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 169,480 complaints - component: ENGINE

Incident date: May 13, 2026

Blown head gasket, coolant leak into engine tsb222229

Incident date: May 1, 2026

pulling out of a gas station the engine revved and accelerated without me pressing on the pedal harder. i tried pressing the brakes and they would not respond. It caused my vehicle to crash into a pole where it continued to rev until the vehicle was turned off.

Crash

Incident date: May 13, 2026

Other: recall issued July 2025 with no timely remedy. Recall puts drivers safety at risk.

Incident date: May 12, 2026

When it is really hot outside 90 and above my car does messes up. As I'm driving my car will throw the code pull over and Check starter system. Everything turns off, and then it takes minutes from my car to restart. It has happened multiple times when I'm in traffic at a stop light or driving and it throws the code as my car is moving. I have taken it to shops and still no auto shop can figure out... Read more

Incident date: Jul 16, 2025

The Cam Carrier has a leak due to Subaru using a cheap sealant. My car only has 80,000 miles and it is leaking. The subaru is know for this leak after researching it online. They say it is a safety issue cause the oil can fall on the exhaust making in a fire issue.

Incident date: May 1, 2026

This is a continuation/escalation of NHTSA complaint 11689917. My 2021 Ford F-150 has experienced repeated fuel-system/electrical fuel-pump failures. The vehicle previously stalled and later cranked but would not start, returning code P0627 “Fuel Pump A Control Circuit / Open.” The in-tank fuel pump was replaced at owner expense for approximately $1,400 at an independent service center in Sept... Read more

Incident date: Mar 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving check engine light had suddenly illuminated and the message "unspecified service unavailable" had displayed along with the 4 wheel drive warning light had illuminated. During the failure the vehicle did not properly accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed the PTU had malfunctioned. The vehic... Read more

Incident date: May 13, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? ENGINE How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The truck exhibited an abnormal, rough idle, severe shuddering, poor acceleration, unable to maintain speed on highway and in traffic Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes Has the ve... Read more

Incident date: Feb 1, 2026

Oil Filter Housing leak confirmed on my 2022 BMW X3 M40i. My current odomoter reading is at 47K miles and I was told that I could have a catastrophic failure of my engine if not repaired. I am several weeks out of my warranty expiration date and am frustrated that BMW won't honor a warranty claim for an issue known to take a long time to find symptons before being able to fix.

Incident date: May 13, 2026

My 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe LT 4WD with a 5.3L engine experienced sudden drivability issues related to confirmed AFM lifter failure, including severe engine misfires (P0300), rough idle, shaking at stoplights, and significant loss of power while driving uphill and under load. The vehicle has approximately 140,000 miles and has been consistently maintained through Chevrolet dealerships. The condition ... Read more

Incident date: Feb 2, 2026

Purchased my 2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited from the dealership, new. Since 2013, the Subaru dealer has discovered multiple oil leaks, replaced the head gaskets 3 times, thermostat 4 times, the alternator 3 times, timing belt 4 times, radiator 3 times, starter once, and my HVAC system twice...all due to my engine seizing multiple times while driving on freeways. No warning lights, just the engin... Read more

Crash

Incident date: May 6, 2026

I was driving the vehicle and came to a stop sign. When I accelerated to turn and drive what was a steep windy downhill Road my car jerked some and the check engine light battery light and oil light came on the dash when I went to push the brakes they went all the way to the floor and the car did not stop. I continued to try the brakes and had to use the emergency break to pull up and down to stop... Read more

2 injured

Incident date: May 11, 2026

Coolant intrusion into cylinders from block

Incident date: May 11, 2023

Check engine light came on and I noticed that the cooling fan would continue running for several minutes even after turning vehicle off. Had a mechanic run the diagnostics and the code came back as a thermostat/cooling issue. Although when I called to make an appointment and told him the issue and that it was a 2021 Traverse, he knew exactly what the issue was. He said that is a very common issue ... Read more

Incident date: May 12, 2026

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly locked up. The engine was previously replaced in March at an undisclosed location. The engine light was illuminated. While using the code reader, he received the P0711 code related to the temperature sensor in the transmission. The contact indicated the failure was due to the temperature w... Read more

Incident date: Mar 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while parked and idling in his driveway , he observed a squealing noise emanating from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the vehicle was turned off and when the vehicle was turned on the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was lifer and camshaft failu... Read more

Incident date: Jan 16, 2026

Engine through rod at 100000 miles had to replace full engine

Incident date: Apr 20, 2026

I started my vehicle and as I accelerated I started to hear a knocking noise. The vehicle and engine have been inspected by the dealership. The problem has also been confirmed by the dealership.There were no warning lights or messages before the knocking noise started.

