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.

2,215,138 Total Complaints

138,663 Reported Crashes

56,255 Reported Fires

8,561 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 2,215,138 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

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 164,804 complaints — component: ENGINE

Incident date: May 12, 2026

While I was driving my 2017 Kia Sorento, the R.P.M suddenly maxed out and then it rapidly went down to zero. My car lost power completely and stopped. There was a burning smell. Now it is dead. There is no clicking sound. Repair place tells me I need a new engine now.

Incident date: May 23, 2026

I was driving on freeway and went to pass a semi. The suv hesitated and had terrible turbo lag. It almost caused an accident if it hadn’t been for the truck behind me taking action to avoid a collision.

Incident date: May 22, 2026

When I first got this vehicle 2019 brand new off the lot the dealership in newark ohio had to completely rewire it. It took them a month to figure it out. I just replaced the transmission and now the engine is out. A piston rod snapped hit both sides an cracked the sides and the oil pan.

Incident date: May 1, 2026

P0101 code p0507 code and it has left me almost in an accident on the highway and now has left me stranded!

Incident date: Mar 3, 2026

Electronically controlled thermostat and sensor fail or get stuck at a much lower coolant temperature causing the dash to display the “steering assist is reduced drive with care.” It isn’t just a message, the steering is much harder to use potentially causing an accident. The ac completely doesn’t work causing potential for sensitive, elderly, or young children and pets to overheat inside... Read more

Incident date: Mar 18, 2026

On [XXX], I drove my 2018 Ford Fusion Titanium AWD to a doctor 37 miles away through rural PA. The car was a reliable workhorse, needing only regular shop visits, and had 108K miles by this date. Midway through the [XXX] drive , a red warning square popped up on the dash to tell me that the engine was overheating, and a pink warning square said the car would lessen electrical draw so that it coul... Read more

Incident date: May 17, 2026

Vehicle was just turned on and put into reverse. Dash and infotainment center lights flashed and shut off. Vehicle rolled backwards uncontrollably down a sloped driveway. Steering and brakes were not properly functioning. Vehicle came to a stop when it struck a parked vehicle in its path.

Crash

Incident date: May 22, 2026

To whom it may concern, On [XXX] at around [XXX] PST, I was taking my car to get a car wash at Quick Quack Car Wash located in [XXX] . While waiting in line for the other cars to go in, all of sudden I see a huge fire flame shoot out from under the hood. My car was on full fire extremely rapidly, in front of the multiple cars and near the entrance of this car wash, while this car was in fire I ra... Read more

Fire

Incident date: May 23, 2026

Component/System Failed: Engine — excessive oil consumption and oil leaks leading to complete engine failure requiring full engine replacement. Vehicle is currently at my home and available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: My vehicle became completely inoperable while in use as my primary family transportation. As a parent of three children this has left my family without safe reliable ... Read more

Incident date: May 20, 2025

My 1.5L EcoBoost engine experienced coolant intrusion into the cylinders, a known and documented defect associated with this engine family across multiple Ford model years. Prior to the failure, the vehicle displayed symptoms consistent with internal coolant loss, including white exhaust smoke, coolant level dropping without visible external leaks, and rough running. No external coolant leak was e... Read more

Incident date: May 22, 2026

Engine is shaking and no power at all

Incident date: Mar 28, 2026

My engine suffered an internal catastrophic event, and needs to be replaced

Incident date: Apr 14, 2026

Camshaft failure, component not available for inspection. It was replaced at dealer. If this had failed on the highway at highway speeds it could have resulted in a serious accident. This issue was diagnosed and repaired at a dealership. There were numerous warning lights that came on. That is what alerted that there was a problem. Camshaft failure at 51,350 miles.. Premature failure of cams... Read more

Incident date: Mar 8, 2026

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Purchased January 2026 took to Oxmoor Hyundai Service Center March 2026. February 2026 began using oil at a measured rate of 700 miles per tank of oil. Used 3 full tanks of oil within the month of February. Oil lights and engine lights on and off and flashing during this time. March 8, 2026, engine light flashed and then stayed on continuously. Engine shook and stutter... Read more

