Component

STEERING:STEERING WHEEL /HANDLE BAR:YAW/ANGLE SENSOR

11 NHTSA complaints about steering:steering wheel /handle bar:yaw/angle sensor issues across 7 makes and 11 models.

The steering:steering wheel /handle bar:yaw/angle sensor is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 11 filings from 7 manufacturers and 11 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 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury, and 3 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the TOYOTA RAV4 with 1 filings, followed by TOYOTA AVALON and TESLA CYBERTRUCK. 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.

11
Complaints
11
Models Affected
1
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 TOYOTA RAV4 1
2 TOYOTA AVALON 1
3 TESLA CYBERTRUCK 1
4 KIA SOUL 1
5 HYUNDAI SONATA 1
6 FORD FUSION 1
7 FORD F-150 1
8 FORD EXPLORER 1
9 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 1
10 CHEVROLET MALIBU 1
11 BUICK TERRAZA 1

Recent Complaints

2024 TESLA CYBERTRUCK Crash Fire Fatal

On [XXX], [XXX] sat in the left rear-seat of a Cybertruck that was involved in a solo-vehicle collision. [XXX]'s impact injuries were minor. The truck caught fire. The right rear door remained mechani

2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly lost motive power and came to a complete stop. The vehicle returned to norm

2021 TOYOTA RAV4

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the screen displayed the steering wheel with an exclamation mark. The warning light was blinking and then turned off. The

2016 FORD EXPLORER

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The service stability track, traction control, and the loss of power stee

2012 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality with the traction control warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the

2012 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while making a left turn at slow speed, excessive force was required to complete the turn. The "Service Power Steering Now" and "Service Ad

2014 TOYOTA AVALON

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH for 20 miles, the Forward Collision Avoidance warning light became illuminated. The vehicle was parked and then towed to

2016 KIA SOUL

The contact owns a 2016 Kia soul. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH with the cruise control feature engaged, the feature independently deactivated and the vehicle decelerated to 60 MPH. The cont

2009 HYUNDAI SONATA

The contact owns a 2009 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side front wheel was seized due to a malfunctioning yaw sensor. The ESC warning l

2009 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes seized without warning, causing the ABS to activate. The failure nearly caused a

2005 BUICK TERRAZA

The contact owns a 2005 Buick Terraza. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, while making a left turn, the vehicle loss motive power and jerked before stalling. The electronic stability warning lig

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve steering:steering wheel /handle bar:yaw/angle sensor issues?
The NHTSA has received 11 complaints about steering:steering wheel /handle bar:yaw/angle sensor problems across 11 vehicle models from 7 manufacturers.
How dangerous are steering:steering wheel /handle bar:yaw/angle sensor defects?
STEERING:STEERING WHEEL /HANDLE BAR:YAW/ANGLE SENSOR issues have been linked to 1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 3 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most steering:steering wheel /handle bar:yaw/angle sensor problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for steering:steering wheel /handle bar:yaw/angle sensor issues is the TOYOTA RAV4 with 1 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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