FaultScore

Which cars have the most acceleration problems

Owners have filed 84,656 complaints with NHTSA about the acceleration & cruise control. These are the models and model years that account for most of them.

Read these as volume, not as a reliability ranking: a model that sold in millions appears near the top for that reason alone.

Worst model years for acceleration problems

Vehicle Complaints Share of that year Median miles Grade
2010 Ford Fusion 794 11% 53,000 B
2006 Ford Freestyle 602 32% 75,000 D
2005 Ford Freestyle 587 29% 79,100 D
2010 Ford Escape 558 18% 52,000 C
2005 Ford Taurus 541 54% 93,454 F
2007 Toyota Camry 512 14% 35,000 F
2007 Ford Freestyle 428 34% 65,000 F
2018 RAM 2500 338 9% 50,750 A
2013 Ford F-150 300 8% 69,073 B
1998 Ford Explorer 287 12% 112,500 F
2010 Toyota Prius 287 8% 4,300 C
2002 Toyota Camry 282 24% 39,000 F
2009 Ford Escape 281 12% 68,000 B
2005 Toyota Camry 274 30% 39,100 F
2009 Toyota Camry 268 17% 17,000 F
2003 Toyota Camry 261 28% 37,309 F
2011 Ford Fusion 257 7% 45,000 B
2011 Ford Escape 245 13% 45,000 B
2004 Toyota Camry 241 30% 45,000 F
1997 Ford F-150 227 7% 120,000 F
1997 Ford Explorer 213 10% 100,000 D
2011 Ford F-150 212 7% 57,000 B
2010 Toyota Corolla 199 13% 6,300 F
2009 Toyota Corolla 198 11% 20,000 F
2012 Ford F-150 194 8% 30,000 A

Acceleration problems by brand

Every brand's record for this part, across its whole range.

Models with the most acceleration problems

Toyota Camry 3,184 9.4%

Worst in 2007

Ford F-150 2,832 8.3%

Worst in 2013

Ford Escape 2,307 6.8%

Worst in 2010

Ford Taurus 2,128 6.3%

Worst in 2005

Ford Explorer 1,851 5.5%

Worst in 1998

Ford Freestyle 1,617 4.8%

Worst in 2006

Ford Fusion 1,416 4.2%

Worst in 2010

Jeep Grand Cherokee 1,272 3.7%

Worst in 2014

Honda Accord 1,193 3.5%

Worst in 2018

Chevrolet Malibu 1,182 3.5%

Worst in 2016

Toyota Corolla 1,165 3.4%

Worst in 2010

Ford Focus 1,082 3.2%

Worst in 2000

Toyota Prius 1,048 3.1%

Worst in 2010

Jeep Cherokee 967 2.8%

Worst in 2014

Ford Windstar 907 2.7%

Worst in 2002

Toyota RAV4 902 2.7%

Worst in 2007

Ford Expedition 837 2.5%

Worst in 2000

Toyota Tacoma 781 2.3%

Worst in 2006

Nissan Altima 681 2.0%

Worst in 2016

Honda Civic 657 1.9%

Worst in 2022

Chevrolet Impala 655 1.9%

Worst in 2009

Hyundai Sonata 630 1.9%

Worst in 2011

Tesla Model 3 629 1.9%

Worst in 2022

Toyota Avalon 604 1.8%

Worst in 2006

Nissan Rogue 595 1.8%

Worst in 2013

Hyundai Santa FE 583 1.7%

Worst in 2007

Ford Ranger 578 1.7%

Worst in 1998

Tesla Model Y 571 1.7%

Worst in 2023

Honda Cr-V 552 1.6%

Worst in 2018

Ford Mustang 538 1.6%

Worst in 2005

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files each complaint against a specific sub-assembly. These are the ones named most often inside acceleration & cruise control.

Vehicle Speed Control 73,077 86.3%
Accelerator Pedal 5,679 6.7%
Cruise Control 3,755 4.4%
Linkages 1,135 1.3%
Cables 867 1.0%
Throttle 93 0.1%
Springs 38 0.0%
Throttle Position Sensor (Tps) 8 0.0%
Actuator/Stepper Motor 4 0.0%