Component

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

761 NHTSA complaints about power train:axle assembly:axle shaft:seal issues across 36 makes and 225 models.

The power train:axle assembly:axle shaft:seal is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 761 filings from 36 manufacturers and 225 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 15 crashes, 3 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the NISSAN TITAN with 104 filings, followed by FORD EXPLORER and DODGE RAM. 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.

761
Complaints
225
Models Affected
15
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 NISSAN TITAN 104
2 FORD EXPLORER 46
3 DODGE RAM 16
4 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER 14
5 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 14
6 FORD F-150 13
7 CADILLAC CTS 13
8 FORD F-250 12
9 DODGE RAM 2500 12
10 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 12
11 HONDA ACCORD 11
12 FORD F250 11
13 CHEVROLET TAHOE 11
14 DODGE DAKOTA 10
15 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 10
16 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 10
17 FORD TAURUS 9
18 CHEVROLET BLAZER 9
19 PONTIAC SOLSTICE 8
20 JEEP CHEROKEE 8
21 FORD RANGER 8
22 CHEVROLET S10 8
23 JEEP WRANGLER 7
24 DODGE CARAVAN 7
25 CADILLAC STS 7
26 PONTIAC GRAND AM 6
27 GMC SIERRA 6
28 CHEVROLET MALIBU 6
29 CHEVROLET CAMARO 6
30 LINCOLN TOWN CAR 5

Recent Complaints

2019 FORD RANGER

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that there was a mixture of fluid and oil inside the rear passenger’s side wheel, and onto the brake calipers and the rear axle. The dealer de

2008 FORD EDGE

The contact owned a 2008 Ford Edge. The contact stated that the while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently vibrated and jumped. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was

2021 JEEP GLADIATOR

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired under Manufacturer Recall Number: 26A for the right rear axle shaft; and the dealer det

2015 FORD FOCUS

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that when she started the vehicle, the clutch intermittently started to shake. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dea

2017 HONDA CIVIC

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for an oil change and the contact was informed by the service tech that there was a lubrication l

2019 VOLVO VNL Fire

The contact owned a 2019 Volvo Truck VNL. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated intermittently. The contact stated that while the driver was driving approximately 50 m

2004 ACURA MDX

OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, BEGINNING ABOUT THE DATE AND VEHICLE MILEAGE STATED ABOVE, I EXPERIENCED A SHUDDER AND CORRESPONDING NOISE AS THE TRANSMISSION TRIED TO SHIFT GEARS. SIMILAR TO THE SENSATION OF

2010 FORD ESCAPE

2010 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION AND REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVEL

2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE

IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING MY 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE IN 2006, I BEGIN EXPERIENCING A NOISE IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIR UNTIL FINALLY IN 2007, PONTIAC RECALLE

2007 SATURN SKY

I DELIVERED THE VEHICLE TO BILL FOX CHEVY FOR SERVICING AS DIRECTED BY GM (SATURN) CUSTOMER SERVICE CASE NUMBER [XXX] FOR GRINDING NOISE AND FLUID LEAKING ON THE 2007 SATURN SKY (21433 MILES). THERE

2007 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

2007 CHRYSLER PACIFICA. CONSUMER STATES EXPERIENCE WITH MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AT 2,900 MILES, A SMOKE CONDITION DEVELOPED IN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE. A DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED THE F

2007 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

FAX ON BEHALF OF RE HER 2007 CHRYSLER PACIFICA EXPERIENCING VARIOUS AND SIGNIFICANT MECHANICAL FAILURES; REPLY ATTN CAROLINE WEKSELBAUM/NEW YORK, NY DISTRICT OFFICE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AT 2,900

2010 FORD FUSION

ON OCTOBER 4, 2012, I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 FORD FUSION AROUND 40 M.P.H. ON A FOUR LANE STREET WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED/LOCKED FOR NO REASON. THE ELECTRONIC DISPLAY SAID "POWER STEERING ASSIST FA

2004 JEEP WRANGLER

2004 JEEP WRANGLER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL ISSUES FOUND DURING INSPECTION AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DAY SHE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED SOME PLAY I

2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND THE FRONT TIRES WEAR PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEAL

2005 CADILLAC STS

REAR DIFFERENTIAL VERY WET AND LEAKING IN GARAGE. CALLED GM WAS ASK SEVERAL QUESTIONS AND TOLD TO CARRY IT TO CREST CADILLAC, HOOVER,AL AND LET THEM CHECK PROBLEM. WAS TOLD NOT TO LET THEM FIX IT AND

2006 FORD EXPEDITION

2006 FORD EXPEDITION LIMITED. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS WARRANTY REPAIR DISPUTE AND DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW BEING EXTREMELY SLOW IN THE CLOSING OPERATION *TGW THE DEALER LUBED THE WINDOW AND STAT

2008 NISSAN FRONTIER

2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER REQUEST THAT NHTSA OPEN,OR REOPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE LEAKING OF REAR AXLE SEALS ISSUE, WHICH RESULTS IN AXLE LUBRICANT SPRAYING ONTO AND THUS DISABLING THE BRAKE

2008 NISSAN FRONTIER

2008 NISSAN FRONTIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NHTSA OPENING AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE LEAKING REAR AXLE SEALS WHICH RESULTS IN AXLE LUBRICANT SPRAYING ONTO AND BRAKE DISC AND CALIPER. *TGW THE

2008 CHEVROLET COBALT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET COBALT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STRUTS, CONTROL ARM,

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve power train:axle assembly:axle shaft:seal issues?
The NHTSA has received 761 complaints about power train:axle assembly:axle shaft:seal problems across 225 vehicle models from 36 manufacturers.
How dangerous are power train:axle assembly:axle shaft:seal defects?
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL issues have been linked to 15 crashes, 3 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most power train:axle assembly:axle shaft:seal problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for power train:axle assembly:axle shaft:seal issues is the NISSAN TITAN with 104 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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