Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,245,377 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA, including 140,173 crashes, 56,794 fires, and 8,580 deaths.
What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?
A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim, NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.
The database below contains over 2,245,377 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports, when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.
How to interpret what you read
A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:
- One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report, that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
- Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
- Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
- Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.
If you've experienced a defect
File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints, specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened, feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.
Read more from our blog
Showing 191,761 complaints - component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
CHARGING SYSTEM DEFECT: The manufacturer-supplied portable charger (rated 9.6kW at 240V/40A) delivers only 7.4kW — a 23% shortfall. The authorized dealer confirmed this measurement in March 2026 but refused to repair, stating "no issues." The charging rate also degrades over time without manual reset. The vehicle also intermittently fails to charge at DC fast charging stations — it begins cha... Read more
Incident date: Dec 5, 2025
On 3/3/2026 during the night-time hours, I was traveling on the freeway in my 2023 GMC Yukon at over 65 MPH when I received a notice from the instrument cluster stating that the battery was low and oil pressure was low. Before I could pull over to a safe location, the Yukon turned off while in motion. My wife and two children were in the vehicle. The Yukon stalled in the number one lane of the off... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2019) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 18, 2026
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
ICCU failure. Car lost power while driving. I heard a "pop" sound and then the car displayed a warning light moments before losing power. Car was towed to the dealership where they diagnosed and replaced the ICCU and a fuse. This is a known problem since the 2022 model year and seems to be a very common failure that the manufacturer is unable definitively repair. Thankfully I was on a local s... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2026
I am reporting a vehicle fire involving my 2008 BMW X3, which had an active safety recall for the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve heater (Recall Campaign No. 22V-119). This recall identifies a risk of short circuiting, overheating, and potential fire. On February 27, 2026, I contacted BMW after discovering multiple active recalls on my vehicle. I specifically asked whether the vehicle ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
Every 7 minutes of driving electrical failure , happens, which results in Check driver assistance system warning. Once vehicle is turned off, driving 7 minutes error pops again. Due to this all systems : Adaptive Cruise Control , Automatic Emergency Braking , Blind Spot Warning , Forward Collision Warning , Lane Departure Warning , Lane Keeping Assistance , Parking Collision Warning , Rear Cross T... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2026) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 18, 2026
Incident date: Mar 14, 2026
Shortly after a routine oil change performed at a Kia dealership, I discovered a significant oil leak underneath the vehicle the following day. Within a short period of time, the vehicle began experiencing engine-related issues including a cylinder misfire, noticeable shaking while driving, and loss of power, particularly when accelerating or driving on inclines. The vehicle also displayed a chec... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2026) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 18, 2026
Incident date: Mar 14, 2026
Today I was driving my truck at 55mph on a local highway and all of the sudden I felt/heard/experienced a massive clunk out of nowhere - almost like the truck tried to downshift into 1st or something similarly jarring. It only lasted a second, and then I got a dash light on that said Service AdvanceTrac. Based on the service codes I'm seeing (two of them that are both UO100 codes which indicate lo... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
I had this truck as brand new for approximately 24 hours when it had a major failure. It had 450 miles on it at time of purchase, but was sold as new. While driving at 45MPH it had a check engine light, service power steering message, lost power steering, lane departure system failure, and reduced power amongst several other lights on the dash. I limped the truck into a gas station parking lot. Af... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
The car is subject to a NHTSA recall 26V073. Mercedes has scheduled warranty repair for December 31, 2026, or more than 9 months from now. Our dealer advises that the scheduled date is just a holding date; there is no assurance that the repair will occur on or before that date. Mercedes has also said in writing that "the battery replacement remedy is not yet available" and that we should compla... Read more
Incident date: Jun 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V896000 (Power Train), 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), and 26V104000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer h... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
I am reporting multiple life-threatening safety defects with my 2025 Kia Telluride. The vehicle has experienced Sudden Unintended Acceleration, where it accelerates to excessive speeds without driver input. During these episodes, the braking system fails to respond, only allowing the vehicle to stop once its internal safety systems intervene. Additionally, the vehicle suffers from unpredictable st... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
Suddenly lost all power steering, then warning power steering attention, no control for steering, very dangerous, couldn't drive vehicle. Took independent car repair to fix. $5k repair to fix problem. Should not happen to vehicle.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
Vehicle dies with no warning, no warning lights, no power even emergency flashers are inoperative, almost like it got hit by an EMP
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
My Truck has less than 60,000 miles have paid for the extended warranty and now have a infamous ABS module failure which is very dangerous because now My Truck is my only source of transportation and being a senior citizen. This is a hazard for my only vehicle that I have. I have done my research and there are tons of complaints for this issue and it has not became a recall, which is very alarming... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2024) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 18, 2026
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V512000 (Power Train) and 26V104000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the parts for the recall repairs were not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for an oil change. The contact was informed by the dealer that a hub bolt had detached from the vehicle. The contact was i... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
My 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro (VIN [XXX] , purchased from Delaney Toyota, DuBois PA) exhibited a recurring Smart Key and door lock malfunction beginning in late October/early November 2025 and continuing through the date the vehicle was traded in February 2026 with the defect unresolved. Symptoms observed: Doors locking autonomously on exit, sometimes before occupants could exit the vehicle Syste... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
The vehicle is a Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric vehicle. There have been known issues with the integrated charging control unit (ICCU) failing suddenly rendering the car inoperative; I just took it to the dealer and they confirmed a fault with the ICCU. I am up to date with multiple prior ICCU recalls and updates. Leading up to this, a few months ago my 12V battery died unexpectedly at ~22000 miles and ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2026
Battery charging system cannot be used on fast chargers without potential overheating and fire, therefore, I cannot travel safely beyond my immediate area without incurring a risk to myself and others. The recall has been ongoing with empty promises of a fix since September of 2024, over 1 year and 6 months ago. So, that means this risk has been in place for much longer.
