NHTSA
Defect investigations
NHTSA opens defect investigations when complaint patterns suggest a possible safety risk. Browse all 4,161 investigations, including 98 currently open.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the agency Office of Defects Investigation has opened 4,161 formal defect investigations into U.S. vehicles as of June 2026. Each investigation can precede a recall; see our methodology for how these federal case files are tracked.
All wheel drive allegation
ACURA ACURA
Loss of Power Steering Assist
RAM PROMASTER 1500
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
FORD F-150
Waymo AV striking a child in the area of a school.
Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy
MAZDA MAZDA
Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
Emergency egress controls are not readily accessible and clearly identifiable.
TESLA MODEL 3
Timing Belt Failure
FORD FIESTA
Recall 23V-413 Post Remedy Failures
CHRYSLER CHRYSLER
Rear Seat Belt Stitching Failure and Detachment
LAND ROVER DEFENDER
Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status
HONDA HONDA
Loss of Motive Power
HONDA CR-V HYBRID
Inadvertent Deployment of Side Air Bags
HONDA ODYSSEY
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500
Loss of braking force
ACURA ACURA
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure
JEEP JEEP
Automatic Emergency Braking Errors
DTN Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Waymo AV drives around a stopped school bus
Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engaged
TESLA
Rivian EDV Seat Belt Anchor Detachment
RIVIAN EDV
Electronic door handles become inoperative
TESLA MODEL Y
Underbody shields detachment
FORD EXPLORER
Intermittent Loss of Electric Power Steering
CHRYSLER CHRYSLER
Engine failure
HONDA RIDGELINE
Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting Requirements
TESLA
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
FORD FORD
Kia 25V099 Piston Oil Ring Recall Effectiveness
KIA KIA
Loss of rear-view camera image
POLESTAR POLESTAR 2
Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure
RAM 1500
Recall 19V-293 Post Remedy Failures
CHRYSLER CHRYSLER
Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 22V887
2014-2017 Land Rover Range Rover Sport (L494) front steering knuckle fractures
LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER SPORT
Driver Airbag Inflator Rupture
NISSAN NISSAN
Windshield Wiper Failure
KIA KIA
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fuel Leak
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
HONDA HONDA
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
FORD F-150
Rear-View Camera Failure
HONDA RIDGELINE
Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruise
FORD MUSTANG
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
HONDA PASSPORT
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Crash incidents during Actually Smart Summon sessions
SMART
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN
Seat Belt Retractor Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment
FORD EXPEDITION
Loss of Motive Power
FORD BRONCO SPORT
Engine failure
HONDA HONDA
EVDM connector plate separation
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER
FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility Conditions
TESLA
Rear-view Camera Failure
FORD FORD
Frame Flex on Grand Design Fifth Wheel Recreational Trailers
Electrical arcing and thermal events, potentially leading to fires, while utilizing Enel X Way USA, LLC's JuiceBox residential charger.
Loss of braking caused by rear brake hose failure
FORD FORD
Child seat harness may not restrain occupant in the event of a crash.
Lane Keep Assist System
VINFAST
Underhood fires
JEEP GLADIATOR
Semi-Trailer Side Underride Guards
Trailer Hitch Receiver Structure May Crack and Separate
Inadvertent Seat Belt Unlatch
HYUNDAI PALISADE
Inner Tie Rod Failures
NISSAN NISSAN
Vehicle entrapment
DODGE JOURNEY
Low-pressure fuel pump failure
FORD BRONCO
Engine Stall With Intermittent Restart
CHRYSLER CHRYSLER
Loss of Motive Power
JEEP WRANGLER 4XE
Rear-View Camera Failure
HONDA RIDGELINE
Side curtain air bags may deploy inadvertently
NISSAN NISSAN
Inadvertent Door Opening
VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN
Unexpected ADS behavior
Rear-end Collisions Involving Zoox Vehicles
Sogefi Secondary Diesel Fuel Filter Leak
FORD SUPER DUTY
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
FISKER OCEAN
Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruise
FORD MUSTANG
Recall 23V838 Remedy Effectiveness
TESLA
Seat harness can loosen without using harness release button on Nuna Rava car seats.
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
HONDA ACCORD
Electronic Brake Module Component Failure
CADILLAC CADILLAC
2022-2023 Pratt Container Chassis Trailers
Underhood fires caused by fuel leak
FORD BRONCO SPORT
Front Seat Belt Assemblies may be Missing the Rivet that Secures the Quick Connector and Wire Plate
HONDA ACCORD HYBRID
Blue Compass RV Open Recall Sale
High Voltage Coolant Heaters may fail to defrost windshield
LAND ROVER ROVER
Failure to open door
FISKER OCEAN
Unintended Transmission Downshift
FORD F-150
2022 RAM Transmission Snap Ring Failure
RAM 3500
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
HONDA PASSPORT
Reduced Power After Engine Stall
NISSAN NISSAN
3.3L Engine Loss of Motive Power (LOMP)
KIA SEDONA
Back up camera failure
DODGE JOURNEY
Loss of Power Brake/Steering Assist Post 22V-089 Inspection.
FORD E-350
Loss of motive power due to an internal wiring connector short.
CHRYSLER PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
Unintended vehicle movement
FISKER OCEAN
Rear-View Camera Failure
HONDA RIDGELINE
Certification
3.3L Engine Loss of Motive Power (LOMP)
HYUNDAI SANTA FE
High Voltage Coolant Heater Delamination
LUCID AIR
Loss of steering control
TESLA MODEL 3
Loss of Motive Power
FORD BRONCO SPORT
Ignition-off high voltage battery fire (Remedy effectiveness of Recall 22V-077)
CHRYSLER PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
Loss of braking performance
FISKER OCEAN
Low Pressure Fuel Pump Assembly Failure
ALFA ROMEO ALFA ROMEO
Understanding NHTSA Investigations
Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Initial assessment of a potential safety defect, typically opened after receiving multiple consumer complaints about similar issues.
Engineering Analysis (EA)
In-depth technical evaluation that may include testing, data collection from manufacturers, and detailed defect analysis.
Recall Query (RQ)
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a previously issued recall remedy, often triggered when complaints persist after a recall.
Investigation Outcomes
Investigations may result in a voluntary recall by the manufacturer, a mandatory recall order, or closure if no defect is found.
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.