The Lemon IndexA car that shuts off while moving can lose power steering and brake assist, so it needs a check right away.
Stop and get help. Don’t drive on busy roads until it is fixed. Check for recalls on your car.
A failing fuel pump or fuel pressure problem. Then: a failed crankshaft or camshaft position sensor; an ignition switch or electrical fault.
Owners describe this in 41,546 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Ford Escape.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Jeep Commander | 347 | 19% |
| 2013 Ford Escape | 269 | 10% |
| 2006 Chrysler 300 | 242 | 14% |
| 2010 Ford Fusion | 240 | 4% |
| 2007 Jeep Commander | 234 | 23% |
| 2010 Chrysler Town & Country | 227 | 15% |
| 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 212 | 13% |
| 2006 Dodge Charger | 210 | 16% |
| 2015 Chrysler 200 | 207 | 10% |
| 2008 Chrysler Town & Country | 179 | 9% |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 171 | 4% |
| 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 164 | 15% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2007 Jeep Commander · 23% 2016 Jeep Compass · 22% 2006 Jeep Commander · 19% 2016 Jeep Patriot · 18% 2003 Nissan Sentra · 17% 2021 Kia Soul · 17% 2006 Dodge Charger · 16% 2008 Jeep Commander · 16%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of car stalls while driving
- A failing fuel pump or fuel pressure problem
- A failed crankshaft or camshaft position sensor
- An ignition switch or electrical fault
- A dirty throttle body or idle control fault
- A failing alternator letting the battery run down
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive if your car stalls while driving?
Stop and get help. Don’t drive on busy roads until it is fixed. Check for recalls on your car.
Get help right away if you notice it at all.
Of the 41,546 complaints describing it, 2% mention a crash, 8% say the car was towed, 2% mention a fire and 1% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: engine (37%), electrical system (29%), engine and engine cooling (21%), power train (15%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 70,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (7,320), Jeep (4,113), Dodge (3,990), Chevrolet (3,543), Chrysler (2,589).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (cooling, engine, exhaust & emissions, fuel system repairs): the middle half ran $800 to $7,000, typical $2,900, from 462 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Engine codes that come up with it
P2111 P0087 P0335 P2112 P1450 P0014 P0017 P0340
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Car stalls at stop or idle Car jerks when accelerating Car hesitates when accelerating Car shakes when accelerating Car loses power while driving Car shakes at idle
Quick answers
What causes car stalls while driving?
A car that shuts off while moving can lose power steering and brake assist, so it needs a check right away. Common causes: a failing fuel pump or fuel pressure problem; a failed crankshaft or camshaft position sensor; an ignition switch or electrical fault; a dirty throttle body or idle control fault; a failing alternator letting the battery run down.
Is it safe to drive if your car stalls while driving?
Stop and get help. Don’t drive on busy roads until it is fixed. Check for recalls on your car.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ford Escape, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Focus. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 462 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $800 to $7,000. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup