Before a recall

Open defect investigations

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation looks into possible safety defects before any recall exists. These are the 77 investigations open now. Some will end in a recall; many will close without one.

Open now
77
Opened in 2026
23
Newest opened
21 September 2026
Closed since 1972
5,126

Open investigations

Newest first.

  1. Crashes involving comma.ai driving automation productsOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE26007Comma.aiOpened 21 September 2026
  2. Driveshaft to rear differential connection failureOpenDefect PetitionDP26009BMWOpened 14 September 2026
  3. Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting RequirementsOpenAudit QueryAQ26003AvrideOpened 14 September 2026
  4. Loss of Motive PowerOpenDefect PetitionDP26008FordOpened 3 September 2026
  5. Tesla Cybercab FMVSS CertificationOpenAudit QueryAQ26002TeslaOpened 3 September 2026
  6. 2024 Ford Maverick Hybrid Intermittent Loss of BrakingOpenDefect PetitionDP26007FordOpened 24 August 2026
  7. Electronic Brake Module Component FailureOpenEngineering AnalysisEA26006ChevroletOpened 21 August 2026
  8. Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedyOpenEngineering AnalysisEA26005ChevroletOpened 20 August 2026
  9. Road debris/rocks damaging the heat exchangersOpenDefect PetitionDP26006ToyotaOpened 20 August 2026
  10. Timing Belt FailureOpenEngineering AnalysisEA26004FordOpened 31 July 2026
  11. Lower Lateral Link detachmentOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE26006TeslaOpened 29 July 2026
  12. Carry Handle SeparationOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE26005DoonaOpened 6 July 2026
  13. NU Car rental of vehicles with open recallsOpenAudit QueryAQ26001FordOpened 9 June 2026
  14. Rear Toe Link May SeparateOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE26004RivianOpened 26 May 2026
  15. Automated Driving System (ADS) conflict avoidance, driving behavior competence and assertivenessOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE26003AvrideOpened 6 May 2026
  16. Front Steering Knuckle FracturesOpenEngineering AnalysisEA26003Land RoverOpened 24 April 2026
  17. Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminatedOpenDefect PetitionDP26004FordOpened 9 April 2026
  18. Fuel smell and loss of motive powerOpenDefect PetitionDP26003NissanOpened 30 March 2026
  19. FSD Collisions in Reduced Roadway Visibility ConditionsOpenEngineering AnalysisEA26002TeslaOpened 18 March 2026
  20. Loss of Power Steering AssistOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE26002RamOpened 2 March 2026
  21. Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-upOpenEngineering AnalysisEA26001FordOpened 30 January 2026
  22. Waymo AV striking a child in the area of a school.OpenPreliminary EvaluationPE26001WaymoOpened 29 January 2026
  23. Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedyOpenRecall QueryRQ26002MazdaOpened 26 January 2026
  24. Recall 23V-413 Post Remedy FailuresOpenRecall QueryRQ25005JeepOpened 11 December 2025
  25. Rear Seat Belt Stitching Failure and DetachmentOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE25019Land RoverOpened 11 December 2025
  26. Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning StatusOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE25017HondaOpened 28 October 2025
  27. Loss of Motive PowerOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE25016HondaOpened 28 October 2025
  28. Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) FailureOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE25014JeepOpened 23 October 2025
  29. Loss of motive power due to engine failureOpenEngineering AnalysisEA25007ChevroletOpened 23 October 2025
  30. Automatic Emergency Braking ErrorsOpenEngineering AnalysisEA25006FreightlinerOpened 23 October 2025
  31. DTN Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpenEngineering AnalysisEA25005ChevroletOpened 21 October 2025
  32. Waymo AV drives around a stopped school busOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE25013WaymoOpened 17 October 2025
  33. Traffic safety violations while Full Self Driving ("FSD") is engagedOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE25012TeslaOpened 7 October 2025
  34. Electronic door handles become inoperativeOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE25010TeslaOpened 15 September 2025
  35. Intermittent Loss of Electric Power SteeringOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE25009ChryslerOpened 5 September 2025
  36. Engine failureOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE25008HondaOpened 20 August 2025
  37. Compliance with Standing General Order 2021-01 Reporting RequirementsOpenAudit QueryAQ25002TeslaOpened 20 August 2025
  38. Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) FailureOpenRecall QueryRQ25003RamOpened 3 July 2025
  39. Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 22V887OpenRecall QueryRQ25001ProterraOpened 27 June 2025
  40. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fuel LeakOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE25003Cummins Clean Fuel TechOpened 28 March 2025
