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 — Electrical System:ignition (26.9% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Electrical System:ignition complaints here are 4.7× the median for that category across the 2547 model-years tracked on this site.
1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:ignition | 263 · 26.9% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 136 · 13.9% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System:ignition:switch | 98 · 10% | No official action | — |
| Steering | 50 · 5.1% | No official action | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 49 · 5% | Recalled | Recall 05V030000 |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 28 · 2.9% | No official action | — |
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 977 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 12E007000 · 2012 · reported 02/24/2012
IF THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES DURING INSTALLATION, IT COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE INSTALLER. IF THE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT IN SECONDARY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 08E050000 · 2008 · reported 08/11/2008
WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 06E056000 · 2006 · reported 06/13/2006
FAILURE OF THIS CONNECTION COULD LEAD TO FUEL SPILLAGE AND, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 05V030000 · 2005 · reported 02/01/2005
IF NOT LATCHED PROPERLY, THE DOOR MAY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IF AN OCCUPANT FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“2003 FORD FOCUS -- IGNITION LOCKS AND CANNOT BE RELEASED TO START THE CAR. DEALER (SMITH FORD IN LORDSBURG, NM) HAS TO TOW IN TO…”NHTSA complaint 10098757 — filed 11/12/2004 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
“MY IGNITION LOCKED. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED.”NHTSA complaint 10098372 — filed 11/06/2004 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
“I STARTED MY CAR NORMALLY AND DROVE TO THE STORE. WHEN I CAME OUT FROM THE STORE I GOT IN MY CAR, INSERTED MY KEY…”NHTSA complaint 10096266 — filed 10/23/2004 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Electrical system:ignition issues are the most-reported category, cited in 263 of 977 NHTSA complaints (26.9%), followed by electrical system (136), electrical system:ignition:switch (98), steering (50). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
977 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 52 involved a crash, 17 involved a fire, and 51 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.
Yes — 7 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 12E007000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is 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.
