NHTSA
Defect investigations
NHTSA opens defect investigations when complaint patterns suggest a possible safety risk. Browse all 4,173 investigations, including 93 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.
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
Actually Smart Summon sessions resulting in low-speed impacts.
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
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
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.