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.

2,245,377 Total Complaints

140,173 Reported Crashes

56,794 Reported Fires

8,580 Reported 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

How to Read NHTSA Consumer Complaints › How NHTSA Investigations Work › Used Car: 7 Recall Checks to Run First › The Takata Airbag Recall: Full Story › OBD-II Codes Explained › All Articles ›

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Showing 191,761 complaints - component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Incident date: Aug 1, 2022

I was driving when I was pulled over by a police officer for speeding I was going 5 over the speed limit (Speed limit was 65). As the officer approached my vehicle, he noticed flames coming from the engine compartment before I was aware there was any issue. He immediately instructed me to exit the vehicle for my safety. After I got out, the officer attempted to put out the fire with a fire exting... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Jul 28, 2026

The 12 volt battery exhibits a consistent parasitic drain. This is intermittent, but results in the vehicle failing to start. The failure to start is an issue because it is happening frequently and could endanger individuals who live in rural areas or areas with cold or hot climate. This issue has happened to us multiple times and Toyota has not recalled or provided guidance to its dealer service... Read more

Incident date: Jul 12, 2026

my rear windshield shattered - I was not driving - I was not using the rear defrost - I simply put car in reverse and when I looked back my glass was shattered. 08/09/2026

Incident date: May 22, 2026

The transmission goes into neutral. It has gone into neutral on the highway,local streets, also from a stop. From a stop in drive the electronic D on the instrument panel starts flashing. I turn on the hazards put transmission shifter in Park and start engine. This problem is intermittent, it can be cold or hot, it has happened 4x in 2 years. No accidents thankfully. The engine does not stall, the... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Auto Hold feature activated, and the check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and DTCs U0164, U0123, U01B0, and U1131 were retrieved. The independent mechanic stated that the battery needed to be replaced. ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2024

My 2025 Chevrolet Equinox RS is experiencing critical active safety and electronic malfunctions. While reversing out of my driveway, the vehicle unexpectedly executed an aggressive "phantom braking" event, violently slamming on the brakes with no actual physical hazards or cross-traffic behind the vehicle. The Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) and Rear Cross-Traffic Braking systems are hypersensit... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2020

As I pulled up to stop, in electric mode, at a stop light, the display screen pulled up a message to pull over safely because the engine would stop soon, within about 10 seconds the screen showed the engine stopped. I was still at the light. I tried restarting the vehicle, moving the shifter from drive to park and back, pressing the park button several times with no success. With cars honking b... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2020

Software update for the vehicle. Since we have completed the update we have had issues with the Radio unit flashing in and out intermittenly and finally the unit went black and will not work at all. This is now showing multiple fault codes including. Engine control module 1 (U105400), Brakes 1(C102D00), Adaptive Cruise Control (U112100), Dash Board (U111000), Gateway (U105400), Telematics Communic... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2026

Dear Hyundai Motor America Consumer Affairs, My name is [XXX], and I am submitting this correspondence as a formal safety and customer-service complaint concerning my 2023 Hyundai Kona SEL, the recurring failure of its horn, and the treatment I received at Capitol Hyundai in San Jose, California. I am requesting that Hyundai Motor America immediately open a corporate case, investigate the dealersh... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

I am filing this complaint because Volkswagen is refusing to honor its factory powertrain warranty to cover a catastrophic internal engine failure on a vehicle with only 22,531 miles. The vehicle is well within its manufacturer's powertrain warranty limits. I have provided Volkswagen with two official receipts proving routine oil changes, GEICO insurance records proving the accident caused no fron... Read more

Incident date: Jul 31, 2026

In the first 2 weeks after financing vehicle it started having passenger window issues when it rained it caused window to not wat to go up or would try coming down when trying to let it up when it rained next qas battary kept killing my battery I've replaced 4 batteries in 2.5 years and then my rear gate door would sometimes not want to open til it just stopped all together as if it had something ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 9, 2026

