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.
VELVET RIDE SUSPENSION
2002 TRAILBLAZER/ENVOY FUEL TANK LEAKS
INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY
VOLVO VOLVO
ABS CORROSION EXTENDS STOPPING DIST
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER
INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY
MACK MACK
OVERHEATING FRONT AND REAR BRAKES
OVERHEATING FRONT AND REAR BRAKES
INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY
INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
FRONT AXLE BEARING FAILURE
PETERBILT PETERBILT
ENGINE COMPARTMENT INSULATION SAGGING
TIRE FAILURE
BALL JOINT SEPARATION
CHRYSLER CHRYSLER
INTEGRAL HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER
WELD IN TRAILER FLOOR FRAME (OMITTED)
LUG BOLT FAILURE AT WHEELS
WHEEL STUD FRACTURE
FORD WINDSTAR
SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY FAILURE
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH OPERATION
REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURE
STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP
REAR VIEW MIRROR STEM FAILURES
SAFETY BELT CINCHING LATCH PLATE
2000/2001 SUZUKI GSXR-750 TRANSMISSION
SUZUKI SUZUKI
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE
FORD TAURUS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
ENGINE STALLING POST-RECALL
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NISSAN ALTIMA
HOOD LATCH FAILURE
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
MOTORCYCLE COOLANT SPRAY ONTO REAR TIRE
LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR DROPS ABRUPTLY
MOTORCYCLE WHEEL CATASTROPHIC FAILURES
INFANT CAR SEAT SEPARATION FROM BASE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
SEAT FRAME BRACKET FAILURE
HONDA ACCORD
CNG TANK EXPLODING IN A FIRE
ALLEGED BRAKE HOSE FAILURES
FORD FORD
FRAME CRACKS
DODGE DAKOTA
ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE
BRAKE DRUM
ALLEGED FAILURE OF 2ND ROW SEATBELT ALR
FUEL TANK LEAK
VOLVO S40/V40 MY 2000-2001
VOLVO VOLVO
ENGINE STALLING
MAZDA TRIBUTE
FRONT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS
ENGINE STALLING
FRONT SUSP COLLAPSE/WHEEL SEPARATION
ROAD WHEEL & TIRE FAILURES
SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRES
ENGINE STALL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION
FRONT SUSPENSION U-BOLTS LOOSEN OR BREAK
VOLVO VOLVO
FUEL PUMP-RELATED MOTORCYCLE STALLING
ENGINE COOLANT BOILS OVER
FUEL TANK FATIGUE CRACKING
DRIVER'S AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURE
NISSAN ALTIMA
FUEL-FED FIRES
SEAT FIRES
VOLVO VOLVO
TURN SIGNAL FAILURE
CHEVROLET CHEVROLET
RAPID TIRE DEFLATION
FORD PICKUP
BURN INJURIES DUE TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
WHEEL WELD FRACTURE
BALL JOINT
ABS TONE RING CORRODES ABS ACTUATION
ABS TONE RING CORRODES CAUSING UNINTENDE
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER
NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
KIA KIA
THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED
FIFTH WHEEL KINGPIN BOX BROKEN WELDS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
SEAT BELT ROUTING GUIDE ON CARSEAT BASE
FUEL FILTER QUICK CONNECT FITTING
FUEL HOSE ABRASION
ALLEGED TREAD SEPARATION
INADVERTENT SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYME
BMW 2002
TREAD SEPERATION. MADE BETWEEN 1997-1999
AIR BAG NON DEPLOY
SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY FAILURE
FORD FORD
FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM
HYUNDAI HYUNDAI
MIS-ASSEMBLED AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING
FORD FORD
CARBON MONOXIDE INTRUSION
STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP
FUEL SPILL DURING REFUELING
SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION
KIA KIA
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
WATER INTRUSION INTO AIRBAG MONITOR
MERCURY MERCURY
WHEELCHAIR LIFT PLATFORM
OVERHEATING FRONT BRAKES
SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE ROLLOVER
TIRE VALVE
ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEEL DENTING
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
DRIVER DOOR ELECTRICAL FIRES
HOOD LATCH
FUEL PUMP/STALLING
FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM
ENGINE SEIZURE
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR
RETENTION NUT LOOSENING AND SEPARATION
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.