Component

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER/BRACKET

40 NHTSA complaints about suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger/bracket issues across 12 makes and 30 models.

The suspension:rear: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 40 filings from 12 manufacturers and 30 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 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD F-150 with 6 filings, followed by FORD RANGER and TOYOTA TACOMA. 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.

40
Complaints
30
Models Affected
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD F-150 6
2 FORD RANGER 3
3 TOYOTA TACOMA 2
4 FREIGHTLINER CENTURY 2
5 CHEVROLET LUMINA 2
6 STERLING L-LINE 1
7 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT 1
8 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 1
9 JEEP WRANGLER 1
10 INTERNATIONAL 9900I 1
11 GMC SUBURBAN 1
12 GMC SIERRA 1
13 FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER 1
14 FREIGHTLINER FLD120 1
15 FREIGHTLINER FLC120 1
16 FREIGHTLINER COLUMBIA 1
17 FORD F-SERIES 1
18 FORD F-550 SD 1
19 FORD F-350 SD 1
20 FORD BRONCO 1
21 EAGLE TALON 1
22 DODGE RAM 3500 1
23 DODGE RAM 1500 1
24 DODGE RAM 1
25 CHEVROLET VENTURE 1
26 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 1
27 CHEVROLET EQUINOX 1
28 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 1
29 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1
30 CHEVROLET CAMARO 1

Recent Complaints

2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500

AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD THE RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNTING BRACKET BROKE. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION AT A LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEAF SPRING ITSELF WAS ALSO CRACK

1994 FORD F-150

DRIVER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING HANGER PREMATURELY DISINTEGRATED. CAUSING SPRING TO HIT BED WHILE DRIVE AT SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. DEALER SAY NOT A RECALL ITEM. *TR

2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Crash

WHILE ON A LONG DISTANCE TRIP FROM ARIZONA TO TEXAS, A 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE EXPERIENCED A FATIGUE ON A WELD HOLDING THE REAR UPPER SUSPENSION ARM TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE RESULTANT FAILURE

2006 INTERNATIONAL 9900I

SPRING HANGERS ON OUR INTERNATIONAL 9900I TRUCKS, ON THE REAR DRIVE AXLES HAVE BEEN CRACKING AND BREAKING INTO TWO PIECES. WE HAVE HAD 2 OR 3 SO FAR THAT HAVE BROKEN. IF THEY ARE NOT CAUGHT IN TIME TH

2005 STERLING L-LINE

STERLING TRUCKS WITH TUFF-TRAC REAR SUSPENSION, THE SPRING MOUNTS ON THE AXLES ARE HITTING THE TRUCK FRAME. *TR

2005 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 2005 AWD CHEVY EQUINOX, INCLUDING THE HEAD GASKETS BLOWING, LOSING ACCELERATION ON THE 270/HIGHWAY, ONGOING ACCELERATION PROBLEMS, AND OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH STILL C

1992 FORD F-150

THE REAR BRACKETS HOLDING THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS ARE RUSTING. THE ONE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE LEAF SPRING IS NO LONGER SUPPORTED, IT IS RESTING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK BE

1999 TOYOTA TACOMA

LARGE RUST HOLES IN RIGHT FRAME RAIL IN FRONT OF LEAF SPRING. *AK

2003 FORD F-550 SD

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 2003 FORD F550 WITH A TRAILER ATTACHED (FAILURE MILEAGE 61000) AT 60 MPH, THE TRACK ROD HANGER BRACKETS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE

2001 JEEP WRANGLER

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE REAR SUSPENSION BEGAN TO SHAKE THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INITIAL I

1995 FORD F-150

INVESTIGATED COMPLAINT OF CLUNKING NOISE AND POOR HANDLING OF TRUCK NORMALLY DRIVEN BY MY SON. IT IS A 1995 FORD F150 2WD W/ 5.0L. FOUND REAR HANGERS ON BOTH LEAF SPRINGS HAD RUSTED OUT AND SPRINGS

1994 FORD F-150

DT: CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SPRING HANGERS ON HIS VEHICLE RUSTED. THE CONSUMER WAS CHECKING BRAKES WHEN HE FOUND THE PROBLEM. HE HAD NO INDICATION OF THE FAILURE. DEALER OFFERED NO HELP A

1993 FORD RANGER

REAR LEAF SPRING BRACKETS ( WHICH ATTACH LEAF SPRINGS TO THE FRAME) HAVE RUSTED OUT AND LEAF SPRING AND AXLE CAME LOOSE. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MI. IT BROKE AS I WAS PULLING IN TO MY DRIVE

1993 FORD F-150

1. REAR LEAF SPRING SUPPORT ON 1993 FORD F-150. THE DESIGN OF THE REAR LEAF SPRING SUPPORT, LET WATER AND SALT COLLECT IN THE SUPPORT. CAUSING RAPID RUST AND FAILURE OF SUPPORT. THIS COULD CAUSE AN AC

1995 FORD BRONCO

I BOUGHT MY 1995 BRONCO NEW FROM ACADEMY FORD IN LAUREL MD. I HAVE KEPT UP ALL MAINTENANCE AND WARRANTY REPAIRS. A FEW DAYS AGO IN MID APRIL 2005 I NOTICED SOME CORROSION ON THE REAR SPRING SHACKLE BR

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

2001 FORD F-350 SD

LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING REAR SHACKLE HANGER TO FRAME RIVETS FAILURE. LOWER RIVET HEAD SHEARS OFF BENDING THE SHACKLE HANGER.*AK

2004 TOYOTA TACOMA Crash

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE BRUCKNER BY-PASS I EXECUTED A 90 DEGREE TURN TO A SIDE ROAD. WHEN I TURNED THE TRUCK CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND FOUND BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN AND THE REAR

1995 FORD F-SERIES

1995 FORD F-150 REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLE BRACKET. THE BRACKET BOLTED TO THE TRUCK FRAME WHICH CONNECTS TO THE REAR OF THE LEAF SPRING RUSTED THIN THE BROKE FREE LEAVING THE REAR OF THE LEAF SPRING UNC

1999 GMC SUBURBAN

CONSUMER NOTICED SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE BACKING UP VEHICLE. ONCE SERVICED, TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR END FAILED, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger/bracket issues?
The NHTSA has received 40 complaints about suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger/bracket problems across 30 vehicle models from 12 manufacturers.
How dangerous are suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger/bracket defects?
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER/BRACKET issues have been linked to 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger/bracket problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:hanger/bracket issues is the FORD F-150 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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