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.
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
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.