  41. No Restart After Auto Start/Stop EngagesOpenEngineering AnalysisEA25004HondaOpened 26 March 2025
  42. Inadvertent Automatic Emergency BrakingOpenEngineering AnalysisEA25002HondaOpened 17 January 2025
  43. Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruiseOpenEngineering AnalysisEA25001FordOpened 17 January 2025
  44. Inadvertent Automatic Emergency BrakingOpenEngineering AnalysisEA24004VolkswagenOpened 18 December 2024
  45. Frame Flex on Grand Design Fifth Wheel Recreational TrailersOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE24029Grand DesignOpened 9 October 2024
  46. Vehicle entrapmentOpenEngineering AnalysisEA24003DodgeOpened 1 August 2024
  47. Engine Stall With Intermittent RestartOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE24018JeepOpened 19 July 2024
  48. Loss of Motive PowerOpenRecall QueryRQ24012JeepOpened 5 July 2024
  49. Side curtain air bags may deploy inadvertentlyOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE24017NissanOpened 31 May 2024
  50. Sogefi Secondary Diesel Fuel Filter LeakOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE24014FordOpened 9 May 2024
  51. Recall 23V838 Remedy EffectivenessOpenRecall QueryRQ24009TeslaOpened 25 April 2024
  52. Inadvertent Automatic Emergency BrakingOpenEngineering AnalysisEA24002HondaOpened 15 April 2024
  53. High Voltage Coolant Heaters may fail to defrost windshieldOpenAudit QueryAQ24004JaguarOpened 3 April 2024
  54. Blue Compass RV Open Recall SaleOpenAudit QueryAQ24003Alliance RvOpened 3 April 2024
  55. 2022 RAM Transmission Snap Ring FailureOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE24009RamOpened 27 March 2024
  56. Loss of motive power due to an internal wiring connector short.OpenRecall QueryRQ24004ChryslerOpened 27 February 2024
  57. CertificationOpenAudit QueryAQ24002NUNAOpened 12 February 2024
  58. Ignition-off high voltage battery fire (Remedy effectiveness of Recall 22V-077)OpenRecall QueryRQ24001ChryslerOpened 16 January 2024
  59. CertificationOpenAudit QueryAQ24001EvenfloOpened 5 January 2024
  60. Brake Actuator Valve WearOpenDefect PetitionDP23005ToyotaOpened 22 November 2023
  61. Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpenAudit QueryAQ23002KiaOpened 17 November 2023
  62. Electrical problems / No-startOpenDefect PetitionDP23004ToyotaOpened 30 August 2023
  63. Intermittent/Comp Loss of Power SteeringOpenRecall QueryRQ23003RamOpened 4 August 2023
  64. Sudden Unintended AccelerationOpenDefect PetitionDP23002TeslaOpened 29 June 2023
  65. Certification, Recall Scope, TimelinessOpenRecall QueryRQ23001Hitachi Cable AmericaOpened 22 March 2023
  66. High pressure fuel pump failureOpenEngineering AnalysisEA23001BMWOpened 17 March 2023
  67. Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open RecallsOpenAudit QueryAQ22003NissanOpened 16 December 2022
  68. Healey Brothers Ford / Open Recall SaleOpenAudit QueryAQ22002FordOpened 3 June 2022
  69. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpenEngineering AnalysisEA21002BMWOpened 17 September 2021
  70. Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 NoncomplianceOpenRecall QueryRQ21002FordOpened 3 August 2021
  71. Fuel Loss from Filler NeckOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE21012FerrariOpened 17 May 2021
  72. Failure to report under 49 CFR Part 579OpenAudit QueryAQ21001UppababyOpened 23 February 2021
  73. False Automatic Emergency BrakingOpenPreliminary EvaluationPE19010NissanOpened 9 September 2019
  74. Sale of noncompliant school busOpenAudit QueryAQ18006ChevroletOpened 1 December 2018
  75. Air Bag Clockspring FailureOpenEngineering AnalysisEA18003VolkswagenOpened 18 April 2018
  76. Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpenEngineering AnalysisEA16003Arc Air Bag InflatorOpened 4 August 2016
  77. Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpenEngineering AnalysisEA15001HondaOpened 24 February 2015

What an investigation means

An investigation is not a recall, and it is not a finding that anything is wrong. It means NHTSA has seen enough — owner complaints, crash reports, data from the manufacturer — to look more closely. There is nothing an owner needs to do because an investigation is open. If a recall follows, it appears on this site within a day of NHTSA publishing it.

NHTSA’s record links about 1 in 4 closed investigations (1,412 of 5,126) to a recall that followed.

Defect Petition
Someone has formally asked NHTSA to investigate. NHTSA decides whether to open an investigation, aiming to do so within four months.
Preliminary Evaluation
NHTSA asks the manufacturer for information and analyses it. Target: eight months.
Engineering Analysis
A deeper stage, often after a Preliminary Evaluation, with more testing and information requests. Target: 18 months.
Recall Query
A check on whether an existing recall was wide enough or its repair works. Target: eight months.

If you have had a problem with your own vehicle, you can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. Owner reports are one of the ways investigations start.