Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 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 2,215,138 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 187,860 complaints — component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2021) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 9, 2026
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
My 2021 ford bronco sport had a very dangerous issue on April 4th 2026. Nearly run over by a huge semi. Traveling at 70 miles per hour on I- 5 my vehicle had a sudden loss of power and wrench light went on, no prior signs. Semi traveling behind me nearly crashed into semi in the next lane as he slammed on his brakes and veered to the left to avoid running me over. Caused a big problem with t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the child in the second-row seat became trapped after the seat belt seized. The seat belt was cut to free the child. Additionally, the contact reported that the infotainment system was inoperable, failed to power on, and malfunctioned while driving, preventing the use of hands-free feature. The... Read more
Incident date: Oct 24, 2025
The rear view camera stays dark for at least 1 minute a few times a week when starting the vehicle. This is after the software update.
Incident date: Mar 26, 2025
If i get any snow at all on the front of the vehicle. The front accident warning does not work.
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had a history of wiring failures and that the air bag wiring harness had been replaced three times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with electrical wiring failure, ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
There was sudden power reduced and turn to the limp mode(Turtle symbol popped up). After pull over my vehicle to highway shoulder, the vehicle became total power loss. Unable to drive anywhere. It was a dangerous situation for my family. We waited tow car and took my vehicle to Hyundai dealership which located close to my house. They diagnosed my car and after a day. They told me it needs to be r... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
car caught on fire in apartment complex over night. whole car was destroyed
Fire
Incident date: Sep 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2010 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly shut off. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle was shipped back to the contact's home state, where the contact also experienced the failure while driving at undisclosed speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, wh... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Accord. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V785000 (Electrical System), the message "Updates Unavailable - TCN2 - Have Checked by Dealer" remained displayed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who was unable to repair the vehicle and informed the contact that the manufacturer was aware of the failure and was cur... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
The contact owned a 2005 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that his daughter's vehicle caught on fire while parked in a residential area. The vehicle was unoccupied during the fire; the contact was alerted by the fire department. The fire originated from the engine, it was reported that the cause of the fire was faulty wiring. There were 2 vehicles next to the vehicle that was damaged in the event ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Dec 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that there was a feature in the vehicle that allowed the front driver’s seat to automatically adjust according to the saved driver's profile. The contact stated that the driver’s seat back and forth movement to adjust to each driver's profile might have caused loose wire connection, resulting in error code: RCM_a021 (Front Left Safety R... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2007) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 9, 2026
Incident date: Jan 31, 2026
The contact owns a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated after the ignition switch was replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V438000 (Electrical System), the vehicle started making an abnormally loud sound at startup. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone; however, no diagnostic trouble code was retrieved. The vehicle not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified o... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly overheated, and the engine temperature warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the coolant line to the cylinder had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campa... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, an unknown warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact stopped at a traffic signal and after depressing the accelerator pedal when the light changed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted after several attempts, but the vehicle failed to exceed 5 M... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2026
The contact owns a 2014 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled and shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not serviceable. There was no explanation provided. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. After researching the failure, the contact discover... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (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 time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not exper... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2020) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 9, 2026
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the engine shut off as intended in the fuel saver mode, but when the brake pedal was released, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer and was repaired but the repair information was unavailable. The contact stated that failure recently reoccurred and the ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2026
During a manufacturer-mandated software module update, North Central Ford (Plano, TX) bypassed continuous power supply safety protocols. This negligence caused a voltage drop, interrupted the software flash, and completely corrupted the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM). The dealership returned the vehicle to me, stating the update was complete. The corrupted module failed to power down, ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 19, 2026
This issue has occurred twice. The first time was at approximately 3,000 miles, and the second time at around 7,200 miles. On both occasions, the vehicle lost power and displayed a warning message stating “Service High Voltage System” along with a “Reduced Speed” notification. During these events, the estimated driving range dropped significantly, charging was limited to approximately 25%,... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
My mother's vehicle caught fire while in park and it’s listed under a fire-risk recall. Another car got damage with the fire. I want to open a claim.
Fire
Incident date: Sep 1, 2024
I have been waiting since September 2024 to use my level 3 charger port again. I can't safely use it without a risk of fire severely limiting the cars use and range. On top of this my main battery was tested at the Nissan Dealer November 2025 and needs replaced under warranty. It will rapidly lose charge when on the highway potentially leaving me stranded on the side of a busy road. I only hav... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2025
Service 4WD drive light is on due to rear PTU failure or issue. Signaled by code: C14A7-97 Has been confirmed by Jeep dealership upon inspection. Had inspected by 2 private auto shops confirming same issue. Light came on after driving a few minutes to now being on when car is starting. According to mechanics, this indicates PTU failure of some sort. PTU has not been fully inspected only some ou... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
EQE 500 4MATIC
(2023) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Mar 14, 2026
Vehicle shut down while driving on highway, repeated drive system malfunction, turtle mode. The vehicle has experienced a recurring, unresolved drivetrain malfunction — specifically, a drive system malfunction and battery malfunction causing the vehicle to enter severely reduced-power mode ("turtle mode") — that has persisted through a minimum of three (3) separate repair attempts across two ... Read more
CHRYSLER
TOWN AND COUNTRY
(2014) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Jun 4, 2025
2014 Chrysler Town & Country experienced active diagnostic trouble code P2764 — Torque Converter Clutch Pressure Control Circuit Low. Vehicle was non-driveable. Authorized Chrysler dealership technician documented that voltage from TIPM to Valve Body was shorted to ground — confirming a wiring harness electrical defect. The dealership replaced the Valve Body three separate times without resolv... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2025) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Dec 22, 2025
Following the recent winter update, I noticed several faults during the weekend prior to the major incident described below: Child Lock Malfunction: The car entered "child mode" and the rear door could not be opened from the inside or outside until I exited and re-entered the vehicle. Driver-Side Control Failure: The driver-side door controls stopped functioning. They only reset after I exit... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 27, 2026
Upon delivery of the vehicle the passenger door would not open from the outside. Multiple vehicle settings were reviewed, and a repair was scheduled to fix the issue.
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
I own a 2023 GMC Yukon Denali. In Nov. 2023, at about 4,000 miles, the vehicle suffered a complete engine and electrical failure at highway speed while I was traveling with my husband and three small children. It suddenly lost all power in the fast lane, including acceleration and engine function. Steering became extremely heavy, consistent with loss of power steering assist, and the electronics s... Read more
Incident date: Sep 12, 2025
Vehicle has all time on the brake system, front collision, auto high beam, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist abd road departure warnings. Sometimes the vehicle turns off suddenly when stop, and the steering wheel gets hard when parking.
Incident date: Oct 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the windshield camera sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
Mi carro hay veces que prende la luz de la engine, lo lleve a checar y salió en la computadora que era un problema de Power Train system, que era secondary DTCs P1C28 Y P1C28000, lo busque en Google y salía que era un problema muy recurrente en Kias souls y sorentos. Que podría causar incendios
Incident date: Nov 20, 2025
The Power Electronics Control Unit (ECM), Part No. A453-900-72-11, and the DC-to-DC converter have both failed, rendering this all-electric vehicle completely inoperable. There is no backup propulsion system. The DC-to-DC converter powers safety-critical systems including lighting, turn signals, and hazard flashers — its failure could cause loss of safety-critical functions while driving. Total ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
Vehicle: 2026 Ram 1500 Limited I am filing a safety complaint regarding a brand new vehicle that experienced a dangerous failure in live traffic and continues to have unresolved issues. The vehicle was purchased on March 31, 2026. On April 3, 2026, just three days after purchase, the truck broke down in active traffic. The situation was serious enough that local police had to respond to direct... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2022) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Apr 12, 2025
The vehicle experienced a hybrid system/charging failure documented by the servicing dealership as “service hybrid system message and vehicle will not charge.” The vehicle also had battery-related failure requiring a jump and repeated service visits. This caused loss of use and raised reliability and safety concerns.
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2022) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Apr 12, 2025
I am reporting a safety-related problem involving a 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, VIN [XXX] . Dealership records reflect hybrid / charging-related failure, including a documented “service hybrid system message and vehicle will not charge,” repeated recall-related PHEV / high-voltage service, and later jerking during acceleration and deceleration with stored transmission-related fault code P07... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
The information cluster behind the steering wheel is not turning on. Started all of a sudden. Can’t show speed, none of the advance driving features are working , and not showing gas level.
