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: Mar 17, 2023

EXHIBITING SIGNS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO READ OIL LEVELS WHICH IS A POTENTIAL SIGN OF OIL PUMP FAILURE DUE TO PLASTIC INTERNAL COMPONENTS THAT HAS OCCURED IN 2020 MODELS.

Incident date: Mar 17, 2026

DEALER ADMISSION OF NON-COMPLIANCE: I am updating my complaint to document that Kia of Streetsboro is officially refusing to perform the mandatory mechanical inspection required by Recall SC336. Despite the vehicle suffering from "Loss of Motive Power" (stalling in traffic) and "Abnormal Engine Noise," the dealership’s service department stated via text on March 17: "I asked my manager and he sa... Read more

Incident date: Apr 18, 2025

While driving my vehicle, the engine RPM suddenly revved very high, and the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. A warning messaged appeared stating "Transmission too hot stop safely." I was driving up a hill when this happened. I pulled over and turned the vehicle off for about two minutes. When I restarted the vehicle, the warning message disappeared even though the vehicle would not realistically h... Read more

Incident date: Mar 17, 2025

Had my oil changed less about 3k miles ago and my oil like flashed on and then off. I check my oil and I have no oil. I should be able to go 5k miles. Took it to Goodyear and he check for leaks and other things and it's an oil consumption issue and said there should be a recall on my engine. I will be taking it to the dealership. My car has about 70k miles on it. It should not be burning throu... Read more

Incident date: Feb 2, 2026

My 2023 GMC Sierra has 60,571 miles for a while now while driving the transmission slips and slams into gears. Recently driving with my kids in the car on highway going 70mph the back brakes locked up multiple times, so scary and dangerous while driving. I now currently have a code P-0747 in the system.

Incident date: Dec 9, 2025

The transmission died on my 2.7L Turbo Max engine in my 2022 Silverado. The "D" was flashing and giving no acceleration when pressing on the gas. The vehicle was also hard to shift. From my understanding the 2.7L turbo max is the only engine in this time frame that hasn't been re-called due to transmission issues.

Incident date: Mar 4, 2026

My turbo and fuel injectors went out at the same time. It has been fixed, so I don't think it can be inspected My safety was put at risk. The car randomly went into limp mode on the interstate at high speeds and suddenly came to almost a complete stop Yes, it was inspected by a mechanic, everyone with a 2018 honda accords are having this issue Yes, it was inspected by a mechanic. No warning la... Read more

Incident date: Mar 14, 2026

SMELL OF COOLANT THROUGHOUT THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP WHERE A PRESSURE TEST WAST CONDUCTED. IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A BAD HEATER CORE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THE RAM TRUCK. THIS WAS AMENDED FROM A EARLIER REPORT. SENT THE WRONG DOCUMENT FROM THE SHOP.

Incident date: Feb 17, 2026

Our car, only 3 years old (2022) had a check engine light come on about a week ago. We went and had the code read, said cylinder 3 was misfiring. We replaced all the spark plugs and coils. All the lights went off and the car drove fine for another week. Then all of a sudden after driving 60+ miles, we were accelerating up a hill in very heavy traffic, and the car wouldn't accelerate. It wouldn't g... Read more

Incident date: Mar 16, 2026

SMELL OF COOLANT THROUGH OUT THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER A PRESSURE TEST WAS CONDUCTED, IT WAS FOUND TO BE A BAD HEATER CORE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED.

Incident date: Mar 16, 2026

Per the dealership my vehicle is throwing the same codes P1061 and P032F as the recall that is less than a month from when my vehicle was built. My vehicle knocks and then the speed drops to less than 35 miles and it happened to me in traffic. It is very dangerous and again this is the same issue as the recall for my 2023 that is for other 2023 vehicles. I have called Ford to get help and fi... Read more

Incident date: Mar 16, 2026

The vehicle is experiencing multiple system malfunctions involving engine performance and electrical components. Symptoms include engine trembling at idle, abnormal ticking and hissing noises, and the vehicle pulling while driving. An independent diagnostic scan performed within 24 hours of purchase identified more than twenty fault codes. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The... Read more

