Component

WHEELS

17,848 NHTSA complaints about wheels issues across 65 makes and 1220 models.

The wheels is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 17,848 filings from 65 manufacturers and 1220 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 1,480 crashes, 166 fires, 953 injuries, and 94 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET CORVETTE with 500 filings, followed by FORD EXPLORER and FORD ESCAPE. 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.

17,848
Complaints
1220
Models Affected
1,480
Crashes
166
Fires
94
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 500
2 FORD EXPLORER 446
3 FORD ESCAPE 431
4 FORD F-150 428
5 FORD FUSION 332
6 FORD F-250 323
7 JEEP WRANGLER 317
8 HONDA CIVIC 291
9 FORD FOCUS 254
10 HONDA ACCORD 253
11 DODGE RAM 1500 229
12 TOYOTA SIENNA 217
13 FORD F-350 216
14 CHEVROLET IMPALA 205
15 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 198
16 HONDA CR-V 192
17 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 182
18 CHEVROLET MALIBU 179
19 TOYOTA CAMRY 170
20 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 167
21 HYUNDAI SONATA 163
22 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 154
23 NISSAN ALTIMA 150
24 FORD EDGE 147
25 MAZDA MAZDA3 146
26 FORD WINDSTAR 144
27 JEEP LIBERTY 136
28 RAM 3500 122
29 TOYOTA TUNDRA 121
30 TOYOTA TACOMA 121

Recent Complaints

2021 JEEP WRANGLER

The vehicle manufacturer is aware of the problem with my Jeep, yet they have not taken meaningful action to resolve it. At this point, the local dealer continues to charge diagnostic and repair fees o

2011 FORD FUSION

Complete loss of power steering while driving, Service Power Steering Now warning light came on right after, service advance trac warning right after that. After doing some research this is a known is

2024 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

One of the original OEM tires (Pirelli Scorpion MS KS NCS XL - 245/45R21) had the acoustic dampening foam on the inside of the tire fall apart. Dealership indicated that there was 'no impact damage or

2019 FORD ESCAPE

On 2/12/2026 I was driving in Gordon County, GA. I was going about 25 MPH when I hit a pothole on the right hand side of the road. It resulted in a split wheel/rim on the right front side of my vehi

2023 GENESIS G80

Description of Incident: The car was sold with a passenger-front Dunlop tire that suffered a critical structural failure where the tread rubber completely wore away, leaving the internal metal cords a

2021 TESLA MODEL Y

Both torn bushing and broken links at 29k miles.

2020 HONDA HR-V

I have a 2020 Honda HRV and the gas gauge flickers on and off. I have overheard technicians say this is a common problem with the HRV. The dealer wants to charge 177 to hook it up on the computer to d

2024 FORD EXPEDITION

Bought the car on Feb 14th 2026. We were told Avis car sales in fontana does their vehicle inspection on every car before its sold. We noticed the two back tires on the expedition were bald and showin

2022 FORD F-150

Driving approx 40mph on the road and a loud thump sound followed by grinding from rear end started. Came to stop in the road and when the gas pedal was pushed the grinding sound continued. The truck w

2023 FORD F-150

Took my truck into a Ford dealership for an oil change and they gave me a part that broke off the left rear hub. Talked to service dept they said safe to drive unless I hear knocking from the back of

2025 TOYOTA TUNDRA

All four tires are wearing unevenly. The outside of the tires are worn down much more than the middle and inside edge of tires. I noticed this six months ago, have called Toyota and brought the truc

2017 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER

On February/12/2026 I was slowing down normally in a 25mph zone to stop at a red light and just before the moment that my vehicle actually came to a stop I heard a loud breaking sound coming from the

2023 FORD F-150

The bolt related to this recall inevitably broke on 11/23/25 at 43,842 miles. Ford of Upland took my truck and provided me with a loaner vehicle for about a month and a half, until demanding that I re

2024 KIA SELTOS

While driving in traffic, my 2024 Kia Seltos suddenly shut down without warning again. I lost propulsion while the vehicle was in motion with passengers inside, creating an immediate safety hazard.

2021 CADILLAC CT5

While driving on a very busy highway going downhill when suddenly the vehicle started feeling abnormal like it was going to turn off automatically, heard an abnormal grinding noise coming from the eng

2023 VOLKSWAGEN ID.4

Abnormal inside tire wear leading to blow outs and flats. TSB 42M6 available for alignment, adjustment bolts and camber adjustments but it was not sent to my car and I've had to replace 2 sets of rear

2024 HONDA PROLOGUE

I am submitting this complaint regarding a recurring safety defect in my 2024 Honda Prologue (VIN: [XXX] ), serviced at AutoNation Honda Chandler in Chandler, Arizona. Most recent service reference: I

2025 ACURA RDX

Two issues with this brand new Acura RDX 2025: 1) Herky/Jerking brakes. Experienced this issue weeks after purchasing. Lots of vibration when applying brakes....happens often. Took car back to Acura

2018 VOLVO S90

There is a great deal of vibration at highway speeds. It has been like this since I purchased the car.

2012 HONDA ACCORD

I have bought three Hondas and leased one, I still have a 2012 Sedan and 18 months ago the car stopped in the middle of the road, thankfully no one hit us. The axle was broken and had to be repaired.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve wheels issues?
The NHTSA has received 17,848 complaints about wheels problems across 1220 vehicle models from 65 manufacturers.
How dangerous are wheels defects?
WHEELS issues have been linked to 1,480 crashes, 166 fires, 953 injuries, and 94 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most wheels problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for wheels issues is the CHEVROLET CORVETTE with 500 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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