Symptom explainer · every vehicle on the site
Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on
Most reported: 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with 164 reports. Across the 266 model years on this site with at least five, owners filed 4,246.
- 4,246owner reports
- 266model years affected
- 46,000median miles
- 188involved a crash
- 25involved a fire
This sheet collects reports of the traction control or stability control light staying on, or a "Service StabiliTrak" style message, often with no obvious reason. Six in ten complaints here mention the traction control light or a warning, and four in ten mention the ABS, the brakes or the check engine light as well.
Which cars report it most · By model · When it happens · What it is and what to do
The 25 vehicles with the most reports
Each row is one model year. The bar is its count of traction control light reports; the share is how much of that car's complaint file this problem takes up. Bigger sellers draw more reports, so read the share alongside the count. Red dots mark crashes and fires in these reports; amber marks a recall on the same system.
- 12014 Chevrolet Silverado 15007 crashes1 fire16411% of its complaints69k mi
- 211622% of its complaints75k mi
- 32015 Chrysler 2004 crashes1096% of its complaints58k mi
- 410318% of its complaints70k mi
- 52016 Chevrolet Malibu2 crashesrecall789% of its complaints55k mi
- 62014 Jeep Cherokee2 crashes753% of its complaints40k mi
- 72014 Chevrolet Cruze3 crashes7111% of its complaints67k mi
- 82015 Chevrolet Colorado2 crashes5812% of its complaints63k mi
- 92014 GMC Sierra 15002 crashes568% of its complaints71k mi
- 102024 BMW X52 crashesrecall5639% of its complaints6k mi
- 112015 Dodge Journey2 crashesrecall5410% of its complaints52k mi
- 122017 Honda CR-V2 crashes543% of its complaints27k mi
- 132017 Chevrolet Malibu1 crash538% of its complaints56k mi
- 142014 Jeep Patriot1 crash5210% of its complaints73k mi
- 15515% of its complaints9k mi
- 16503% of its complaints44k mi
- 172018 Jeep Wrangler2 crashes2 fires473% of its complaints8k mi
- 18423% of its complaints47k mi
- 192014 Jeep Grand Cherokee5 crashes1 firerecall402% of its complaints60k mi
- 202014 Dodge Journey3 crashesrecall3910% of its complaints62k mi
- 21393% of its complaints73k mi
- 222015 GMC Canyon1 crash3813% of its complaints62k mi
- 232016 Chevrolet Colorado1 crash385% of its complaints63k mi
- 242014 Ford Focus1 crash372% of its complaints50k mi
- 25372% of its complaints38k mi
Where it dominates the complaint file
Model years with at least 25 reports, ranked by the share of all their complaints that describe traction control light. That takes most of the sales-volume effect out (small sellers still swing more).
- 12024 BMW X52 crashesrecall5639% of its complaints6k mi
- 211622% of its complaints75k mi
- 310318% of its complaints70k mi
- 42015 GMC Canyon1 crash3813% of its complaints62k mi
- 53012% of its complaints60k mi
- 62015 Chevrolet Colorado2 crashes5812% of its complaints63k mi
- 72014 Chevrolet Silverado 15007 crashes1 fire16411% of its complaints69k mi
- 82014 Chevrolet Cruze3 crashes7111% of its complaints67k mi
- 92014 Jeep Patriot1 crash5210% of its complaints73k mi
- 102014 Dodge Journey3 crashesrecall3910% of its complaints62k mi
By model, every year together
The 12 models with the most reports. Each chip is a model year; the darker chip is its worst year.
- Chrysler 200133
- Honda Accord108
- Honda CR-V103
- Jeep Patriot101
When it happens
3,517 of the 4,246 reports state a mileage. The middle half fall between 21,737 and 73,000 miles; the median is 46,000. Each column is a 20,000-mile band.
Reports by model year
Every report of traction control light, grouped by the model year of the car. 188 involved a crash and 25 a fire. 128 people were hurt.
What owners describe
Share of the 4,246 reports that use each phrase. One report can use several.
What got replaced
Reports that name the part, across every vehicle.
What it is and what to do
NHTSA's own component codes file anti-lock brakes and traction control under one heading, and the recalls show why: a water-damaged ABS module or a failed wheel speed sensor can take ABS and stability control down together. That shared hardware helps explain all the other lights owners report. Firestone's description of the light matches what owners see: flashing briefly on a slippery road is normal, and a light that stays on without you pressing the traction control button means a fault that can compromise handling and stability.
Across roughly 4,200 complaints, the median mileage owners give is about 43,000. The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 tops the list, followed by the 2014 Traverse and the 2015 Chrysler 200. Where owners name a part, it's most often a module or a sensor. About one in five mentions a restart or the light clearing, and a few mention rain, water or a car wash.
Recalls in the data show water and software as repeat causes. FCA's 15V-675 sealed ABS wiring harnesses on some 2012 to 2015 Dodge Journeys after water could get into the module, disabling ABS and stability control. Toyota's 22V-239 updated skid control software on several 2020 to 2022 Toyota and Lexus models, most of them hybrids, because stability control could stay off after a restart if the driver had switched it off. For the top vehicle on this sheet, GM's 19V-761 covered some 2014 to 2018 Silverado and Sierra 1500 trucks where a failed wheel speed sensor could trigger unwanted braking on one wheel.
A shop will start with a diagnostic scan, which is how Firestone says a technician tracks down what set off an ABS-type light. From there it's the wheel speed sensors and their wiring, then the module itself.
Firestone warns that handling and stability may be compromised while this light stays on, so drive as if the system isn't there: gently on wet or icy roads, with more room to stop. If the brake warning light or the ABS light is also on, or the brakes feel different, treat it as a brake problem and get it looked at before driving further.
Tell the mechanic exactly which lights came on, whether a restart clears them, and whether weather or a car wash seems to set it off. Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup. Report it during the warranty and get a repair order; the FTC says a defect reported in that window must be fixed even if the warranty ends first.
Sources
- Types of car warning lights (traction control), Firestone Complete Auto Care
- Why is my brake light on? (ABS and wheel speed sensors), Firestone Complete Auto Care
- NHTSA recall 15V-675, Dodge Journey ABS wiring
- NHTSA recall 22V-239, Toyota skid control software
- NHTSA recall 19V-761, GM wheel speed sensor
- Check for recalls, NHTSA
- Warranties, FTC Consumer Advice
- Complaint counts, mileages and phrase shares: NHTSA complaint files as tallied on this site
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints on the 1,040 vehicle model years that have a page here, grouped by the word patterns described on the method page. A vehicle needs five matching reports to be counted in this ranking. Checked Sep 27, 2026. All problem explainers.