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 169,480 complaints - component: ENGINE
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
2022 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7l Hemi coolant system issues. Every time I get out of my truck I smell coolant. Took it to Crain Dodge Ram & Jeep Benton, AR. The first time they pressure tested system and found no leaks. Told me it was normal! 1 week later, it's back and they could smell how bad it was.Still no leaks. I dropped it off and after 2 weeks, they haven't touched it. Finally after 3 weeks they... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
Safety recall letter dated 4/4/25 states the piston rings may have been manufactured incorrectly causing oil consumption resulting in loss of drive power and/or fire. Kia performed two 1000 mile oil level checks which indicated it was 2 quarts low both times!!! I have asked for a written document stating they are not going to fix the problem and why (because he did not have all his oil change re... Read more
Incident date: Apr 6, 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
Incident date: Nov 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost automotive power with the check engine warning illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure and caused the vehicle to stall. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that failure was constant while driving uphill. The vehicle was taken to ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
Car shows the below message when A/C is turned on: Engine Maintenance Required Visit Your Dealer
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
I was driving on the interstate when my engine started shutting down on me and I’m glad I had moved to the right lane because someone would’ve hit me from the back because I never had this problem and now the mechanic telling me it jumped timing.
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
I was driving my Ram 1500 5.7L eTorque this morning (2022, ~36k miles). About 10 minutes in, I was stopped at a light and the truck shut down completely (engine, electric, etc.) There was no prior notice, nor was it having problems. When I tried to go as the light turned green, obviously the truck did not go. I noticed several panel lights come on, including the battery light. There was also ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
Head gasket issue please fix this problem for the customers
Incident date: May 15, 2025
I am submitting a complaint regarding my 2011 Kia Optima (VIN: [XXX] ), which is currently experiencing significant engine issues and is undrivable. This issue is currently being reviewed under Kia Case #XXX. This vehicle is part of the Theta II engine group that has been the subject of recalls, service campaigns, and extended warranty coverage due to known engine defects, including rod bearing f... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Harley-Davidson RH1250 S. The contact stated that while riding at an undisclosed speed, the motorcycle lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The motorcycle was towed to the dealer, and it was determined that the camshaft sensor had caused damages to the engine, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The motorcycle was not repaired. The manufactu... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
C200
(2015) - ENGINE
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
The brakes stick and then when i hit the gas its sluggish and just takes off full force. Causing 50% gas loss. The breaks are getting stuck. Calipers sticking. This is a fire hazard
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2015) - ENGINE
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Oil Level Low - Turn off Vehicle Immediately" was displayed. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed a burning odor coming from under the hood, with an abnormal engine oil leak. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the en... Read more
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2021) - ENGINE
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Feb 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH and merging onto the freeway, the check engine warning started flashing and the vehicle started losing automotive power. The vehicle was driven back to the residence. After stopping the vehicle, the vehicle was idling roughly and was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The deal... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
Oil leaking from the oil cooling lines where the rubber hoses connect to the metal lines. Thankfully caught before the rubber hoses completely blew out of the crimp. GM issued two Customer Satisfaction Programs (N212326940 & N192220080) for this issue, neither of which covered my vehicle. Clearly this was a much bigger issue. This is a safety issue as it can lead to a sudden oil loss, which co... Read more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2025
When accelerating at all, the engine emits a whining noise. The only time the whine stops is when the foot is removed from the pedal. It does not whine at idle. I believe it is the transmission going bad. The problem has been confirmed by a local service center. No warning lamps or messages have appeared.
Incident date: Feb 5, 2026
The engine in my 2018 Toyota Tacoma failed at 39000 miles and Toyota is refusing to cover the repair costs. I have records of all regularly scheduled maintenance performed and I have never done anything that would put additional stress on the engine such as off-roading or towing. This engine is defective and should be recalled. There are numerous reports online of the same issue.
Incident date: Oct 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated while maintaining automotive power. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where the mechanic retrieved DTC: P219F, and there were misfires with cylinders #3 and #4. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2025
I was driving in [XXX] on 1604 and the car was driving fine and out of nowhere. The car started shaking while on the highway for about seven8 seconds and then I heard an explosion smoke and fire. I pulled to the side. The car was on fire. The whole car was on fire within a minute or two I always took care of the car. Don’t understand how that happened. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREED... Read more
Fire
MITSUBISHI
OUTLANDER
(2025) - ENGINE
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Jan 7, 2026
Exhaust camshaft pulse wheel shifted on camshaft. Replacement of camshaft, positioner, oil control valve, timing chain and chain tension was recommended.
