Component

SERVICE BRAKES

73,857 NHTSA complaints about service brakes issues across 63 makes and 1409 models.

The service brakes is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 73,857 filings from 63 manufacturers and 1409 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 7,997 crashes, 723 fires, 4,187 injuries, and 111 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 with 2,892 filings, followed by RAM 2500 and FORD FUSION. 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.

73,857
Complaints
1409
Models Affected
7,997
Crashes
723
Fires
111
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 2,892
2 RAM 2500 2,254
3 FORD FUSION 2,157
4 FORD F-150 1,980
5 TOYOTA PRIUS 1,939
6 FORD EDGE 1,754
7 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 1,474
8 GMC SIERRA 1500 1,189
9 CHEVROLET MALIBU 1,068
10 HONDA ACCORD 1,048
11 FORD WINDSTAR 929
12 RAM 1500 925
13 HYUNDAI SONATA 877
14 TOYOTA CAMRY 865
15 FORD ESCAPE 810
16 CHEVROLET TAHOE 804
17 HONDA CR-V 783
18 RAM 3500 710
19 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 708
20 DODGE JOURNEY 666
21 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 661
22 JEEP CHEROKEE 650
23 JEEP WRANGLER 649
24 NISSAN ROGUE 617
25 HONDA ODYSSEY 583
26 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 571
27 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 561
28 NISSAN ARMADA 558
29 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 554
30 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID 554

Recent Complaints

2008 KIA SORENTO

My ABS sent codes saying there's moisture in the ABS Module,Brake Light Switch may malfunction are cause Accidents due to malfunction of Brake Lights...

2023 ACURA MDX Crash

1) I was struck by a vehicle that ran the stop sign at 50mph. After the impact my vehicle continued rolling forward and wouldn’t stop. I ended up a block away from the accident and my emergency brak

2018 RAM 2500

This has been a recall for almost 2 yrs now and the dealer is saying no parts available. There are 1000s of RAM trucks driving around waiting for parts. A simple google search shows there are parts

2025 FORD BRONCO Crash

on Jan 15, 2025. A cold start for the Bronco, putting in reverse, the vehicle lurched back and to the hard right, uncommanded acceleration at a high rate of speed, steering locked up, brakes locked u

2015 JEEP WRANGLER

My ABS Modules Code C2200 and cruise control does not function. Chrysler states they are not replacing the malfunctioning part nor will they make a new part to purchase.

2024 TOYOTA RAV4 Crash

On 12/24/25 I was pulling into a parking space, took foot off accelerator to brake and vehicle suddenly accelerated and engine revved. I kept pushing the brake, but the vehicle kept lurching forward

2018 RAM 2500

ABS system doesnt work. no update on recall c4b. have had this issue since 2023

2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

ABS warning light came on and brakes starting acting strange. The brake pedal was soft and was hard to depress. I took it to dealer and they checked codes and comfirmed the vehicle has serval codes.

2022 JEEP GRAND WAGONEER

Travelling with my young daughter on the Freeway at Freeway speeds at 9pm (nighttime). The entire vehicle just shut down. EVERYTHING - completely dark. Steering went out. Brakes went out. I had

2023 CHEVROLET TAHOE

Since 15,394 miles vehicle has experience multiple system failures upon vehicle startup. 2/24, 2/25, 12/25, 1/26. In all of these 4 instances the brakes become spongy/hard, steering wheel locks, and I

2010 FORD FUSION

The brakes went almost completely out- having to push the pedal all the way to the floor. All ABS and braking lights illuminated in the dash. There is limited stopping power. The car has become undriv

2006 NISSAN XTERRA

I have a lot of ticking and stalling lights are blinking I think it’s may be the transmission and I smell gas inside the vehicle.

2024 JEEP GRAND WAGONEER

Late last year I reported that while towing a trailer, the dash indicated that the trailer had disconnected from the trailer as looking back I noticed the lights were off when the vehicle lights were

2014 JEEP WRANGLER

My ABS module failed, which is a very well know issue with the 2014 to 2018 models. When the ABS module failed I was driving the vehicle and it went into fail safe mode while I was on the freeway serv

2015 TOYOTA PRIUS

Inferior brake system on 2015 Prius master brake cylinder and vacuum booster. Extended warranty issues identified by Toyota for 10 years or 150, 000 miles. I bought my Prius used in 2021 with 92,000 m

2015 BMW 328I

My 2015 BMW 328i has a broken "plastic" parking brake cable bracket. It breaks so often on the BMW lineup of cars that businesses have made better work-arounds to fix the problem than a plastic part.

2023 VOLKSWAGEN TAOS

I was driving home from work in rush hour so traffic was pretty heavy and all of the sudden my gas pedal would not accelerate my car at all. I was cruising at 8-10 MPH as it was stop and go traffic. A

2025 FORD BRONCO

I have experienced three total brake failures in my 2025 Ford Bronco. During the most recent incident on 2-18-2026 the brake pedal traveled completely to the floorboard, requiring extreme force and mu

2023 HYUNDAI TUCSON

All systems warning lights came on

2017 RAM 2500

The HCU for my truck failed and was replaced 6/25/2021. It failed again 12/2024 but before it could be replaced a recal for the HCU came out with the warning "The loss of ABS/ESC/Traction control may

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve service brakes issues?
The NHTSA has received 73,857 complaints about service brakes problems across 1409 vehicle models from 63 manufacturers.
How dangerous are service brakes defects?
SERVICE BRAKES issues have been linked to 7,997 crashes, 723 fires, 4,187 injuries, and 111 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most service brakes problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for service brakes issues is the CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 with 2,892 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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