Component

SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR

614 NHTSA complaints about suspension:front:stabilizer bar issues across 40 makes and 191 models.

The suspension:front:stabilizer bar is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 614 filings from 40 manufacturers and 191 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, 2 fires, 17 injuries, and 2 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD EXPEDITION with 75 filings, followed by FORD EXPLORER 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.

614
Complaints
191
Models Affected
23
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD EXPEDITION 75
2 FORD EXPLORER 39
3 FORD TAURUS 23
4 FORD WINDSTAR 20
5 DODGE CARAVAN 18
6 DODGE RAM 2500 15
7 FORD CONTOUR 14
8 JEEP WRANGLER 13
9 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 12
10 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 10
11 FORD F-150 9
12 DODGE RAM 9
13 MERCURY SABLE 7
14 DODGE RAM 3500 7
15 DODGE DAKOTA 7
16 SUBARU OUTBACK 6
17 FORD FOCUS 6
18 FORD F-350 6
19 DODGE INTREPID 6
20 DODGE DURANGO 6
21 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 6
22 CHEVROLET ASTRO 6
23 TOYOTA COROLLA 5
24 PONTIAC GRAND AM 5
25 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 5
26 FORD F-250 SD 5
27 FORD F-250 5
28 DODGE RAM 1500 5
29 DODGE NEON 5
30 CHEVROLET S10 5

Recent Complaints

2013 CADILLAC XTS

The contact owns a 2013 Cadillac XTS. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear suspension was bouncing, and the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The message to "Che

2017 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH and hauling a trailer, the track bar fractured, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle, and the vehicle veered

2012 FORD FUSION

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was shuddering significantly. The vehicle was taken to a tire shop where the tires were rotated; ho

2018 JEEP WRANGLER

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced a death wobble while driving over a bump or an object in the roadway. There was no wa

2017 FORD F-350

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the vehicle experienced a death wobble. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for wheel balancing and

2018 DODGE CHALLENGER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DODGE CHALLENGER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO ISLAND CHRYSLER

2010 DODGE CARAVAN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE CARAVAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT CHAMPION CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (6525 W SAGINAW HWY, LANSING, MI 48917, (517) 225-6658) FOR A POWER STEERING FAILURE, THE TECHNICIA

2010 CADILLAC DTS

2010 CADILLAC DTS V8. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BROKEN FRONT STABILIZER LINKS. *LD *TR

2015 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE STABILIZER BAR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED I

2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA

FRONT SUSPENSION STABILIZER BAR RUSTED OFF OF FRAME, RESULTING IN LARGE, STRUCTURALLY COMPROMISING HOLE IN THE WELDING LOCATION ON THE FRAME. WHEN TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY I HEARD THE STABILIZER BAR D

2011 DODGE RAM 2500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A BUMP AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND BECAME VERY UNSTABLE. THE VEHIC

2009 DODGE CALIBER

MY 2009 DODGE CALIBER STARTED EMITTING SOME TERRIBLE SOUNDS WHILE BEING DRIVEN IN THE CITY YESTERDAY (10/20/2016). THIS OCCURRED WHEN TURNING AND DRIVING OVER ANYTHING BUT SMOOTH ROAD. STEERING AND

2012 BUICK LACROSSE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BUICK LACROSSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4 MPH, THE FRONT SWAY BAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE

2008 BUICK ENCLAVE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS A CRACKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE F

2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE WHEEL ALIGNMENT, THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED OTHER FAILURES. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACT

2004 KIA SORENTO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITY BAR/TORQUE BAR THAT SUPPORTS THE REAR SUSPENSION FOR THE TIRE WAS NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND HAD EXTENSIVE RUST AND CORRO

2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET EQUINOX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE "STABILIZER BAR OFF TRACK" AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

2009 DODGE RAM 3500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE SHAKING AND VIBRATION AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. AFTER REDUCING THE SPEED TO UNDER 30

2010 TOYOTA RAV4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED T

2009 JEEP WRANGLER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 JEEP WRANGLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEH

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve suspension:front:stabilizer bar issues?
The NHTSA has received 614 complaints about suspension:front:stabilizer bar problems across 191 vehicle models from 40 manufacturers.
How dangerous are suspension:front:stabilizer bar defects?
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR issues have been linked to 23 crashes, 2 fires, 17 injuries, and 2 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most suspension:front:stabilizer bar problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for suspension:front:stabilizer bar issues is the FORD EXPEDITION with 75 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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