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: Jun 1, 2026
I own a 2020 Jaguar I-PACE with approximately 102,000 miles that is currently at a Jaguar dealership following a sudden failure to accept Level 2 charging in mid-June 2026 and has been there since. The vehicle initially showed fault code P0AA6-00, and the dealership subsequently replaced the 12V battery and charging module (440123457); after communication with the vehicle's systems was restored, t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
When driving off and on the power steering will go out and different warning lights will come on including “hill parking assist is off”.
Incident date: Aug 5, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while at a stop, the vehicle lost automotive power, and all electrical features turned off. The vehicle was restarted and the battery warning light illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that no cause for the failure was found. Th... Read more
Incident date: Jun 11, 2026
See attached document for complaint
Incident date: Aug 14, 2026
1.I have water leaking into my driver side well which could start an electrical fire. 2. My hood came flying open while driving, there is a faulty hood latch.
Incident date: Jul 27, 2026
I brought my vehicle to the dealer for safety recall 52D more than three weeks ago. They will not return the vehicle to me because they say the battery can explode. They have not offered enough money to cover the base model rental car. (I have since rented a slightly better car at my own expense. The allowance would not have covered the cheapest car, though.) No parts have been ordered. The deale... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2026 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The message that the trailer was not connected was displayed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2008 Volvo S80. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed Central Electronic Module (CEM).... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
AC is not blowing cold air even after replacing refrigerant. Mechanic says the compressor has failed, even though the car is only a few years old and has never been involved in any major incidents.
Incident date: Aug 20, 2026
2025 Ram 1500, VIN [XXX]. Instrument cluster recall/software update performed in February 2026 after the cluster previously went blank. Since completion of the recall remedy, the digital instrument cluster has gone completely out two additional times. Both occurrences are documented by video and reported to the authorized dealer. Dealer has acknowledged the recurring problem and states they are aw... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2026
2025 BMW X5...warning lights appeared and voice said emergency stop... emergency stop and tried to pull me off the road. shut down the vehicle for a while... and started up. finished errands. got home. vehicle would not start in the morning. dealership said it was an issue with the braking system... electronics and dead battery . said repaired. got it back. happened again...but got it go... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2025
The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System) and 26V495000 (Seat Belts); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while driving and towing a trailer, the brake pedal was depressed, but the trailer brakes failed to engage, causing the vehicle to drif... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
S 580 E 4MATIC
(2025) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Aug 20, 2026
Incident date: Aug 18, 2026
Electrical System malfunction with total electrical shutdown: Going in the street at about 35mph driven by a choffer and two passengers in the back seats , the right back seat passenger was using “relaxing massage”.controlled through the seat’s screen. The back seat”tablet” had a sign saying that the tablet was “ Over heated and it turned off. Seconds later there was a loud glass braki... Read more
Incident date: Aug 19, 2026
This is the second time this occurred. Please refer to 11757120. While travelling approximately 65 mph the vehicle had a complete shutdown including the engine and all electrical systems in the chassis. When a vehicle has a complete shutdown while driving it is inherently dangerous and life threatening. The problem has been confirmed by Westlies Truck Center in Minot ND again. To my knowledge the ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2024
My family and I tow a 45 foot RV Toy Howler Fifth Wheel with the truck and the ABS and Traction control lights keep coming on. The RAM Dealer (Aventura) has been telling me for over a year that the parts are on back-order. I've tried to trade it in but the trade in offers have been very low since they know there's no repair parts. I'm very concerned about our safety since we take long trips into t... Read more
Incident date: Jul 21, 2026
The engine/dash wiring harness connector XY230A suffered severe thermal degradation, resulting in a melted pin and causing a complete loss of communication with the Transmission Control Module (TCM, Code U0101-00) and continuous dashboard warning lights (Service Connection Error). This vehicle has a chronic history of unresolved electrical failures, having been brought to Stellantis Puerto Rico de... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine overheated, and the vehicle was driving sluggishly with the temperature gauge indicating that the engine was overheating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the coolant reservoir was cracked and was leaking coolant. The coolant reservoir was replaced, and the veh... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2026
The Chevy Malibu is displaying a “Shift to Park” message even when the gear selector is physically in the Park position. This indicates that the vehicle’s computer may not be recognizing that the vehicle has been placed in Park, which is commonly associated with a faulty or failing internal park-position sensor/switch. The issue is affecting the vehicle’s ability to shut down properly. It... Read more
Incident date: Feb 5, 2025
There is a daytime running light (DRL) malfunction with both headlights, it started with the drivers side slowly going out and now the passenger side is slowly going out. This is happening to several Dodge Durango owners of the 2021 model and can be found in the Dodge Durango forum online. The dealer stated it’s an out of pocket expense because the DRL is out and the entire component needs repla... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2026
