Component

TRAILER HITCHES

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

The trailer hitches is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 555 filings from 29 manufacturers and 138 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 39 crashes, 12 fires, 32 injuries, and 11 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the KIA SORENTO with 46 filings, followed by HYUNDAI PALISADE and DODGE RAM. 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.

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 illumina

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve trailer hitches issues?
The NHTSA has received 555 complaints about trailer hitches problems across 138 vehicle models from 29 manufacturers.
How dangerous are trailer hitches defects?
TRAILER HITCHES issues have been linked to 39 crashes, 12 fires, 32 injuries, and 11 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most trailer hitches problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for trailer hitches issues is the KIA SORENTO with 46 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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