The Lemon IndexA car that won’t start usually has a battery, starter, fuel or key problem.
Get it checked. Check the battery first (lights, a jump start). If it still won’t start, have it towed.
A weak or dead battery. Then: a failed starter; a fuel pump or fuel delivery problem.
Owners describe this in 41,831 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Nissan Altima.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Nissan Altima | 701 | 44% |
| 2009 Dodge Journey | 292 | 18% |
| 2016 Honda Pilot | 278 | 16% |
| 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 256 | 16% |
| 2025 Honda Odyssey | 212 | 46% |
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata | 201 | 6% |
| 2010 Dodge Journey | 188 | 19% |
| 2017 Honda Pilot | 183 | 19% |
| 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan | 173 | 28% |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 171 | 4% |
| 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 171 | 10% |
| 2013 Honda Accord | 169 | 12% |
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
2025 Honda Odyssey · 46% 2009 Nissan Altima · 44% 2010 Nissan Maxima · 39% 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan · 28% 2009 Nissan Maxima · 25% 2002 Chevrolet Malibu · 22% 2022 Chevrolet Equinox · 21% 2003 Chevrolet Malibu · 21%
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 won't start
- A weak or dead battery
- A failed starter
- A fuel pump or fuel delivery problem
- A key fob or immobilizer problem
- A failed ignition switch or sensor
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive if your car won't start?
Get it checked. Check the battery first (lights, a jump start). If it still won’t start, have it towed.
Get help right away if you smell fuel; you see smoke.
Of the 41,831 complaints describing it, 1% mention a crash, 7% say the car was towed, 2% mention a fire and 0.7% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: electrical system (51%), engine (27%), power train (11%), engine and engine cooling (10%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 70,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (5,666), Chevrolet (4,955), Dodge (3,419), Honda (3,061), Jeep (3,006).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (electrical, engine, fuel system repairs): the middle half ran $600 to $4,000, typical $1,200, from 1,126 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
P0087 P129F P0016 P1450 P0335 P0017 P0340 U0100
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Engine cranks but won't start Car battery keeps dying All dashboard warning lights on Car jerks when accelerating Car hesitates when accelerating Car shakes when accelerating
Quick answers
What causes car won't start?
A car that won’t start usually has a battery, starter, fuel or key problem. Common causes: a weak or dead battery; a failed starter; a fuel pump or fuel delivery problem; a key fob or immobilizer problem; a failed ignition switch or sensor.
Is it safe to drive if your car won't start?
Get it checked. Check the battery first (lights, a jump start). If it still won’t start, have it towed.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Nissan Altima, 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 1,126 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $600 to $4,000. 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