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 — Air Bags:frontal (14% of complaints) — is the subject of an open NHTSA investigation (RQ98013, opened Aug 1998).
Air Bags:frontal complaints here are 2.6× the median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.
4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:frontal | 63 · 14% | Under investigation | RQ98013 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 37 · 8.2% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System:ignition:switch | 36 · 8% | Recalled | Recall 02V070000 |
| Air Bags | 35 · 7.8% | Under investigation | RQ98013 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline | 33 · 7.3% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator | 26 · 5.8% | Recalled | Recall 02V070000 |
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 450 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 02V070000 · 2002 · reported 03/06/2002
IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 07E015000 · 2007 · reported 02/26/2007
A STALLED VEHICLE CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. A FUEL LEAK CAN RESULT IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 07E021000 · 2007 · reported 03/12/2007
FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 96V250000 · 1996 · reported 12/17/1996
IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 96V249000 · 1996 · reported 12/17/1996
AN UNDERTORQUED PINCH BOLT CAN RATTLE AND CAUSE LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IF THE PINCH BOLT BACKED OUT OF THE JOINT COMPLETELY, ROTATION OF THE STEERING SHAFT AGAINST THE CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE INCREASING LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING AND AN ACCIDENT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 98V027000 · 1998 · reported 02/17/1998
THE INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY COULD STARTLE A DRIVER CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. 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.
“CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.”NHTSA complaint 835031 — filed 02/18/1999 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
“VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN FRONTAL COLLLISION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, DRIVER 'SAND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN DRIVING AT SPEED OF 35MPH.”NHTSA complaint 812896 — filed 06/09/1997 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
“VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED AT 6:00 POSITION, AND THEN AGAIN AT 12:00 POSITION, DUAL,AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.”NHTSA complaint 808845 — filed 02/12/1997 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Air bags:frontal issues are the most-reported category, cited in 63 of 450 NHTSA complaints (14%), followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (37), electrical system:ignition:switch (36), air bags (35). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
450 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 33 involved a crash, 14 involved a fire, and 69 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Yes — 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 02V070000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
4 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. NHTSA has an open investigation (RQ98013) into air bags:frontal that has not led to a recall. 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.
