Mileage at Failure: When Car Problems Show Up (2015–2025 NHTSA Data)

When owners report a problem to NHTSA, they usually include the odometer reading. We took the median for each vehicle and problem area. The earliest: Toyota RAV4 fuel system complaints came at a median of 1k mi, well inside the typical warranty.

Problems that show up earliest

Early median mileage often points to a design or manufacturing defect rather than wear, and those repairs are more likely to be covered by warranty or a recall.

Engine: mileage when owners reported it

Out of warranty? See what engine repair costs.

Electrical system: mileage when owners reported it

Out of warranty? See what alternator / electrical repair costs.

Transmission / powertrain: mileage when owners reported it

Out of warranty? See what transmission repair costs.

Brakes: mileage when owners reported it

Out of warranty? See what brake repair costs.

Steering: mileage when owners reported it

Out of warranty? See what power steering repair costs.

Fuel system: mileage when owners reported it

Out of warranty? See what fuel pump repair costs.

Automatic emergency braking / collision warning: mileage when owners reported it

Body structure: mileage when owners reported it

Air bags: mileage when owners reported it

Speed control / acceleration: mileage when owners reported it

Wipers / visibility: mileage when owners reported it

Out of warranty? See what wiper replacement costs.

Suspension: mileage when owners reported it

Out of warranty? See what shock / strut replacement costs.

Exterior lights: mileage when owners reported it

Out of warranty? See what headlight replacement costs.

Engine and cooling: mileage when owners reported it

Out of warranty? See what engine repair costs.

Method

Median of the odometer readings owners entered, ignoring blank readings and anything above 400,000 miles. Vehicles need at least 100 complaints in a problem area to be listed. Owners often report problems when they first notice them, so these are best read as "when problems start," not "when parts wear out." Full methodology.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints, model years 2015–2025, retrieved 2026-09-23.