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2022) - ENGINE
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the engine started knocking on the passenger side of the vehicle underneath the hood. The contact accelerated to 45 MPH and continued driving. After refueling, while continuing to drive at 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost engine power, and the vehicle started coasting. The vehicle was stopped, restarted,... Read more
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
My truck has been in the shop for two weeks. Blown up, oil everywhere. I was told to file a complaint because GM has issues a recall for these engines, but I am not in the years it has been issues for. I was told this case is open and could then cover my engine. EA25007 is the number I was given.
Incident date: Mar 30, 2026
Engine seized while driving. vehicle was inoperable.
Incident date: Mar 30, 2026
We were driving down the interstate at speed and the Engine shut off unexpectedly. The truck flashed a notification on the dash asking to turn it back on. Pressing the on button would not turn the truck on. The tow truck company also couldn't get it to shift into neutral so he had to drag it up the tow truck After getting towed to a dealership they told us they had no one to look at it that day so... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
On second week of February, 2026, I was driving my 2022 Honda Accord Hybrid from Elkridge, Maryland to North Beach, the car lost power with a flickering Check Engine Light on. I managed to drive between 25-30 MPH on 55 MPH Highway to my local Honda dealership. The diagnosed the lost power to HEAD GASKET failure. I did some research and found that NHTSA has issued a part collection on Head Gasket... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2026
Sold vehicle with full knowledge that its was not safe to be driven the dealership/owner didn’t follow state safety regulations I could have been hurts well as innocent people on the roads and highways if the motor would have messed up or something underneath the vehicle would have malfunction and broken
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
Last April, during our routine oil change our mechanic pointed out that our Cam sensors were wicking oil into the harness and making its way to the ECM. This is the first we had ever heard of this issue and the repair was $2400 or so. After researching the problem we wrote to MB USA and never got any response until we filed a lawsuit in sessions court. Turns out we cant do that locally. Merce... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2026
I recently purchased my vehicle with under 30k miles in July of 2026. Not long after my purchase my car began roughly idling with a blinking check engine light, and soon after the engine began misfiring. This also cause loss of power when attempting to accelerate creating dangerous conditions in high traffic/fast paced areas. After lots of research I found several reports of owners with cylinder f... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
We were driving down the highway at around 77 miles per hour. I noticed that the vehicle chimed as though I initially got into it and needed to start the engine. I saw the dashboard asking me to start the engine. I attempted to start it while we were coasting to a stop, but it wouldn't start. I was able to barely get out of the lane of travel and avoid a collision. I tried to turn off the vehicle ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 16, 2026
I called way scarff ford to have the safety recalls taken care. Got my appointment, stopped the car off in the morning. They kept the car for 3 days and after the 3rd day they said everything is good to go. Go there in Auburn WA couldn't find my car. Took 4 people or including myself. Then it took another half hour to 45 min to find my car. Go get in the vehicle and something doesn't seem righ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
Description of the Defect: My 2019 Ford Mustang EcoBoost experienced a premature engine failure caused by internal coolant intrusion, resulting in the need for complete engine replacement. This failure is not related to routine maintenance or a head gasket issue, but rather a known internal engine design defect that allows coolant to intrude into the cylinders over time. The vehicle exhibited symp... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
My 2019 Hyundai Kona is equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine covered under Recall 203 (NHTSA Campaign 21V301) for defective piston oil rings. The recall inspection was performed and closed at a Hyundai dealership in September 2023. The engine was passed and not replaced. Following that recall closure, the vehicle has required the same repair four times: replacement of the CVVT Assembly-Exhaust, Cams... Read more
Incident date: Feb 21, 2026
Where is Ford at on the recall from like July 2025? NHTSA 25V455, safety recall notice 25S75. How long do they have to get a resolution? Seems like they have had plenty of time to resolve this issue. It seems more important than this last recall for a computer update. I can choose not to haul a trailer. I cannot choose for a stall due to loss of fuel pressure and flow from fuel pump failure. I am ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
When driving on the highway at the speed of traffic, the check engine light appeared and was followed by a loss of engine power. Vehicle had to be pulled over to the shoulder. After shutting the vehicle off and turning it back on, engine power was restored. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety is a major concern if unable to move the vehicle out of traffic before coming to a ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
