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.
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
Extended Stopping Distance
Trolley bus circuit breaker fires
Freightliner Custom Chassis
Front Roof Panel Detachment
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes Benz
Trimark 060-1650 Door Latch Failures
Fore Link Failure
Tesla Model S
Rear Toe Link Adjuster Separation
Fuel Tank Outlet Flange Leak
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Chevrolet Chevrolet
The steering arm may fall onto roadway
Quarter Fender Failures
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure
Freightliner Freightliner
Clogged fuel filter causing a stall.
Honda Honda
Interior Vehicle Fire
Chrysler Town AND Country
Fuel Line Leak
Chevrolet Chevrolet
Loss of rearview camera
Tesla Model S
Headlight Failure
KIA Sorento
Momentary Increased Steering Effort
Chevrolet Chevrolet
Spoiler Cover Detachment
Land Rover Range Rover
Intermittent Loss of Power Steering Assist
Freightliner Freightliner
mDrive Transmission Failure to Disengage
Mack Mack
Loss of headlights
Suzuki Suzuki
Brake fluid leak at front brake caliper
BMW BMW
Vehicle Roll Away
Mack Mack
Supply and return heater hose rupture
Front Driveshaft Failure
Aerial Turntable Failures
Front Occupant Classification System Mat
Nissan Nissan
Passenger Sensing System
Chevrolet Chevrolet
Seat Belt Retraction
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Frame weld deficiencies
Jeep Jeep
False Automatic Emergency Braking
Nissan Rogue Sport
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Dodge Durango
Occupant Detection System (ODS) Failure
Subaru Forester
Seat belt buckle bracket failure
Jeep Wrangler
Rear Leaf Spring Fractures
Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment
Mazda Mazda
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.