Problems by symptom
The same complaints, organized the way drivers actually describe them. Counts come from keyword analysis of NHTSA complaint narratives — one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Stalling
103,750 reports · engine stalls or shuts off, often while driving
Check engine light
49,206 reports · persistent or recurring check-engine warnings
Vibration / shaking
49,106 reports · vibration, shudder or wobble while driving
Rust / corrosion
39,223 reports · rust, corrosion and paint failures
Loss of power
32,162 reports · sudden power loss, reduced power or limp mode
Hesitation / surging
27,167 reports · hesitation, surging or lurching on acceleration
Airbag warning light
20,446 reports · persistent airbag warning lights
Clunking / rattling
17,380 reports · clunks, knocks and rattles
Overheating
13,884 reports · overheating and coolant leaks
Steering problems
13,853 reports · lost or stiff power steering, locking or wandering
Brake problems
13,798 reports · soft pedal, longer stops or brake failure
Won’t start
8,039 reports · engine cranks but won’t start, or no crank at all
Oil consumption
7,031 reports · engine burns oil between changes
Shifting problems
6,168 reports · hard shifts, slipping gears, jerky transmission
Electrical failures
6,034 reports · shorts, wiring-harness and electrical faults
Misfire / rough idle
5,376 reports · misfiring cylinders or rough idling
Battery drain
1,165 reports · dead batteries and parasitic electrical drain
Water leaks
993 reports · water leaking into the cabin or trunk
18 symptom groups are tracked. Classification is automatic keyword matching, so counts are approximate; always read the underlying complaints before drawing conclusions.