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 CRACKS
Dodge Dakota
ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE
BRAKE DRUM
ALLEGED FAILURE OF 2ND ROW SEATBELT ALR
FUEL TANK LEAK
VOLVO S40/V40 MY 2000-2001
Volvo Volvo
ENGINE STALLING
Mazda Tribute
FRONT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS
ENGINE STALLING
FRONT SUSP COLLAPSE/WHEEL SEPARATION
ROAD WHEEL & TIRE FAILURES
SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRES
ENGINE STALL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION
FRONT SUSPENSION U-BOLTS LOOSEN OR BREAK
Volvo Volvo
FUEL PUMP-RELATED MOTORCYCLE STALLING
ENGINE COOLANT BOILS OVER
FUEL TANK FATIGUE CRACKING
DRIVER'S AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURE
Nissan Altima
FUEL-FED FIRES
SEAT FIRES
Volvo Volvo
TURN SIGNAL FAILURE
Chevrolet Chevrolet
RAPID TIRE DEFLATION
Ford Pickup
BURN INJURIES DUE TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
WHEEL WELD FRACTURE
BALL JOINT
ABS TONE RING CORRODES ABS ACTUATION
ABS TONE RING CORRODES CAUSING UNINTENDE
Freightliner Freightliner
NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
KIA KIA
THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED
FIFTH WHEEL KINGPIN BOX BROKEN WELDS
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
SEAT BELT ROUTING GUIDE ON CARSEAT BASE
FUEL FILTER QUICK CONNECT FITTING
FUEL HOSE ABRASION
ALLEGED TREAD SEPARATION
INADVERTENT SIDE-IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYME
BMW 2002
TREAD SEPERATION. MADE BETWEEN 1997-1999
AIR BAG NON DEPLOY
SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY FAILURE
Ford Ford
FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM
Hyundai Hyundai
MIS-ASSEMBLED AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING
Ford Ford
CARBON MONOXIDE INTRUSION
STEERING COLUMN LOCKUP
FUEL SPILL DURING REFUELING
SAFETY BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION
KIA KIA
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
WATER INTRUSION INTO AIRBAG MONITOR
Mercury Mercury
WHEELCHAIR LIFT PLATFORM
OVERHEATING FRONT BRAKES
SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY
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.