Component
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
2,927 NHTSA complaints about steering:linkages:tie rod assembly issues across 43 makes and 369 models.
Data updated August 2026
NHTSA ODI component intake brief
ODI category STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
2,927 filings · 369 models · 43 makes · vintage August 2026
- FILINGS HEAVY 2,927 ODI rows
- MODELS 369 nameplates citing this part
- MAKES 43 manufacturers in corpus
- CRASH 6.5% 189 crash-flagged
- RANK #76 of 696 categories
- SEV INJURY 3 deaths · 135 injuries
Filing-volume peers
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY sits HEAVY on ODI intake volume (#76 of 696 standardized categories) with a INJURY severity stamp (3 reported fatalities across 369 models). Open FORD F-150 (category leader) →
The steering:linkages:tie rod assembly is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,927 filings from 43 manufacturers and 369 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 189 crashes, 10 fires, 135 injuries, and 3 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD F-150 with 206 filings, followed by DODGE DURANGO and DODGE INTREPID. 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 F-150 | 206 |
| 2 | DODGE DURANGO | 159 |
| 3 | DODGE INTREPID | 129 |
| 4 | DODGE DAKOTA | 116 |
| 5 | FORD TAURUS | 112 |
| 6 | VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | 89 |
| 7 | FORD WINDSTAR | 84 |
| 8 | DODGE RAM 2500 | 76 |
| 9 | FORD EXPEDITION | 75 |
| 10 | CHRYSLER CONCORDE | 58 |
| 11 | DODGE RAM 3500 | 51 |
| 12 | FORD EXPLORER | 50 |
| 13 | FORD ESCORT | 48 |
| 14 | DODGE RAM 1500 | 48 |
| 15 | DODGE STRATUS | 43 |
| 16 | MERCURY SABLE | 41 |
| 17 | DODGE CARAVAN | 41 |
| 18 | CHRYSLER LHS | 39 |
| 19 | BUICK LESABRE | 33 |
| 20 | MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS | 29 |
| 21 | AUDI A4 | 29 |
| 22 | LINCOLN TOWN CAR | 26 |
| 23 | LINCOLN CONTINENTAL | 26 |
| 24 | FORD CROWN VICTORIA | 25 |
| 25 | FORD FOCUS | 24 |
| 26 | CHRYSLER PACIFICA | 23 |
| 27 | AUDI A6 | 23 |
| 28 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 22 |
| 29 | LINCOLN NAVIGATOR | 21 |
| 30 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 20 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V433000 (PARKING BRAKE). The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle vibrated abno
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stopped in the middle of the roadway. The contact exited the vehicle to inspect the ve
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the front passenger’s wheel locked up, and the vehicle failed to steer as intended. The vehicle was steered to the
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle lost motive power and drove forward about
The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 5 MPH and making a left turn, the power steering assist failed without warning. The driver attempted to compl
The contact owns a 2025 BMW M440I. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at speeds under 20 MPH, there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the steering column. The vehicle
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Express. The contact stated that while pulling into the driveway, the front driver's side wheel turned sideways. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that
The contact owns a 2022 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, wh
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on uneven terrain or roads, the rear of the vehicle was pulling to the left or the right. There was no wa
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, there was a popping sound detected. The vehicle veered to the left, lost control, and crashed into an unknown Jee
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was not aligned. Additionally, while making left or right turns,
The contact owns a 2010 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the tie rod drag link detached, causing the steering wheel to continually spin. No warning lights were illuminated.
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while his wife was pulling out of the parking lot, the steering wheel suddenly pulled to the right and the front passenger's side tire bec
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and driving over a bump in the roadway, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from underneath the front end
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front passenger's side wheel was wobbling excessively. There were no warning lights illuminated. The
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and pulling out of a parking lot on a leveled road surface, the vehicle hit a pothole, and upon attempting to make a turn
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. No warning light wa
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal sound, and the steering column was inoperable, and the vehicle was immovable.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. The contact stated that the steering wheel and the front end of the vehicle wa
Related Vehicle Components
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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. Component figures are computed directly from NHTSA complaint data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.