Worst Transmissions: Most Complaints per 1,000 Sold, by Model
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Among 53 models with published U.S. sales, the most transmission complaints per 1,000 sold were filed for the Chrysler 200 (2.96), Jeep Cherokee (2.75), Hyundai Tucson (1.07). The median is 0.28; the lowest is the Lexus RX350 at 0.04. These are owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not failure rates.
Models ranked by transmission complaints per 1,000 sold
Pooled across each model's sales-covered years: transmission complaints ÷ units sold × 1,000. A model needs at least 3 model years with 5,000+ sales and at least 50 transmission complaints to be ranked. Highest rate first.
| Rank | Model | Transmission complaints | Per 1,000 sold | Share of all complaints | Worst years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chrysler 200 | 936 | 2.96 | 22.4% | 2015 |
| 2 | Jeep Cherokee | 4,999 | 2.75 | 50.8% | 2014, 2015 and 2019 |
| 3 | Hyundai Tucson | 1,221 | 1.07 | 20.1% | 2016, 2017 and 2018 |
| 4 | GMC Acadia | 1,180 | 0.94 | 23.1% | 2008, 2017 and 2018 |
| 5 | Acura MDX | 407 | 0.88 | 20.4% | 2016, 2022 and 2017 |
| 6 | Ford Explorer | 1,526 | 0.6 | 10.1% | 2020, 2016 and 2017 |
| 7 | Jeep Gladiator | 157 | 0.6 | 16% | 2021 and 2020 |
| 8 | Ford F-150rate: Ford F-Series, all variants | 6,712 | 0.55 | 32.4% | 2013, 2011 and 2018 |
| 9 | Nissan Titan | 198 | 0.55 | 21.1% | 2016, 2008 and 2021 |
| 10 | GMC Sierra 1500rate: GMC Sierra, all variants | 1,142 | 0.54 | 17.4% | 2017, 2021 and 2018 |
| 11 | Honda Pilot | 732 | 0.54 | 11.2% | 2016, 2017 and 2019 |
| 12 | Honda Ridgeline | 139 | 0.53 | 8.3% | 2017, 2019 and 2021 |
| 13 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 1,750 | 0.45 | 13.7% | 2014 and 2015 |
| 14 | Kia Sorento | 903 | 0.44 | 10.3% | 2011, 2016 and 2022 |
| 15 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500rate: Chevrolet Silverado, all variants | 2,153 | 0.42 | 19.7% | 2019, 2017 and 2021 |
| 16 | Chevrolet Tahoe | 446 | 0.42 | 10.2% | 2021, 2015 and 2017 |
| 17 | Jeep Wrangler | 1,834 | 0.42 | 14.7% | 2012, 2013 and 2024 |
| 18 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 815 | 0.4 | 14% | 2017, 2010 and 2022 |
| 19 | Ram 1500rate: Ram Pickup, all variants | 1,707 | 0.39 | 13.1% | 2015, 2019 and 2016 |
| 20 | Hyundai Sonata | 884 | 0.38 | 7.1% | 2011, 2015 and 2012 |
| 21 | Toyota Highlander | 777 | 0.38 | 18.2% | 2021, 2019 and 2020 |
| 22 | Nissan Sentra | 1,122 | 0.37 | 32.7% | 2013, 2014 and 2015 |
| 23 | Kia Optima | 475 | 0.34 | 7.1% | 2016, 2013 and 2012 |
| 24 | Nissan Altima | 1,770 | 0.34 | 18.1% | 2013, 2016 and 2014 |
| 25 | Nissan Pathfinder | 956 | 0.33 | 30.9% | 2013, 2014 and 2008 |
| 26 | Volkswagen Jetta | 955 | 0.32 | 17.1% | 2013, 2019 and 2009 |
| 27 | Dodge Durango | 328 | 0.28 | 7.1% | 2011, 2014 and 2015 |
| 28 | Acura RDX | 134 | 0.27 | 6.5% | 2019, 2017 and 2020 |
| 29 | Chrysler 300 | 328 | 0.24 | 11.8% | 2012, 2014 and 2013 |
| 30 | Nissan Rogue | 1,784 | 0.22 | 25.5% | 2013, 2011 and 2016 |
| 31 | Subaru Forester | 389 | 0.22 | 7.4% | 2015, 2016 and 2017 |
| 32 | Mazda CX-9 | 148 | 0.18 | 10.7% | 2008, 2011 and 2010 |
| 33 | Toyota Tacoma | 599 | 0.18 | 17.2% | 2016, 2009 and 2017 |
| 34 | Honda CR-V | 830 | 0.17 | 6.8% | 2015, 2017 and 2013 |
| 35 | Nissan Murano | 313 | 0.17 | 16.5% | 2009, 2015 and 2010 |
| 36 | Hyundai Elantra | 459 | 0.16 | 7.1% | 2017, 2013 and 2020 |
| 37 | Kia Forte | 216 | 0.16 | 8.4% | 2019, 2010 and 2011 |
| 38 | Buick Enclave | 351 | 0.15 | 14.2% | 2008, 2011 and 2010 |
| 39 | Honda Accord | 740 | 0.15 | 6.3% | 2018, 2013 and 2008 |
| 40 | Toyota Camry | 958 | 0.15 | 12.3% | 2018, 2012 and 2014 |
| 41 | Honda Civic | 622 | 0.14 | 7.6% | 2015, 2014 and 2008 |
| 42 | Mazda CX-5 | 252 | 0.14 | 11.7% | 2016, 2014 and 2013 |
| 43 | Chevrolet Equinox | 881 | 0.13 | 12.8% | 2010, 2011 and 2012 |
| 44 | Dodge Charger | 371 | 0.13 | 9.3% | 2012, 2014 and 2013 |
| 45 | Kia Sportage | 220 | 0.13 | 7.6% | 2017, 2023 and 2011 |