Incident date: Dec 31, 1969

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,00... Read more

Incident date: May 13, 2026

Vehicle was having engine problems, idling rough, loss of acceleration and unable to drive at speeds over 20 mph.. Took it to local Ford dealer July 1, 2025, they diagnosed coolant intrusion into the engine block. They said it was a common known problem with the Ford Ecoboost engines. They offered $500 to buy it off of me, saying they would not fix it. - Diagnosed repair requires engine replaceme... Read more

Incident date: May 12, 2026

Incident date: Feb 11, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while stopped and attempting to turn to exit a highway ramp, he observed a loud banging noise emanating from the engine compartment. An "engine reduced power" message appeared. The vehicle then went into limp mode, and when the brake pedal was depressed, it was stiff as a rock. The vehicle coasted while he continued attempting to depress... Read more

Incident date: Apr 30, 2026

Exhaust manifold bolt broke cause extra heat coming from that broken bolt cause the crank shaft position sensor wires to melt cause the vehicle to stall while driving down the road and it not to restart just cranks and throws the code for crank shaft position sensor

Incident date: Apr 1, 2026

At approximately 1,700 miles, my brand-new 2026 Ford Explorer ST (3.0L EcoBoost) suffered a sudden, catastrophic engine failure while driving, causing an immediate and dangerous loss of motive power. Prior to the failure, the engine experienced severe misfires. Following manufacturer Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) guidance regarding EcoBoost engine misfires, a step-colder spark plug heat range (... Read more

Incident date: May 13, 2026

I purchased a brand new 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit in April 2026. At approximately 1,205 miles, while traveling with my wife and [XXX] child in [XXX] , the vehicle suddenly developed a flashing check engine light and severe engine misfire condition. The engine began shaking violently, idling rough, and lost smooth drivability during operation. I scanned the vehicle using an OBD-II scanner... Read more

Incident date: May 6, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 HONDA CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, numerous warning lights illuminated on the dashboard, including the ABS and check engine lights. Concurrently, the vehicle lost engine motive power and was unable to accelerate. The vehicle was driven to a dealer where it was diagnosed to have a blown head gasket and issue with the fuel injector. The... Read more

Incident date: Aug 1, 2025

I Purchased a 2022 Nissan Altima from Drive Time with 90,000 miles on it. I would have had this car for 2 years this month in May. The Car Currently has about 122,587 Miles on it and has Transmission CVT Failure. I notice pulling, not being able to Accelerate while car was in motion, and while car was stop at green light waiting to procced. while hitting the gas the car would go into limp mode ... Read more

Incident date: Oct 2, 2025

The vehicle experienced repeated engine-related failures associated with the P1326 error code, which indicates a potential engine defect. The issue first occurred around February 2023 at approximately 51,500 miles, when a warning light appeared. The problem has recurred multiple times despite inspections and service attempts. In January 2024, a dealership performed a software update related to th... Read more

Incident date: May 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that when her husband turned the vehicle on the vehicle stalled immediately. The vehicle was not able to restart. The vehicle was towed to a independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine had locked up. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle then towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was an engine, cam sh... Read more

Incident date: Apr 18, 2026

own a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with approximately 76,896 miles. The vehicle experienced sudden coolant loss and overheating while driving and became disabled to the point it would not restart. The vehicle required towing to a repair facility. The symptoms appear substantially similar to known GM cooling system/oil cooler line issues addressed in other Silverado programs and complaints, howeve... Read more

Incident date: May 9, 2026

Hello, I purchased this truck new in November of 2025. Around 1500 miles and a few months later the truck developed what sounds like some sort of belt squeak or chirp upon startup, light acceleration and when the engine auto start/stops. I took it to my local dealer and they told me they “lubed the belt” the noise became faint but still didn’t go away. Around 3k miles the noise is back as lo... Read more

Incident date: Dec 1, 2022

Recently my car's check engine light and the message "Service Stabilitrak" started coming up on my car, then my car started shaking while idling. I quickly took the car to my mechanic who assessed it, replaced my spark plugs, which did not solve the issue, and recommended I go to the dealership. In between these appointments my car was consistently shaking while idling and I would have difficultie... Read more

Incident date: Nov 17, 2025

I was driving home from work, and dash warning sign came on and told me to start engine. I was currently driving at approximately 60 mph. When i came to blinking red Light i went to accelerate and truck was unresponsive. it would not accelerate and engine was off. I went to start engine and it just cranked with no start. I used onstar to get a tow truck. I was broken down in the middle of an inter... Read more

Incident date: Mar 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at 15-30 MPH and shifting gears, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle began to shudder at 50-60 MPH. The yellow engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined the gear system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was ... Read more

Incident date: Mar 1, 2026

The engine was replaced at 50,000 miles for a known coolant intrusion issue. The problem reappeared at 72000 miles. This widely known issue should have been a recall and won't be because of the financial impact to Ford.

