The Biggest Complaint About America's Most Popular Cars

There were relatively few complaints, just 22, registered with the NHTSA about the 2019 Nissan Sentra. The most commonly noted issue was with the brakes, with several drivers reporting that they had an issue with the brake sensor.

None of the 20 most popular cars in America had reported more issues than the Jeep Cherokee for the 2019 model year. Eight different components of the 2019 Cherokee had more than 10 registered complaints each, but the engine had by far the most with 135.

Several 2019 Nissan Altima drivers have noted issues with their brakes — specifically the automatic emergency braking function. Some drivers noted that the brakes activated when there was no need for them.

The most popular version of the GMC Sierra is the 1500, so the vehicle naturally has more complaints than the less common 2500 and 3500 models. Several 2019 Sierra drivers reported to the NHTSA that their 1500s failed to stop or remain stopped when the brakes were depressed.

Nearly all of the 187 complaints about the 2019 Jeep Wrangler relate to the SUV’s steering system. Dozens of drivers have said the steering is loose and requires constant corrections, with some even describing the issue as a “death wobble.”

Among the relatively few complaints with 2019 Toyota Highlanders, some drivers reported to the NHTSA that the engine would either stall or shut down while they were operating their vehicle.

Drivers of the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee reported just 27 complaints, compared to well over 100 for each of the other two Jeep models on this list — the Cherokee and Wrangler. There were a handful of stalls and failures related to the Grand Cherokee’s power train.

Of the 32 filed complaints for the 2019 Toyota Tacoma, most related to the power train. Several Tacoma drivers noted that their transmission overheated quickly, while others said the transmission shutters and jerked when accelerating.

Among the 20 top selling cars of the year, the 2019 Ford Escape had the fewest complaints, with just 18. There were also no issued recalls for the vehicle. The most common complaint typically pertained to electrical systems malfunctioning or shutting off while the SUV was in operation.

Among the 41 complaints about the 2019 Honda Accord filed with the NHTSA, the highest total were in regards to the brakes — specifically the automatic braking system. Several drivers reported the system automatically braking when there was no need.

The most common complaint with the 2019 Toyota Corolla involved the power train. This is no surprise as Toyota issued a recall related to the power train in late 2018 as the pump impeller blades were known to detach and make the car stall.

The bulk of the 58 complaints the NHTSA received regarding the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox were related to engine troubles. Though several issues were mentioned, many drivers noted that a hose connected to the turbo charger would detach while the vehicle was in operation and cause it to lose power.

The 2019 Honda Civic had a much lower complaint rate than most other popular American cars of the same model year. Among the 28 complaints, there does not appear to be a single issue that stands out — the engine and brakes tied for the highest complaint total, with five apiece.

Source: Kevauto / Wikimedia Commons

The most common complaint with the 2019 Toyota Camry, the power train, all seem to stem from the same issue — acceleration. Many Camry drivers reported a delay when trying to accelerate from a stopped position.

Like several other cars on this list, the 2019 Nissan Rogue’s most common complaint deals with the brakes — specifically that the vehicle’s automatic braking system would engage when it wasn’t needed.

Of the over 150 reported complaints about the 2019 Honda CR-V, most can be traced back to a single issue. The vehicle issued a recall in May 2019, saying, “The metal core of the steering wheel may have burrs which can damage the harnesses routed within” — which could damage the air bag. This design may have otherwise affected the steering and air bags. There were 69 complaints regarding the steering and 65 complaints regarding the 2019 CR-V’s air bags.

Among America’s 20 most popular cars of 2019, the Toyota RAV4 was the only one that had the fuel/propulsion system elicit the most complaints. Many drivers, for both the standard 2019 RAV4 and the 2019 RAV4 hybrid, have complained that the gas tank does not fill up to the advertised capacity.

The 81 complaints filed with the NHTSA regarding 2019 Chevrolet Silverados were relatively spread out among several issues and types. The most popular trim, the 1500, had the bulk of the complaints, with 68. There were 20 electrical system complaints, followed by 19 reported issues with the brakes.

Across the 2019 Ram Pickup line, there were nearly 200 complaints across 18 different areas. The most commonly cited complaints were with the electrical system, brakes, power train, and steering.

There have been 180 total complaints regarding the 2019 Ford F-Series line of trucks. Even though the F-150 is far and away the most popular of these trucks (and the most popular among all other vehicles in America, for that matter) the F-250 actually has had more complaints registered against it, with more than 100. Many drivers have complained that they have an issue controlling the steering wheel of the F-250, especially at high speeds.