Component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
1,149 NHTSA complaints about power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl) issues across 43 makes and 307 models.
The power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl) is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 1,149 filings from 43 manufacturers and 307 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 146 crashes, 11 fires, 72 injuries, and 2 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD EXPLORER with 46 filings, followed by DODGE DAKOTA and FORD CONTOUR. 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 EXPLORER | 46 |
| 2 | DODGE DAKOTA | 45 |
| 3 | FORD CONTOUR | 35 |
| 4 | FORD F-150 | 33 |
| 5 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 30 |
| 6 | FORD TAURUS | 28 |
| 7 | DODGE CARAVAN | 25 |
| 8 | FORD WINDSTAR | 24 |
| 9 | FORD EXPEDITION | 23 |
| 10 | DODGE RAM 2500 | 20 |
| 11 | FORD ESCAPE | 17 |
| 12 | DODGE INTREPID | 17 |
| 13 | DODGE DURANGO | 15 |
| 14 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 14 |
| 15 | HONDA ACCORD | 14 |
| 16 | MERCURY SABLE | 13 |
| 17 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 13 |
| 18 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 13 |
| 19 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 12 |
| 20 | FORD AEROSTAR | 12 |
| 21 | MERCURY MYSTIQUE | 10 |
| 22 | ISUZU RODEO | 10 |
| 23 | DODGE RAM 1500 | 10 |
| 24 | DODGE RAM | 10 |
| 25 | CHEVROLET SILVERADO | 10 |
| 26 | BUICK CENTURY | 10 |
| 27 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 9 |
| 28 | KIA SEPHIA | 9 |
| 29 | FORD ESCORT | 9 |
| 30 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 9 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2025 Freightliner M2. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH and driving over a bump, the contactâs leg struck the gear shifter, shifting the gear shifter into neutral. T
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the â4WD Service Unavailableâ warning light was illuminated and failed to turn off. The contact stated that there was oil leaking fro
Please see attachment:
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the gear shifter was stuck in park(P). The contact stated that the failure occurred while the temperature was hot. The contact stated after
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the shift to park message was displayed. The vehicle failed to recognize the gear that transmission was shifted into. The message âSteerin
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in a parking bay with a small inclination, the shift gear was shifted into park, however, the shift gear did not f
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked violently and downshifted unexpectedly to first gear. The shifting lights began to flas
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated the gear shift/rotary dial had seized in place. The vehicle failed to shift into park, and the key failed to release from the ignition switch. Whil
The contactâs daughter owns a 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that on several occasions when shifted to park(P), the gear shift indicator failed to show the vehicle in park(P). The co
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while the vehicle was in the driveway, the vehicle was shifted into park and the parking brake message was illuminated. The contact
The vehicle was driven into the garage, driver pressed park then engine stop. Driver and passenger exited vehicle, opened both rear doors and retrieved items from the rear seats. Closed rear doors. N
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, there was a popping sound detected. The vehicle veered to the left, lost control, and crashed into an unknown Jee
The contact owns a 2015 Chrysler 200. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the parking brake message was displayed. The driver checked the brakes and continued driving. There was an abnormal beepi
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while shifting the vehicle into reverse, the gear indicator failed to display the gear position. The contact stated that after restarting the veh
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the gear shift knob was seized on several occasions. After waiting for hours, the gear shifter was able to operate as needed. There were no
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was utilizing the shifter knob, she cut her hand on the chrome shifting knob. The chrome edge was very sharp. There were no
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the windshield wipers were in the on position, the wipers went off the vehicle and had to be pushed back into place. There was an u
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the shifter selector assembly had sharp edges. There were sharp edges on the side of the dial. The contact sustained injuries to her finger
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact started the vehicle, and the power train malfunction indicator lamp warning light illuminated. Th
Please note this was in our driveway and we have a video of the incident. Driver parked the car on slight hill and engaged the parking break and exited the vehicle. The car was still "On". Driver open
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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.