Incident date: Mar 16, 2026

Discovered oil leak after smelling burning oil in garage. I have the 2 liter turbo motor.. Service tech at VW confirms loose cover bolts plus an additional leak. Online search shows recall for same problem with Audis equipped with same motor because of fire hazard. I have video of inspection but was unable to download. Attached are photos

Incident date: Mar 16, 2026

My 2021 Kia Soul is exhibiting a severe safety defect documented in Recall SC336: frequent, unpredictable stalling in traffic ("Loss of Motive Power") and audible engine knocking. These symptoms create a high risk of a rear-end collision or being stranded in a dangerous traffic situation. The vehicle is currently at Kia of Streetsboro. Despite being provided with evidence of these active mechanica... Read more

Incident date: Jan 30, 2026

I SCHEDULED SERVICE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET IN NAPLES, FL. AFTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE AS SCHEDULED THE SERVICE MANAGER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE SAFETY COVERED RECALLS AND STATED DUE TO THE ISSUE OF THE VEHICLE HAVING A BRANDED TITLE.

Incident date: Feb 1, 2026

Vehicle displays two warnings under normal usage. First warning is Emissions system issue and second is Brake System Failure. The Vehicle runs completely normal and operational, however these two warnings flash on the vehicle. The parking brake indicator also flashes. Vehicle has been to dealership/shop for multiple repairs; around 3-4 repairs within two months with no resolve for the same warning... Read more

Incident date: Dec 26, 2025

Office of Defects Investigation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 Subject: Safety Complaint – Premature Engine Failure Risk Due to Excessive Oil Consumption and Confirmed Cylinder Scoring – 2020 Kia Sorento Dear Sir or Madam, I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding a 2020 Kia Sorento that is experiencing severe ... Read more

Incident date: Mar 16, 2026

My car has had 1 or all 4 of the outside door latches fail for 3-4 times now over its lifetime. Only under warranty for 10 years or 100k miles. Very expensive repair, at $1500 for 1 latch, or $5500 for all 4. This is almost the value of the whole car now. This happens to ALL Lincoln Continentals and is very infamous & common for them & should be a lifetime recall warranty item for safety. Also, ... Read more

Incident date: Mar 16, 2026

Safety defect P1326 code is a known indicator of rod bearing wear. When it triggered, the vehicle immediately went into Limp Mode, creating a significant safety hazard. The behavior aligns with the documented defect affecting NU GDI Engines and is not consistent with normal Engine wear. I have confirmed the KSDS software update was performed. I have taken the vehicle to Clay Cooley Kia of Plano... Read more

Incident date: Mar 16, 2026

Just took my car to the Chevy dealership today and had them go over the car because I keep getting the message steering assist has been reduced and the fan is constantly running at the highest speed and it also makes it where I can not use the a/c or heat in the car! I don’t know the code off hand but it has something to do with the cam shaft and the thermostat for the antifreeze! From what Chev... Read more

Incident date: Mar 13, 2026

Engine failure on March 8, 2026. 2024 Sierra Denali 1500 VIN [XXX] Prior to this incident, the vehicle was taken to the same dealer due to the safety recall. The engine was inspected on November 12, 2025, and I was told that it "passed," with the remedy being a change in oil viscosity. I was driving on March 8, 2026, when I heard some odd noises (clanking and knocking). Shortly thereafter... Read more

Incident date: Mar 9, 2026

code P1326 unable to accelerate, drive past 1st gear and knocking noise in engine area engine could stall out or lock up if problem is not fixed 3/14/2026- started engine light blinking warning light also code p1326 has had recalls for this particular car brand

Incident date: Feb 20, 2026

The X7 engine shut down twice while driving. Both incidents took place in busy traffic, engine shut down with warning sound and error message flashed up on screen and disappeared so quick that no one can remember. As the result, the vehicle was stuck in the middle of busy traffic. Within less than 1 minute, the vehicle can be restarted and driven as normal. The vehicle was brought to BMW dealershi... Read more

