Component

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

923 NHTSA complaints about steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections issues across 39 makes and 215 models.

The steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 923 filings from 39 manufacturers and 215 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 10 crashes, 176 fires, 22 injuries, and 4 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the DODGE STRATUS with 92 filings, followed by MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 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.

923
Complaints
215
Models Affected
10
Crashes
176
Fires
4
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 DODGE STRATUS 92
2 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 50
3 FORD TAURUS 43
4 MERCURY SABLE 40
5 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 34
6 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 30
7 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 28
8 DODGE CARAVAN 24
9 PLYMOUTH BREEZE 21
10 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 18
11 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 17
12 HONDA PRELUDE 17
13 CHRYSLER CIRRUS 17
14 CHEVROLET IMPALA 16
15 FORD WINDSTAR 14
16 HONDA ACCORD 13
17 PONTIAC GRAND AM 12
18 FORD AEROSTAR 10
19 FORD EXPLORER 9
20 DODGE RAM 1500 9
21 DODGE DAKOTA 9
22 ACURA TL 9
23 FORD F-250 8
24 DODGE RAM 8
25 CHEVROLET MALIBU 8
26 CHEVROLET ASTRO 8
27 MERCEDES-BENZ M-CLASS 7
28 FORD CONTOUR 7
29 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 7
30 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 6

Recent Complaints

2012 BMW X5

The contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard a loud thumping sound underneath the vehicle. The contact then stated that the veh

2017 FORD F-350

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-350. The contact stated while his son was driving 65 MPH and going over a bridge, the driver noticed that the steering wheel had started to shake abnormally causing the

2010 CADILLAC SRX

TLA* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE, WHEN HIS WIFE NOTICED A FLUID LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROGAN

2009 DODGE JOURNEY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE JOURNEY. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS DETECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE CHARGED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHI

2010 DODGE JOURNEY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE JOURNEY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO O'CCONORS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (LOCATED AT 22513 M-129, PI

2004 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

POWER STEERING LEAKAGE ON TURBO MODEL ENGINE HOT POSSIBLE FIRE HAD FIXED ONCE AND IT BROKE AGAIN , THERE IS A RECALL ON THE NON TURBO MODEL ALREADY

2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING; ACCORDING TO DEALER, POWER STEERING FLUID IS HIGHLY FLAMMABLE AND MAY CAUSE A FIRE FORCING ME TO PAY THE $1,600 FOR A NEW STEERING RACK. 2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, 26K MI

2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA

I AM A RETIRED TOYOTA MASTER DIAGNOSTIC TECHNICIAN. I HAD TO REPLACE MY REAR BRAKE LINES ON MY 2003 TUNDRA-WITH 79,962 MILES. THE REAR BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED- AT MY E

2004 HONDA ACCORD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS

2008 PONTIAC G6

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G6. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE VEHICLE OWNER. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSES WERE R

2009 HONDA ACCORD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PO

2005 HONDA ACCORD Fire

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT OF A GROCERY STORE. I WAS ON MY HOME FROM WORK AND HAD STOPPED TO PURCHASE A FEW ITEMS. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. I HAD BEEN IN THE STORE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES

2010 DODGE JOURNEY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTU

2000 DODGE DAKOTA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BRAKE TUBE AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING H

2004 HONDA ACCORD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE RUPTURED AND FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER W

2008 CADILLAC DTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CADILLAC DTS. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND SMOKE APPEARED. THE CONTACT NOTICED POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HIGH P

2007 HONDA ODYSSEY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA ODYSSEY. A TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS N

2008 SUZUKI FORENZA Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND FLAMES EMERGED FROM UNDER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE F

2009 SATURN VUE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERIN

2007 TOYOTA CAMRY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING AND MADE THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections issues?
The NHTSA has received 923 complaints about steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections problems across 215 vehicle models from 39 manufacturers.
How dangerous are steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections defects?
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS issues have been linked to 10 crashes, 176 fires, 22 injuries, and 4 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for steering:hydraulic power assist:hose, piping, and connections issues is the DODGE STRATUS with 92 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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