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 7, 2026
Vehicle Information 2021 Ford F-150 PowerBoost VIN: [XXX] Complaint Description While driving approximately 70 mph on a highway, my 2021 Ford F-150 PowerBoost suddenly displayed a “Stop Safely Now” message and immediately lost propulsion. The engine shut down without warning while I was in active traffic. After the shutdown, the vehicle automatically shifted into park and would not allow me t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2026
My vehicle was inspected at an authorized Infiniti dealership under an active recall. During that inspection, metal debris and loose bolts were found in the oil pan, indicating internal engine damage consistent with the recall condition. Despite this, Infiniti declined to repair or replace the engine. the engine failed completely while I was driving at highway speed, causing sudden loss of power ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2026
I own a 2019 BMW 540 with B58 engine and I have begun noticing abnormal rattling noise from the engine area, which may indicate early stage failure of the oil pump assembly. There are widespread reports from other owners of failure of the oil pump rotor housing/adjusting ring due to heat-related degradation of plastic components. Failure of this component can lead to sudden loss of oil pressure, d... Read more
Incident date: Mar 21, 2026
Our truck had just passed 60,000 miles when the engine seized. The recall procedure was completed in January, and the engine passed the test at that time. We were also using the recommended 0W‑40 oil. Despite following all guidelines, the engine still failed. This shows that the procedure GM has outlined is not sufficient to determine whether an engine is actually in good condition.
Incident date: Oct 18, 2024
While driving down [XXX] the car started making a weird noise as we slowed down for an upcoming light. The light changed and as we started to drive again the check engine light came on and I lost power steering. I was trying to navigate the car off towards the shoulder but the car was hard to maneuver, but was able to move into the right lane. I had to drive the car slowly as to not stop the engi... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE HYBRID
(2025) - ENGINE
Mar 25, 2026
Incident date: Mar 24, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle bucked for approximately 3-seconds before the vehicle stalled. The hazards were activated, the vehicle was turned off, and the contact waited before restarting the vehicle. While restarting the vehicle, several warning lights quickly flashed, and the vehicle failed to exceed 4 MPH while drivi... Read more
Incident date: Mar 25, 2026
Vehicle experienced a loss of acceleration while driving. When pressing the accelerator, engine RPM increased significantly but the vehicle did not increase speed. The vehicle felt as though it was stuck in one gear and would not upshift or downshift. The issue was most noticeable while driving uphill, where the vehicle was unable to maintain speed despite full throttle input. This created a safe... Read more
Incident date: Nov 22, 2025
This has now happened twice to my daughter, both times on the highway. One time the car shut down completely and the 2nd time the car just started slowing while pressing the gas and coasted to a stop. Luckily she was able to avoid other cars and get to the shoulder. The car restarted both times...1st time after about an hour wait and 2nd time within minutes. Both incidents happened when the gas ga... Read more
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2017) - ENGINE
Mar 25, 2026
Incident date: Mar 7, 2026
On March 5, 2026, while I and my 2 passengers were traveling on the 405 Freeway at approximately 40–50 mph, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic total loss of power. The engine shut off and all electronic systems failed simultaneously, including the instrument cluster and all interior lighting. Most critically, the hazard lights were inoperable, leaving the vehicle invisible to high-speed traffic... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
On [03/23/2026], while traveling at 79 mph in high-speed highway traffic, my 2022 Cadillac Escalade suffered a sudden, total engine seizure and complete loss of propulsion. This catastrophic failure occurred without any prior warning lamps or symptoms. The loss of motive power at highway speeds created an immediate life-threatening situation, forcing me to navigate through traffic to the shoulder ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2026
My engine started knocking horribly, I need to get a proper diagnosis but cannot afford to have a shop look at it. I have been building engines my entire life and am certain the rod bearings have failed. The engine has a distinct knock under acceleration, you can hear it clearly when pulling away from a stop sign for example.
Incident date: Feb 21, 2026
While accelerating to highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly experienced a significant and continuous loss of power. Even with the accelerator fully pressed, the vehicle would not increase speed beyond roughly 50 mph. Based on the behavior and previous service history, the issue appears to be related to the engine, fuel delivery system, or overall powertrain. The incident created a serious safety c... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2026
Driving down the road at roughly 40 mph and the truck shifts down to 1st gear locking the rear brakes up. Was told by ford dealership was a faulty transmission it needed to be replaced for $8,400. No lights on or warning before it happened.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2017
Ford at Jim Ellis dealership in [XXX] [XXX] look at my car last Thursday and gave me only one code P0304 which means tune up but texted me that my car need $8000 of labor and $6k of a new engine, without an explanation. Prior too the vin they pulled up showed Cust satisfaction 21N12 said yes a recall when the rep saw it. However, even expired 2022 another paragraph states If exceed mileage 84000... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally escalate an unresolved safety issue involving my 2017 Hyundai Tucson (VIN: [XXX] ) that has now been ongoing for over two years. I have made repeated attempts to complete a safety recall repair through multiple authorized Hyundai dealerships, including Hyundai of [XXX] and Hyundai in [XXX] . Despite scheduling several appointments, I have consisten... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2026
Engine maintenance required, call dealer. The engine coolant bypass valve needs to be replaced. Known issue in Toyota corolla’s yet no recall to remedy the repair.
