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.

8,378
Complaints
573
Models Affected
78
Crashes
171
Fires
21
Deaths

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

2023 FORD EXPEDITION

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front driver’s and passenger’s side electric mirrors could not be adjusted from the front driverâ€

2020 SUBARU LEGACY

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that during inclement weather, the front driver and front passenger’s side power windows failed to automatically roll up as intended. The co

2018 TESLA MODEL S

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

2016 FORD EXPLORER

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

2023 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that on several occasions while while driving at various speeds, the driver’s window switch was depressed; however, the window froze momently a

2020 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "restraint indicator lamp” was displayed. The contact’s daughter retracted the seat belt and

2021 TOYOTA RAV4

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated that the front driver’s side window became inoperable. The contact stated that

2012 FORD FOCUS

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the window motor in the passenger’s side window was no longer functioning while attempting to roll down the window. There was no warning l

2015 CHEVROLET CRUZE

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while opening the driver's side front window and the passenger’s side front window, the cable snapped, and the window fell inside the

2020 FORD ESCAPE

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 passenger’s side window failed to function as designed. T

2006 BMW 330I

Rolled down back window it broke and didn’t go back up

2020 FORD MUSTANG

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked or driving, the front passenger’s side window moved independently. The vehicle was driven to the dealer where it

2016 KIA OPTIMA

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that both the driver’s side and passenger’s side windows opened independently without the driver or occupant input, and the windows failed to

2023 FORD EXPLORER

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

2016 KIA OPTIMA

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

2020 AUDI A5

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

2010 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the front driver’s side and passenger’s side windows and the driver’s and passenger’s side rear windows ha

2016 KIA OPTIMA

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

2010 DODGE AVENGER

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

2013 DODGE AVENGER

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that the power window switch on the driver’s side door occasionally failed to respond while depressed. The contact stated that the A/C syste

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve visibility:power window devices and controls issues?
The NHTSA has received 8,378 complaints about visibility:power window devices and controls problems across 573 vehicle models from 48 manufacturers.
How dangerous are visibility:power window devices and controls defects?
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS issues have been linked to 78 crashes, 171 fires, 169 injuries, and 21 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most visibility:power window devices and controls problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for visibility:power window devices and controls issues is the FORD F-150 with 854 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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