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Most Complained-About Vehicles of 2026 So Far: NHTSA Owner Complaints by Make, Model and System

MotorCodex analysis of the owner complaints NHTSA received in 2026: which makes and models draw the most, which systems owners say fail, and which model years show up most.

Data: NHTSA data through September 3, 2026 (complaints received), retrieved September 8, 2026. · Published: 2026-09-08

Key findings

  1. From January 1 to September 3, 2026, owners filed 53,455 vehicle complaints with NHTSA, +4.9% against the same period of 2025.
  2. Ford accounts for 9,200 complaints (17.2% of all), even after falling 18.4%. The steepest rises among the top 15 makes: Tesla +41.3%, Hyundai +38.4%, Toyota +35.4%.
  3. The most complained-about model is the Ford F-150 with 2,348, and 62.6% of those are about the power train (transmission, drivetrain). The Ford Escape follows with 1,561.
  4. By system: engine 23.7%, electrical system 20.3% (+20.0% against 2025) and power train (transmission, drivetrain) 18.0%. The fastest riser is fuel / propulsion system, +29.3%.
  5. The model year drawing the most 2026 complaints is 2025 (5,209), followed by 2024 (4,887) and 2021 (4,669): new vehicles generate complaints as soon as they reach the road.

Complaints by make

Distinct complaints received from January 1 to September 3, 2026, by make, with the change against the same period of 2025 and the most-cited system. A complaint naming two systems counts once here.

Complaints, 2026 so far, top 15 makes
  1. 1.Ford 9,200-18.4%
  2. 2.Honda 5,448+12.6%
  3. 3.Chevrolet 4,590-2.3%
  4. 4.Hyundai 3,961+38.4%
  5. 5.Toyota 3,699+35.4%
  6. 6.Jeep 3,085+10.7%
  7. 7.KIA 3,011+16.2%
  8. 8.GMC 2,617-8.4%
  9. 9.RAM 2,235+15.0%
  10. 10.Nissan 2,014+17.4%
  11. 11.Tesla 1,321+41.3%
  12. 12.Volkswagen 1,156+11.9%
  13. 13.BMW 962-23.0%
  14. 14.Subaru 876+16.5%
  15. 15.Dodge 873+9.9%

Beside each bar: change against the same period of 2025.

Top 30 makes by complaints

MakeComplaints 2026Same period 2025ChangeShareTop system
Ford 9,200 11,279 -18.4% 17.2% Power train (transmission, drivetrain) (30.7%)
Honda 5,448 4,839 +12.6% 10.2% Engine (24.2%)
Chevrolet 4,590 4,698 -2.3% 8.6% Engine (32.8%)
Hyundai 3,961 2,863 +38.4% 7.4% Engine (31.5%)
Toyota 3,699 2,732 +35.4% 6.9% Power train (transmission, drivetrain) (23.5%)
Jeep 3,085 2,788 +10.7% 5.8% Electrical system (34.0%)
KIA 3,011 2,591 +16.2% 5.6% Engine (39.4%)
GMC 2,617 2,856 -8.4% 4.9% Engine (48.9%)
RAM 2,235 1,944 +15.0% 4.2% Electrical system (24.8%)
Nissan 2,014 1,715 +17.4% 3.8% Electrical system (22.0%)
Tesla 1,321 935 +41.3% 2.5% Unknown or other (21.1%)
Volkswagen 1,156 1,033 +11.9% 2.2% Electrical system (29.2%)
BMW 962 1,249 -23.0% 1.8% Electrical system (30.9%)
Subaru 876 752 +16.5% 1.6% Electrical system (24.8%)
Dodge 873 794 +9.9% 1.6% Electrical system (24.7%)
Mercedes-Benz 846 771 +9.7% 1.6% Electrical system (27.7%)
Acura 800 655 +22.1% 1.5% Engine (20.9%)
Mazda 749 479 +56.4% 1.4% Steering (24.0%)
Chrysler 627 590 +6.3% 1.2% Electrical system (25.8%)
Cadillac 610 639 -4.5% 1.1% Engine (46.1%)
Lincoln 577 390 +47.9% 1.1% Engine (21.1%)
Audi 570 666 -14.4% 1.1% Electrical system (33.0%)
Land Rover 493 238 +107.1% 0.9% Electrical system (37.1%)
Volvo 379 238 +59.2% 0.7% Electrical system (33.8%)
Lexus 349 286 +22.0% 0.7% Unknown or other (20.9%)
Buick 329 290 +13.4% 0.6% Electrical system (24.9%)
INFINITI 232 176 +31.8% 0.4% Engine (29.7%)
Genesis 217 115 +88.7% 0.4% Electrical system (29.5%)
Porsche 158 81 +95.1% 0.3% Electrical system (27.9%)
Alfa Romeo 134 35 +282.9% 0.3% Fuel / propulsion system (36.6%)

Passenger brands only; the CSV carries all 225 makes in the file.

