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: Jul 25, 2026

Was low on oil and check oil light don't go on have to put oil very 2 week because it get low and I don't have no oil leak at all I found out because the motor start shaking and making noise tow it home and mechanical came to check it out and didn't have oil he say I was lurking I was not in the highway because it could lock the mortar and cause a accident

Incident date: Aug 3, 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while stopping at a red light, the Auto START feature failed to restart the vehicle, and the vehicle started rolling backwards. The brake pedal was depressed, and the PUSH to START button was depressed, and the vehicle was restarted. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer w... Read more

Incident date: Aug 8, 2026

My vehicle, 2023 Tahoe, previously had the GM Recall 25V-274 / N252494001 remedy performed (0W-40 oil swap) in October of 2025. Despite completing the manufacturer's official recall remedy, the engine suffered a sudden, dangerous loss of motive power at highway speeds when I was making an out of state move and traveling alone; it was terrifying. I had to have it towed to the nearest dealership an... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

1) Exhaust Manifold Studs are loosening and/or breaking on I6 engine causing potential CO2 exposure to passengers in the cabin and/or engine bay fire risk. 2) Potentailly yes via CO2. 3) Yes - out of factory warranty therefore had independent service center replace all studs 4) No 5) Not in my case but others on JLR Automotive Forums have heard rattling noises and found broken bolts that fell ont... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle slowed down unexpectedly. The vehicle then lost power while stopped at a traffic light. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was turned off and restarted, and the vehicle operated as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed an... Read more

Incident date: Aug 9, 2026

I was driving my 2019 Chevy Silverado TrailBoss with 81,000 miles at 65MPH on I-80 East in Omaha, NE, when 3 warning lights came on. The first was the Service Parking Brake. The second was Service ESC. The final was a flashing Check Engine light. My truck started backfiring/misfiring, making a loud ticking noise, and running extremely rough. I was trying to merge off the interstate, but it was... Read more

Incident date: Aug 12, 2026

The 1.5L EcoBoost motor has coolant intrusion problem on cylinder 3. The 1.5L EcoBoost motor sputters while driving causing the engine to be sluggish and not get up to speed when turning and might cause an accident on the highway due to the motor failing due to coolant intrusion design flaw in Ford Motor. Yes, Ford dealership confirmed the coolant intrusion problem on cylinder 3 and check engin... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

Incident date: Aug 7, 2026

Message Emissions System Problem – Avoid Heavy Acceleration and High Speed. See Dealer. Car has been dropped off at dealer on 7/12/26 and has still yet to be returned. Dealer stated they contacted Honda corporate and they need to take the engine apart and submitt photos

Incident date: Apr 20, 2026

The contact's son owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her son was driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled with an unknown message displayed on the instrument panel. The contact's son pulled off to the shoulder of the road and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted and went into LIMP Mode and drove slowly back to the residence. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired.... Read more

Incident date: May 26, 2026

On Thursday, August 6, 2026, while driving my 2018 Hyundai Tucson on Interstate 81, the vehicle experienced sudden, severe engine vibration and a loud metallic ticking sound before losing power and stalling completely on the highway. I was stranded on the side of the highway in a high-speed traffic zone, creating an immediate and hazardous safety situation. Because the vehicle was completely... Read more

Incident date: Jul 30, 2026

I was driving and the vehicle stopped accelerating and the gear was in neutral. I pulled over and turned the car off then attempted to turn it on, but it would not turn over. All electrical was on, but the car would not start. This same thing happened two days prior twice within 10 min. of each other, but I was able to start the car those times. Due to the speed suddenly declining and being unable... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

I went to the store, came home , parked and turned off the car. Went to go outside about 10 minutes ,maybe. Black smoke coming from right front. By the time i grabbed the keys and fire extinguisher there were flames coming from the engine compartment

Fire

Incident date: Aug 3, 2026

Complete unmitigated loss of acceleration and power while traveling at highway speeds, creating an immediate life-threatening road hazard. Following a warranty engine replacement and mandatory dealer software flash at Clay Cooley Hyundai (Sherman, TX), the vehicle began experiencing powertrain communication issues. While operating the vehicle at 65 MPH on the highway, the vehicle completely failed... Read more

Incident date: Aug 4, 2026

Oil pump solenoid has been replaced 3 times and the vehicle is under 100,000 miles. There is a low oil light illuminates on dash board in addition to acceleration lose and a white smoke coming from under the hood and the back end of the vehicle. The 6th or 7th time this happened the Bronco had to be towed. There were many more problems included in this tow, powertrain failure, engine misfire, los... Read more

Incident date: Aug 4, 2026

2021 6.2L GMC Sierra Denali. Has the L87 engine that is recalled but yet my truck doesn’t fall under the recall although the recall is for 2021-2024 engines. Everything that the engine recall states is the issue with my truck, I have service report from dealership stating that there is wear/breakage of cam shaft/crank shaft amongst other things including cylinder 3 and 5 misfiring , bearings bro... Read more

Incident date: Aug 10, 2026

Check engine light came on 3 weeks ago. Misfire codes on start up and cylinder 3. Mechanic replaced spark plugs, cleaned injectors. One week after repairs, check engine light came back on. Took vehicle back to the shop and after more tests, my engine showed it had suffered coolant intrusion and I was told a total replacement of the engine was needed.