Incident date: Mar 5, 2026
My infotainment system has gone completely black, resulting in the loss of several critical functions, including the rearview camera, AC vent direction controls, navigation, and radio. This has made reversing significantly more hazardous, and the lack of proper AC control is especially inconvenient during the summer. The Honda dealer performed a recall-related diagnostic, but it did not resolve t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2026
I don't know if this qualifies as an immediate safety issue, however, if the vehicle is stopped and placed into park on a busy freeway, or in traffic in any way, then this absolutely is a safety issue after the fact because the vehicle cannot be moved due to not being able to get it into gear. This involves the shift linkage component and not being able to get the car out of park and into any othe... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2025
My car is experiencing the starting issue that is listed as auto start/stop feature. However, since I almost always have the AC on or start/stop disabled because the car will not start when hot after a few stops and was scared it would do it in traffic. So far I can get it started again but need to completely turn car off and try again, sometimes more than once. Had been going on for a year and t... Read more
Incident date: Jul 26, 2023
3 unresolved safety defects on 2024 Lexus NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid leased May 2023: ELECTRICAL/BATTERY: Rear seat occupant sensor produced continuous false alerts since weeks after lease began, preventing vehicle from locking. High-voltage components including on-board charger located beneath/near the rear seat area per dealer representation at time of sale. Service manager acknowledged liability i... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2026
ICCU replaced after 5 months of purchasing new and less that 7,000 miles.
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS CROSS SPORT
(2025) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Mar 27, 2026
On 3/27/026 at approximately 1800 hrs, I was driving my 2025 VW Atlas w/8500 miles southbound on the Florida Turnpike in the left hand land. Traffic was at a standstill at mm 76. We sat for 2-3 minutes without moving. When traffic started to roll forward, I moved my foot to apply the gas but the car shifted itself to Park. It did not shut down or stall. The engine was still running. I could not sh... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Lincoln Corsair. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V789000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manu... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
In april of 2024 the MGU on the etourqe system needed replacement. The vehicle went into the shop on April 26 2024 and was released to me on may 16 2024. On march 18 2026 the same vehicle was taken to the shop for the same issue. Today is april 8 2026 and the vehicle is still at the dealer with no time frame of repair. No loaner vehicles for me either time, backordered parts all the while I am for... Read more
Incident date: Sep 4, 2025
I own a 2025 Ram 2500 that is affected by Recall 03D involving the Trailer Brake Control Module. This recall is related to a potential failure of the trailer braking system and trailer lighting system, which creates a serious safety risk while towing. I regularly use this truck for towing, and due to this issue, the vehicle may not safely tow trailers, increasing the risk of an accident. I have ex... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
Our 2025 Ram 1500 is subject to a safety recall involving the trailer brake system. The dealer confirmed that the defect may cause trailer brakes and trailer lighting to fail. We were advised that there is currently no repair available and that parts may not be available for up to a year. Because of this defect, we are unable to safely tow our travel trailer, which is a primary intended use of th... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2026
ICCU failure at 16k miles. The ICCU was replaced at the dealership on January, 29th of this year, so it is not available for inspection. The failure tripped a breaker at my home while it was charging possibly indicating a short circuit. The short circuit could have potentioally overheated and caught fire in my home. I took the vehicle to the dealership and they confirmed it was the ICCU and re... Read more
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2021) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Nov 7, 2020
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the infotainment screen went black or displayed a half-operating screen. An unknown warning light was illuminated with the message "Attention Needed - Service Engine Soon" displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and it was determined that Part Number: BE52 needed to be rep... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
I am submitting a safety complaint regarding a serious incident involving my 2025 Kia EV9. The vehicle was serviced on March 1 at World Kia in Joliet, Illinois. On April 4, only four days after that service, the vehicle experienced a sudden and unexpected ICCU failure while I was driving. During my normal travel, in active traffic and at speed, the vehicle abruptly entered limp mode and displayed... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an unusual popping sound. The low battery and check engine warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the battery lost power. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road, and the vehicle was turned off. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the v... Read more