Incident date: May 25, 2026

Driving down a busy section of highway on I-25 in Colorado, without warning car lost all power and shutoff. Was able to veer off highway to shoulder without getting hit. Car will not restart. This was incredibly unsettling as my family and kids were all in the car on the way home and was a very dangerous situation. For a brand new vehicle to shut off on the highway without warning is unacceptable... Read more

Incident date: Mar 27, 2026

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan SE, ~70,000 miles. The vehicle experienced a cylinder head failure in the EA888 2.0L TSI engine, causing the check-engine light to illuminate. The cylinder head developed internal cracks, resulting in excessive oil consumption over a period of more than one year prior to the current repair. During multiple service visits to the authorized VW dealership over the past year or... Read more

Incident date: May 15, 2026

Engine is knocking at only 83k miles. No. 7 cylinder issue. Nissan won’t cover repairs even though they’re aware of the design flaw.

Incident date: May 20, 2024

On [XXX], my 2017 Land Rover Range Rover HSE Td6 diesel (VIN: [XXX] ) suffered a complete, catastrophic engine failure without warning at approximately 70 mph on [XXX] . My wife and our two infant sons (ages [XXX] and [XXX] ) were passengers. There were no prior warning lights or symptoms. The engine stopped instantaneously, eliminating power steering and power brakes while I was overtaking a sem... Read more

Incident date: May 16, 2026

UPDATE to previous complaint – Reference Number: [11738920] VIN: [XXX] Case: Tesla [XXX] UPDATE to my previous NHTSA complaint regarding sudden unintended acceleration in my Tesla Model Y (VIN: [XXX] ) I previously reported a sudden acceleration incident on [XXX], at [XXX] 4 parking garage ramp. Tesla has now provided the Vehicle Data Report and EDR data (Case # [XXX]). The data shows accelera... Read more

Crash 3 injured

Incident date: Feb 25, 2026

The engine was burning oil, so did a consumption test. The dealer took apart the engine and found the rings for the pistons were leaking and scaring was resulting. This caused me to buy part of a new engine because it was 6days past warranty with only 44,000mi on it. Also, at 18,000mi, a lifter bent and needed that replaced. There are numerous reports for this engine. It should be recalled! I shou... Read more

Incident date: Apr 23, 2026

I own a 2021 Kia Telluride with approximately 111,000 miles. I initially brought the vehicle to a Kia dealership for an oil consumption issue and engine noise. The dealership diagnosed and repaired a timing chain and tensioner issue, stating the vehicle was “working properly” upon return. After picking up the vehicle, I immediately began experiencing electrical warning lights, including the b... Read more

Incident date: May 20, 2026

I set out to make a quick trip to the store after work and the car was hesitating and I looked at the dash and noticed the check engine light was on. I stopped was in the store about 10 minutes when I came out I restarted it and it sounded fine and then engine light was not on. I was about 2 miles in towards home when the braking system failure message came on, steering failure message came on and... Read more

Incident date: May 19, 2026

I was driving my brand new 2025 Kia Telluride that was purchased from the dealership 3 weeks before the incident. The engine died while driving approximately 40 mph on a flat road. The engine died and then there was a loud beeping and a flashing alert on the dashboard in the circle where the righthand indicator camera view appears that said, “Engine Off-Shift to P or N then start engine.” This... Read more

Incident date: May 25, 2026

I pulled into the Dollar General and before I could get to my parking spot the vehicle made a beep sound and stalled and wouldn't move . There were no warning lights that came on. It wouldn't accelerate and I was nervous for the traffic that would be pulling in behind me. I put the vehicle in park and turned off the vehicle to see if it would start again. After restarting the vehicle I was ab... Read more

Incident date: May 24, 2026

My car dies while im driving down the street, making it difficult to steer and qhen you try to restart it, sometimes it starts and some times it don't. But this is not the first time its happened it was just the latest

Incident date: May 8, 2026

While in the middle of driving on the highway, the vehicle has powered off then back on. The vehicle “slips” when revving up.