My 2025 Ram 1500 has experienced seven separate incidents in which the steering suddenly became extremely difficult or impossible to turn. The most recent incident occurred on August 20, 2026. During these events, I temporarily lose the ability to steer the vehicle normally, creating an immediate risk of a crash. A vehicle diagnostic scan recorded repeated U0131 faults for lost communication with... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) and 26V468000 (ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer wa... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2026
I was driving on interstate approximatly 70 mph when it downshifted into second gear and and almost got rearended by a semi truck that was following behind my truck and luckily was able to swerve to miss hitting us. I Believe it is the 6r80 transmission conductor plate that is the cause of the issue
Incident date: Aug 4, 2026
The automatic breaking sensor put on my brakes at random times. It happens when going over a small rise in the road and also happened on a 2 Lane road when a semi truck was coming the opposite direction totally within its lane and the sensor for some reason thought maybe the vehicle was in my lane. This caused a sudden breaking and could’ve caused an accident by either me reacting to that breaki... Read more
Incident date: Aug 11, 2026
I was having trouble with my left driver tire. 2 mechanics went to test drive the car to see what the problem was. As they were driving, the car died. They got it started but it ran horrible back to the garage. When they pulled in the driveway of the garage, the car started on fire. It was an engine fire but undetermined what exactly was the cause. The vehicle was looked over by the insurance... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jul 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine hesitated while turning over. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V438000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of... Read more
Incident date: Jul 25, 2026
This complaint is a formal notification of a Recall Remedy Failure regarding NHTSA Campaign 22V082000 / 25V572000 (Rearview Camera Wiring Harness / Camera Replacement). My vehicle was brought to an authorized Ford dealership on 07/22/2026 to complete the recall remedy. Following the service, the backup camera functionality has completely degraded and is now worse than before the service. The scree... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2023) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Aug 20, 2026
Incident date: Jul 7, 2026
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Aug 17, 2026
The instrument cluster and center console display intermittently appears to lose power, although in at least one incidence, the back-up camera display still worked while in reverse. Without instruments it is impossible to determine speed which can be hazardous. The vehicle is scheduled to be looked over by the dealer on 8/21/26. To my knowledge, there have not been any symptoms or warning signs pr... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
When the truck idles it randomly shuts off completely and shows a sign on dash of 'vehicle may not start/restart please service' then it will disappear. It never shows any codes when hooked to machine in repair shop. This is a huge safety concern while driving and hauling trailers with equipment since all power is lost when it happens. It has been looked at by the dealership 3 times and they were... Read more
Incident date: Aug 17, 2026
Vehicle left me stranded in the middle of an intersection XXX due to high voltage battery failure. Vehicle was totally inoperable. This is the second time the battery has failed. First battery replacement was XXX. Also serviced XXX for battery issues. Vehicle had to be towed to the dealership, date unknown when battery will arrive for replacement. I'm now left with a vehicle that will have zero va... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2026
Under FMVSS 101, if a screen experiences a momentary "black screen" or reset cycle while driving, it is considered non-compliant because the driver loses immediate access to the speedometer, safety and ADAS functions of the vehicle. The OEM (BMW North America) does not acknowledge this issue in their vehicles and ignores repairs violating NHTSA standards.
Incident date: Aug 19, 2026
Hazard lights turn on by there self once turned off they will turn back on. When I try to use a turn signal the hazard lights will turn on instead of my turn signal
Incident date: Aug 19, 2026
While driving the car on a state road (45 mph) the car suddenly notified me of an "electrical fault", a light that looks like a turtle came on, and the vehicle lost power and couldn't go any faster than 5 mph. Another vehicle almost rear-ended me around a blind curve because I was moving significantly slower than normal traffic. I pulled into a parking lot, shutdown and restarted the car and every... Read more
Incident date: Aug 17, 2026
On the morning of 8-17, 2026, the vehicle experienced a total electrical power loss and high-voltage system deadlock immediately following an official Tesla Over-The-Air (OTA) software update pushed the previous night. Prior to this remote software update, the vehicle had zero operational issues or warning signs. Right after the update completed, the vehicle became completely unresponsive and undr... Read more
Incident date: Aug 19, 2026
On August 19, 2026, my 2022 BMW X7 xDrive40i experienced multiple safety\-related warnings at approximately 50,411–50,427 miles\. The vehicle first displayed “Increased steering effort” and instructed me to drive carefully to a service center\. It then displayed a red power\-supply warning stating: “Stop carefully\. Do not continue driving\. Continued driving will lead to malfunction of s... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2026
Due to a dangerous design flaw in the 2021 Ford F150, I was put in a potentially dangerous situation by completely losing all power in the vehicle on a backroad. Design flaw is the DCN module, which floods into the vehicles electrical system/body of vehicle through the cowel drain that can supposedly be blocked by a singular piece of pine straw. Due to the design flaw, the vehicle completely lost ... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2015) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Aug 20, 2026
Incident date: Dec 5, 2023
From time to time since I got the vehicle, the lights flicker inside and out. I've had the alternator changed but it continues. Then when pressing the lock button on the key fob the horn sounds as if it has a shortage. Sometimes its loud and sometimes it's barely heard.