Incident date: May 13, 2026

Rob bearing recall was performed on a 2018 Acura MDX at around 78,000 miles. After a long ordeal with Acura because the recall had not yet been extended to the 2018 MDX's yet, Honda agreed to replace the motor. The new replacement motor has already seized again with only 30,000 miles. Dealer has taken motor apart and confirmed it is the same rod bearing issue as the recall. So the new motor th... Read more

Incident date: May 11, 2026

I am submitting this complaint regarding my 2021 Kia Telluride experiencing repeated and dangerous electronic system failures while driving. Kia of East Syracuse (NY) diagnosed the issue as related to the backup camera assembly and communication/network failures. While driving, the vehicle experienced loss of power steering assist, instrument cluster failure, speedometer malfunction, incorrect gea... Read more

Incident date: Mar 16, 2026

Vehicle: 2022 Ford Bronco Sport I am submitting this complaint due to an ongoing and potentially dangerous issue involving my 2022 Ford Bronco Sport shutting off unexpectedly while in operation. The vehicle intermittently displays messages instructing the driver to “Shift to Park” and/or “Restart Engine” while the vehicle is being actively operated. On multiple occasions, the engine has sh... Read more

Incident date: May 13, 2026

The exhaust manifold on both sides of the motor have cracked and have broken bolts. The Ram dealer confirmed it and says it is a known issue that the manufacturer will not fix. With the crack and broken bolts, exhaust fumes are leaking out. It gets nauseating in the cab of the truck if the windows are up for too long. My independent mechanic is set to replace the manifolds with aftermarket ones du... Read more

Incident date: May 12, 2026

Blown head gasket, white smoke from the exhaust. Loss of power. All warning lights on the dash started blinking. Dealer gave estimate of $6500.

Incident date: May 11, 2026

While driving my 2020 Acura MDX, the vehicle developed an intermittent check engine light and a noticeable engine knocking noise coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an Acura dealership for diagnosis. According to the certified Acura technician, no diagnostic trouble codes were found stored in the vehicle’s system. However, the technician confirmed there was an audible k... Read more

Incident date: May 12, 2026

The Integrated Thermal Management System (ITMS) in my Kia K5 GT (2.5T engine) has experienced a recurring internal electronic and mechanical fault. This is the third failure of this component. The failure causes the cooling system to malfunction, either by over-cooling or failing to cycle coolant once at operating temperature. Under acceleration—specifically when merging onto expressways—th... Read more

Incident date: May 8, 2026

I was on my way home from work and everything was driving fine and then I got 1/4 mile from my house and the motor started making a very loud grinding sound. I could barely accelerate. The issue happened out of nowhere. No issues prior to this happening. I was driving about 40 miles an hour when the issue started and I limped it to my driveway, luckily I was not very far away. I have a 3 month old... Read more

Incident date: May 12, 2026

Engine blown out malfunction took two dealer Hyundai Folsom Lake stated rings are bad sludge buildup in engine and stayed at Hyundai motor America denied engine replacement due to knowledge under Theta two engine extended warranty settlement of 150,000 MI 15 years I'm still within warranty but are still being denied had numerous of issues with vehicle oil consumption knock knock sensor replace and... Read more

Incident date: May 11, 2026

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2018 Honda Accord equipped with the 1.5L turbocharged engine. The vehicle has experienced repeated engine-related failures despite multiple repair attempts by an authorized Honda dealership. Problems have included dashboard warning lights, engine misfires, loss of power, fuel odor, and suspected head gasket failure. Most concerning, on September 20, 20... Read more

Incident date: May 12, 2026

Vehicle had lifter failure. This could’ve have caused a devastating accident to myself or family which includes my 8 year old daughter. GMC has knowledge of this problem with this motor

Incident date: May 4, 2026

When driving at highway speeds there randomly is a full loss of engine power for 3 to 5 seconds. Each time this has occurred I was on the highway and depressing the gas pedal further to either pass another car or because I'm driving up and incline. For several seconds the car looses all power and begins slowing. Traffic approaching rom behind may have to apply brakes. I am unsure whether it's... Read more

Incident date: Jun 30, 2024

On May 2nd 2026 I was driving my 2021 Tahoe high country with the 6.2 motor at 60 mph and started to slow down before my left hand turn. In the process of slowing down at about 40mph I heard a loud bang/thud noise. The car had completely shut down all motor related usage. I coasted into the shoulder on the side of the road the vehicle would not restart. I had my children and wife in the car. There... Read more

Incident date: Apr 4, 2026

Engine has a terrible shake, and I was informed by a mechanic that it has a misfire and no compression in piston number seven

Incident date: Apr 4, 2026

Water pump failed after replacement in 2013 with 30k miles, car had only 93k miles when failed again in 2016. The potentiometer part failed, there is corrosion in the part. Was in freeway when it failed. I have reported this to different representatives. I was charged more 1.5k for a replacement of a faulty part that should last more than 50k miles.

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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

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