Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (10% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch complaints here are 1.9× the median for that category across the 191 model-years tracked on this site.
3 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 3 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch | 16 · 10% | No official action | — |
| Air Bags | 15 · 9.4% | Recalled | Recall 17V047000 · Recall 25V748000 |
| Electrical System | 15 · 9.4% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 · 8.1% | Recalled | Recall 01V206000 · Recall 02V138000 |
| Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls | 12 · 7.5% | No official action | — |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 9 · 5.6% | Recalled | Recall 01V196000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 160 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 17V047000 · 2017 · reported 01/20/2017
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Park it · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 01V030000 · 2001 · reported 02/06/2001
THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 01V206000 · 2001 · reported 06/21/2001
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. IN ADDITION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FAN CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 01V197000 · 2001 · reported 06/14/2001
IF THIS OCCURRED, THE EFFECTIVE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL COULD BE REDUCED DUE TO RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE PEDAL AND BOOSTER. BRAKING PERFORMANCE WHILE DRIVING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 01V196000 · 2001 · reported 06/14/2001
IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS, THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN SPEED IN TRAFFIC AND/OR ACCELERATE COULD BE GREATLY DIMINISHED, POSSIBLY LEADING TO A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 02V138000 · 2002 · reported 05/16/2002
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, ENGINE OVERHEATING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. IN ADDITION, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FAN CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 00V341000 · 2000 · reported 10/24/2000
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD RESULT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 00V261000 · 2000 · reported 09/11/2000
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SAFETY BELT SYSTEM MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ITS MAXIMUM RESTRAINT FUNCTION. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 02V194000 · 2002 · reported 07/24/2002
EVENTUALLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM COULD DETACH FROM THE BRACKET, RENDERING THE SERVICE BRAKING SYSTEM INEFFECTIVE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 03V001000 · 2003 · reported 01/09/2003
THIS COULD INITIALLY CAUSE SOME BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE, AND EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. THERE COULD BE A NOTICEABLE REDUCTION IN BRAKE PERFORMANCE IF A LOSS OF FRONT BRAKE PERFORMANCE OCCURS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 01V173000 · 2001 · reported 05/24/2001
IN SUCH A CASE, THE BOLTS COULD ULTIMATELY LOOSEN CAUSING THE PULLEY TO THROW OFF THE DRIVE BELT. THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CERTAIN ENGINE AUXILIARY FUNCTIONS, I.E., POWER STEERING ASSIST, WATER PUMP, OR ALTERNATOR. STEERING EFFORT WOULD THEN BE INCREASED. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 25V748000 · 2025 · reported 10/31/2025
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Park it · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
“MY 2001 BMW X5 HAS SERIOS ISSUES WITH ITS DESIGN THAT BMW CORP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR FIX. 1ST THERE IS A FAULTY DESIGN ON…”NHTSA complaint 10213628 — filed 01/03/2008 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
“: THE CONTACT STATED IN FREEZING CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH FREEZES SHUT. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE LATCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT…”NHTSA complaint 10149111 — filed 01/31/2006 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
“THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR MECHANISM FREEZES (FREQUENTLY) IN COLD WEATHER SUCH THAT THE DOOR WILL OPEN BUT WILL NOT LATCH WHEN CLOSED. THE…”NHTSA complaint 10147840 — filed 01/16/2006 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch issues are the most-reported category, cited in 16 of 160 NHTSA complaints (10%), followed by air bags (15), electrical system (15), engine and engine cooling (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
160 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 4 involved a crash, 16 involved a fire, and 11 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Yes — 12 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 17V047000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
3 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
