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.
FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT
LINCOLN LINCOLN
FUEL LINE LEAK
FRONT AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR FAILURE
CHRYSLER CHRYSLER
Air Brake System
AIR BRAKE SYSTEM CONTROL VALVES
REAR SUSPENSION LOWER LINK FAILURE
ISUZU ISUZU
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ASSIST STEERING
Engine stalling
FORD FREESTAR
Horton Fan Hub Failures
DOOR GLASS DETACHMENT
FUEL PUMP LEAKS
SUBARU SUBARU
FUEL PUMP LEAKS
MOTORCYCLE FRONT WHEEL SEPARATION
BMW F650 GS
CARRIER CORP. K410 CONDENSOR ASSEMBLIES
AIR IN BRAKE SYSTEM
HONDA ODYSSEY
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS - FIRES
EMERGENCY WINDOW HANDLES BREAK
SIDE WHEELCHAIR DOOR AJAR
TRANSMISSION FLUID HOSE CHAFE
Bosch Hydraulic Disc Brakes
WORKHORSE CHASSIS
VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS
FORD FORD
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
MAZDA TRIBUTE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
FORD ESCAPE
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
TOYOTA SEQUOIA
REAR LAMP ILLUMINATION
BMW 3-SERIES
UNWANTED AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION
LEXUS ES 350
Haldex Air Brake System Control Valves
WELD SEPARATION
Non-deployment of Side Thorax Air Bags
NISSAN NISSAN
HID REPLACEMENT KIT RECALL CAMPAIGNS
LONG CHIH TRAILERS MISSING TIRE PLACARDS
Turn Signal Lamps
CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES STICK UNLATCHED
SATURN SATURN
FUEL LINE LEAK
SUBARU IMPREZA STI
LOWER SIDEWALL BULGE
FUEL LEAK
AIR BRAKE SYSTEM
REAR BRAKE AIR CHAMBER MTG BRACKETS
KENWORTH KENWORTH
BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION
CHEVROLET CHEVROLET
FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS RUSTING
HYUNDAI ELANTRA
AIR BRAKE CONTROL VALVE
DIFFICULTY ATTACHING INFANT SEAT TO BASE
COOLING FAN SEPARATION
FIRE
HONDA HONDA
FRONT BRAKE FAILURE
SUBURBAN GLASS TOP COOKTOPS
SUSPENSION BOLT FAILURE
BRAKE HOSE/TUBE ABRADING
Drag Link Failure
VOLVO VOLVO
Electronic Stability Control
CHEVROLET CHEVROLET
STOP LAMP SWITCH FAILURE
HYUNDAI HYUNDAI
HORTON FAN HUB FAILURES
KENWORTH KENWORTH
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
Ignition Shift Interlock
HONDA ELEMENT
Irvine Shade & Door Glass Shower Doors
Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND/OR TRAC
TOYOTA SEQUOIA
INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE LACERATION HAZARD
STEEL WHEEL FRACTURE
FORD CROWN VICTORIA
AIR COMPRESSOR DISCHARGE LINE
MACK MACK
IMPROPER HANDRAIL INSTALLATION
SIDE AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT
LOSS OF HEADLIGHT FUNCTION
FORD FORD
STEERING NECK SEPARATION
MOTORCYCLE STALLING - ELECTRICAL
DRIVER SEAT ANCHOR FAILURE
FUEL PUMP LEAK
SUBARU SUBARU
FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS/SAF-HOLLAND EQUIP.
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER
ARVINMERITOR WHEEL END STUDS
CNG REGULATOR LEAK
FORD PICKUP
REAR TRAILING ARM CORROSION FAILURE
HYUNDAI SANTA FE
STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING
TOYOTA TOYOTA
TURN SIGNAL LAMPS
TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, ENGINE STALL
SATURN SATURN
TIRE VALVE CRACKING
INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTION
CHRYSLER CHRYSLER
DIMINISHED BRAKING
TRASH TRUCK FIRES
TIRE VALVE OZONE CRACKING
FRONT LEAF SPRING BREAKAGE
INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
FORD FORD
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MALFUNCTION
CHEVROLET CHEVROLET
STOP LAMP MALFUNCTION
PONTIAC PONTIAC
DRAG LINK FAILURE
IGNITION PARK-SHIFT INTERLOCK
HONDA ACCORD
PRNDL MISALIGNMENT
CHRYSLER CHRYSLER
EXHAUST PIPE BURNS
MINI COOPER S
PINTLE HOOK PIN FRACTURES
Front Suspension Coil Spring Fracture
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE
SAAB SAAB
STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BINDING
KIA KIA
LTR TIRES HANGZHOU ZHONGCE RUBBER CO. LT
FRONT SUB-FRAME CORROSION
HYUNDAI HYUNDAI
MOTOR SCOOTER STALLING - FUEL
PEG PEREGO PRIMO VIAGGIO CHILD SEAT
MOTORCYCLE STALLING - ELECTRICAL
Unexpected Closing of Power Liftgate
HONDA ODYSSEY
ACCELERATOR PEDAL INTERFERENCE
TOYOTA TOYOTA
RICON "S" & "K" 5500 WHEELCHAIR LIFTS
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.