Fuel Pump Recalls and Problems: Which Cars, From NHTSA Data

A failing fuel pump can make the engine stall while you are driving, and several automakers have recalled millions of cars to replace pumps before they do. Honda, Toyota, Ford and Volkswagen account for the largest recalls. Repair-shop guides explain the symptoms and the cost; this guide uses NHTSA’s complaint and recall files to show which cars and model years are involved, which recalls are still mostly unrepaired, and which high-complaint years were never recalled.

Fuel system complaints: which cars and years

NHTSA’s owner complaint form has two fuel categories: “fuel system” and the newer “fuel/propulsion system.” Both cover the whole system, not just the pump: the tank, lines, injectors, vapor system and pump. Together they are a smaller share of complaints than the engine or electrical system, but they name some of the worst individual model years:

Counts of owner reports, not verified defects or rates; models that sold in larger numbers draw more complaints. The share compares with all complaints for that model over the same model years. Source: NHTSA owner complaints file, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; computed by PlainVIN.

Source: NHTSA owner complaints file, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; computed by PlainVIN.

The newer “fuel/propulsion” category puts different cars at the top: the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Chevrolet Corvette, with the 2018 Honda CR-V and 2019 Toyota RAV4 among the worst model years.

Source: NHTSA owner complaints file, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; computed by PlainVIN.

Which of those years were recalled

We checked the worst model years above against NHTSA’s recall file. The match is close for newer cars and loose for older ones:

• Honda CR-V 2017–2018 and Honda Accord 2018: covered by Honda’s 2021 recall of 2019–2020 models and 2018–2019 CR-Vs (21V215) and then 23V858 across 2013–2023 Accord, Civic, CR-V, HR-V, Odyssey, Ridgeline and Acura models (23V858). The 2018 Accord was also in a 2020 recall (20V314).
• Toyota RAV4 2019: recalled in 2020 because the in-tank fuel pump can fail and stall the engine (20V682).
• Ford Fusion 2010 and Escape 2010: the 2010–2011 Fusion and Mercury Milan were recalled in 2015 because a vapor purge valve could let the tank crack and leak (15V793). The 2010–2012 Escape with the 3.0-liter engine was recalled in 2016 for a fuel delivery module that could crack and leak (16V777).
• Chevrolet Cobalt 2007: recalled in 2009 and 2012 because the fuel pump module could crack and leak fuel, a fire risk, in vehicles sold or registered in hot-climate states (09V419, 12V459).
• Dodge Durango 2005: recalled for a fuel filler check valve that might not close after refueling (05V034, 09V003). Jeep Wrangler 2007: a 2007 recall for a power module software fault that could stall the engine (07V291).
• Chevrolet Trailblazer 2006, Chevrolet Cavalier 2003, Nissan Xterra 2005 and Chevrolet Corvette 2008: heavy fuel complaint shares, but we found no fuel-system or stall recall for those years in NHTSA’s file.

Complaints are owner reports, so a high count may reflect many owners of a popular model rather than a defect rate. For each model’s year-by-year picture, see its best and worst years page.

Fuel pump recalls by automaker

“Repaired” weights each campaign’s reported completion rate by its vehicle count; “not yet repaired” is the matching estimate. A vehicle in several campaigns is counted in each. Source: NHTSA recalls file and US DOT completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; computed by PlainVIN.

Honda tops the table with 12 pump campaigns and roughly a million vehicles not yet repaired, by our estimate. The consequence in NHTSA’s record for the 2023 Honda recall is the same for most of these:

“Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.”NHTSA recall record for Honda campaign 23V858, nhtsa.gov

A stall means loss of power steering assist and brake booster assist, but the car can still steer and stop with more effort. Pull over safely and put the hazard lights on. The biggest recalls since 2018:

Vehicle descriptions are NHTSA’s own summary wording; “repaired” is the share the manufacturer reports as fixed, and new campaigns start near zero. Source: NHTSA recalls file and US DOT completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

• Honda and Acura: four recalls in five years: 2015–2019 V6 Accord, TLX and MDX models with particles reducing pump performance (19V060), more 2018–2020 models in 2020 (20V314) and 2021 (21V215), then 2013–2023 models in 2023 (23V858).
• Toyota and Lexus: two recalls in 2020, about 1.83 million and 1.53 million vehicles, covering Camry, Corolla, RAV4, Highlander, Tacoma, Tundra, 4Runner, Sienna and Lexus models from model years 2013 to 2020 (20V012, 20V682).
• Ford: about 850,000 2021–2023 Bronco, Explorer, F-150, Super Duty, Mustang and Lincoln models in 2025, because the low-pressure pump can fail and stall the engine (25V455). Trade press reported Ford’s finding that a supplier’s pump chamber wasn’t built to specification, see WardsAuto.
• Volkswagen: 2006–2010 Passat and 2009–2016 CC in 2017 because an interruption in power to the pump control module could stop the pump (17V509).

Fuel pump recalls in 2026

Pump recalls are still coming. In 2026 Toyota recalled about 9,100 Lexus RC, GS and IS models (26V222), and GM recalled 2025–2026 Silverado 3500 and Sierra 3500 trucks with dual fuel tanks because the rear pump may not move fuel to the front tank (26V129). The most telling one is Ford’s:

Vehicle descriptions are NHTSA’s own summary wording; “repaired” is the share the manufacturer reports as fixed, and new campaigns start near zero. Source: NHTSA recalls file and US DOT completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

In March 2026 Ford recalled 2020–2022 F-250 to F-550 Super Duty trucks and some larger models “previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V957,” where biodiesel deposits can build up on the high-pressure diesel pump and cause it to fail. NHTSA’s record states:

“High pressure fuel pump failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.”NHTSA recall record for Ford campaign 26V158, nhtsa.gov

Only about 13% of the 24V957 trucks are reported repaired, and about 32% for 26V158. Press coverage in October 2026 reports a judge has allowed a class action over these pumps to go ahead, see Pickup Truck +SUV Talk. If you own a Super Duty from these years, confirm both recalls are closed on your VIN.

Other fuel system recalls: tanks, injectors and purge valves

Not every fuel recall is about the pump. The other large ones involve leaks that can cause a fire, and vapor-system faults that can stall the engine:

• Ford Focus 2012–2018 (2.0-liter): about 1.28 million, recalled in 2018 because a stuck canister purge valve can cause excessive vacuum in the fuel vapor system and stall the engine (18V735). Only about 65% are reported repaired.
• Ford Escape 2020–2023 and Bronco Sport 2021–2024 (1.5-liter): a fuel injector may crack and leak fuel in the engine compartment, a fire risk (22V859, then 25V467 covering about 694,000).
• Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan 2010–2011: fuel tank may crack from pressure changes (15V793).

Fire-risk recalls are also covered in our car fire statistics and park-outside recall list. If a recall says a stalled or stopped car could catch fire, treat it as urgent.

Signs of a failing fuel pump

Repair shop sites quote roughly $400 to $1,200 to replace a pump, without sourcing their figures; get a written estimate, and if a recall covers your car, the repair is free. If the engine stalls while driving, also report it to NHTSA, since complaint patterns are how recalls start. For used cars, run the VIN through our VIN decoder and follow the used car inspection checklist. Related problem areas: engine and electrical faults can look like a bad pump, and a fuel pump relay fault is one of the Jeep and Dodge power-module recalls.

For leaks from fuel lines, tanks and injectors see our fuel leak and injector recalls guide.

Complaint and recall figures are PlainVIN’s analysis of NHTSA’s files and update when we refresh the data; complaints are owner reports, not verified defects. This guide is general information, not mechanical advice.