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.
PINCHER/CHAFED WIRING
ALTERNATOR FIRES
BRAKE/ACCEL PEDAL SEPARATION
WHEEL RETENTION STUDS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
INFANT CAR SEAT BASE CRACKS/BREAKS
SCHOOL BUS THROTTLE CABLE
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FIRES
BATTERY CABLE CHAFING
BATTERY CABLE
INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
FALSE LATCHING OF CHILD SEAT TO BASE
FRONT AIR BRAKE HOSE LEAKAGE
FAN DRIVE UPDATE
AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT FRONTAL CRASH
KIA KIA
THROTTLE STICKING
AIR BAG BURN INJURIES/VEHICLE FIRES
ELECTRICAL VAULT ACCESS PANEL
SEAT BELT BUCKLE STALK
SHOULDER HARNESS CLIP
REAR WHEEL BEARING
MOTORCYCLE REAR BRAKE LINE PINCHING
STRUCTURAL FAILURES OF BODY AND CHASSIS
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
ENGINE SEIZURE
INADVERTENT SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG
INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR WATER
BRAKE POWER-ASSIST
POWER STEERING HOSE
BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET
SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY
HEADLAMPS DIM/FLICKER
REAR SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION
DRIVER DOOR ELECTRICAL FIRE
WINDSHIELD WIPER
FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN AREA
ALLOY WHEEL DENTING AND FRACTURING
ENGINE STALLING
STEERING AXLE U-BOLT
STEERING GEARBOX OR U-JOINT
SLEEPER BERTH FIRES
REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSE
STEERING RACK AND PINION
MOTORCYCLE SEAT SUPPORT
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT ELECTRICAL FIRES
UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT
STEERING COLUMN
LOSS OF STOP LAMP ILLUMINATION
WIRING HARNESS
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.