Nearly 25% of the total time I have owned this Certified Pre-Owned vehicle (146 out of 564 days), it has been non-functional and in the shop — roughly 1 out of every 4 days of ownership. I am a [XXX} with a [XXX] child, and I purchased this vehicle as a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Porsche — expecting the manufacturer's rigorous inspection and warranty to ensure reliability and safety. Instead, t... Read more

Incident date: Dec 7, 2023

Tailgate keeps randomly opening when driving down the road. Vehicle was taken to a Chevrolet dealership for them to address. GM denied warranty claim and will not provide anything in writing. This is a huge safety concern for a work truck that hauls tools and equipment on a daily basis. And the fact that GM will not give anything in writing on the denial is absolute BS.

Incident date: Feb 24, 2025

I was driving my car my electrical system is throwing all kinds of code.my sftey restrain is coming on to check my seat belt .the car goes blank .it stop in the middle of the road.this car has a lot of issues.can some one help me with this I work at the cardiologist office .

Incident date: Feb 2, 2020

While driving on the highway, the check engine light illuminated. Approximately 5 to 10 minutes later, the battery warning light came on. Upon exiting the highway and coming to a stop at an intersection, the automatic engine Start/Stop system engaged and shut down the engine. When attempting to safely proceed, the vehicle suffered a complete electrical failure due to the 48V mild-hybrid eTorque sy... Read more

Incident date: Jul 17, 2026

I am submitting this complaint regarding an unrepaired safety recall on my 2016 Ford Fusion, Ford Recall 25SA9 / NHTSA Recall 25V695, involving the rear-view camera. The recall concerns a condition where the rear-view camera may display a blank or distorted image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. This can reduce the driver's ability to see what is behind the vehicle and increase the risk of ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 17, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a complete stop, the vehicle shut off. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and driven back to the residence. The following day, the vehicle shut off again and was restarted after several attempts. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer on several ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 24, 2026

I was parked in a parking lot and when I released my foot from the break, the car accelerated on its own and crashed into the car in front of me. The automatic emergency braking did not deploy. It was most recently a safety risk and put others in the parking lot, particularly the driver in front me, in danger. I have reported this issue to Volvo and they instructed me to get the body of the car re... Read more

Crash

Incident date: May 23, 2026

I am reporting a chronic manufacturing defect on my 2020 BMW X3 that poses an immediate electrical short-circuit and vehicle safety hazard. The passenger-side panoramic sunroof drainage system/roof structure leaks water heavily through the side panel joint of the door frame, directly saturating the front passenger floor carpet. This issue has been ongoing since I received the vehicle in 2020.The v... Read more

Incident date: Aug 7, 2026

Unknown which system failed. While driving on the freeway, truck lost power for a few seconds. Dash lights turned off and back on. Our safety and the safety of others on the freeway were at risk as we had no control of the vehicle. Have not had the truck checked for the problem. Scared to drive it. No warnings appeared.

Incident date: Nov 7, 2025

The vehicle contains a known manufacturing defect where the engine coolant bypass valve cracks internally, leaking pressurized fluid directly into the main electrical connector (covered under Toyota CSP 24TE04). This fluid intrusion has caused active electrical short-circuits to the battery and ground networks. As a direct result of this progressive component failure, the vehicle is actively dropp... Read more

Incident date: Jul 26, 2026

I am writing to formally report a serious, recurring safety defect involving the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system in my vehicle. The system intermittently shuts off completely without warning and suffers from a malfunctioning airflow diverter. This directly impacts driver visibility due to immediate windshield fogging or the inability to de-ice during cold weather condition... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

June 29, 2025, Driving on the St. Francis loop in Amarillo, TX, brake lights start flashing, the warning sounds happening, no brakes. I had already slowed down to 35-45 mph due to road construction ahead. I weaved through the cones and as soon as possible, hit the ditch and then coasted to a stop. (I didn’t think about the emergency brake, in my panic.) I turned the vehicle off and called my ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 4, 2026

The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact shifted the gear shifter into neutral. The vehicle was restarted. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced NHTS... Read more

