Component

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR

278 NHTSA complaints about service brakes, air:antilock:wheel speed sensor issues across 31 makes and 121 models.

The service brakes, air:antilock:wheel speed sensor is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 278 filings from 31 manufacturers and 121 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 23 crashes, 0 fires, 10 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET SILVERADO with 45 filings, followed by GMC SIERRA and CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. 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.

278
Complaints
121
Models Affected
23
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 45
2 GMC SIERRA 17
3 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 13
4 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 11
5 FORD F-150 7
6 CHEVROLET TAHOE 7
7 CHEVROLET MALIBU 6
8 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 5
9 GMC YUKON XL 5
10 FORD EXPLORER 5
11 CHEVROLET C/K PICKUPS 5
12 CHEVROLET BLAZER 5
13 FORD EXPEDITION 4
14 CHEVROLET S10 4
15 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS 3
16 GMC JIMMY 3
17 FORD CONTOUR 3
18 DODGE CARAVAN 3
19 CHEVROLET LUMINA 3
20 CHEVROLET ASTRO 3
21 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2
22 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 2
23 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 2
24 OLDSMOBILE ALERO 2
25 MERCURY MERCURY 2
26 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500 2
27 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT 2
28 HONDA PILOT 2
29 HONDA ODYSSEY 2
30 GMC SIERRA 1500 2

Recent Complaints

2011 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving on an access road 30 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear, and the “Maintenance Required” warning light

2012 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle decelerated without the brake pedal being depressed. In addition, the vehicle vee

2014 FORD EXPEDITION

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the RPM increased rapidly, and the contact became aware that the vehicle had downshifted unintendedly, prompting the c

2011 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly downshifted to first gear. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift out o

2014 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at 80 MPH, the vehicle downshifted to first gear and decelerated to 20 MPH, causing the front seat passenger’s head to strike the

2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that she noticed a trail of fluid leak on the driveway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that no issues we

2012 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted and jerked. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who

2011 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently downshifted. The contact also experienced failure while attempting to shift into re

2015 KIA SOUL

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while her spouse driver was driving approximately 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal functionality was inoperative. There were no warning lights illumin

2014 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while making a turn from a complete stop, the RPM’s started dropping and the vehicle was sputtering. The check engine warning light

2011 MERCEDES-BENZ R350

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350. The vehicle had previously had the wheel speed sensors replaced eight times since September 2016. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the ABS i

2019 FREIGHTLINER SPRINTER 2500

The contact's boss owns a 2019 Freightliner Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that the wheel speed sensor wires were corroded. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact

2019 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the rear wheels inadvertently locked. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated he veered

2020 HONDA PILOT

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle at the local dealer and leaving the parking lot, the brake sensor message was illuminated, and the wheels bega

2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

In less than 51,000 miles 3 wheel speed sensors have required replacement. An unacceptable average failure rate of once every 1.7 years or 17,000 miles. Failure of one of these components disables a

2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2500

The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz 2500. The contact stated while driving 21 mph, the vehicle independently accelerated when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact was not able to control the v

2018 NISSAN ALTIMA

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to start the vehicle, but the vehicle would not start. The contact pressed the start butto

2012 KIA SORENTO

The rear wheel speed sensor housing covers are prone to water intrusion. The rear wheel sensor signal is interrupted and illuminates the ABS(anti-lock brakes),the ESC(electronic stability control) and

2017 GMC SIERRA 1500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING AT 85 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED TO 70 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE

2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500

2013 MERCEDES BENZ SPRINTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WHEEL SENSORS FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES, WHILE DRIVING. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve service brakes, air:antilock:wheel speed sensor issues?
The NHTSA has received 278 complaints about service brakes, air:antilock:wheel speed sensor problems across 121 vehicle models from 31 manufacturers.
How dangerous are service brakes, air:antilock:wheel speed sensor defects?
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR issues have been linked to 23 crashes, 0 fires, 10 injuries, and 1 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most service brakes, air:antilock:wheel speed sensor problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for service brakes, air:antilock:wheel speed sensor issues is the CHEVROLET SILVERADO with 45 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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