Component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:GEARS
15 NHTSA complaints about power train:automatic transmission:internal:gears issues across 10 makes and 13 models.
The power train:automatic transmission:internal:gears is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 15 filings from 10 manufacturers and 13 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 FUSION with 3 filings, followed by SUBARU FORESTER and RAM 3500. 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 FUSION | 3 |
| 2 | SUBARU FORESTER | 1 |
| 3 | RAM 3500 | 1 |
| 4 | MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS | 1 |
| 5 | MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250 | 1 |
| 6 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 1 |
| 7 | HONDA PILOT | 1 |
| 8 | FORD EXPLORER | 1 |
| 9 | FORD ESCAPE | 1 |
| 10 | CHEVROLET TRAVERSE | 1 |
| 11 | CHEVROLET SPARK | 1 |
| 12 | CADILLAC SRX | 1 |
| 13 | BUICK ENVISION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and the engine was turned off, the gear shifter shifted into the drive position when the contact's minor [XXX] c
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
See attached document for complaint
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while parking, the vehicle failed to shift to the drive position. The contact opened the hood and pushed the cap back on the bushing. While
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the battery and the traction control system warning lights were illuminated. T
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while shifting out of park(P) into drive(D), the vehicle started jerking. The contact kept the brake pedal depressed and shifted back to pa
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while parking the vehicle on an incline, the transmission inadvertently shifted out of park(P). The contact stated no warning light was illumi
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated she turned on the vehicle, left it on, and exitto close the trunk, but after forcefully closing the trunk, the vehicle began to roll backwar
The contact owns a 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. The contact stated she was turning off the vehicle and shifted gears to park, when exiting the front driver's side, the vehicle began to roll backward
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while his wife was driving through a fast-food drive-thru, she shifted into PARK however, the gear shifted independently into neutral. The conta
The contact owns a 2010 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle began to shift independently into third gear. The contact stated no warning light was illuminate
2020 BUICK ENVISION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAN BE POWERED OFF AND KEY REMOVED WITHOUT BEING SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE TRANSMISSION SEEME
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes Benz CLA 250. The contact stated that the gear shifter failed. The contact stated that the gear shifted into neutral independently when driving at low speeds. The cont
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SPARK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEAR. THE CONTACT SLAMMED THE SHIFTER INTO DRIVE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT S
I WAS DRIVING CAR INTO A PARKING STALL. STOPPED, PUT CAR IN P, TURNED OFF ENGINE AND RELEASE THE FOOT BRAKE...AND THE CAR STARTED ROLLING FORWARD. APPLYING THE FOOT BRAKE STOPPED THE ROLLING, HOWEVER,
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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.