Component

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

1,657 NHTSA complaints about visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core issues across 43 makes and 297 models.

The visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 1,657 filings from 43 manufacturers and 297 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 15 crashes, 50 fires, 104 injuries, and 4 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE with 179 filings, followed by JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE and FORD TAURUS. 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.

1,657
Complaints
297
Models Affected
15
Crashes
50
Fires
4
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE 179
2 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 91
3 FORD TAURUS 82
4 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 63
5 VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO 56
6 EAGLE PREMIER 47
7 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 41
8 CHEVROLET BLAZER 40
9 MITSUBISHI GALANT 36
10 FORD ESCORT 29
11 MERCURY SABLE 28
12 FORD EXPLORER 26
13 FORD WINDSTAR 22
14 FORD F-150 21
15 DODGE DAKOTA 19
16 DODGE AVENGER 19
17 CHEVROLET IMPALA 19
18 PONTIAC GRAND AM 18
19 VOLKSWAGEN FOX 17
20 FORD AEROSTAR 17
21 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 16
22 FORD MUSTANG 16
23 CHEVROLET S10 16
24 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 16
25 CHRYSLER 200 15
26 HYUNDAI EXCEL 14
27 FORD CONTOUR 13
28 BMW 325 13
29 MERCURY VILLAGER 12
30 FORD RANGER 11

Recent Complaints

2018 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that on January 11th, 2026, the vehicle was purchased and the contact discovered later that the heater was inoperable. The vehicle was returned

2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that cool air was being blown inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the heater failed to heat the passenger’s side of the vehicle.

2021 TESLA MODEL S

The contact owns a 2021 Tesla Model S. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the message “Climate Control System Service Required” was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle was

2020 KIA TELLURIDE

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while her husband was seated in the vehicle at below 5-degree Fahrenheit, he became aware that the heater and defogger was inoperable. N

2019 HONDA CR-V

The contact owns a 2019 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while idled, the heater and defogger system failed to operate above 40 degrees. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to t

2022 RAM 2500

The contact owns a 2022 Ram 2500. The contact stated the heater was not functioning properly. The contact stated that he could hear air coming through the vents however, the windshield was fogging up,

2016 GMC SIERRA Fire

The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH with the defroster engaged, she noticed smoke on the rear electric sliding glass window and smelled a burning o

2018 HONDA CR-V

2018 HONDA CR-V. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE SHUTTING OFF, DEFECTIVE HEATER, GAS IN THE OIL. *LD *JS

2012 CHRYSLER 200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER 200. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PASSENGER SIDE BLOWER FAILED TO BLOW HOT AIR WHICH CAUSED THE DEFROSTER TO BECOME INOPERABLE. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS LIMITED VISIBILIT

2016 MAZDA CX-5

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX-5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NAPLES MAZDA (6387 AIRPORT PULLING RD N, NAPLES, FL 34109, 239-597-

2012 DODGE JOURNEY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE JOURNEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER FAILED TO FUNCTION AND COULD NOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIA

2011 CHRYSLER 200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER 200. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR VENTS WOULD NOT BLOW HOT AIR AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD COULD NOT BE DEFROSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRO

2013 DODGE AVENGER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, THE PASSENGER SIDE VENT DISTRIBUTED COLD AIR WHILE THE DRIVER'S SIDE VENT DISTRIBUTED HOT AIR AND FAILED TO DEFROST THE WINDS

2013 DODGE AVENGER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT PRESSED THE HEATER BUTTON AND FELT COLD AIR COMING FROM THE VENTS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICL

1995 FORD F-150

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE VENT. THE CONTACT OPENED THE WINDOWS AND CONTINUED TO DRI

2012 DODGE AVENGER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE AVENGER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HEAT THE VEHICLE AND ACTIVATE THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER, THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT THE FEATURES WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO

2010 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY AND ONLY TWO VENTS CLEARED THE FOG FROM THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED

2007 FORD MUSTANG

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD MUSTANG. EACH TIME IT RAINED, WATER ENTERED INTO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANELS, THE TRUNK, PILLAR PANEL, THE HEADLINER BORDER PANEL, AND THE CARPET. THE CA

2013 DODGE AVENGER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE AVENGER. WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, COLD AIR BLEW OUT AND THE DEFROSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER COR

2014 DODGE AVENGER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENT CONTROL FUNCTION WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO HEAT THE VEHICLE. CRYSTAL CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP OF BROOKSVILLE (1

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core issues?
The NHTSA has received 1,657 complaints about visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core problems across 297 vehicle models from 43 manufacturers.
How dangerous are visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core defects?
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE issues have been linked to 15 crashes, 50 fires, 104 injuries, and 4 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:heater core issues is the MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE with 179 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.

Verify with FDA →