Incident date: Nov 19, 2025
While driving I received the infamous "Stop vehicle and check power supply" warning, and it was then inoperable, needed a tow to the dealer for ICCU replacement. I can't believe you terminated your initial investigation into this in 2023 because they did a recall (which my car received). That recall did not fix the issue. It is March 2026 and Ioniq 5 and other models with the same electric system... Read more
Incident date: Jul 17, 2024
My 2026 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro (VIN [XXX] , delivered 02/28/2026, purchased from Delaney Toyota, DuBois PA) has exhibited a recurring Smart Key and door lock malfunction beginning at approximately 250 miles and continuing through at least 1,814 miles as of March 18, 2026. Symptoms observed: Doors locking autonomously without any input while occupants are entering or exiting the vehicle System fals... Read more
Incident date: Mar 9, 2026
Vehicle battery drains while vehicle not in use. Have replaced the battery twice, and replaced alternator. Problem persists. When this began, it coincided with the car's door lock feature unlocking the vehicle upon approach, within about five feet, without pressing the fob. Also, if locking the vehicle if not about five feet away, it will lock and immediately unlock itself. I've seen many owners ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 9, 2026
EcoFlow unit wires crimped, may be inadequate on size of wire from alternator to EcoFlow unit . Leading to overheating and potential fire danger .
Incident date: Mar 9, 2026
The contact called for the owner of a 2022 Ram Promaster 3500. The vehicle was taken to be serviced due to a power steering failure. While operating the vehicle, the owner experienced a power steering failure, and the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The messages "Service Power Steering", "Service Hill Assist", "Service Collision Warning", "Blind Spot Alert Unavailabl... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Rav4 Prime. The contact stated that the instrument panel was not operating properly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the dealer associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
Multiple safety systems on my 2019 Honda Odyssey Elite have simultaneously failed, including LKAS, ACC, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Auto High-Beam Headlights, and other driver-assist features. The dashboard displays warnings for nearly every safety-related system, and the vehicle disables these features without warning. **Detailed Description of the Problem:** Whenever I start my vehicle,... Read more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2026
I previously reported a safety issue re. Brakes not working in park. Vehicle rolled back and car almost hit mom and young daughter walking behind vehicle in parking lot. When I brought it to BellFord in [XXX] they told me it was not covered under the recall since it wasn’t being caused by rear axle. Instead they wanted to charge me $3,000 to diagnose their manufacturing defect. In addition whe... Read more
Incident date: Nov 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel failed to display critical safety information as intended. No warning light was illuminated before the failure. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V652000 (Electrical System). The local dealer was co... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
I am submitting this complaint regarding ongoing and persistent mechanical issues with my vehicle since the time of purchase. The vehicle has repeatedly shut off unexpectedly, creating a serious safety concern. Initially, I suspected the issue might be related to the battery, and I have replaced the battery twice within the past 4 years. However, the problem has continued. In January, the vehicle... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, the message "Service EV" was displayed. The local dealer was contacted, and a service appointment was scheduled for the following day. The contact stated that while driving into the dealer parking lot, the audible warning "Caution Fire" activated. The contact immediately parked the vehicle. The cause of... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2026
Honda hrv 2025 malfunctioning when brake hold system is activated. Brake hold system lets individuals use the brake whenever needed without your foot having to be on the pedal the entire time. You can come to a red light, step on the pedal and take your foot off the pedal and the car will remain stopped until you press on the gas. Over the course of leasing this vehicle sometimes the brake system ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
2024 Hyundai Santa Fe purchased new in May 2024. On three occasions since December 2025, while driving, the dashboard went completely black as if the vehicle shut off. The Hyundai startup logo then reappeared while the vehicle was still moving, and the vehicle lost acceleration. The most recent event occurred at highway speed, approximately 65-70 mph, requiring us to coast to the shoulder. No warn... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2009) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 18, 2026
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
There are two issues 1) Unsure of the exact date, but about a year or two ago we were driving our car and the car's automatic break system went into effect on a typically busy, 3 lane road despite there not being any cars in front of our vehicle. We took it into the dealership, who confirmed the issue and told us that sometimes the automatic brake mis-identifies the metal plates in the roads to ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced battery failure. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the hybrid battery had failed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approx... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
On multiple occasions the infotainment system/central control system has gone black and rebooted while driving without any prior notification or warning. The front two USB ports indicate they are producing 12.2 volts; however, as soon as anything is plugged in, they become disabled and will not work. The warning lights indicating the front passenger seat belt is not in use randomly turn on when th... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2026
The vehicle was serviced at Bartow Ford in Bartow, Florida, where approximately $1,100 was paid for the installation of a Body Control Module (BCM). Less than two weeks after this repair, the vehicle was returned to the same dealership due to issues involving the windshield wipers. According to the dealership’s own written statement, their technician began diagnosing the issue by replacing a blo... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Nov 7, 2024
Issue occurs in [XXX] during normal daily driving, including while reversing and operating the vehicle at low speeds. The malfunctioning touchscreen interferes with safe vehicle operation in parking areas, residential streets, and regular traffic conditions. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2020) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 18, 2026
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
Vehicle displayed Charge System Fault message on dash. Upon review at dealership they determined that alternator was bad and needed replaced. Vehicle has less than 15,000 miles on it. Took to dealership in mid-January and part is on national back order. Part not expected to be received by dealer until the end of March.
