Component

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER,BRACKET

48 NHTSA complaints about suspension:front:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger,bracket issues across 14 makes and 24 models.

The suspension:front:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger,bracket is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 48 filings from 14 manufacturers and 24 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, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 2 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FREIGHTLINER CENTURY with 6 filings, followed by FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER and FREIGHTLINER FLD120. 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.

48
Complaints
24
Models Affected
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY 6
2 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER 5
3 FREIGHTLINER FLD120 4
4 FORD F-150 4
5 FREIGHTLINER FL-70 3
6 WESTERN STAR 496 2
7 SUBARU OUTBACK 2
8 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 2
9 JEEP CHEROKEE 2
10 FREIGHTLINER FLD112 2
11 FREIGHTLINER CLASSIC 2
12 FORD EXPEDITION 2
13 TOYOTA TACOMA 1
14 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT 1
15 RAM 3500 1
16 PONTIAC GRAND AM 1
17 MERCEDES-BENZ C230 1
18 LINCOLN LS 1
19 FORD F150 1
20 FORD F-350 1
21 FORD EXCURSION 1
22 EAGLE TALON 1
23 CHEVROLET BLAZER 1
24 BMW Z4 1

Recent Complaints

2014 RAM 3500

The contact owns a 2014 Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the steering wheel was consistently turning to the left independently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact ve

1994 FORD F-150

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEAF SPRINGS ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE OIL PAN WAS EXCESSIVELY RUSTED . THE VEHICLE WAS

1996 MERCEDES-BENZ E320

FRONT SPRING PERCHES ARE RUSTED AT THE WELDING SEAM. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE PERCH DISLODGES AND MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT OR DEATH WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A VITAL PART OF THE SUSPENSION/STEERING

1989 FORD F150

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F150. ON MAY 29, 2007, THE CONTACT'S WIFE HEARD A LOUD BANG WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE DROPPED. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS LATER DIAGNOSED AS A ROTTED OUT REAR LEAF

1997 MERCEDES-BENZ E320

WHEN I CHANGED TIRES TODAY (MARCH 4, 2007), I FOUND SEVERE CORROSION/RUST ON THE FRONT SPRING PERCHES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE PERCH WAS ALREADY RUSTED THROUGH ON ONE SIDE. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIV

2003 BMW Z4

THERE IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT SHOCK TOWER SUPPORTS AND FRONT CHASSIS ASSEMBLY ON THE BMW Z8. IT IS PRONE TO DEFORMATION OF THE SHOCK TOWERS AND FLEXING OF THE FRONT CHASSIS ASSEMBLY, LE

1995 FORD F-150

THE LIFT SPRING REAR BRACKET(DRIVER SIDE) COMPLETLY RUSTED AWAY CAUSING THE BED TO COME DOWN AND IT ALSO COMES VERY CLOSE TO PINCHING THE REAR FUEL FILL TUBE(DUAL TANKS). THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 50,000 MI

1997 FORD F-350

DT: CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED OF ABOUT REAR LEAF SPRINGS SPRING HANGER AND SHACKLE. CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAS EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE SPRING HANGER CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE T

1995 EAGLE TALON

I WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE UNREASONABLE DAMAGE DUE TO EXTERIOR RUST FORMING IN A STRESS-BEARING AREA OF MY 1995 EAGLE TALON. SPECIFICALLY, THE RIGHT-FRONT MOUNTING POINTS FOR THE STRUT AND UPPER 'A

2003 LINCOLN LS

2003 LINCOLN LS 3/15/04- EXPERIENCING CLICKING NOISE ON RIGHT TURNS, SUN ROOF LEAKS UNDER CARWASH,AND VEHICLE COASTS TO THE RIGHT. DEALER STATES THAT SUN OOF NOT MADE TO WITHSTAND SUCH PRESSURE, VEH

1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM Crash

WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUPPORT BRACKET SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

1998 MERCEDES-BENZ C230

SPRING MOUNT BRACKETS, DRIVING CAR TURNED LEFT INTO LOT CAR FELT LIKE IT DROPPED A FOOT TOOK TO NEAREST AUTO PLACE, PEPBOYS THE SERVICE GUY TURNED THE WHEEL AND THE SPRING SHOT OUT OF THE CAR AMOST SE

1995 FORD F-150

THE LIFT SPRING MOUNTS AND FRONT WHEEL MOUNTS ARE PREMATURELY RUSTING AWAY TO A UNSERVICABLE CONDINTION AND COULD BREAK OFF FROM TRUCK FRAM BECAUSE OF DISINTEGRATION. LARGE PIECES OF RUSTED METAL ARE

2000 FORD EXCURSION

BOTH SPRING OF SUSPENSION BOTTOMED OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

1997 FORD EXPEDITION

PULLING THROUGH A PARKING LOT I FELT A BUMP. AFTER PASSING OVER THE "BUMP" I LOOKED BACK TO SEE MY SPARE TIRE SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT. THE END OF THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE BRACKET FOR THE TIRE TO

1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BRACKET SNAP CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

1995 CHEVROLET BLAZER

WHILE CHANGING RIGHT TIRE NOTICED THAT BRACKETS STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.*AKI

1996 TOYOTA TACOMA

FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT BRACKET BAR SNAPPED FROM FRAME.*AK

1996 WESTERN STAR 496 Fatal

THE DEFENDANT VEHICLE'S FRONT HANGER BOLT ON THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE TRUCK FAILED AND CAUSED THE TRUCK TO SWERVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE IT STRUCK THE ATTORNEY'S CLIENTS VEHICLE KILLING HIM. (AT

1996 WESTERN STAR 496 Fatal

THE DEFENDANT VEHICLE'S FRONT HANGER BOLT ON THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE TRUCK FAILED AND CAUSED THE TRUCK TO SWERVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE IT STRUCK THE ATTORNEY'S CLIENTS VEHICLE KILLING HIM. (AT

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve suspension:front:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger,bracket issues?
The NHTSA has received 48 complaints about suspension:front:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger,bracket problems across 24 vehicle models from 14 manufacturers.
How dangerous are suspension:front:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger,bracket defects?
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER,BRACKET issues have been linked to 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 2 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most suspension:front:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger,bracket problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for suspension:front:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger,bracket issues is the FREIGHTLINER CENTURY with 6 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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