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.
Loss of Power Steering Assist
RAM PROMASTER 1500
Waymo AV striking a child in the area of a school.
Timing Belt Failure
FORD FIESTA
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 braking force
ACURA ACURA
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure
JEEP JEEP
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
Intermittent Loss of Electric Power Steering
CHRYSLER CHRYSLER
Engine failure
HONDA RIDGELINE
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
FORD FORD
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
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
FORD F-150
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Crash incidents during Actually Smart Summon sessions
SMART
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
Trailer Hitch Receiver Structure May Crack and Separate
Inadvertent Seat Belt Unlatch
HYUNDAI PALISADE
Inner Tie Rod Failures
NISSAN NISSAN
Low-pressure fuel pump failure
FORD BRONCO
Engine Stall With Intermittent Restart
CHRYSLER CHRYSLER
Side curtain air bags may deploy inadvertently
NISSAN NISSAN
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
Electronic Brake Module Component Failure
CADILLAC CADILLAC
Failure to open door
FISKER OCEAN
2022 RAM Transmission Snap Ring Failure
RAM 3500
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
HONDA PASSPORT
Reduced Power After Engine Stall
NISSAN NISSAN
Back up camera failure
DODGE JOURNEY
Unintended vehicle movement
FISKER OCEAN
Rear-View Camera Failure
HONDA RIDGELINE
Loss of Motive Power
FORD BRONCO SPORT
Loss of braking performance
FISKER OCEAN
Low Pressure Fuel Pump Assembly Failure
ALFA ROMEO ALFA ROMEO
Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure
INFINITI INFINITI
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
CHEVROLET CHEVROLET
Seat Belt Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment
FORD EXPEDITION
Loss of motive power due to broken crankshaft with no ability to restart.
NISSAN TITAN XD
Loss of Motive Power
KIA SORENTO
Automated Driving System
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN
6L90 Transmission Failure
Oil Pump Failure
FORD ECOSPORT
Loss of steering control
TESLA MODEL 3
Failed Door Check Arm Attachment Point
FORD ESCAPE
Loss of Motive Power
KIA KIA
Loss of Motive Power
HYUNDAI HYUNDAI
Device can break causing tire to deflate without notification to the operator
Automatic Emergency Braking Errors
Vehicle entrapment
DODGE JOURNEY
Failing Trailer Frames
Front seat belt anchor detachment
TESLA MODEL X
Blue Bird Draglink Failures
Momentary Increased Steering Effort
HONDA CIVIC
Steering wheel detachment
TESLA MODEL Y
Windshield trim molding Item detachment
FORD EXPLORER
Complete Loss of High Beams
KIA TELLURIDE
Automated Driving System (ADS)
False overheat leading to loss of motive power
JEEP COMPASS
Loss of Brake Performance
CHRYSLER CHRYSLER
Rear Differential Seizure
HONDA HONDA
Electronic Parking Brake Water Ingress
JEEP JEEP
Rear-View Camera Failure
CADILLAC CADILLAC
Loss of motive power due to valve intake failure on Ford Bronco vehicles.
FORD BRONCO
Transmission fault leading to loss of motive power
CHRYSLER PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
HONDA HONDA
Power Sliding Door Auto Reverse Failure
KIA CARNIVAL
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
HONDA ACCORD
Unexpected Brake Activation
TESLA MODEL 3
Rear-View Camera Failure
HONDA RIDGELINE
Tesla Passenger Play
TESLA MODEL 3
Hood Latch/Bell Crank Assembly
NISSAN PATHFINDER
High pressure fuel pump failure
RAM 3500
Autopilot & First Responder Scenes
TESLA
Vehicle Rolls Away While in Park
MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER
Haldex Brake Chamber Failures
PETERBILT PETERBILT
Sliding Doors Inoperative
Extended Stopping Distance
Lateral Movement of Child Seat
Choking on/Ingestion of Car Seat Foam
Loss of Motive Power
PORSCHE PORSCHE
Fuel loss from the capless fuel fill neck while the vehicle is in motion.
FERRARI FERRARI
Alternator Front Bearing Failure
Air Bag Malfunction
Fuel Injector Leak
VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT
Engine Stall - Turbo Failure
AUDI AUDI
2015 Britax ClickTight Frontier XE
Battery Hold Down Bracket Thermal Events
TOYOTA TOYOTA
Engine Electrical Wiring Harness Chafe
Halogen Headlights May Cause Fires
FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER
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. Learn more.