| 46 | Mazda6 | 74 | 0.13 | 5.3% | 2014 |
| 47 | Subaru Legacy | 200 | 0.13 | 13.1% | 2010, 2011 and 2012 |
| 48 | Toyota Corolla | 384 | 0.09 | 6.1% | 2019, 2010 and 2009 |
| 49 | Volkswagen Passat | 171 | 0.09 | 6% | 2014, 2010 and 2013 |
| 50 | Mazda3 | 183 | 0.08 | 7.8% | 2010, 2012 and 2013 |
| 51 | Subaru Impreza | 214 | 0.08 | 12% | 2008, 2009 and 2012 |
| 52 | Toyota RAV4 | 465 | 0.07 | 7.5% | 2019 and 2010 |
| 53 | Lexus RX350rate: Lexus RX, all variants | 108 | 0.04 | 7.9% | 2023, 2008 and 2016 |
Worst single model years per 1,000 sold
Model-years with 5,000+ sold and at least 20 transmission complaints. Older years have had longer to collect complaints, so this list leans older.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Units sold | Per 1,000 sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Hyundai Tucson | 515 | 89,713 | 5.74 |
| 2015 Jeep Cherokee | 997 | 220,260 | 4.53 |
| 2019 Jeep Cherokee | 751 | 191,397 | 3.92 |
| 2015 Chrysler 200 | 693 | 177,889 | 3.9 |
| 2017 Jeep Cherokee | 640 | 169,882 | 3.77 |
| 2016 Jeep Cherokee | 625 | 201,420 | 3.1 |
| 2017 Hyundai Tucson | 287 | 114,735 | 2.5 |
| 2017 GMC Acadia | 232 | 111,276 | 2.08 |
| 2016 Acura MDX | 111 | 55,495 | 2 |
| 2020 Ford Explorer | 451 | 226,215 | 1.99 |
| 2016 Nissan Titan | 42 | 21,880 | 1.92 |
| 2018 GMC Acadia | 161 | 88,622 | 1.82 |
| 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 350 | 195,958 | 1.79 |
| 2016 Honda Pilot | 197 | 120,772 | 1.63 |
| 2019 Volkswagen Jetta | 161 | 100,453 | 1.6 |
| 2019 GMC Acadia | 150 | 99,430 | 1.51 |
| 2022 Acura MDX | 64 | 46,425 | 1.38 |
| 2018 Jeep Cherokee | 289 | 239,437 | 1.21 |
| 2017 Acura MDX | 63 | 54,886 | 1.15 |
| 2017 Honda Ridgeline | 40 | 34,749 | 1.15 |
High complaint counts we can't rate per 1,000
These models have many transmission complaints but no published sales figures in our data, so they are listed by raw count and share, not ranked.
| Model | Transmission complaints | Per 1,000 sold | Share of all complaints | Worst years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus | 6,341 | — | 47% | 2014, 2012 and 2013 |
| Ford Escape | 4,236 | — | 18% | 2010 and 2014 |
| Ford Fusion | 3,033 | — | 14.2% | 2010, 2017 and 2016 |
| Ford Edge | 1,981 | — | 15.1% | 2019, 2008 and 2020 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 1,344 | — | 12.9% | 2018, 2016 and 2017 |
| Chrysler Pacifica | 1,150 | — | 27.1% | 2017, 2018 and 2022 |
| Ford Expedition | 1,101 | — | 34.3% | 2020, 2019 and 2018 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | 923 | — | 16.8% | 2018, 2019 and 2011 |
| Subaru Outback | 778 | — | 9.7% | 2011, 2012 and 2010 |
| Ford Mustang | 726 | — | 17.5% | 2011, 2012 and 2013 |
Transmission guides
- Nissan CVT
- Subaru CVT
- Honda CVT
- Toyota Direct Shift-CVT
- Ford PowerShift DPS6
- Hyundai/Kia 7-speed DCT
- Ford 6R80
- Ford 10R80
- GM 6T40 / 6T45
- GM 8-speed automatic
- GM 10-speed automatic
- Allison 1000
- ZF 8-speed (8HP / TorqueFlite 8)
- ZF 9-speed (9HP / 948TE)
- Chrysler 62TE 6-speed
Data fetched July 2026 to November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which cars have the worst transmissions?
Among 53 models with published U.S. sales, the most transmission complaints per 1,000 sold were filed for the Chrysler 200 (2.96), Jeep Cherokee (2.75), Hyundai Tucson (1.07). The median is 0.28; the lowest is the Lexus RX350 at 0.04. These are owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not failure rates.
Why rank by complaints per 1,000 sold?
A raw complaint count mostly measures how many cars were sold. Dividing by U.S. sales puts a niche model and a best-seller on the same scale. We only rank models with at least three model years that each sold 5,000 or more, and only model-years that clear the same floor.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. It counts complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect. Use it to compare models, then check the specific car’s recalls and service history.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration