Safety defect investigations conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into potential vehicle safety issues in commercial and consumer vehicles.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opens hundreds of safety probes each year, ranging from short Preliminary Evaluations (PE) into a single complaint pattern through deeper Engineering Analyses (EA) that often convert into formal recalls. This index lists every investigation on file with the agency, filtered to commercial-vehicle-relevant components and manufacturers — search by component to see what's open on brakes, wheels, steering, frame, or engine control. Click any docket for the full timeline, related recalls, and a list of carriers operating affected vehicles.
Frequently asked questions about NHTSA investigations
What is a NHTSA safety investigation?▾
A NHTSA safety investigation is a formal probe by the agency's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) into a potential safety defect in a vehicle or vehicle component. Investigations are opened when ODI sees a pattern in consumer complaints, manufacturer warranty data, or formal defect petitions — and they conclude with either a closure (no defect trend, or remedied through a service campaign) or a formal safety recall.
What's the difference between PE, EA, and a recall?▾
PE (Preliminary Evaluation) is the first phase, where ODI gathers complaints and the manufacturer's first response. About a third of PEs escalate to EA (Engineering Analysis) — the deeper phase with crash testing and a formal information request. Roughly half of EAs convert into a formal recall, where the manufacturer must offer affected owners a free remedy. PE → EA → Recall is the standard escalation path.
How can I tell if my truck is affected by an open investigation?▾
Three options: (1) plug your VIN into NHTSA's free check at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls — it searches all active investigations. (2) Browse the table above by make and component to see open investigations on your vehicle's make/model/year. (3) Paste your VIN into the search bar at the top of any TruckCodex page; we link the VIN's make/model/year to active investigations automatically.
How do I file a complaint to support an investigation?▾
Go to https://www.nhtsa.gov/report-a-problem. Provide the VIN, the date and circumstances of the incident, environmental conditions, and any injury or property damage. Complaint volume directly influences whether ODI escalates an open investigation, so well-documented reports — with photos, video links, and dealer service records — carry significantly more weight than bare-narrative submissions.
Does NHTSA cover commercial trucks the same as passenger vehicles?▾
Yes. NHTSA's defect-investigation authority covers all motor vehicles operating on U.S. public roads, including Class 7 and Class 8 tractors, straight trucks, motorcoaches, school buses, and trailers. Truck-specific investigations often involve braking systems (49 CFR 393.42), wheels, frame and suspension, and engine emissions controls. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) handles operator and operating-authority issues; NHTSA handles the vehicle itself.