Most complained-about models

Complaints by make and model, with how many report a crash, a fire or injuries, the most-cited system and its weight within the model's complaints. Best-selling models draw more complaints; read these figures alongside sales volume.

Complaints by model, 2026 so far
  1. 1.Ford F-150 2,348Power train (transmission, drivetrain)
  2. 2.Ford Escape 1,561Engine
  3. 3.Chevrolet Silverado 1500 1,324Engine
  4. 4.RAM 1500 1,228Electrical system
  5. 5.GMC Sierra 1500 1,099Engine
  6. 6.Ford Explorer 1,057Structure (body, doors, glass)
  7. 7.Honda Odyssey 1,026Electrical system
  8. 8.Honda CR-V 1,016Steering
  9. 9.Honda Accord 988Engine
  10. 10.Jeep Wrangler 936Electrical system
  11. 11.Honda Pilot 795Engine
  12. 12.Ford Edge 742Power train (transmission, drivetrain)
  13. 13.Nissan Rogue 740Engine
  14. 14.Tesla Model Y 664Unknown or other
  15. 15.Jeep Grand Cherokee 644Electrical system

Beside each bar: the system most cited in that model's complaints.

Top 30 models by complaints

ModelComplaintsChange vs 2025CrashFireWith injuriesTop systemTop model year
Ford F-150 2,348 -0.4% 62 25 27 Power train (transmission, drivetrain) (62.6%) 2018 (286)
Ford Escape 1,561 -13.7% 30 11 13 Engine (39.1%) 2018 (255)
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 1,324 -5.4% 26 13 17 Engine (46.6%) 2021 (213)
RAM 1500 1,228 -8.6% 41 10 13 Electrical system (30.1%) 2025 (164)
GMC Sierra 1500 1,099 -11.5% 12 5 7 Engine (56.2%) 2023 (170)
Ford Explorer 1,057 -40.6% 22 10 22 Structure (body, doors, glass) (21.0%) 2020 (159)
Honda Odyssey 1,026 +81.0% 9 7 26 Electrical system (35.1%) 2025 (270)
Honda CR-V 1,016 +12.6% 55 9 24 Steering (26.9%) 2018 (178)
Honda Accord 988 +30.0% 27 6 20 Engine (33.3%) 2018 (271)
Jeep Wrangler 936 +53.4% 19 30 11 Electrical system (42.0%) 2024 (217)
Honda Pilot 795 +10.3% 21 4 11 Engine (35.2%) 2016 (123)
Ford Edge 742 -13.6% 16 3 14 Power train (transmission, drivetrain) (27.8%) 2017 (127)
Nissan Rogue 740 +65.5% 26 15 13 Engine (26.1%) 2023 (219)
Tesla Model Y 664 +103.1% 143 5 57 Unknown or other (21.1%) 2026 (211)
Jeep Grand Cherokee 644 +5.4% 32 10 19 Electrical system (34.3%) 2024 (109)
Hyundai Tucson 621 +57.2% 51 6 24 Engine (35.6%) 2025 (157)
Jeep Cherokee 614 -21.2% 15 2 10 Power train (transmission, drivetrain) (71.0%) 2019 (229)
Hyundai Palisade 604 +33.3% 13 7 18 Seat belts (30.1%) 2025 (105)
Hyundai IONIQ 5 596 +179.8% 6 3 5 Electrical system (81.0%) 2025 (227)
RAM 2500 574 +52.3% 20 7 5 Service Brakes, Hydraulic (35.2%) 2018 (320)
Toyota Highlander 540 +63.6% 23 4 21 Power train (transmission, drivetrain) (51.7%) 2021 (141)
Chevrolet Equinox 515 +41.9% 23 5 12 Engine (28.0%) 2025 (110)
KIA Sorento 511 +5.6% 16 34 11 Engine (41.9%) 2016 (59)
Hyundai Sonata 503 +0.6% 17 17 10 Engine (53.9%) 2015 (71)
Hyundai Santa Fe 494 +53.9% 15 6 13 Engine (32.0%) 2017 (82)
Chrysler Pacifica 493 +52.6% 14 3 9 Steering (29.2%) 2018 (121)
Ford Fusion 492 -28.5% 16 8 11 Engine (26.0%) 2016 (134)
Honda Civic 491 -8.1% 27 2 21 Steering (47.0%) 2018 (92)
Toyota Tundra 453 +35.6% 5 6 5 Engine (38.4%) 2024 (125)
Ford Expedition 431 -4.0% 10 8 30 Power train (transmission, drivetrain) (41.1%) 2019 (88)

