NHTSA opens audit query into Ford and Hyundai vehicles: NU Car rental of vehicles with open recalls
On June 9, 2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an Audit Query (AQ26001) into Ford and Hyundai vehicles, concerning the none. An Audit Query reviews whether a manufacturer has met its federal safety reporting or recall obligations. As of NHTSA’s latest data it is still open.
- Action
- AQ26001 (Audit Query)
- Status
- Open
- Component
- None
- Listed
- 2 make/model/year entries in NHTSA’s file
Vehicles under investigation
| Makes | Ford, Hyundai |
|---|---|
| Models | Expedition, Palisade |
| Model years | 2021, 2025 |
As listed in NHTSA’s investigation file. Not every vehicle of a listed model is necessarily affected.
What ODI says
NHTSA is opening this Audit Query (AQ) to investigate NU Car Rentals (NU Car) for compliance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The Safety Act requires that a rental company shall not rent a vehicle subject to a safety recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. § 30120(i). NHTSA is in receipt of information that indicates NU Car rented at least two vehicles to consumers without having performed required recall repairs. The Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) related to this investigation can be found on nhtsa.gov by searching for ID number 11730449 and 11504655. Accordingly, we are opening this audit query to seek additional information concerning this issue.
Official summary by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation for AQ26001, quoted in full (U.S. government work, public domain).
What owners have reported
Owners filed 485 complaints with NHTSA about the model years in this investigation, reporting 12 crashes, 5 fires, 12 injuries, 1 deaths. These are all complaints on file for those vehicles, about any problem, not only this one; complaints are unverified owner reports.
| Vehicle | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Expedition | 237 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 Palisade | 248 | 8 | 7 | 1 |
Recalls and problems for these vehicles
Timeline
- ODI opens audit query AQ26001
- OpenNo closing date yet
What this means for owners
- An investigation is not a recall. NHTSA has not made a defect finding here, and owners are not asked to do anything yet. If a safety defect is confirmed, the manufacturer recalls the vehicles and the repair is free.
- Check your vehicle for open recalls with a free VIN recall check.
- Had this problem? File a complaint with NHTSA. Owner complaints are the evidence ODI uses to open and expand investigations.
Official record: search AQ26001 or your vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls, which lists investigations alongside recalls. Data: NHTSA ODI investigations file, updated daily. All NHTSA investigations.