Car problems by make, model and year, counted from NHTSA data
How many owner complaints and safety recalls the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists for each model year, which parts owners complain about most, and every recall campaign number. No opinions, no star ratings: just NHTSA's public records, counted, with the source link and date on every page.
Most-complained-about model years on this site
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-named component |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Ford Fusion | 5,130 | 13 | Steering |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 3,803 | 8 | Power Train |
| 2011 Ford Fusion | 2,795 | 9 | Steering |
| 2013 Ford Escape | 2,757 | 18 | Engine |
| 2017 Ford Escape | 2,701 | 4 | Engine |
| 2014 Ford Focus | 2,661 | 12 | Power Train |
| 2012 Ford Fusion | 2,617 | 6 | Steering |
| 2016 Ford Explorer | 2,464 | 15 | Structure |
| 2013 Nissan Altima | 2,314 | 12 | Air Bags |
| 2013 Ford Explorer | 2,237 | 12 | Steering |
| 2018 Honda CR-V | 2,163 | 5 | Engine |
| 2010 Ford Escape | 2,130 | 5 | Vehicle Speed Control |
Raw counts from NHTSA, checked October 31, 2026. Popular cars collect more complaints simply because more were sold; compare years within one model first.
Models
Chevrolet
Silverado 1500 (worst: 2014) · Equinox (worst: 2010) · Malibu (worst: 2010) · Cruze (worst: 2012)
What the numbers are
- Complaints are reports owners file with NHTSA about a safety problem. NHTSA publishes them; it does not verify each one.
- Recalls are campaigns where an automaker or NHTSA has found a safety defect; the fix is normally free at a dealer. Look up your own car by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- All counts come from NHTSA's free public APIs and are recounted when the data is refreshed. Full method.