Steering — Vehicle Component Safety Report

Steering failure reports: 1784 total complaints across 100 vehicles from 12 makes. See which models are most affected.

1784Total Complaints
100Affected Vehicles
12Makes Affected

Steering Decision Cockpit

This component hub groups real NHTSA complaint signals by make, model year, and vehicle page. Use it as a spoke from individual vehicle reports into the broader steering safety pattern.

Top Makes for Steering Complaints

Ram — 1113 Toyota — 260 Nissan — 124 Tesla — 107 Mercedes-Benz — 74 Subaru — 40 Volkswagen — 38 Porsche — 11

Top Years for Steering Complaints

2015 — 495 2016 — 361 2019 — 282 2017 — 231 2018 — 124 2020 — 74 2023 — 64 2022 — 58

A high complaint count does not automatically prove a defect, but it is a strong inspection signal when the same component appears repeatedly across related vehicles, years, recalls, or crash narratives.

Common Steering Issues

The steering component is one of the most commonly reported areas of failure in NHTSA consumer complaints. Issues range from minor inconveniences to serious safety hazards including potential crashes and fires. Below are the vehicles most affected by steering problems.

Most Affected Vehicles

VehicleComplaintsRecalls
2015 Ram 1500 274 0
2019 Ram 1500 241 0
2016 Ram 1500 241 0
2017 Ram 1500 154 0
2015 Toyota Camry 79 0
2023 Tesla Model 3 49 0
2018 Ram 1500 49 0
2018 Toyota Camry 38 0
2020 Nissan Sentra 37 0
2015 Toyota Rav4 31 0
2017 Ram 2500 31 0
2016 Ram 2500 31 0
2020 Ram 1500 31 0
2015 Ram 2500 28 0
2019 Volkswagen Atlas 21 0
2021 Nissan Sentra 21 0
2022 Tesla Model X 20 0
2016 Ram 3500 20 0
2015 Toyota Highlander 19 0
2021 Tesla Model S 17 0
2016 Toyota Camry 16 0
2015 Nissan Versa Note 16 0
2022 Nissan Sentra 16 0
2024 Tesla Model 3 12 0
2015 Nissan Versa 12 0
2016 Mercedes-Benz Gle-Class 12 0
2015 Ram 3500 10 0
2021 Nissan Rogue 10 0
2022 Mercedes-Benz Glc-Class 10 0
2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 10 0

Frequently Asked Questions About Steering Safety

What are the most common steering problems in cars?

Based on 1784 NHTSA complaints across 100 vehicles, steering issues range from minor malfunctions to serious safety hazards. The most affected vehicles are listed in the table below — click any vehicle to see its specific steering complaint details.

Which vehicles have the most steering recalls?

The Ram 1500 is among the most affected. See the ranked table below for the full list of 100 vehicles with steering complaints filed with NHTSA.

How dangerous are steering failures?

Steering failures can range from minor inconveniences to serious safety hazards. Some steering complaints involve crashes, fires, or injuries. Always have steering issues inspected promptly by a qualified mechanic, especially if your vehicle is subject to a related recall.

How do I check if my car has a steering recall?

Search for your vehicle using our search tool or enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If a steering recall exists for your vehicle, the repair is free at authorized dealerships.