Incident date: Feb 17, 2026
I am reporting multiple ongoing safety and reliability issues with my 2024 Mazda CX-90, which have persisted despite multiple service visits and the vehicle being under warranty. Issues include: •Premature tire wear: OEM Falken tires worn to unsafe levels (approximately 3/32”) before 15,000–20,000 miles •Faulty fuel gauge providing inaccurate readings •Intermittent headlight malfunction... Read more
TOYOTA
RAV4 PRIME
(2023) - ENGINE
Mar 24, 2026
Incident date: Sep 15, 2025
The vehicle lost power and went into limp mode on 3/3. I had it transported to a dealership and they said there was metal containments in the motor. I got it back on 3/17 and they said all was well but it never drove right. It broke down again on 3/20 and the said the throttle body was out. Why had they not found this issue before? This seems to be a recurring issue with this model truck.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2021) - ENGINE
Mar 24, 2026
Incident date: Feb 4, 2026
Vehicle shifted into neutral while driving Myself and others were put into danger as I was on the highway with no warning
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
My vehicle has been at the dealership since February 4 due to a transmission failure involving the valve body, which is currently on national back order along with the converter. These parts are required to complete the repair, and the vehicle is not drivable. This issue occurred after previous major repairs, including engine lifter replacement and a CV axle repair. It has now been 71 days without... Read more
Incident date: Dec 17, 2025
The car will start shaking, can’t exceed a certain mpg, and does not speed up. The check engine light comes on. The car is available for inspection. I drive on the freeway and slowing down, and shaking can cause accidents. This a continuous problem.
Incident date: Mar 17, 2026
Digital Display & information screen goes black, you can't see anything at all. I had an issue with my Trax not to long after I purchased it had to take it back to dealership told service manager about it, nothing was done about the display. With the display out you couldn't read any warnings at all not even temperature and blown my engine. My Trax didn't have regular gages. The dealership had fre... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2026
While driving at any time, the speedometer will instantly drop and the car feels like it's about to shut itself off. After a diagnostic with a mechanic, they stated this was the crankshaft issue; similar to a recall for other 2016 jeep compass. My vin is not currently associated with this recall notice, however based on these safety defects, it seems it should be considered under the recall
CHEVROLET
TRAILBLAZER
(2021) - ENGINE
Mar 24, 2026
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
We just bought this vehicle 3 weeks ago, paid sales tax and first car payment. The check engine light came on for P0304cyl 4 misfire, notice white smoke blowing from exhaust and low coolant level. Had technician pull plug four and used a boriscope and found coolant leaking into engine. Ford has a known TSB for coolant intrusion on this particular model and vin and manufacturing date. Ford refuses ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 21, 2026
When stopped at a red light & the light turns green & I accelerate, the vehicle does not move. It makes a loud noise and jumps. This happens way too many times. There’s also an issue with the brakes, when you press on them, you can hear something grinding, which should not be happening because I bought the car brand new. Also the brakes have always been super squeaky, which is very frustrating b... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2024
Truck went in for the recall around Nov/Dec 2025. Passed recall for 6.2l crankshaft and new oil was put in the vehicle. Today the truck lost power while driving and the check engine light came on to include a message saying the transmission went out. The vehicle is now un drivable and with a Chevrolets dealership waiting to be fixed
Incident date: Mar 23, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Ram 1500. The contact stated that on two occasions while driving approximately 60 MPH, the traction control warning light illuminated and the message "Parking Brake Deactivated" was displayed. The contact stated that during the first failure, the vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, turned off, restarted the vehicle, and the check engine warning light illuminate... Read more
Incident date: Sep 30, 2025
I own a 2019 Honda Accord 1.5L with 112,985 miles. The vehicle developed a blown head gasket with coolant leaking into Cylinder 3. The failure was first confirmed via a combustion leak (CTR) test performed by an independent Honda specialist (Hond-Auto Specialist) on March 2, 2026, and later confirmed by an authorized Honda dealership (Vandergriff Honda, [XXX] ) via borescope inspection on March 23... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2026
Vehicle is overheating without gauges showing a problem. Had a mechanic check it out and the cooling fans are not working. I have seen there is a recall for this problem, but my VIN is not listed. This is a known problem, but RAM needs to widen their scope of vehicles that are affected by this fire risk.
Incident date: Mar 12, 2026
The vehicle has experienced repeated failures of the integrated telematics system, including loss of GPS location accuracy, loss of data connectivity, navigation malfunction, and intermittent failure of voice command and steering wheel controls. On one occasion, the vehicle experienced a complete display blackout while driving, during which both the infotainment screen and digital instrument clus... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
[XXX] [XXX] [XXX] March 24, 2026 ` NHTSA Safety Complaint Summary My 2019 Ford (VIN: [XXX] ) has an unresolved safety recall issued in January 2024. Two repair attempts were made: - May 2025: Vehicle kept 41 days; recall repair not completed - January 18, 2026: Second attempt; recall repair still not completed The defect remains unresolved. I am the caregiver of a special‑needs... Read more
Incident date: Dec 4, 2025
My truck engine stopped working while driving down the road causing me to lose power and I was not able to exit the roadway. There were no warning or messages until the loss of power and dash stated to "restart the engine". This was not possible. The truck was towed to a Chevy dealership and they confirmed the engine seized up do to unknown engine failure. This is a 2024 6.2L engine with 4500... Read more
Incident date: Oct 7, 2025
I parked the vehicle in a parking lot. I walked away and it immediately started smoking. Shortly after that, flames appeared coming from the hood. Shortly after that, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames.
