Component
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:LEAF
95 NHTSA complaints about suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:leaf issues across 10 makes and 31 models.
The suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:leaf is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 95 filings from 10 manufacturers and 31 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 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the TOYOTA TACOMA with 27 filings, followed by FORD F-150 and FORD RANGER. 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 | TOYOTA TACOMA | 27 |
| 2 | FORD F-150 | 18 |
| 3 | FORD RANGER | 7 |
| 4 | DODGE DURANGO | 4 |
| 5 | CHEVROLET S10 | 4 |
| 6 | NISSAN XTERRA | 3 |
| 7 | FORD EXPLORER | 3 |
| 8 | GMC SIERRA 2500 | 2 |
| 9 | FORD E-350 | 2 |
| 10 | DODGE CARAVAN | 2 |
| 11 | CHEVROLET TAHOE | 2 |
| 12 | CHEVROLET ASTRO | 2 |
| 13 | VOLVO VOLVO TRUCK | 1 |
| 14 | TOYOTA TUNDRA | 1 |
| 15 | NISSAN FRONTIER | 1 |
| 16 | MERCURY SABLE | 1 |
| 17 | MAZDA B-SERIES TRUCK | 1 |
| 18 | GMC SIERRA | 1 |
| 19 | FORD PICKUP | 1 |
| 20 | FORD F-350 SD | 1 |
| 21 | FORD F-350 | 1 |
| 22 | FORD F-250 SD | 1 |
| 23 | FORD EXPLORER SPORT | 1 |
| 24 | FORD ESCORT | 1 |
| 25 | FORD ECONOLINE | 1 |
| 26 | FORD CONTOUR | 1 |
| 27 | DODGE RAM 1500 | 1 |
| 28 | DODGE DAKOTA | 1 |
| 29 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 1 |
| 30 | CHEVROLET COLORADO | 1 |
Recent Complaints
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING RUBBER COMING FROM HIS VEHICLE. THE SMELL WAS THEN REPLACED BY A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT I
LEAF SPRINGS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH SUPPORT TO MEET CAPACITY LISTED. RIDE IS HARSH AND SPRINGS HIT THE BUMP STOPS WITH EVEN ONE PERSON IN VEHICLE. *TR
THE MAIN LEAF SPRING IN THE REAR SUSPENSION SHEARED OFF NEXT TO THE AXLE WHILE DRIVING. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE CAR AND THE TOTAL LOAD IN THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS APPROXIMATELY 100LBS. THE SPRING
1) DRIVING LOW SPEED RESIDENTIAL 2) MIDDLE LEAF SPRING REAR DRIVER SIDE BROKE, MOVED FORWARD OVER TIME AND SWUNG INTO TIRE SIDE WALL DESTROYING TIRE. RECALL NHTSA # 98V161000 HAD BEEN PERFORMED IN 19
THE TOYOTA TACOMA HAD A REAR AXLE WRAP UP, THIS WAS WHERE THE TWO PIECE DRIVESHAFT BECOMES LOOSE AT THE SPLEEN AND CAUSED A CLUNG OR LOOSENESS IN THE DRIVE LINE, WHICH CAUSED UNDUE STRESS ON THE ENG
LEAF SPRINGS BROKE WHILE HAULING LOADS. PULLING A 16 FEET TRAILER WITH ONE SMALL MINI PONY SPRING BROKE, CAUSES SWAYING IN DECEMBER 2006. PULLING 28 FEET TRAILER ON INTERSTATE IN JANUARY 2006 HAD
I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT 2 DOOR 4WD WITH A SINGLE REAR LEAF SPRING ON EACH SIDE THE TRUCK SITS ABOUT 1-2 INCHES LOWER ON THE LEFT SIDE AND THE SPRING ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY FLAT. THIS IS NOT T
(1) INTERMITTENT NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION: MAY BE RELEVANT (2) WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED ON I-15 SOUTH, NORTH OF SAN DIEGO, CA, HEARD NOISE; MANAGED TO DRIVE TRUCK (2004 CHEVY COLORADO) TO NEA
REAR LEAF SPRING (DRIVER'S SIDE) BROKE OFF FROM THE SHACKLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER TO THE RIGHT! *JB
I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB TRUCK FROM PARSONS FORD IN MARTINSBURG WV. IT WAS SOLD TO ME IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION. THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE SHOT. THE TIRES ARE CUPPED. THE VEHICLE B
ON SIERRA 1500 HD, REAR LEAF SPRING WASHERS ROUTINELY COME LOOSE AND FALL OFF, CAUSING REAR SPRINGS TO SLAP EXCESSIVELY, CAUSING REAR OF VEHICLE TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY, MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER
I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT LEAF SPRING HAD BROKEN. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THE VEHICLE HAD 57,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THIS VEHICLE HAS
MY 1998 TOYOTA TACOMA HAD ITS LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING BREAK JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR DIFFERENCIAL. THIS CAUSE THE LEAFS TO TWIST INWARDS AND RUB AGAINST THE GAS TANK EXPOSING THE BARE METAL OF THE TANK
DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE MIDDLE LEAF SPRING BROKE IN THE REAR OF HER VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME IT BROKE WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE, IT PUNCTURED A TIRE. THE TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE THE TRUCK WAS SITTING. THE
THE LEFT REAR MAIN LEAF SPRING FAILED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE THE TRUCK HAD APPROXIMATELY 35000 MILES ON IT AND THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WITH APPROXIMATELY 70000 MI
1. TRUCK PRIMARILY USED AS A PASSENGER VEHICLE. ONLY INFREQUENT USE TRULY AS A TRUCK. 2. WHILE CARRYING A MODERATE LOAD ON THE HIGHWAY, A GRATING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING. THE L
1)TRUCK STEERING ERRATIC AND PULLING TO LEFT OR RIGHT. 2)BOTH REAR SUSPENSION MIDDLE (OF 3) LEAF-SPRINGS BROKEN JUST ABOVE AXLE. 3)THE TRUCK HAS NEVER CARRIED A PAYLOAD GREATER THAN 300 LBS. 3)REPA
AT APPROXIMATELY 150,000 VEHICLE MILES, THE MIDDLE LEAF ON BOTH REAR SPRINGS HAS FRACTURED JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR AXLE. DISCOVERED 5/27/2005 WHEN THE BROKEN PIECE FELL OUT OF THE LEFT SPRING. SUBSE
BROKEN REAR DRIVER SIDE LEAF SPRINGS ON 1996 TOYOTA TACOMA 4WD EXTENDED CAB LED TO POOR VEHICULAR CONTROL AND TIRE DAMAGE*AK
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 TOYOTA TACOMA SR5, 4WD EXTRA CAB. I RECENTLY NOTICED THE BED OF MY TRUCK WAS SAGGING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE SHOP AND THEY D
Related Vehicle Components
Learn More
Related Safety Data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints involve suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:leaf issues? ▼
How dangerous are suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:leaf defects? ▼
Which vehicles have the most suspension:rear:springs:leaf spring assembly:leaf problems? ▼
Where does PlainCars get its safety data? ▼
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.