The Lemon IndexSputtering means the engine isn’t getting steady fuel or spark.
Fix soon. Get it checked soon. It can turn into stalling.
A clogged fuel filter or weak fuel pump. Then: dirty fuel injectors; worn spark plugs or coils.
Owners describe this in 4,763 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Ford Fusion | 70 | 1% |
| 2010 Ford Escape | 60 | 3% |
| 2014 Ford Focus | 43 | 2% |
| 2013 Ford Escape | 41 | 1% |
| 2017 Ford Escape | 38 | 1% |
| 2006 Dodge Charger | 35 | 3% |
| 2013 Ford Focus | 31 | 1% |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 30 | 0.8% |
| 2001 Ford Focus | 29 | 2% |
| 2009 Ford Escape | 28 | 2% |
| 2011 Ford F-Series | 27 | 1.0% |
| 2017 Hyundai Tucson | 24 | 2% |
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
2022 Chevrolet Equinox · 5% 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan · 4% 2013 Ford Fiesta · 3% 2008 Jeep Patriot · 3% 2010 Ford Escape · 3% 2006 Dodge Charger · 3% 2020 Kia Soul · 3% 2018 Jeep Renegade · 2%
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 sputtering
- A clogged fuel filter or weak fuel pump
- Dirty fuel injectors
- Worn spark plugs or coils
- A vacuum leak
- A dirty mass air flow sensor
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with a sputtering engine?
Fix soon. Get it checked soon. It can turn into stalling.
Get help right away if the car stalls or loses power; the check engine light flashes.
Of the 4,763 complaints describing it, 0.8% mention a crash, 2% say the car was towed and 2% mention a fire.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: engine (43%), power train (25%), fuel/propulsion system (22%), electrical system (18%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 65,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (1,349), Chevrolet (390), Jeep (294), Hyundai (294), Kia (286).
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 $686 to $6,500, typical $3,000, from 119 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 P0302 P0300 P2112 P0303 P0171 P0304 P0087
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Check engine light flashing Engine misfire Car shakes at idle Car shaking and check engine light on Car hesitates when accelerating Car stalls at stop or idle
Quick answers
What causes engine sputtering?
Sputtering means the engine isn’t getting steady fuel or spark. Common causes: a clogged fuel filter or weak fuel pump; dirty fuel injectors; worn spark plugs or coils; a vacuum leak; a dirty mass air flow sensor.
Is it safe to drive with a sputtering engine?
Fix soon. Get it checked soon. It can turn into stalling.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ford Escape, Ford Focus 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 119 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $686 to $6,500. 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