I was driving to work on April 7th, 2026 and parked the vehicle at my company parking lot. Prior to parking, I noticed unusual smell and then parked the vehicle. I parked the vehicle around 8.10 am and I got the call from my facilities manager around 8.30-8.40 am that my car caught on fire and by that time I noticed Houston Fire Department extinguishing the fire. There were no check engine sign an... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
137,000 Miles, regular oil changes every 4,000 miles,even adding 2 quarts during the 4,000 miles it would still come up short by 1 quart. Started throwing p0018 timing code,high pressure fuel pump on front blew off the valve cover,Im assuming due to jumping out of timing,as the high pressure pump sits ontop of one of the Camshaft rollers. Engine started knocking and is now useless.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
The engine requires full replacement due to a cracked engine block, coolant intrusion into cylinder 2, heavy spark plug corrosion, and diagnostic code P0302 (cylinder 2 misfire). The defect was confirmed by an authorized Ford Dealership. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: This defect causes sudden loss of engine power without reliable warning, engine stalling in ac... Read more
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
The vehicle suffered a structural "seam leak" on the pressurized oil filter housing. This was verified by an authorized Hyundai dealer (Dealer XXX, Invoice #XXX). The failure is a structural crack in the housing component itself, not a maintenance-related seal or filter failure. This defect causes pressurized engine oil to spray directly onto the hot engine block while the vehicle is in operation,... Read more
Incident date: Feb 28, 2026
Complete engine failure at 1838 miles. Need complete engine replacement. Estimated time unknown for replacement parts.
MERCEDES-BENZ
EQE 350+
(2023) - ENGINE
Apr 7, 2026
Incident date: Oct 3, 2025
Coolant intrusion on the third cylinder causing over heating and engine failure. Known design flaw by Ford and they only offered a customer service program and not a full recall.
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
I am reporting a safety-related failure involving my 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The vehicle has experienced two separate incidents where it suddenly lost power while driving and became inoperable without warning. The first occurrence happened while I was in the middle of an intersection. The vehicle lost power and could not continue moving, creating a dangerous situation with surrounding traffic. The s... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fiesta. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle, and the sound was coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was take... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
Head gasket failure was diagnosed by a certified dealer. The only symptom leading up to the failure was slight hesitation when starting the vehicle. Safety issues include sudden engine power loss, engine fire, overheating, and reduced visibility from thick white smoke, and the potential loss of steering or braking power.
Incident date: Mar 17, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled and lost motive power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions and was diagnosed with airflow sensor failure. The contact was informed that ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
While accelerating from a stop, the oil pressure warning illuminated. The driver immediately pulled over within approximately 0.15 miles and shut the engine off. Oil was actively leaking from the vehicle. The truck was towed and diagnosed with oil cooler line separation at the crimp fitting, resulting in rapid oil loss and catastrophic engine failure. Sudden oil loss while driving creates a safety... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
Car had a coolant leak due to cracked cylinder head that was defective from the factory it was fixed but now the car has engine problems again. Don’t want to keep having these issues in the future
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
This is separate for VIN [XXX] I had to change dealerships because Beck & Masten South / GMC would NOT provide me with a loaner after being told I was on the list and I was next in line. I waited a month and drove to them and spoke with the girl who oversaw loaners. I explained I had severe safety issues such as front-end wobble which is related to transmission issues. And the oil consumption iss... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission independently shifted into neutral. The vehicle lost automotive power and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was restarted. In addition, the unknown warning lights were ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. There was a knock coming from the engine, there was fuel injector failure, a heated oxygen sensor control module Bank 1 fa... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2026
On June 17th, 2025 while driving from [XXX] back to my home state of [XXX] , I experienced an engine malfunction in Chester, Va where the 6.2 L87 engine was shaking and had severe hesitation. It was diagnosed by the Chevrolet dealership in Chester, VA as suffering severe failure of ALL 8 fuel injectors, fuel rails and connector harnesses, resulting in a 15 day repair wait and a $4,644.50 bill not... Read more