FORD
F-150 LIGHTNING BEV
(2022) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Aug 19, 2026
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
Back up camera not working
Incident date: Aug 19, 2026
When im driving sometimes it stalls. I give it gas and car wount go. It only idles.
CADILLAC
ESCALADE ESV
(2023) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Aug 19, 2026
Incident date: Nov 14, 2024
Dear NHTSA Vehicle Safety, I would like to report a recurring safety issue involving the instrument cluster in my 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV. Vehicle: 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV VIN: [XXX] Current Mileage: Approximately 170,000 miles The digital instrument cluster/display directly behind the steering wheel intermittently goes completely black while the vehicle is in operation. When this occurs... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2026
This 2020 Subaru Forester has experienced repeated failures involving the Auto Start/Stop system. When stopped in traffic, the system shuts the engine off as designed, but on multiple occasions the engine has failed to restart normally when the driver needed to proceed. This has left the vehicle unable to move in active traffic and created a serious risk of collision. The failures have occurred i... Read more
Incident date: Aug 17, 2002
The Ford Maverick is subject to rodent invasions which caused an engine fire. We had to file a State Farm Insurance Claim ($4016.36 of repairs done to repair the engine including electrical, emission system, cowl, fuel system, and insulation.) This was completed XXX. We have been faithfully spraying the engine with Rodent Repellent, using Natural Repeller packs, and rat snap traps. We have reg... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jul 28, 2026
The 12-volt auxiliary battery system repeatedly discharges itself and has twice left the vehicle completely inoperative: 7/24/2026 (5.58 V at the battery, parked unplugged ~46 hours after the last drive) and 7/28/2026 (5.95 V, failure during an attempt to enter READY to drive). The 12V system controls the contactors connecting the high-voltage traction battery to the drive system; when it collapse... Read more
Incident date: Aug 12, 2026
I've had 2 incidents where my vehicle has stopped and not restarting. I took it to the dealership, and they stated I needed a starter. I see there are several complaints regarding this issue with the model QX80. Ive also had to get 2 new batteries with 1 year. Please look into the issues. I went to the dealership on 8/18/2026 they said my vehicle didn't start . My vehicle did start and I took it t... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2026
When driving the vehicle down the highway it just randomly hard shifted out of know where almost causing us to be rear-ended. The dash then said service transmission continue in drive do not shift or turn engine off until you reach a desired location. You may not be able to shift again until services. It then limited power to the vehicle. It was show codes U1003, U0101, and U0402 multiple times. T... Read more
Incident date: Aug 16, 2026
While traveling at highway speed on the freeway, the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of motive power/engine shutdown without prior warning. The instrument cluster immediately displayed a vehicle graphic outlined with red lines alongside an alert message instructing to shift the vehicle into Park and turn the engine off. > The sudden loss of propulsion in live freeway traffic created... Read more
Incident date: Aug 19, 2026
I have attempted to conduct the recall repairs (25V-655) on the LEAF battery. 2 different Nissan locations have cancelled my scheduled appointments stating "We don't have the software to complete these repairs".
Incident date: Aug 5, 2026
The telematics control module in this vehicle failed. A dealer diagnostic scan on 03/09/2026 at 67,839 miles documented the following active and history codes: U0198 Lost Communication with Telematics Module, reported independently by the Radio, Body Control Module, and Instrument Panel Cluster Control Module; U0499 Invalid Data Received from Telematics Module, reported by the Engine Control Modul... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2026
The airbag warning light for the front passenger seat has been intermittently lighting. Both when the passenger seat is occupied and vacant. The light sometimes indicates the passenger airbag is off when there is a passenger in the seat. I took the car to the Subaru dealer where I purchased the vehicle.. Per the dealership service report: “SCANNED CODES AND FOUND CODE B1760 STORED IN BODY CONTR... Read more
TOYOTA
PRIUS PRIME
(2023) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Aug 19, 2026
Incident date: Aug 10, 2026
The vehicle exhibits an unaddressed factory programming defect where the Plug-In Charge Control ECU fails to enter sleep mode while plugged in or resting. This causes continuous, heavy parasitic drain on the 12V auxiliary battery, causing chronic low-voltage state across critical systems. The 12V auxiliary network supplies power to the primary control units, CAN-bus communication modules, and dyna... Read more