Component

TRAILER HITCHES

555 NHTSA complaints about trailer hitches issues across 29 makes and 138 models.

Data updated August 2026. Counts render from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation standardized component field; severity flags cross-reference NHTSA ODI complaint flags for owner-reported crash, fire, and injury markers. This page is for informational purposes and does not replace NHTSA recall notices or a vehicle-specific inspection. Methodology · Corrections.

NHTSA ODI component intake brief

ODI category TRAILER HITCHES

555 filings · 138 models · 29 makes · vintage August 2026

  • FILINGS MODERATE 555 ODI rows
  • MODELS 138 nameplates citing this part
  • MAKES 29 manufacturers in corpus
  • CRASH 7.0% 39 crash-flagged
  • RANK #199 of 696 categories
  • SEV FATAL 11 deaths · 32 injuries
TRAILER HITCHES (this)555FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAILFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL I…566STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE569LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCHLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILG…571
ODI filing volume neighbourhood: TRAILER HITCHES vs nearest complaint-total peers

TRAILER HITCHES sits MODERATE on ODI intake volume (#199 of 696 standardized categories) with a FATAL severity stamp (11 reported fatalities across 138 models). Open KIA Sorento (category leader) →

TRAILER HITCHES model-concentration reading

The standout signal for trailer hitches is model concentration: KIA Sorento accounts for 46 filings (8.3% of this category) out of 555 total.

Moderate-volume categories still show a fingerprint in the model table below, cross-check each nameplate's recall and investigation history before inferring a defect pattern.

Next step: compare KIA Sorento against FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL on filing totals before treating trailer hitches volume as a purchase signal.

555
Complaints
138
Models Affected
39
Crashes
12
Fires
11
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 KIA Sorento
46
2 Hyundai Palisade
38
3 Dodge RAM
35
4 Chevrolet Suburban
30
5 Dodge RAM 2500
21
6 KIA Sportage
18
7 Jeep Liberty
18
8 Ford Expedition
18
9 Jeep Grand Cherokee
15
10 Ford F-150
15
11 Chevrolet Silverado
14
12 GMC Suburban
13
13 Dodge RAM 3500
13
14 Toyota Tundra
8
15 Hyundai Santa FE
8
16 Ford F-350
8
17 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
8
18 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
8
19 Toyota Sienna
7
20 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid
7
21 Mack Cxu612
6
22 Jeep Wrangler
6
23 Dodge RAM 1500
6
24 Hyundai Santa Cruz
5
25 Ford Explorer
5
26 Dodge Dakota
5
27 KIA Telluride
4
28 Jeep Cherokee
4
29 GMC Sierra 2500
4
30 Ford Windstar
4

Recent Complaints

2019 KIA Sorento Fire

The contact owned a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the contact's residential driveway, the vehicle caught on fire. The vehicle was unoccupied. The contact st

2019 KIA Sportage

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sportage. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V703000 (Trail Hitches) and 21V137000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the recall repair requ

2022 Hyundai Tucson

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the driver’s and passenger’s side turn signals were flashing quickly. No warning light was illuminated.

2020 Hyundai Santa FE Fire

The contact owned a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH onto the ramp, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact

2025 Chevrolet Silverado 3500

The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and towing a trailer or an RV, the brake pedal was depressed, and the trailer brake failed to

2003 Chevrolet Suburban Crash

The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the contact noticed the trailer attached was moving from left to right independently, and the trailer detac

2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the trailer hitch detached. The contact stated that the failure occurred while a traile

2022 Nissan Frontier

The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that the vehicle was manufactured and delivered with no rear tow hitch installed. The contact indicated that the missing tow hitch created a

2018 KIA Sportage Fire

The contact owned a 2018 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The co

2020 KIA Sorento Fire

The contact owned a 2020 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated the fuse box located on the d

2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

A trailer hitch has an sticker stating the Tow Vehicle Maximum Trailer rating for the hitch. Owner's manual and towing safety stickers on the driver's side door only state the maximum dead weight for

2016 Ford Expedition

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH and hauling a trailer attached to the tow hitch, the trailer suddenly detached from the vehicle. The

2015 Chevrolet Silverado

See attached document for complaint.

2023 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid. The contact stated that the tow hitch cover had separated from the vehicle while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the part was replace

2024 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid

The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid. The contact stated that upon driving and arriving at her destination, the contact became aware that the tow hitch protective cover was missing. The vehic

2024 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid

The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V640000 (STRUCTURE, TRAILER HITCHES); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet

2007 Honda Element

The contact owns a 2007 Honda Element. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V436000 (Electrical System, Trailer Hitches) and would like to be removed from the recall distribut

2014 Western Star 4900

Hi I had a trailer hitch failure yesterday causing the trailer to disconnect from the tow vehicle. The failure occurred at a faulty weld on the receiver hitch. The receiver hitch is a Angcosy one posi

2019 KIA Sorento

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was informed that parts for the repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitche

2022 KIA Sorento Hybrid

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V703000 (Trailer Hitches); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Th

Verify with NHTSA · consumer-reported counts are not verified defect findings.