Component

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

480 NHTSA complaints about service brakes, air issues across 44 makes and 228 models.

The service brakes, air is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 480 filings from 44 manufacturers and 228 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 59 crashes, 17 fires, 41 injuries, and 5 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the TOYOTA PRIUS with 24 filings, followed by HONDA ACCORD and KENWORTH T2000. 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.

480
Complaints
228
Models Affected
59
Crashes
17
Fires
5
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 TOYOTA PRIUS 24
2 HONDA ACCORD 19
3 KENWORTH T2000 18
4 HONDA ODYSSEY 17
5 FORD F-150 9
6 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER 8
7 DODGE JOURNEY 8
8 CHEVROLET MALIBU 8
9 VOLVO VN610 7
10 VOLVO 770 7
11 TOYOTA COROLLA 7
12 HONDA ELEMENT 7
13 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 6
14 TOYOTA TUNDRA 6
15 TOYOTA CAMRY 6
16 FREIGHTLINER CONVENTIONAL 6
17 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA 6
18 VOLVO VOLVO TRUCK 5
19 HONDA CIVIC 5
20 FORD FUSION 5
21 VOLVO WIA 4
22 VOLVO VNL 4
23 KENWORTH T600 4
24 FORD WINDSTAR 4
25 FORD FOCUS 4
26 DODGE DURANGO 4
27 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 4
28 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 4
29 VOLVO VNL64T 3
30 TOYOTA SIENNA 3

Recent Complaints

2018 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA

See attached document for complaint.

2022 RAM 2500

The contact owns a 2022 Ram 2500. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V060000 (Electrical System), 24V415000 (Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Service Brakes, Air) and 2

2009 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 Crash

The contact owned a 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL 550.The contact stated that while driving at 15- 20 MPH, the driver in front of him was attempting to turn but swerved to the left in his lane, the brake peda

2022 DODGE DURANGO

The contact owns a 2022 Dodge Durango. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V415000 (Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Service Brakes, Air) however, the part to do the reca

2022 VOLVO VNL

The contact owns a 2022 Volvo VNL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and was unable to accelerate above 10 MPH, after which the low coolant w

2014 DODGE JOURNEY

The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the ABS became disabled. The traction control, ABS, and brake warning lights were illuminated. The l

2015 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the contact became aware that there was fluid leaking from the rear brakes. The brake warning light was i

2010 TOYOTA PRIUS

The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Prius. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was firm and difficult to depress. The contact stated that that

2022 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA

The contact owns a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V817000 (Service Brakes, Air, Forward Collision Avoidance) however, the part to do the reca

2023 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the downhill assist, traction control, auto stop, blind spot, and ABS warning lights illuminated.

2011 TOYOTA RAV4 Crash

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle in front of her abruptly stopped for an animal that jumped onto the road, as a result, the

2022 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA

The contact owns a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia. The contact stated while reversing at 10 MPH, the brake caliper seized and the two front driver’s side inside tires exploded. The vehicle was taken to

2022 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA

The contact owns a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the service brakes were applied without input from the driver. The Forward Collision-Avoid

2018 FORD F-150 Crash

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that prior to the crash he had driven into some mud and the ABS and engine lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while driving in sn

2015 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60-70 mph downhill, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact depressed the brake pedal but it became hard and fa

2016 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. The "Stop Car, Check Brakes" message

2012 LAND ROVER LR2

The contact owns a 2012 Land Rover LR2. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. While driving at an undetermined speed, the brake caliper detached from the vehicle. Additionally, the GPS

2014 DODGE DURANGO

The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the electrical system failed to function as needed. The brake warning, the cruise control, and the

2009 AUDI Q5

The contact owns a 2009 Audi Q5. The contact stated that the vehicle was smoking. There was antifreeze and oil leaking from the vehicle. While driving, the accelerator pedal and brake pedal became stu

2019 HYUNDAI TUCSON Crash

The contact leased a 2019 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 mph and making a turn, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond and she crashed into an unkn

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve service brakes, air issues?
The NHTSA has received 480 complaints about service brakes, air problems across 228 vehicle models from 44 manufacturers.
How dangerous are service brakes, air defects?
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR issues have been linked to 59 crashes, 17 fires, 41 injuries, and 5 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most service brakes, air problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for service brakes, air issues is the TOYOTA PRIUS with 24 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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