Steering lockup and Direct Adaptive Steering malfunctions
Steering wheel becomes difficult or impossible to turn, including at highway speed
Check engine light: On
Dozens of complaints describe steering lockups, Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS) malfunctions, power-steering-assist failures, and the steering wheel becoming difficult or impossible to turn, several while driving at highway speed. Documented consequences include a flat tire triggering total loss of steering control during a lane change resulting in a collision with an 18-wheeler, and a steering module failure after a minor bumper impact that led to the vehicle being totaled. One owner reported three separate steering-control computers replaced and expressed explicit fear of a future accident.
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Transmission valve body failures with parts backorders
Vehicle stuck in low gear or limited to 20-40 mph
Check engine light: On
Ten or more complaints describe transmission valve body failures — vehicles stuck in low gear, unable to shift past 3rd gear, or limited to 20-40 mph. One dealership was reported to have 700 valve bodies on backorder.
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Brake pedal sinking and rapid pad wear
Pedal sinks toward the floor; pads and rotors wear unusually fast
Check engine light: On
Brake pedal sinking substantially toward the floor after roughly 20 miles of driving, unresolved after multiple dealership visits in one case; separately, rotors replaced 5+ times in one year with pads burning through every 2-3 months.
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Repeated tire blowouts
Multiple blowouts on factory run-flat tires
Check engine light: Off
One owner reported seven tire blowouts in under 17 months on factory Bridgestone run-flat tires.
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Heated seat activating without being turned on
Seat heater melts leather while inactive
Check engine light: Off
One owner reported the seat heater activating and melting the leather without the feature being turned on.
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IMPORTANT — THIS GENERATION IS TIED TO A DOCUMENTED FATALITY. A vehicle left the highway and crashed into a tree ravine, becoming fully engulfed in flames; both occupants were declared dead on arrival. Separately, this generation has an unusually large cluster of steering-system complaints, including Direct Adaptive Steering malfunctions, power-steering-assist failures, and the steering wheel becoming difficult or impossible to turn, several times at highway speed, tied to multiple documented crashes and injuries.