Incident date: Feb 25, 2026

While driving on the highway, the engine light came on and off. Pulling over, I inspected the engine compartment and heard what I believe was cylinder knocking, but could not obtain an engine code with an OBD code reader. Oil was of sufficient level as it had just been replaced within 1,000. After this I attempted to drive it to the dealership, where on going 45 MPH, I pulled to the right lane fo... Read more

Incident date: Feb 25, 2026

I went go put gas in the car but as I start driving I was riding lost power of the car I pulled over but it was a school bus behind me that the bust drive had called the police I got out the car I seen smoke from the passionate side of the car seeing smoking. So I step back seen that the motor was on fire then it started busting out the windows and tires. It burnt up the car so bad that they had g... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Feb 9, 2026

Driving along normal and the engine started knocking, then the noise went away and about three miles later the engine started knocking extremely loud as I attempted to get off the road safely the engine locked up, I opened th hood and seen the engine connecting rods broke out of the engine and it now has holes in the block, and needs a total replacememt

Incident date: Dec 4, 2025

In early February, 2026, a check engine light produced code P1098, engine coolant control valve position sensor performance. Code caused the cooling fans to run continuously when the engine reached a certain temperature and the vehicle had reduced acceleration, which posed a safety hazard when driving the vehicle due to prolongated times to get to the posted speed limit and posed a hazard to other... Read more

Incident date: Feb 24, 2026

I have been having issues with excessive oil consumption . No warning signs or notifications . Also had an issue with my car stopping in the middle of the road which could have been related to the above problem per my mechanic.

Incident date: Mar 2, 2026

My 2011 Hyundai Sonata experienced sudden engine failure and the engine is now locked up. The vehicle became inoperable and had to be taken to a Hyundai dealership. The dealership confirmed the engine is locked and not drivable. Hyundai denied the engine replacement claim stating the vehicle has A04/A08 branding indicating the engine originates from a scrapped or rebuilt vehicle. However, Hyundai... Read more

Incident date: Mar 16, 2026

Total of 3 incidents when my car had approx 1/8 to 1/4 of a tank of gas....as going up incline on interstate....car like stalls and slows down, will not speed up....get it over to the side to avoid being hit and it finally starts going again...close call with vehicles behind us in the passing lane. Below listed the last time it happened... Did not use to do this...first time was same area listed b... Read more

Incident date: Feb 20, 2026

I was driving in a city at 30 miles per hour no acceleration and no load. I lost oil pressure, dumped all the oil out of the crankcase and then the engine locked up. I had it towed to my mechanic shop that i have work done. The technician diagnosed it as a failed oil cooler pressure supply line. Where the solid steel line crimps to a rubber oil hose, that connection had not been applied enough pre... Read more

Incident date: Mar 4, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low oil warning light unexpectedly illuminated. The failure persisted even after the vehicle had received several oil changes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that an oil change was completed; however, the failure persisted. ... Read more

Incident date: Jan 13, 2026

While I was driving the car started beeping and all dashboard lights started flickering. Transmission started stuttering and engine rpm fluctuating wildly. Fortunately I was in my neighborhood and was only going about 15 mph and was able to pull to a stop. The issue is with a faulty star bus connection near the glove box. After watching a you tube on the same issue, I learned to hit the a... Read more

Incident date: Jan 30, 2026

My 2023 GMC Yukon Denali with the 6.2L V8 suffered a sudden loss of propulsion while traveling at approximately 70–75 mph on the highway with my wife and young daughter in the vehicle. The engine RPM dropped immediately to zero and the vehicle displayed a message instructing me to press start. I do not recall any meaningful prior warning lamps or symptoms before the failure. I did not hear a lou... Read more

Incident date: Sep 16, 2025

Vehicle went into reduce engine power mode and check engine light came on. Vehicle has just over 60,000 miles. Code is telling me I need a new turbo and being quoted $1,500-$3,000. I have read so many people having the same issue with needing a new turbo just after 60,000 miles

Incident date: Feb 4, 2026

Rough idling. Currently unknown reason.