Incident date: May 22, 2026

This complaint documents a recurring automatic transmission failure resulting in three complete vehicle shutdowns during active operation — two at highway speed and one in an active turning lane. The most recent failure occurred within 15 minutes of the vehicle being released from an authorized Hyundai dealership in College Park, Maryland, whose general manager admitted in a recorded call that t... Read more

Incident date: Dec 17, 2024

My Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe has an active safety recall involving possible catastrophic engine failure, fire risk, and sudden loss of propulsion. The manufacturer recall states that sand contamination inside the engine may lead to engine failure and vehicle fire. The recall remains incomplete and the manufacturer states the repair remedy is still under development. I was informed that repair parts... Read more

Incident date: May 9, 2026

I was operating a 2024 Kia Telluride and was fully stopped in traffic when my vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle. Immediately after the impact, my vehicle experienced apparent unintended forward propulsion/movement despite my braking attempts. Following the collision, the vehicle continued moving/driving forward for approximately 20 seconds and did not respond normally to brake input. The ... Read more

Crash

Incident date: May 21, 2026

I was at a stoplight, waiting to making a U-turn. The light turned green release the brake and went to hit the gas. The entire vehicle shut off. I lost all power and had to restart the vehicle in the middle of the intersection with vehicles behind me. It took at least 30 seconds and I ended up having to wait a cycle on the light because I couldn’t go at the time. Once I got the car back on, I lo... Read more

Incident date: Jul 15, 2025

The engine in my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport equipped with the 2.4L Theta II GDI engine is experiencing severe excessive oil consumption. The vehicle consumes approximately 2–2.5 quarts of oil every 1,000 miles despite multiple repair attempts and dealership-performed combustion cleaning procedures. Hyundai Motor America and the dealership documented the condition under PA #[XXX] and recommended... Read more

Incident date: May 10, 2022

> The engine block is cracked internally due to a known design defect in the 2.0L EcoBoost. Coolant is leaking into the combustion chambers through cracks in the cylinder walls. This causes white smoke from exhaust, misfires, and coolant loss with no external leak. Ford acknowledged this in TSB 19-2346 and TSB 22-2229 but has not recalled the 2.0L engines. Engine could fail while driving at highwa... Read more

Incident date: May 15, 2026

The head gasket malfunctioned/ broke. It has been confirmed by the Honda dealer where I currently have my vehicle. There were no messages or symptoms prior to failure. My safety and others were put at risk because my vehicle began to turn off as I was driving up a hill with no warning. The vehicle began to decelerate.

Incident date: Apr 29, 2026

Engine coolant intrusion. Known issue with these cars apparently that Ford needs to step up and fix/replace their design flaw. The fact car dealerships sell these ticking time bombs to unknowing customers is ridiculous.

Incident date: May 22, 2026

My car caught on fire on [CCC] and it's completely burned down, a total loss. Following is information about my car and some summary of what happened. Car information: - Mazda CX5 2024 - Bought in June or July 2024(car payment only made 22 times so far) - Odometer 24,445mi(as of 05/15/2026) What happened: - In [XXX] Friday afternoon, I was in Bellevue and noticed an engine overheat warning. So, ... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Apr 6, 2026

Error code, cylinder 2. This is 2018 Ford Edge 2L ecoboost and personal mechanic looked in cylinder and saw small amount of coolant. The car is sitting at Ford dealership in Albemarle NC at this time for full diagnostics. The car has mostly been parked since getting error code but husband said coolant is full, oil looks normal, is not cloudy and car drove fine to dealership. We are hoping this wil... Read more

Incident date: May 24, 2026

My vehicle is suffering from a severe coolant intrusion to cylinders 2 and 3 and I’m constantly getting bad misfire codes while driving.

Incident date: Jul 1, 2025

The vehicle exhibits two distinct and dangerous behaviors: 1. Engine stalling upon deceleration: When slowing to a stop, the engine stalls abruptly before the vehicle comes to a complete stop, causing a sudden, unexpected deceleration that throws occupants forward with significant force. 2. Unintended surge upon brake release: When releasing the brake pedal from a complete stop, the vehicle surg... Read more

Incident date: May 21, 2026

At low speed and at stop the vehicle has shut off and shifted to park. Various warning were present on dash. No CEL was present. The vehicle was able to be started and shifted to drive again.

