Component

TIRES:SIDEWALL

2,489 NHTSA complaints about tires:sidewall issues across 49 makes and 532 models.

The tires:sidewall is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 2,489 filings from 49 manufacturers and 532 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 58 crashes, 6 fires, 158 injuries, and 3 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD EXPLORER with 132 filings, followed by NISSAN MAXIMA 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.

2,489
Complaints
532
Models Affected
58
Crashes
6
Fires
3
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD EXPLORER 132
2 NISSAN MAXIMA 92
3 FORD RANGER 65
4 FORD F-250 60
5 FORD F-150 60
6 FORD EXPEDITION 49
7 FORD EXCURSION 48
8 HONDA ACCORD 47
9 FORD F-350 41
10 TOYOTA CAMRY 35
11 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 33
12 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 28
13 HONDA CIVIC 26
14 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 25
15 FORD FOCUS 24
16 DODGE DAKOTA 24
17 CHEVROLET TAHOE 24
18 FORD TAURUS 22
19 AUDI S4 20
20 TOYOTA TACOMA 19
21 DODGE RAM 1500 19
22 TOYOTA COROLLA 18
23 FORD F-250 SD 18
24 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 17
25 FORD MUSTANG 17
26 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 17
27 VOLVO S60 16
28 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 16
29 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR 16
30 HONDA ODYSSEY 16

Recent Complaints

2022 HONDA CR-V

The contact owns a 2022 Honda CR-V equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Cross Contact, Tire Size: 235/55/R19, DOT Number: HWE7WC8K1722. The contact stated that there was a round dot on the fron

2023 SUBARU FORESTER

see attached

2026 HONDA PASSPORT

General Grabbers AT Driving center lane on clear highway. Tire had a complete sidewall blow out total separation of sidewall and tread. Almost lost control of vehicle. Brand new vehicle with only 400

2025 TOYOTA RAV4

Sidewall randomly cracked while traveling late at night on sparsely populated interstate. No debris on road or potholes encountered to explain why this occurred.

2015 KIA SORENTO

- I was driving down 55 mph. on dark, busy highway in Sarasota, Florida (Fruitville Rd.) at approximately 6:15 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2025. - Suddenly, without warning, the sidewall of the rear

2025 TOYOTA RAV4

Traveling on interstate, 60 mph. All of a sudden, I heard a loud noise followed by a thump. Managed to get off the exit and pulled over onto the shoulder. Noticed the sidewall had separated from the t

2024 KIA EV6

Right front tire failed while driving on interstate highway. Sidewall blowout. The tire is available for inspection. Stability of car compromised could have caused an accident. The problem has not b

2016 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE

265/50R20 Cooper Evolution H/T, all 4 tires have cracks all the way around each tire, possibly sidewall defects. Tires were purchased new from Bob’s tire in Attalla, Alabama.

2022 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

245/35 ZP 19 89Y With only 16,000 miles on this vehicle, the sidewall began to bulge, and then tore, with zero damage to the rim of the wheel, and all air was lost. Luckily it is a run flat tire so i

2021 MAZDA CX-5

The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-5 equipped with Firestone Tires, Tire Line: Destination LE3, Tire Size: 225/55/R19, DOT Numbers: 17XEFLE320725 and 17XEFLE321524. While the vehicle was parked, the con

2011 BUICK LUCERNE

Passenger rear tire blew out the side wall all around the tire. The dealer that installed the tire has it for warranty. It was an large noise and I was able to pull to the side of the road immedia

2021 HYUNDAI PALISADE

Both front tires have to be replaced due to cracking along the outer circumferential area where the sidewall meets the treads. Tire size 245-50R-20.

2010 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

My truck tires were bought at Costco in 2015 and had 70k Warranty or 6yrs WCF. My added truck mileage since then is 12k miles. I discovered my driver rear passenger tire go flat . I put the spare a

2004 GMC YUKON

275 55r20 Sidewalls are separating like dryrotted. Bad and severe problems and have been reported to Bridgestone warranty and recall department with no actio taken at this time.

2024 TOYOTA SIENNA HYBRID

Incident Description (Firestone Destination LE3 – P235/65R17) I purchased four new Firestone Destination LE3 tires (size P235/65R17, DOT IW2 8ILE31) and within the first week three of them develope

2025 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

Pirelli Scorpion MS 255/45 R20 105V M+S A large bulge was found on the inside sidewall of the tire immediately adjacent to the tread. We had it inspected due to a slight shimmy in the nearly new (<30

2026 AUDI A6 ALLROAD

Entered a roundabout at perhaps 15mph. RR tire hits small area on rounded curbing where a small piece of concrete curbing (perhaps 3” wide by 8” high) had come out. Tire made contact with this ar

2021 MAZDA CX-5

We took our car to the Mazda dealership for routine maintenance. The technician found circumferential cracking along the sidewall/tread junction of all 4 tires. We were told that this suggests tread s

2021 TOYOTA COROLLA

Dunlop SP Sport 5000 - 225/40R18 - DOT EUT74DDR5220 3 of the 4 tires are splitting on the side walls

2000 CHEVROLET R SERIES

The contact owns a 1989 Chevrolet R Conventional equipped with Lionhart Tires, Tire Line: Lionclaw ATX2, Tire Size: 215/85/R16, DOT Number: TBJ6FA5C. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve tires:sidewall issues?
The NHTSA has received 2,489 complaints about tires:sidewall problems across 532 vehicle models from 49 manufacturers.
How dangerous are tires:sidewall defects?
TIRES:SIDEWALL issues have been linked to 58 crashes, 6 fires, 158 injuries, and 3 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most tires:sidewall problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for tires:sidewall issues is the FORD EXPLORER with 132 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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