Incident date: Aug 7, 2026

All lights comes on. Car shuts down, and electrical misfire

Incident date: Aug 3, 2026

Numerous times since purchasing my van it has failed to start. At first it was just random at a stop light when I would forget to turn off the idle stop. Leaving me stuck at stop lights with a vehicle that won't turn on without multiple attempts. More recently it struggles to start after stopping to run errands or get gas or in drive thru lines. Having to depress the break pedal to the floor (much... Read more

Incident date: Aug 3, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on several occasions, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted after approximately 45 minutes after each failure. The vehicle was towed to the neighbor's house approximately seven times and was taken once to an independent mechanic; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that... Read more

Incident date: Aug 10, 2026

I was driving on a somewhat bumpy road (due to construction works in that location), when suddenly several warning lights came on. Driver assist was disabled, power steering and electrical braking were disabled as well. I was driving at 10mph (this was at a roundabout) so was able to control the vehicle and safely navigate it to a place where I could park. I turned off the vehicle and waited a few... Read more

Incident date: Jul 31, 2026

My 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S has experienced repeated electrical and drivability failures. Most recently, while driving at approximately 16,500 miles, the vehicle displayed “Service Electric Vehicle System” followed by “Stop Safely – Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon.” The warning appeared while the vehicle was in motion, creating concern that the vehicle could lose propulsion or shut down unexpecte... Read more

Incident date: Feb 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Audi A4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message SOS module no longer connected was displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle failed to shut off. The contact believed that the failure was a safety issue due to the loss of communication, including the hands-free features, mobile phone connectivity, and the regular safety features f... Read more

Incident date: Apr 7, 2026

As of June of 2026 i witnessed my thermostat gauge going from cold to Hot in a back and forth motion. This rising in temperature on the thermostat gauge has happened during acceleration above 45mph, sitting idle with AC on, and while sitting idle after only about 10 mins of car being powered on and in motion. Because the vehicle is under warranty i believed parts would be replaced with new parts... Read more

Incident date: Aug 8, 2026

For approximately two years, I reported recurring moisture/condensation inside the RIGHT headlamp assembly of my 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 to Mercedes-Benz. I was repeatedly advised that the condensation was normal. The condition progressively worsened. The vehicle is now displaying headlamp warning messages and the RIGHT TURN SIGNAL associated with the affected headlamp is no longer functioning.... Read more

Incident date: Jun 28, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the messages "Reset - Start Unavailable" and "START/STOP System Unavailable" were displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving on another occasion, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact was unable to pull over, and the vehicle was pushed to the side of the road with assi... Read more

Incident date: Aug 5, 2026

Auto idle/stop system engages while sitting at a traffic signal as designed. When attempting to proceed, the engine fails to restart and all electrical components completely shut off for several minutes. All components stop working (information screen, gauges, hazard lights, and door locks are non-functional) and the vehicle is unable to turn on for several minutes. This creates an unreasonable ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 5, 2026

THE GATEWAY COMPUTER WAS FRIED DUE TO WATER CONSUMPTION. I WAS DRIVING AND LOST ALL POWER IN THE CAR AND HADE TO PULL OVER WITH NO POWER TO HELP ME. ALSO THIS WAS ALREADY RECALLED IN 2019-2022 AUDI FIX WAS TO PUT A PLASTIC BAG AROUND THE GATE WAY COMPUTER BUT THIS DID NOT PRETECT THE GATEWAY PROPERLY. THE GATEWAY IS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT DEALER CONFIRMED THE GATEWAY HAD WATER DAMAGE AND ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 28, 2026

I purchased this vehicle in April of 2026, 4 days after bringing it home it began displaying a “Shift To Park” message in the dash, essentially making it so the vehicle will not shut off even when the vehicle is in park. Took it to a shop and they diagnosed it as a common issue across the 2021 Malibus and stated the entire shifter assembly needed replaced. Have not had it replaced yet due to n... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

Went to my car on Saturday @630p to put items in my car for church the next morning. I couldn't get into my car and my car wasn't responding to my key fobs. I called the Lexus service and was closed. I got on my app and called roadside service. As I was walking (pacing) in my garage, I noticed my rear passenger tire was flat! I asked the AAA rep about my tire. He said no replacement was in my car... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

Driver gauge instrument screen does not illuminate upon starting vehicle and at times when driving. No MPH or other gauges display. This defect has occurred several times and is intermittent.