Incident date: Mar 16, 2026

On 10/27/25, the thermostat on my wagoneer exploded. It was supposedly repaired on 10/30/25. I read in the wagoneers forum that the thermostat is a common issue, but it could be the result of engine problems. On 2/4/26, I took my vehicle in for a routine oil change. I didn't drive the vehicle for a few days. On 2/7/26, I was driving and received an Error Message stating Max Engine Oil Level Exceed... Read more

Incident date: Oct 30, 2025

While traveling at approximately 80 mph on the highway, my vehicle suddenly lost all response to the accelerator pedal. Despite continued pressure on the gas, the vehicle rapidly decelerated to approximately 40 mph on its own. There were no warning lights, unusual noises, or physical indicators of a problem before, during, or after the event. I was able to safely navigate the vehicle off the highw... Read more

Incident date: Jan 19, 2026

Battery Management System completely exhausting the 12V battery resulting in the car acting as if it has no power. When this happens, you can't unlock the door or open the trunk. On two separate occasions, I have encountered a complete loss of power in my Sonata Hybrid, preventing me from unlocking the trunk or doors upon returning from extended trips. The first incident occurred after a ten-day... Read more

Incident date: Mar 3, 2025

Loss of power, and knocking from the engine while driving. Check brake system, check srs, check parking brake and check engine light flashing came on at the same time. The problem has been reproduced at a mechanics shop and has been determined that cylinder 6 is dead.

Incident date: Mar 14, 2026

The bolts holding the exhaust to the catalytic converter broke while I was driving my car. The car could have flipped, the exhaust could have busted through the vehicle, or I could have caused an accident and died. This comes on the heels of the EXACT SAME THING happening to my wife's Chevy Trailblazer with nearly the same mileage as mine. I have 97K miles and she 96K. This is a KNOWN ISSUE to the... Read more

Incident date: Feb 28, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle on several occasions. During other failures, the vehicle restarted independently while rolling forward. During one failure, the vehicle had to be towed back to the residence. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken... Read more

Incident date: Feb 1, 2026

Last year while traveling on vacation, my family was on the interstate crusing at approximately 70 MPH when the Hyundai Palisade suddenly started shaking and slowing down. It was shaking so bad, I ended up having to turn on my flashers because the vehicle would not accelerate up hill while pressing on the gas pedal. Thankfully, I was able to exit the highway and located a Hyundai dealership about ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed or while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was unexpectedly illuminated. Additionally, there were several error codes provided through the Mobile App for engine-related failures. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was m... Read more

Incident date: Mar 9, 2026

The contact's wife owns a 2017 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. During frequent oil checks, the oil on the dipstick was low soon after an oil change. The vehicle was taken to the dealer approximately 15 times for oil consumption issues. Several oil consumption tests were performed on the vehicle for every 1,000 miles driven; howeve... Read more

Incident date: Mar 16, 2025

Purchased new August 29, 2025 On 12/3/25- Mileage 4495. Took vehicle in for first maintenance service. Tire rotation and oil change. On 1/7/26- Reported grinding noise we had began noticing when starting vehicle. Engine light Service ESC. Service Traction control. Reported to Ben Mynatt GM. On 1/8/26 Mileage 7120- Took Yukon in for service due to grinding noise. Due for 6 module updates and 3 sta... Read more

Incident date: Feb 13, 2026

Vehicle keeps entering limp mode when driving. Complete loss of power car cannot move and is left stranded. Vehicle has been at the dealership diagnosed and repaired over 4 times but the problem still remains. Dealer states there is no rat or electrical damage, battery was replaced and software updated but the car keeps losing all power and needs tows constantly.

Incident date: Feb 22, 2026

The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz GL450. The contact stated that the ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated, and the struts had failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed prior to the recall repair, due to the failure... Read more

Incident date: Mar 15, 2026

Variable Valve Timing Camshaft KNOWN DEFECT rendering the car unusable at only 100K miles.

Incident date: Oct 23, 2025

On 02/22/2026 my 2022 Nissan Rogue began sputtering as it was being driven. Was able to finally get pulled over where the engine died and would not start. Almost hit another car because did not have brakes or power steering. Was taken by tow truck to local Nissan dealer where the Tech confirmed the EGR valve was faulty and possibly caused severe engine damage. No warning lights were displayed jus... Read more

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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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