Incident date: Oct 9, 2025
The vehicle was recalled. I took the vehicle to the dealer where it was purchased. It was serviced. The engine issue was addressed, so we thought. The repair/replacement parts did not remedy the issue, despite it being in the shop for over 6 months. The problem persists. It is overheating in a 5 minute drive. The local service department is saying there is no other remedy. They keep asking... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
Description of Safety Defect: While operating the vehicle at approximately 25-30MPH and make a right turn, the vehicle experienced a sudden and total loss of power/engine stall, accompanied by a "Check Engine" light and a "Reduced Engine Power" notification. This resulted in a near-collision on a public roadway. The vehicle's steering and braking response were significantly compromised during thi... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2026
auto idle stop stalled at a red light causing my car to not move and having to shut off my car in the middle of traffic. Once i tried to turn back on it wouldnt start at first. i had to do this twice in order for the car to come back on.
Incident date: Feb 4, 2026
While charging the vehicle, we heard a loud pop. After starting the vehicle there was a warning to check the electric vehicle system. The car max speed was limited to about 20mph while driving home (it was night and the dealership was closed). The following morning while driving the car to the dealership, a new warning came on to stop the vehicle. A few minutes later, a new light came on showing... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
While driving an audible pop from the rear of the vehicle was heard. Upon hearing the pop the vehicle warning lights came on and a sudden loss of power reducing my maximum speed to 20 mile per hour. The electrical system failure warning came up on the screen and the car would not accelerate to over 20 miles per hour. The dealer stated it was a failed ICCU and fuse. This has been at the dealer for... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2026
While driving down the road the van just shut down in the middle of the road as other cars are going by honking the horn and coming close to hitting us with children in the van and no way to get off the road without the engine running. We gave contacted dodge in dallas GA they confirmed a recall for the issue but proceed to say thus VIN is not included. I pray we don't stall while trying to turn... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
The power window on our 2022 Ford Escape will remain down after being rolled down and cannot be raised. This issue has occurred three separate times. When it happens, the vehicle cannot be secured and is exposed to weather and theft. The failure appears to be intermittent but recurring, indicating a possible design or electrical defect rather than misuse. This creates a safety and security risk, e... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2026
My 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid experienced a complete electrical system failure at approximately 15,933 miles, resulting in a no-start condition. The failure involved the vehicle’s electrical distribution system. An authorized Ford dealership (Autos Vega Ford) diagnosed that voltage was not reaching the Body Control Module (BCM) due to a fault in the battery cable and wiring system. The repair re... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2022) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 18, 2026
Incident date: Jul 31, 2024
My 2014 Ford Focus with approximately 145,000 miles is experiencing a failure of the Transmission Control Module (TCM). The vehicle hesitates, jerks, and has difficulty shifting, which creates a safety concern when driving in traffic. The issue was diagnosed by a dealership, and I was quoted approximately $1,800 for the TCM replacement. I contacted Ford for assistance, but they stated the vehicl... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2022) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 18, 2026
Incident date: Dec 27, 2025
The liftgate (trunk) opens sporadically. The system keeps trying to open the truck and it's causing a parasitic drain on my battery. I was stranded 2 hours from my home due to this. My trunk would sporadically beep three times, that is the only warning I received. There are safety recalls for other year of Mazda cx-9 but not my specific even though I am having the same issue.
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2023) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 18, 2026
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
Sporadically, when starting up the vehicle, from the overhead console, it emanate a loud, ear piercing sound that is painful to one's ears. Apparently, this is a KNOWN issue with 2019 Toyota Highlanders in the Limited Platinum trim level. This issue has been presented to the dealership numerous times (DARCARS Toyota Frederick) with their claim they could not recreate the issue. I have provided v... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
Vehicle previously brought to dealership for recall and reported issue where vehicle abruptly stops/brakes without cause. Dealer did not resolve. On 3/16/26 vehicle came to a complete stop in roadway, shifted into park, and could not be moved into drive, neutral, or reverse. Driver was stranded in a dangerous situation with infant in vehicle. Dealer unable to inspect for weeks and refused loaner. ... Read more