When a car accident happens because something on the vehicle failed, the usual questions about who was driving carelessly don’t really apply. The better question is what broke, and whose job it was to make sure it didn’t. Sometimes that points to the manufacturer. Other times it’s a mechanic who serviced the vehicle and missed something, or an owner who knew about a problem and drove anyway.
Figuring out which applies usually means digging into what failed and why — a worn brake line tells a different story than a faulty airbag sensor, and each points investigators toward a different responsible party. These cases often involve manufacturers, repair shops, or insurers with their own legal teams, and a Connecticut car accident attorney can help navigate those parties and figure out where the fault actually lies.
What Is Mechanical Failure in a Car Accident?
A mechanical failure occurs when a component or system within a vehicle does not work as intended. When a part fails, the systems and operations that depend on it also fail, often with devastating consequences. You can see mechanical failures in anything from a faulty starter to a defective brake line or an internal electrical short.
According to Sedgwick’s Recall Index for the first half of 2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued approximately 431 motor vehicle recalls, affecting approximately 23.48 million vehicles—the highest number of vehicles recalled in the last five years. This includes only manufacturing defects that have been identified.
Modern Vehicle Complexity and Identifying Mechanical Failure
Motor vehicles increasingly use computing systems with sensors and ongoing monitoring to identify issues and alert the operator. Unfortunately, even the most advanced car systems are not foolproof, and a faulty component can be deadly.
In a best-case scenario, a mechanical issue might prevent your car from starting. However, in a worse situation, you might already be driving when a component or system fails, leading to a dangerous collision. Unfortunately, there’s no way to plan for such an accident, and victims are often left dealing with the physical, financial, and mental fallout.
Common Causes of Mechanical Failure Leading to Motor Vehicle Collisions
If your brakes got stuck, your steering wheel suddenly didn’t work, or your tires blew out before you hit another car, a mechanical or part defect could have contributed to your accident. As you work your way through a claim, here’s what you should know about the possible causes.
Electrical Systems
Sedgwick’s Recall Report pinpoints electrical systems as both the leading cause and the top hazard by volume for motor vehicles in the US, affecting 6.23 million vehicles. Electrical issues can take many forms, from a failing sensor to a wiring defect that affects braking or lighting.
A March 2026 recall of 4.3 million Ford trucks illustrates how serious that can get: affected vehicles experienced brake and light failures on their trailers. A large or heavy trailer that obscures the truck’s lights can be struck by passing or following vehicles that don’t see it, and failed trailer brakes can cause the hauling truck to lose control of the trailer and the truck, resulting in dangerous jackknife, rollover, sideswipe, and head-on collisions.
Electrical failures like these aren’t limited to passenger vehicles. When the same kind of failure occurs in a commercial truck, the consequences can be even more severe, given the size and weight involved in a collision. That’s why maintaining these systems matters regardless of who’s behind the wheel.
Back Over Prevention Systems
Back-over prevention failures are the second leading cause of automobile recalls in 2026, affecting approximately 3 million vehicles across multiple manufacturers. Carfax reports that approximately 7 million vehicles on US roads had unaddressed backup camera recalls as of May 2026.
A failed backup camera or sensor can prevent drivers from seeing vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, and others sharing the road. If you were struck by a vehicle with a faulty or damaged back over prevention system, you could have a case to seek damages from the manufacturer. However, these cases are rarely straightforward and can be quite challenging to handle without legal help.
Tire Failure
Tire failure contributes to approximately 35% of crashes involving vehicle defects, according to the latest information from the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS). Blowouts caused by overinflated, underinflated, pierced, or worn tires can lead to loss of vehicle control and dangerous accidents.
Even if the sidewalls are still intact, balding and worn treads can lead to loss of control, especially in inclement weather. The lack of grip on slippery surfaces can cause a vehicle to slip or hydroplane, increasing your chances of striking someone else on the road.
While tire failure is often preventable through regular pressure checks and tire changes, some manufacturing defects are out of the owner’s control. Defective tires may show tread separation, cracking, bulging, leaks, and belt failures that the driver could not possibly predict or prevent. If you believe your accident was caused by a defective tire, our car accident lawyers can help you identify those responsible, including negligent manufacturers, distributors, and mechanics.
Powertrain and Steering System Defects
In car operation, the steering, suspension, transmission and engine systems are all interconnected. Powertrain and steering system defects can cause you to lose control of your car, and they are not always easy to detect after a crash.
Assessors may ascribe them to simple wear and tear, but several powertrain defects can increase your chances of getting into an accident:
- Steering and suspension issues make it harder for you to control your vehicle, which can result in collisions at speed.
- Issues with the transmission system affect how well your car accelerates. When you can’t trust your car to speed up when you need it to, you could find yourself in a dangerous situation or even a collision. In extreme instances, you could be left stranded at an intersection or on a highway.
- A defective ball joint or snapped steering relay influences how your tires move and perform. You can’t reliably turn or maneuver your vehicle when your steering system is damaged.
- A poorly assembled steering wheel may potentially detach from the column, preventing you from directing the vehicle. As a result, you could lose control of the vehicle and crash.
Powertrain systems were the third-highest cause of recalls in H1 2026, according to Sedgwick’s. 23 powertrain recalls affected 2.4 million vehicles across the US. This includes a major recall of 1.39 million Ford F-150s due to electrical issues that made the transmission downshift without warning, potentially leading to loss of operator control.
Brake System Failures
Approximately 22% of mechanical failure-related car accidents involve defective brakes. Defective brakes may involve faulty or worn brake lines, faulty ABS systems, or worn components. Some brake failures are the result of poor maintenance and repair practices by the vehicle’s mechanic, but others are due to manufacturer defects.
In 2026, the NHTSA opened an Engineering Analysis investigation into 1.16 million vehicles using GM eBoost brake systems. The analysis will determine whether the NHTSA issues a recall for the affected vehicles. Users have reported potential brake assist failures that could cause the vehicle to lose ABS, stability, and traction control. Some complaints point to loss of brake assistance during stops, which could result in serious rear-end crashes and injuries.
Who Is Liable for a Vehicle Collision Caused by Mechanical Failure?
When part or system failure results in an accident, multiple parties may be at fault, including:
- Driver or Owner: Vehicle owners and operators are expected to maintain their motor vehicles or keep them at home if they are not drivable. A mechanical failure can be attributed to inattention or failing to follow a vehicle’s maintenance schedule.
- Mechanic or Technician: Did you recently get your car serviced, only for your vehicle to lose control or stop suddenly? A mechanic’s poor work, negligence or intentional damage may be the cause.
- Manufacturer: In recent years, we’ve seen what happens when a manufacturer fails to recall its vehicles over a defective function. Whether a manufacturer fails to issue a recall or takes over a decade to notify owners, a vehicle with defective components poses a hazard to the driver and others on the road.
To establish responsibility, the underlying cause of the crash needs a real investigation. That’s grown harder as vehicles rely on more electrical systems, since a defect in that kind of component often doesn’t show up in a simple visual inspection.
When a defect turns out to be widespread, a manufacturer recall may also come into play, and an attorney familiar with these cases can help you understand whether a recall affects your claim and how that fits into pursuing compensation.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney to Discuss Your Mechanical Defect Claim
Was a defective part or malfunctioning system behind your car accident? If you’re recovering from injuries and facing an insurance carrier who places most of the blame on you, bring your claim to Trantolo & Trantolo’s dedicated car accident attorneys. We offer comprehensive, personalized legal support for injury victims in Connecticut, Long Island, and Massachusetts. Reach out today for a free consultation.
