Component
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
5,449 NHTSA complaints about power train:manual transmission issues across 51 makes and 632 models.
The power train:manual transmission is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 5,449 filings from 51 manufacturers and 632 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 132 crashes, 47 fires, 71 injuries, and 13 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD MUSTANG with 192 filings, followed by JEEP WRANGLER and FORD TAURUS. 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 MUSTANG | 192 |
| 2 | JEEP WRANGLER | 148 |
| 3 | FORD TAURUS | 146 |
| 4 | HONDA CIVIC | 137 |
| 5 | VOLKSWAGEN JETTA | 109 |
| 6 | MAZDA RX-8 | 104 |
| 7 | FORD WINDSTAR | 103 |
| 8 | FORD EXPLORER | 102 |
| 9 | FORD RANGER | 83 |
| 10 | MITSUBISHI 3000GT | 77 |
| 11 | HYUNDAI TIBURON | 76 |
| 12 | TOYOTA MATRIX | 65 |
| 13 | MAZDA 626 | 63 |
| 14 | DODGE CARAVAN | 63 |
| 15 | FORD F-150 | 61 |
| 16 | SATURN SL | 59 |
| 17 | HONDA ACCORD | 59 |
| 18 | FORD FOCUS | 59 |
| 19 | NISSAN ALTIMA | 58 |
| 20 | NISSAN 350Z | 58 |
| 21 | CHEVROLET CAVALIER | 56 |
| 22 | MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE | 52 |
| 23 | SUZUKI VZR1800 | 50 |
| 24 | DODGE DAKOTA | 50 |
| 25 | DODGE INTREPID | 48 |
| 26 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 46 |
| 27 | TOYOTA TACOMA | 44 |
| 28 | DODGE RAM 3500 | 44 |
| 29 | CHEVROLET CAMARO | 41 |
| 30 | NISSAN MAXIMA | 40 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the clutch in the manual transmission vehicle briefly failed to engage, disabling the ability to
The contact owns a 2023 Honda CBR650R Motorcycle. The contact stated that while the motorcycle was parked, the contact observed that the gear shifter was loose and sliding back and forth. The motorcyc
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback. The contact stated that while approaching a stop light, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the clutch pedal; however, while attempting to relea
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the clutch pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. Additionally, the gear shifter had seized. The ve
See attached document for complaint
See attached document for complaint
This car has a standard transmission and a hydraulic clutch. The synchronizer for low gear lets it pop back out of gear. This is extremely dangerous if you are pulling out into a busy lane of traffic.
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated while at a stop light and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated with the traction control warning light illuminated. The contact st
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH and attempting to shift the manual transmission from first to second gear, the transmission failed, and the cl
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The contact stated that his wife smelled like the b
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH and shifting to a higher gear, he attempted to depress the clutch pedal; however, the pedal was flat aga
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that a relative was driving the vehicle at approximately 55 MPH and the vehicle started losing motive power. The relative noticed an abnormal
I have 100 miles on my 2022 Honda Grom motorcycle. At around 50 miles it began making a noise it in 4th and 5th gear. I am worried that the noise in those gears may be causing other issues to my gearb
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in his garage with the engine off, the contact turned on the accessory switch which caused the engine t
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN HER GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE GARAGE DOWN A HILL ONTO A DIRT ROAD WHILE HER SON WAS IN THE V
I HAVE A 2019 CHALLENGER R/T WITH THE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT HAS A PROBLEM WHERE IT WILL POP OUT OF FIRST GEAR INTERMITTENTLY AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER 7 TIMES IN THE 7 MONTHS I HAVE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANUALLY SHIFT INTO THIRD OR FOURTH GEAR ON A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. TH
INFINITI G35 SEDAN 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION - UP REV - VQ35DE OIL CONSUMPTION IS BEYOND SAFE AND OPERATIONAL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. INITIALLY CAR ENGINE SEIZED AFTER 3000 MILES OF DRI
THE HONDA CIVIC WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SET WHEN IT WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. A FEW HOURS LATER THE CAR ALARM WAS GOING OFF AND WHEN I WENT TO LOOK TO SE
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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.