Component

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

524 NHTSA complaints about power train:driveline:constant velocity joint issues across 34 makes and 191 models.

The power train:driveline:constant velocity joint is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 524 filings from 34 manufacturers and 191 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 17 crashes, 3 fires, 9 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD TAURUS with 36 filings, followed by VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT and JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. 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.

524
Complaints
191
Models Affected
17
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD TAURUS 36
2 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 20
3 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 18
4 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 16
5 HONDA ACCORD 14
6 MERCURY SABLE 13
7 MAZDA PROTEGE 13
8 HONDA CIVIC 13
9 DODGE DURANGO 13
10 DODGE DAKOTA 11
11 DODGE CARAVAN 10
12 DODGE INTREPID 8
13 TOYOTA CAMRY 7
14 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 7
15 FORD WINDSTAR 7
16 FORD EXPLORER 7
17 FORD CONTOUR 7
18 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 6
19 TOYOTA COROLLA 6
20 SUBARU LEGACY 6
21 FORD FOCUS 6
22 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 6
23 CHEVROLET S10 6
24 SUBARU OUTBACK 5
25 EAGLE PREMIER 5
26 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 5
27 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 5
28 SUBARU GL 4
29 PONTIAC LEMANS 4
30 MERCURY VILLAGER 4

Recent Complaints

2024 TOYOTA TUNDRA

The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving uphill at approximately 10 MPH, a loud abnormal sound was coming from the bottom of the vehicle. The contact merged to the

2020 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that there was an abnormal winding noise detected while accelerating. The failure increased over time. While the contact’s husband was d

2015 BMW X5

The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 65 MPH, the front driveshaft detached and damaged the transmission. The contact stated that no warning light was illu

2016 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PRECISION TOYOTA OF TUCSON (520-795-5565, 700 W WETMORE RD, TUCSON, AZ 85705) FOR ROUTINE SERVICE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT

2008 BMW X3

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW X3. THE CONTACT RECENTLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LAUDERDAL

2007 DODGE CHARGER

2007 DODGE CHARGER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STALLING ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL AND WOULD STALL ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE

2005 NISSAN MURANO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MURANO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR DOOR LOCKS COULD NOT BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REMOTE CONTROL KEY LOCK WAS ALS

2007 HONDA CIVIC

POPPING NOISE WHILE TURNING AT 5,268 MILES. REPLACED TWO TIRES AT 19,785 MILES. NEED A FRONT END AXLE REPLACEMENT AT 31,839. DIAGNOSED AND ADJUSTED TORQUED REAR SUSPENSION NOISE AT 60,136. REPLAC

2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

THROTTLE BODY GOES OUT (02-03-2009) CV AXEL GOES OUT (03-31-2009 BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT (02-18-2010) CV AXEL GOES OUT AGAIN (4-31-2010) ALTERNATOR GOES OUT (06-21-2010) IGNITION COILS FAIL (09-13-20

2011 HONDA ODYSSEY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIA

2008 MAZDA MAZDASPEED3

2008 MAZDA 3. CONSUMER STATES PERSISTENT CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE SUSPENSION AND TWO OF ENGINE MOUNTS ARE COMING LOOSE *TGW THE DEALER DETERMINED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR SHOCKS AND REPLACED

2003 KIA OPTIMA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCHES ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY; THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS TO GET IN

2008 SCION XB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SCION XB. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY HIS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THAT

2008 FORD TAURUS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND ACCELER

2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BRAKING FROM SPEEDS OF 5 MPH THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ENGAGED, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE BY APPROXIMATELY SEVEN FEET. THE DEALER

2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 1 MPH DURING SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZE

2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT END CV JOINT BOOT ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE

2007 KIA RIO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA RIO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE F

2004 SUBARU OUTBACK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBURU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED FROM OVERDRIVE TO FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN T

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

THE EPC LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME, EVEN AFTER BEING FIXED. THE WINDOW REGULATORS BREAK. THE BATTERY HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE CV BOOT BROKE. *TR

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve power train:driveline:constant velocity joint issues?
The NHTSA has received 524 complaints about power train:driveline:constant velocity joint problems across 191 vehicle models from 34 manufacturers.
How dangerous are power train:driveline:constant velocity joint defects?
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT issues have been linked to 17 crashes, 3 fires, 9 injuries, and 1 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most power train:driveline:constant velocity joint problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for power train:driveline:constant velocity joint issues is the FORD TAURUS with 36 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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