Component
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
8,378 NHTSA complaints about visibility:power window devices and controls issues across 48 makes and 573 models.
The visibility:power window devices and controls is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 8,378 filings from 48 manufacturers and 573 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 78 crashes, 171 fires, 169 injuries, and 21 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD F-150 with 854 filings, followed by JEEP LIBERTY and BUICK LESABRE. 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 | FORD F-150 | 854 |
| 2 | JEEP LIBERTY | 652 |
| 3 | BUICK LESABRE | 385 |
| 4 | JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 282 |
| 5 | VOLKSWAGEN JETTA | 273 |
| 6 | VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE | 209 |
| 7 | PONTIAC GRAND AM | 196 |
| 8 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 121 |
| 9 | FORD EXPLORER | 113 |
| 10 | CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER | 112 |
| 11 | TOYOTA CAMRY | 109 |
| 12 | DODGE DURANGO | 102 |
| 13 | FORD WINDSTAR | 96 |
| 14 | FORD FOCUS | 95 |
| 15 | OLDSMOBILE ALERO | 92 |
| 16 | DODGE INTREPID | 87 |
| 17 | CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY | 83 |
| 18 | PONTIAC BONNEVILLE | 75 |
| 19 | HONDA ACCORD | 75 |
| 20 | CADILLAC DEVILLE | 72 |
| 21 | DODGE GRAND CARAVAN | 70 |
| 22 | NISSAN MAXIMA | 69 |
| 23 | PONTIAC VIBE | 66 |
| 24 | HONDA CIVIC | 66 |
| 25 | FORD TAURUS | 63 |
| 26 | KIA SPORTAGE | 60 |
| 27 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 59 |
| 28 | CHEVROLET CAVALIER | 57 |
| 29 | FORD EXPEDITION | 56 |
| 30 | NISSAN XTERRA | 54 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front driverâs and passengerâs side electric mirrors could not be adjusted from the front driverâ
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that during inclement weather, the front driver and front passengerâs side power windows failed to automatically roll up as intended. The co
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that whenever the rear door was opened, the window on the door rolls down approximately a half inch, and whenever the door was closed, the win
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000 (Structure). The contact stated that water was leaking onto the
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that on several occasions while while driving at various speeds, the driverâs window switch was depressed; however, the window froze momently a
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "restraint indicator lampâ was displayed. The contactâs daughter retracted the seat belt and
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated that the front driverâs side window became inoperable. The contact stated that
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the window motor in the passengerâs side window was no longer functioning while attempting to roll down the window. There was no warning l
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while opening the driver's side front window and the passengerâs side front window, the cable snapped, and the window fell inside the
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stationary, the window made a popping sound and the front passengerâs side window failed to function as designed. T
Rolled down back window it broke and didnât go back up
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked or driving, the front passengerâs side window moved independently. The vehicle was driven to the dealer where it
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that both the driverâs side and passengerâs side windows opened independently without the driver or occupant input, and the windows failed to
The driver side windows control buttons are breaking off for no apparent reason. Ford refused to fix faulty windows controls which could cause harm to a person attempting to roll windows up or down. T
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control, Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, and auto
The contact owns a 2020 Audi A5. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, it was noticed that the driver's side window had failed to remain up as intended. The vehicle was taken to a local dea
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the front driverâs side and passengerâs side windows and the driverâs and passengerâs side rear windows ha
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that on four occasions while the vehicle was parked and the window switches were depressed on all the windows, the windows failed to roll up or r
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated while attempting to lower the driver's side window, the window fell off the track and fell into the door panel. The contact stated that the fa
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that the power window switch on the driverâs side door occasionally failed to respond while depressed. The contact stated that the A/C syste
Related Vehicle Components
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.