Incident date: Mar 3, 2026

The truck has done this four times since 01/22/2026. While still moving slowly the truck will do this while going down the highway. One other safety issue was when I merged into traffic on the highway (You have to merge into the fast lane at this location) the truck wouldn't go past 4th gear approximately 40 mph with cars coming up on me at 70. All of these problems correct when I can get the truc... Read more

Incident date: Aug 7, 2026

The horn has now stopped working in my vehicle twice. It was replaced 01/27/2023, and is now non-functional again. I believe this to be a safety issue as I have no way to warn other drivers or pedestrians of my presence, if necessary. One example of this, was that a vehicle was proceeding into my lane on the interstate yesterday afternoon and I had to avoid them hitting my vehicle by driving onto ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 BMW X1. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the navigation screen was glitching and became inoperable. The service message was displayed. There was a red triangle with an exclamation mark displayed. The vehicle was difficult to start. The contact stated that the failure was caused by a failure with the ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 7, 2026

The air conditioning system in my 2024 Hyundai Tucson has never adequately cooled the cabin during high outdoor temperatures, since I purchased the vehicle. The vehicle is parked outdoors in direct sunlight daily, as I have no garage or carport access, and the issue is most severe and consistent during hot weather. This creates a heat exposure risk while driving, particularly on hot days when cab... Read more

Incident date: Aug 8, 2026

I own a Honda Odyssey equipped with the Auto Idle Stop (automatic engine start-stop) system. The feature has not operated properly and behaves inconsistently. In addition to frequently failing to engage when the vehicle is stopped, I have experienced several instances where the engine shut off as part of the Auto Idle Stop function and then failed to restart promptly when I attempted to proceed. ... Read more

Incident date: Feb 1, 2026

The car was driving fine and then all of the dashboard lights came on. The car wouldn’t drive faster than 20 MPH. The dealership said it was a head gasket and injector problem. They quoted me $6000

Fire

Incident date: Apr 9, 2026

In the duration of ownership with this vehicle, there is always lights lighting up on the dashboard which trigger my sensors and causes my dashboard to light up like a Christmas tree. I do not feel safe when that happens randomly in the middle of driving on the highway.

Incident date: Aug 10, 2026

On 6/12/2024, my right engine mounts collapsed and needed immediate repair to keep the engine secure. On 7/6/2026, I took my car for service and was informed via video that the right engine mounts had collapsed again and required replacement. I repeatedly explained to the dealership that the mount installed on 6/12/2024 only lasted about 27,000 miles. The service center then had a team leader take... Read more

Incident date: Aug 8, 2026

This vehicle needs to be added to the current recall 23v-431. Media screen goes blank and rear camera in operable when this happens.

Incident date: Jun 10, 2026

I was driving to the dealership and stopped at a light and the start stop button turned off completely. Brake locked and wouldn’t start back.

Incident date: Apr 27, 2026

Driving on a public road with a 50 phone speed limit, I received an error message on my dash stating electrical failure, and then the car shut down and began to coast, I had use all my strength to turn the car towards the curb and coasted to a stop. I received an error message from multiple components and then the dash went blank.

Incident date: Aug 9, 2026

In Nov 2019, while driving at night, the center touchscreen (MCU) of my 2015 Model S went blank and would not recover after restarts. I lost access to nearly all vehicle controls. The daytime running lights remained on, but the headlights did not illuminate despite being set to auto, and I had no way to turn them on manually because the headlight control is on the failed touchscreen. Climate contr... Read more

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Consumer Safety Complaints

What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?

How to interpret what you read

If you've experienced a defect

Read more from our blog