Component

WHEELS:HUB

529 NHTSA complaints about wheels:hub issues across 38 makes and 194 models.

The wheels:hub is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 529 filings from 38 manufacturers and 194 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 21 crashes, 3 fires, 17 injuries, and 2 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the HYUNDAI SONATA with 16 filings, followed by FORD FOCUS and FORD F-150. 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.

529
Complaints
194
Models Affected
21
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 HYUNDAI SONATA 16
2 FORD FOCUS 16
3 FORD F-150 15
4 FORD EXPLORER 12
5 SUBARU IMPREZA 11
6 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 11
7 CHEVROLET BLAZER 11
8 KIA SEDONA 10
9 GMC SIERRA 9
10 FORD FREESTAR 9
11 FORD CROWN VICTORIA 9
12 DODGE DURANGO 9
13 TOYOTA CAMRY 7
14 PONTIAC GRAND AM 7
15 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS 7
16 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 7
17 FORD F-250 SD 6
18 FORD CONTOUR 6
19 CHRYSLER SEBRING 6
20 CHEVROLET LUMINA 6
21 BUICK LESABRE 6
22 SAAB 9-5 5
23 OLDSMOBILE ALERO 5
24 MITSUBISHI GALANT 5
25 ISUZU RODEO 5
26 GMC JIMMY 5
27 FORD WINDSTAR 5
28 FORD TAURUS 5
29 FORD F-250 5
30 FORD EXPEDITION 5

Recent Complaints

2021 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

The contact owns a 2021 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 - 35 MPH, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the wheel well or near the front underbody

2024 CHRYSLER PACIFICA

The contact owns a 2024 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while attempting to make a left or right turn, there was an abnormal sound coming from the front driver’s side wheel. The contact s

2005 BUICK LESABRE

The contact owns a 2005 Buick LeSabre. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the fuel gauge sensors failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the fuel gauge sens

2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE

The contact owns a 2002 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of fuel. There was no warning light illuminated. The v

2016 HYUNDAI SONATA

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH and making a turn into a parking lot, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle came to a stop. The contact was able to

2015 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at highway speeds, there was a hissing sound coming from the steering column. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was una

2015 JEEP PATRIOT

The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Patriot. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, there was an abnormal high pitched whining sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that while depre

2015 NISSAN PATHFINDER

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the front passenger’s side wheel detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnos

2018 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the ABS warning light along with several other unknown warning lights. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depre

2019 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 300

The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that the tires were worn in one specific area and the failure had also occurred after replacing the tires. The contact took the vehicle

2021 CHEVROLET TAHOE Crash

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe equipped with Good Year Tires, Tire Line: Wrangler Trail Runner AT, Tire Size: 275/60/R20, and DOT number M6W0JA3R3121. The contact stated that while entering h

2019 FORD TRANSIT

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Transit. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the passenger’s side rear wheel started to detach. The contact pulled over and became aware that the hub cap was destro

2019 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds on several occasions with the vehicle in 2WD, the contact observed a loud clicking noise coming from the front wh

2000 FORD FOCUS

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power in the middle of the road. The contact allowed the vehicle to sit for s

2020 NISSAN ALTIMA

The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a turn, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. No warning light wa

2021 FORD TRANSIT

Per Mr. [XXX]: My daughter and members of our church’s high school youth group were on their way to a summer missions project in western Virginia/eastern Tennessee in an Enterprise rental van when t

2008 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2008 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's side wheel hub fractured, and the wheel detached. The driver was able t

2006 SUBARU LEGACY

Hub was replaced in June of 2019. Car was driven about 14,000 miles (estimate) since then. While driving down the road, I hard a noise on the front right tire. When I pulled the hub cap off, two bolts

2016 FORD C-MAX

2016 FORD CMAX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO FAILURE OF REAR WHEEL HUBS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME DETERMING A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE.

2011 FORD EDGE

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel in either direction, a clunking noise was coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve wheels:hub issues?
The NHTSA has received 529 complaints about wheels:hub problems across 194 vehicle models from 38 manufacturers.
How dangerous are wheels:hub defects?
WHEELS:HUB issues have been linked to 21 crashes, 3 fires, 17 injuries, and 2 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most wheels:hub problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for wheels:hub issues is the HYUNDAI SONATA with 16 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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