Component
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
2,492 NHTSA complaints about power train:clutch assembly issues across 47 makes and 402 models.
The power train:clutch assembly is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,492 filings from 47 manufacturers and 402 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 35 crashes, 32 fires, 28 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the HYUNDAI TIBURON with 171 filings, followed by FORD FOCUS and VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. 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 | HYUNDAI TIBURON | 171 |
| 2 | FORD FOCUS | 165 |
| 3 | VOLKSWAGEN JETTA | 122 |
| 4 | FORD F-150 | 57 |
| 5 | FORD RANGER | 49 |
| 6 | FORD F-350 | 47 |
| 7 | MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION | 46 |
| 8 | JEEP WRANGLER | 46 |
| 9 | FORD F-250 | 39 |
| 10 | FORD MUSTANG | 37 |
| 11 | MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE | 35 |
| 12 | SUBARU OUTBACK | 34 |
| 13 | TOYOTA MATRIX | 33 |
| 14 | CHEVROLET S10 | 31 |
| 15 | NISSAN 350Z | 29 |
| 16 | MAZDA RX-8 | 28 |
| 17 | SUBARU IMPREZA | 26 |
| 18 | SUBARU FORESTER | 26 |
| 19 | HONDA ACCORD | 26 |
| 20 | DODGE DAKOTA | 26 |
| 21 | HONDA CMX250C | 25 |
| 22 | HONDA CIVIC | 25 |
| 23 | MITSUBISHI LANCER | 24 |
| 24 | FORD EXPLORER | 24 |
| 25 | ISUZU RODEO | 23 |
| 26 | FORD FIESTA | 22 |
| 27 | CHEVROLET CAVALIER | 22 |
| 28 | TOYOTA T100 | 21 |
| 29 | NISSAN ALTIMA | 19 |
| 30 | FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA | 19 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the clutch pedal detached from the brake pedal assembly. Neither an indepe
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered abnormally while attempting to shift gear. There was no warning light illuminated. T
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked, and an abnormal sound was coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the tr
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the transmission was slipping and failed to properly shift into the intended gear. The contact stated that the engine was overheating, causi
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic Si. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the clutch became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the clutch failed, and tr
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that on two occasions while driving approximately 10 MPH, there was an abnormal burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the messages to "Turn Off Vehicle and Let the Clutch Cool Down", "Clutch Hot Performance Limited", and
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission converter clutch was shuddering. The contact stated that the failure persisted. T
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop, the transmission was slipping. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the deal
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated and experienced hard transmission shifts. There was no warning light illuminated. The v
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, another vehicle was driving on the incorrect side of the road coming towards the contact head-on. While att
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an engine misfire, and the transmission was slipping gear. The contact stated there was an alert
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact st
The contact called on behalf of her daughter who owns a 2015 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 45 MPH, while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle started jerking whil
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering as if it would stall, and the vehicle made an abnormal whining sound. The contact stated tha
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The failure occurred on several occasions. No warning light was illuminat
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH on several occasions, the vehicle lost automotive power. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was tak
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact st
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the co
Related Vehicle Components
Learn More
Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve power train:clutch assembly issues? ▼
How dangerous are power train:clutch assembly defects? ▼
Which vehicles have the most power train:clutch assembly 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.