Incident date: May 19, 2026

While driving a drivetrain warning ⚠️ was detected and code was displayed on the I drive, along with a CEL. The vehicle is in limp mode so I was unable to accelerate past 35-40 mph. Took the car into the dealership and was informed that my waste gate actuator failed @59,388 miles. The part is an electric controller and can fail without warning. In my opinion 59,000 miles is extremely early fo... Read more

Incident date: May 14, 2026

Unknown! sometimes the rear back up camera goes into a black screen and then once in drive the info screens stays black for about 30 seconds. the cars shifting is hard at times especially when going from slow to fast like for instance on a highway on ramp the shifting is very sluggish. the cupholder are a real hazard my cupholder bottomed out and my drink fell thru luckily there was no liquid in ... Read more

Incident date: May 21, 2026

I bought this vehicle in mid April 2026 with 9,500 miles. It has the 1.5L Ecoboost engine. I drove the car for 3,000 miles and noticed the coolant was at ‘minimum’ and wondered why a car with so few miles is using coolant. I took the car to my dealer and they confirmed coolant intrusion into the engine due to a bad head gasket. The vehicle is now at the dealer waiting on either a new head gask... Read more

Incident date: May 24, 2026

While accelerating onto the highway in my 2016 Kia Optima 2.4L, the vehicle suddenly lost all engine power without warning. The vehicle would no longer accelerate and I was forced to coast and brake to safety. Immediately after the engine shut off, the check engine light, oil light, and battery light illuminated on the dashboard. After the incident, the vehicle would not restart or crank at all. ... Read more

Incident date: Apr 28, 2026

The vehicle suddenly began vibrating noticeably when idling and at low speeds. About 30 minutes after this started happening a warning lamp lit up. We drove the vehicle about 2 miles to a local auto parts store to get an initial computer diagnosis of the issue. The test resulted in a code of "P0304" which detected a cylinder #4 misfire and recommended a fuel injector replacement. We brought ... Read more

Incident date: Apr 1, 2025

I own a 2019 BMW X5 xDrive40i with the B58 3.0L turbocharged inline-six engine. While driving in Minnesota, the vehicle suddenly displayed an urgent warning stating “oil pressure too low” and instructed me to stop the engine. This occurred while the vehicle was being operated on the road, requiring me to stop driving immediately. The vehicle was later inspected by an authorized BMW dealer. Th... Read more

Incident date: Mar 20, 2026

Coolant leaking into go engine. Causing erosion. Only 40,000 miles and been without car for 3 months now. Upon research this is a known issue. Confused why it wasn’t recalled with the number of people who appear to have been impacted.

Incident date: May 23, 2026

Ever since I bought this vehicle, it stalls randomly. Apparently this is a major issue with this car and complaints are all over the Internet by owners. I have a child and I am afraid to drive the car. I have bought the car to get fixed and it is still stalling. It appears that thousands of people have the same issue as some sort of canister needs to be replaced but even shortly after it is replac... Read more

Incident date: May 23, 2026

Good evening, I want to formally document what happened today regarding my GMC Sierra after I brought it to the dealership on Friday morning for transmission concerns that I had already reported. At that visit, the vehicle was inspected, and I was informed that the truck was still safe to drive while waiting for the extended warranty approval for the replacement parts that were needed. Unfortunat... Read more

Incident date: May 8, 2026

Timing gears/camshaft issues. dealer mechanic stated that the pin on camshaft broke and timing jumping. dealership stated this is a known issue with Elantra's but Hyundai has done nothing to address this issue. This repair costs over 4000 dollars for a known issue

Incident date: Apr 29, 2022

I have had several major problems with this car's engine. Once it shut down (was detecting no oil but was full) while on the interstate. Had to replace the radiator fan assembly and module. Coolant Leaks

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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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