The Lemon IndexOil spots under the car or oil on the engine mean a seal or gasket is leaking.
Fix soon. Usually OK if you keep the oil topped up. Get it checked soon, since oil on hot parts can catch fire.
A leaking valve cover gasket. Then: a leaking oil pan gasket or drain plug; a worn rear main seal.
Owners describe this in 12,481 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Jeep Wrangler.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 Jeep Wrangler | 196 | 30% |
| 2018 Mazda CX-5 | 87 | 24% |
| 2017 Chevrolet Equinox | 76 | 27% |
| 2019 Mazda CX-5 | 75 | 27% |
| 2013 Ford Escape | 62 | 2% |
| 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 57 | 2% |
| 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe | 55 | 4% |
| 2007 Toyota Camry | 52 | 1% |
| 2019 Chevrolet Silverado | 49 | 4% |
| 2015 Kia Soul | 47 | 5% |
| 2013 Chevrolet Equinox | 46 | 6% |
| 2014 Ford Escape | 46 | 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
2014 Jeep Wrangler · 30% 2017 Chevrolet Equinox · 27% 2019 Mazda CX-5 · 27% 2018 Mazda CX-5 · 24% 2016 Chevrolet Equinox · 12% 2006 Cadillac DTS · 10% 2017 Jeep Wrangler · 10% 2013 GMC Terrain · 9%
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 oil leak
- A leaking valve cover gasket
- A leaking oil pan gasket or drain plug
- A worn rear main seal
- A leaking oil filter or oil filter housing
- A leaking oil cooler or lines
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with an oil leak?
Fix soon. Usually OK if you keep the oil topped up. Get it checked soon, since oil on hot parts can catch fire.
Get help right away if you smell burning oil or see smoke; the oil light comes on.
Of the 12,481 complaints describing it, 0.8% mention a crash, 4% say the car was towed, 4% mention a fire and 0.7% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: engine (46%), engine and engine cooling (37%), power train (17%), electrical system (9%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 74,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (1,420), Dodge (1,237), Chevrolet (1,171), Hyundai (902), Kia (791).
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 $1,100 to $5,600, typical $2,900, from 386 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
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Car burning oil Burning smell from car or engine Smoke from under the hood Car jerks when accelerating Car hesitates when accelerating Car shakes when accelerating
Quick answers
What causes oil leak?
Oil spots under the car or oil on the engine mean a seal or gasket is leaking. Common causes: a leaking valve cover gasket; a leaking oil pan gasket or drain plug; a worn rear main seal; a leaking oil filter or oil filter housing; a leaking oil cooler or lines.
Is it safe to drive with an oil leak?
Fix soon. Usually OK if you keep the oil topped up. Get it checked soon, since oil on hot parts can catch fire.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Jeep Wrangler, Chevrolet Equinox and Ford F-Series. 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 386 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $1,100 to $5,600. 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