Component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
18 NHTSA complaints about power train:automatic transmission:control module:software issues across 8 makes and 14 models.
The power train:automatic transmission:control module:software is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 18 filings from 8 manufacturers and 14 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, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD F-150 with 4 filings, followed by FORD FIESTA and RAM 1500. 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 F-150 | 4 |
| 2 | FORD FIESTA | 2 |
| 3 | RAM 1500 | 1 |
| 4 | MERCEDES-BENZ S 580 | 1 |
| 5 | KIA SELTOS | 1 |
| 6 | HYUNDAI SONATA | 1 |
| 7 | HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC | 1 |
| 8 | FORD FOCUS | 1 |
| 9 | FORD F-250 | 1 |
| 10 | FORD ESCAPE | 1 |
| 11 | DODGE DART | 1 |
| 12 | CADILLAC SRX | 1 |
| 13 | CADILLAC ESCALADE | 1 |
| 14 | BUICK VERANO | 1 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated while driving approximately 55-60 MPH, the transmission seized in neutral(N). The contact had experienced the failure four times. The contact sta
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The âWRENCHâ symbol was
See attached document for complaint
The contact's son owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while her son was driving 35 MPH, the vehicle downshifted unexpectedly and lurched forward, causing the rear tires to skid. There was no wa
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving at 10 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff without any warning, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle d
The contact's daughter owns a 2013 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while her daughter was attempting to reverse out of a parking spot, the vehicle failed to respond with the engine revving. There
The contact owns a 2015 Buick Verano. The contact stated when she attempted to shift the gear into reverse however the lever would not shift. Once the contact was able to shift the lever, it felt lose
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the transmission shifted earlier than designed to shift and the vehicle started shaking abnormally. There we
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 1500. The contact stated while accelerating from a stop sign, the vehicle stalled and the "selector switch" knob went from drive to park then back to drive. The contact tur
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz S580. The contact stated while driving at 60 MPH, the contact pressed a button on the steering wheel to engage the cruise control function on the vehicle. The con
Was driving along a curvy road when it suddenly down shifted and I had no safe place to get off the road. I continued to try and get to a safe place and then it went in to neutral and couldn't move a
The contact owns a 2010 Cadillac SRX. The contact received NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V473000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the ma
The car suddenly couldn't move in reverse gear or any other forward gear except 1st gear. It is definitely very risky especially if you were on the highway, car cannot move faster than 10 mph. The che
On numerous occasions when trying to accelerate to merge into traffic, the throttle does not respond to the request for multiple seconds, then power is returned and truck lunges. This has caused mergi
10R180 dropping from 10th gear to 5th gear when cruise is set and accelerator is pressed Truck will set advanced traction control warning off and slam so hard into 5th gear you are destructed looking
Driving on a busy 4 lane highway where everyone was going over 70mph. Car began to shudder in the transmission and lost most of its power. Rpms went up to 3 or 4 thousand when stepping on gas to pull
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while merging onto a highway at 50 MPH, the vehicle independently decelerated to 30 MPH and shifted into limp mode. The contact stated t
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V050000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVA
Related Vehicle Components
Learn More
Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve power train:automatic transmission:control module:software issues? ▼
How dangerous are power train:automatic transmission:control module:software defects? ▼
Which vehicles have the most power train:automatic transmission:control module:software problems? ▼
Where does PlainCars get its safety data? ▼
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.