTERRA

I have a lot of ticking and stalling lights are blinking I think it’s may be the transmission and I smell gas inside the vehicle.

2017 HONDA RIDGELINE

At 96k miles, the transmission started slipping and juddering. Three warnings appeared: transmission system, emission system, and blind-spot monitoring problems. Also P-D indicator flashing to not dr

2021 CHEVROLET BLAZER

This submission is an additional report related to NHTSA complaint #11714381. At approximately 55,000 miles, my 2021 Chevrolet Blazer experienced a sudden throttle body failure while driving. The veh

2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the transmission. The contact was concerned ab

2024 GMC ACADIA

In the process of taking my daughter to the emergency room I receive a dash notification on my recently purchased 2024 GMC Acadia "car overheating, possible engine failure". My gauges were within nor

2014 DODGE DART

The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (Power Train). The contact several months ago, it became difficult to move the gear shifter fr

2019 FORD F-150

Transmission shifting is erratic at the best times and likes to randomly downshift from 10th gear to 1st gear and having to take drastic action to avoid a serious rear end collision in heavy traffic a

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve power train issues?
The NHTSA has received 127,919 complaints about power train problems across 1661 vehicle models from 65 manufacturers.
How dangerous are power train defects?
POWER TRAIN issues have been linked to 3,754 crashes, 858 fires, 2,053 injuries, and 59 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most power train problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for power train issues is the FORD F-150 with 6,760 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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