What owners say fails: complaints by system

Each system's share of 2026 complaints, with the change against the same period of 2025. A complaint can name up to three systems, so shares add to more than 100. "Unknown or other" is what an owner picks when they do not know what failed.

Share of 2026 complaints by system
  1. 1.Engine 23.7%+2.5%
  2. 2.Electrical system 20.3%+20.0%
  3. 3.Power train (transmission, drivetrain) 18.0%+13.8%
  4. 4.Unknown or other 14.6%+8.7%
  5. 5.Fuel / propulsion system 7.8%+29.3%
  6. 6.Steering 7.3%-1.2%
  7. 7.Service brakes 7.2%-0.3%
  8. 8.Air bags 3.9%-4.5%
  9. 9.Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking 3.5%+19.8%
  10. 10.Vehicle speed control 3.4%+13.9%
  11. 11.Structure:body 3.2%+14.7%
  12. 12.Suspension 3.0%+14.4%
  13. 13.Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings 2.6%+24.7%
  14. 14.Exterior lighting 2.4%+23.8%
  15. 15.Visibility / wipers 2.3%+17.4%

Beside each bar: change in complaint count against the same period of 2025.

Complaints by model year

Which model years the vehicles in 2026 complaints belong to (model years 2015 to 2027). Recent years dominate because more of those vehicles are on the road and because new-car owners report more.

2026 complaints by model year
  1. 1.2015 2,1784.1%
  2. 2.2016 2,8375.3%
  3. 3.2017 3,2886.2%
  4. 4.2018 4,4678.4%
  5. 5.2019 4,5818.6%
  6. 6.2020 4,1827.8%
  7. 7.2021 4,6698.7%
  8. 8.2022 4,6278.7%
  9. 9.2023 4,5578.5%
  10. 10.2024 4,8879.1%
  11. 11.2025 5,2099.7%
  12. 12.2026 2,6304.9%
  13. 13.2027 440.1%

Beside each bar: share of the 2026 total.

Is your vehicle in one of these recalls?

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Methodology

  • Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) public flat files, complaints received 2025 to 2026, with its field definitions document. US federal public-domain data.
  • Window: complaints received from 2026-01-01 to 2026-09-03; comparison against the same window of 2025 and against full-year 2025. Vehicle complaints only.
  • A complaint is one distinct report number (ODINO). The file repeats a complaint for each system it names (up to three); counts by make, model and model year use distinct complaints, and counts by system use complaint-and-system pairs.
  • Crash, fire and injuries are the boxes the owner ticked on the complaint, counted once per complaint.
  • Make and model names normalized as in the recalls report; segment assigned by hand to separate passenger brands.

Read the numbers with this in mind

  • Complaints are unverified consumer reports. NHTSA does not investigate or confirm them before publishing, and one failure can generate several complaints.
  • Best-selling models draw more complaints through sheer volume. These figures are not a rate per vehicle on the road.
  • The data lags, and some fields can change between file versions, as NHTSA itself warns.
  • The "unknown or other" category is large because many owners do not know which component failed.

Sources

Download the tables

MotorCodex tables: CC BY 4.0. Source data: US federal public domain.

Cite this report

Free to quote, chart and republish with attribution (CC BY 4.0). Link to this page so readers can check the numbers and the methodology.

MotorCodex, "Most Complained-About Vehicles of 2026 So Far: NHTSA Owner Complaints by Make, Model and System", analysis of NHTSA data, NHTSA data through September 3, 2026 (complaints received), retrieved September 8, 2026. https://motorcodex.com/reports/most-complained-about-vehicles-2026/

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