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.
FRAME CROSSMEMEBER WELD FAILURES
Honda Gl1800
POWER-SLIDING DOOR
CHILD RESTRAINT HARNESS LOOSENING
UNINTENDED SIDE-STAND DEPLOYMENT
Honda Honda
TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTION
OVERHEATED FUEL PUMP WIRING
Chevrolet Chevrolet
UNDERHOOD FIRES
Honda Honda
TIE ROD TUBE FAILURE
Freightliner Freightliner
FALSE PARK
BALL JOINT SEPARATION
Toyota Toyota
REAR DOOR LATCH FAILURE
Ford Ford
FAILING SEAT BELT BUCKLES
Cadillac Cadillac
FRONT TURN SIGNAL/DRL FAILURE
Saturn Saturn
WHEEL SEPARATIONS
ENGINE STALLING
Chrysler Chrysler
WHEEL SEPARATIONS
LOSS OF ADAPTIVE STEERING CONTROL
Chrysler Chrysler
BRAKE LAMP FAILURE
TRANSMISSION LOCKUP
REAR WHEEL LOCKUP
Suzuki Suzuki
FRACTURE OF THE STEEL WHEEL RIM
Ford Ford
POWER LIFTGATE LATCH
FRONTAL DRIVER AIR BAG
Honda Honda
WHEEL SEPARATIONS
STEEL WHEEL FRACTURE
KIA KIA
REAR SUSPENSION TOE CONTROL LINK
Saturn Saturn
POWER DOOR LOCK FAILURE
SPEAKER FIRE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
Oldsmobile Oldsmobile
WHEEL SEPARATIONS
LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING
STUCK-OPEN THROTTLE
Audi Audi
ENGINE STALLING
Ford Escape
STEERING BINDING
Volvo Volvo Truck
LUGGAGE STRUT ARM SHORTS CIRCUITS
DRIVER SEAT PEDESTAL FAILURES
SERVICE BRAKE SUPPLY TANK SEPARATION
TURN SIGNAL FAILURES
SCHOOL BUS LIGHTING FAILURES
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
Volvo Volvo
CRANKSHAFT FAILURES
DRIVER AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING FAILURE
REAR LIFTGATE GLASS ASSEMBLY
Mercury Mountaineer
HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE
Ford Windstar
AMBULANCE TIRE TREAD SEPARATIONS
TIRE TREAD SEPARATIONS
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE
Ford Ford
TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTION
OVERHEATED FUEL PUMP WIRING
HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILRES
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.