Fire
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 21, 2026
I have a 2016 Acura TLX 3.5L j35Y6 AWD that initially Had the safety recall XG1 and the engine was replaced at roughly 140k miles, 40k miles later the replacement engine suffered the same problem, and I am aware that I am not the only person this has happened to as there is currently a NHTSA investigation PE25008 that is related to these replacement engines failing. I have pushed the dealership fo... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2026
The engine burnt through all the oil in it, many miles before an oil change was needed for it.I have taken it to the dealership and the dealership submitted an extended warranty claim for it and despite the fact that the issue is mechanical and covered by the extented owarranty, the claim is being denied.
Incident date: Jan 3, 2025
Customer reports: - vehicle will not start - died while backing up and wouldn't restart - no warning in car and safety at risk as a result - towed car to auto mechanic who provided this information below Check and advise: - Found starter motor tries to crank the engine over but never completes more than a partial engine revolution during each starting attempt, using jumper packs do not help, full... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2004
My car burns oil. I had to have my spark.plugs and engine coils replaced. I was driving and my check engine light came on. Also, my car was sputtering like you wouldnt believe. When i had the spark plugs and ignition coils replaced, the spark plugs were covered in oil. Last year, I got an oil change and within a few weeks the oil was empty. A neighbor told me my car was burning oil. I also took it... Read more
Incident date: Nov 4, 2025
I bought this truck new I still own problem is the cooling system does not function properly I have put new radiator and all heat and cooling in it the heat and air does not operate properly I have talked with crysler several times and they will help with issue it’s been like this about as long as I have had it please help me and there’s a whole lot more people with same issue and it’s a ver... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4XE. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted after 30-40 minutes. The SOS warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the communication was inoperable, and the message to take the vehicle to the dealer was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where an unknown diagnosis and repa... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2025
My car failed to connect/stay connected to a charger. When a successful charge started, within 5 minutes , my dash lit up with warning messages to stop moving the car. Place car in park. Battery needs to be replaced. My car was in park at the time. Then the charging session ended and wouldn't reconnect. My car wouldn't start either. Leaving me stranded at the charging station . I called for tow... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2026
I was driving on the highway going approximately 75mph, everything was 100% normal. All of a sudden, and at once, my steering wheel started to shake, the car lost power/acceleration and speed quickly dropped. The engine was making loud noises. We pulled over, called my mechanic I've had for 35yrs. We were able to get the car to the garage driving very slowly, it wouldn't go above maybe 30mph. My m... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2025
Car lost charge quickly, went into limp mode while I was driving on the highway. I had to pull of the road several times and try to get it to a charging station. It barely made it after the lose of power. Charged it to 80% and it would only go up to a range of 100 miles. Took it to the dealership and they confirmed it needed a whole new main battery. ICCU had already been replaced. Had to wait ove... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
motor only has 41000 miles and uses 1 quart of oil every 700 miles
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
ngine seized (according to GMC dealership service department). I was driving 75mph down the highway and the car shut down. I noticed it losing power so I was able to get off at the exit ramp, but not in a safe location. The car shut completely down in the right lane at the stop sign. Approximately 7:50pm car broke down - stuck on the road until 10:22pm. Yes safety of myself and others were put at ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that after having the engine replaced in 2023 and being reimbursed following a subsequent recall, the vehicle experienced engine failure. The contact stated that while the official fix was released, the replacement engine that was installed in the vehicle was not equipped with the official fix. The dealer was notified of the failure. The ve... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
Check engine light came on, related to the thermostat and faulty water pump. My car’s make and model was part of a settlement for this issue but VW corporate will not cover costs to repair.
Incident date: Feb 26, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly shifted to neutral(N) and the vehicle shut off. The driver was able to coast safely to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was determined that the engine needed to be re... Read more
Incident date: Dec 17, 2025
My Mercedes Benz GLE450e Hybrid SUV has had a persistent but sporadic safety issue that suddenly causes the vehicle to go into "turtle mode" with a "performance extremely limited" warning when trying to accelerate quickly or sometimes when breaking quickly. In turtle mode, the car quickly loses acceleration, drops in speed and is then unable to accelerate properly. The sudden drop in speed and in... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2026
While driving on the highway my 2026 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate the vehicle lost propulsion and the dashboard went dark because it shut off. I was exiting the highway onto a skybridge and rolled to a stop before reaching the top on the skybridge. Vehicle would not start again and needed to be towed. Dealership concluded my 6.2L V8 engine needed to be replaced due to crank shaft seizing. Engin... Read more