The Lemon IndexA misfire means one or more cylinders isn’t firing properly, so the engine runs rough and loses power.
Fix soon. Keep trips short and gentle. A flashing check engine light means stop soon.
Worn spark plugs. Then: a failing ignition coil or plug wire; a clogged or leaking fuel injector.
Owners describe this in 9,466 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Ford Escape | 448 | 17% |
| 2018 Ford Escape | 359 | 20% |
| 2017 Ford Edge | 249 | 18% |
| 2018 Ford Edge | 174 | 20% |
| 2018 Honda Accord | 163 | 8% |
| 2016 Ford Fusion | 119 | 7% |
| 2017 Ford Fusion | 119 | 10% |
| 2016 Ford Edge | 105 | 11% |
| 2017 Chrysler Pacifica | 88 | 5% |
| 2019 Ford Escape | 85 | 14% |
| 2011 Ford F-Series | 84 | 3% |
| 2018 Chrysler Pacifica | 82 | 7% |
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
2018 Ford Edge · 20% 2018 Ford Escape · 20% 2017 Lincoln MKC · 18% 2017 Ford Edge · 18% 2016 Honda Odyssey · 17% 2017 Ford Escape · 17% 2019 Ford Escape · 14% 2017 Lincoln MKZ · 14%
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 engine misfire
- Worn spark plugs
- A failing ignition coil or plug wire
- A clogged or leaking fuel injector
- A vacuum leak
- Low compression from engine wear or a head gasket problem
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with an engine misfire?
Fix soon. Keep trips short and gentle. A flashing check engine light means stop soon.
Get help right away if the check engine light is flashing; the car shakes badly or smells of fuel.
Of the 9,466 complaints describing it, 0.5% mention a crash, 3% say the car was towed and 0.9% mention a fire.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: engine (70%), engine and engine cooling (16%), power train (15%), fuel/propulsion system (13%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 77,098 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (3,012), Honda (1,029), Chevrolet (761), Hyundai (480), Kia (466).
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 $2,000 to $8,700, typical $5,400, from 684 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
P0302 P0300 P0303 P0304 P0301 P0316 P0305 P0306
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Car shaking and check engine light on Check engine light flashing White smoke from exhaust Car shakes at idle Coolant leak Engine overheating
Quick answers
What causes engine misfire?
A misfire means one or more cylinders isn’t firing properly, so the engine runs rough and loses power. Common causes: worn spark plugs; a failing ignition coil or plug wire; a clogged or leaking fuel injector; a vacuum leak; low compression from engine wear or a head gasket problem.
Is it safe to drive with an engine misfire?
Fix soon. Keep trips short and gentle. A flashing check engine light means stop soon.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ford Escape, Ford Edge and Ford Fusion. 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 684 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $2,000 to $8,700. 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