---
license: cc-by-4.0
language:
- en
pretty_name: "Engine-Family Complaint Density (NHTSA, MY 2005-2025)"
tags:
- automotive
- engines
- nhtsa
- vehicle-reliability
- engine-defects
- recalls
- open-data
- consumer-data
size_categories:
- n<1K
configs:
- config_name: default
  data_files:
  - split: train
    path: engine-complaint-density.csv
---

# Engine-Family Complaint Density

Curated problematic engine families (documented defect patterns — class actions, NHTSA investigations, or 100+ fleet complaints), with total NHTSA complaints, recalls, and complaints normalized per model-year entry. Density lets you compare families of different production volumes.

## Columns
| column | meaning |
|---|---|
| `engine_family` | Engine family name |
| `manufacturer` | Manufacturer |
| `displacement` | Displacement |
| `configuration` | Engine configuration |
| `years` | Production years |
| `modelyear_entries` | Matching model-year entries in DB |
| `complaints` | Total NHTSA complaints across the family |
| `complaints_per_modelyear` | Complaints ÷ model-year entries |
| `recalls` | Total recalls across the family |
| `alleged_fires` | Complaints alleging fire (unverified) |
| `alleged_deaths` | Complaints alleging death (unverified) |
| `url` | Source page on ProblemsByVin |

## Source & methodology
Families are the editorial set powering /engines/. For each family we sum complaints/recalls/harm flags across every matching (year, make, model) in the DB. "complaints_per_modelyear" = total complaints ÷ model-year entries present. Complaints are unverified consumer reports.

Canonical version, full methodology, and the other datasets: **https://problemsbyvin.com/data/** .

## License
CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution to **ProblemsByVin (https://problemsbyvin.com)**.