Incident date: Aug 4, 2026

Coolant intrusion in #2 cylinder a known problem that costs over 11,000$ to fix

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

My 2021 KIA Soul has a recall order for P1327 code which is the knocking noise from the piston ring. The KIA dealership in Idaho Falls is denying the recall order, claiming that it has to be from the upper chamber, not the lower chamber. Which is not stated in the recall letter. They have done everything to avoid this recall. I have evidence that they know the engine have all the symptoms of t... Read more

Incident date: Feb 20, 2026

Vehicle caused a SEVERE drivability condition while at highway speeds by sputtering, losing power and auxiliary driver's systems becoming degraded. We were able to drive the vehicle in limp mode to a near service station. They ran diagnostics and determined that there were multiple secondary events affecting the ADAS system. They also checked the battery and determined it was marginally good. We... Read more

Incident date: Feb 20, 2026

Excessive oil consumption. I lose 3 qt of oil every 1200 miles. I have had the required maintenance on the car and still having excessive oil consumption.

Incident date: Jul 18, 2026

In September 2025, the manufacturer issued a component specific extended limited warranty(MINI ELW FRM 15Y/186M)acknowledging the Footwell Module (FRM) may fail after a 12-volt battery disconnect or power supply interruption. My vehicle was identified by VIN as affected. Beginning in 2021, my vehicle experienced recurring electrical failures consistent with FRM failure: three battery replacements ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 30, 2026

On [XXX] I was driving my 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Vin # [XXX] on a major highway in Houston when without warning the engine shut off, stranding me in the middle of busy traffic. I was able to get to the shoulder and restart the truck, but no warning lights came on so I continued on my drive when approximately 20 minutes later, while still on a busy freeway, the engine shut off again. I was able to r... Read more

Incident date: Apr 3, 2026

Ford Motor Company put out a recall on the PCM. I had the recall performed and it has caused more damage to my truck. It now has eratic shifting, stuck gears, and going into limpmode. Ford Forums show that this is an ongoing issue after the reset is performed creating an unsafe vehicle to drive. The check engine light is now on and was not prior to this recall reset.

Incident date: Aug 11, 2024

Over the past two weeks we have been experiencing issues with the Auto Idle Stop device on my 2025 Honda Passport. This has resulted in being temporarily stalled at several busy intersections. I have reported this issue to a Honda dealership where the issue was verified and it is scheduled for a Starter replacement when the part is received from back order.

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

On two consecutive occasions, my 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport suddenly lost almost all ability to accelerate after highway driving. Both times, after exiting the highway and stopping at a traffic light, pressing the accelerator would only allow the vehicle to travel a few miles per hour. The vehicle was effectively unable to accelerate normally or keep up with traffic. Turning the vehicle co... Read more

Incident date: Aug 8, 2026

I am reporting a recurring catastrophic high-pressure fuel-pump/fuel-system failure in my 2018 BMW X5 after BMW previously repaired the same type of failure, and subsequently performed the NHTSA HPFP recall on my vehicle. I am a 71 year old driver. This was a repeat catastrophic failure after Recall 21V-586 was performed and the loss of propulsion on the freeway was terrifying, and I almost crash... Read more

Incident date: Aug 9, 2026

I was driving when I was pulled over by a police officer for speeding I was going 5 over the speed limit (Speed limit was 65). As the officer approached my vehicle, he noticed flames coming from the engine compartment before I was aware there was any issue. He immediately instructed me to exit the vehicle for my safety. After I got out, the officer attempted to put out the fire with a fire exting... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Jun 14, 2026

I am reporting a safety concern involving a 2017 Jeep Renegade, VIN ZACCJAAB5HPE81627. The vehicle was purchased used on May 22, 2026 at approximately 89,055 miles and began experiencing problems almost immediately. On May 27, only five days and approximately 96 miles after purchase, a diagnostic showed Check Engine FAIL with codes P0128 and P0456. On May 28, the selling dealership advised that t... Read more

Incident date: Aug 7, 2026

Head gasket failure where engine coolant leaked internally into the engine cylinders.

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

The hose connected on the antifreeze leak into the engine compartment

Incident date: Aug 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Auto Hold feature activated, and the check engine warning light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and DTCs U0164, U0123, U01B0, and U1131 were retrieved. The independent mechanic stated that the battery needed to be replaced. ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Edge. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that two months later, while the contact's wife was drivin... Read more

Incident date: Aug 4, 2026

As I pulled up to stop, in electric mode, at a stop light, the display screen pulled up a message to pull over safely because the engine would stop soon, within about 10 seconds the screen showed the engine stopped. I was still at the light. I tried restarting the vehicle, moving the shifter from drive to park and back, pressing the park button several times with no success. With cars honking b... Read more

Incident date: Aug 8, 2026

I have a 2018 Ford EDGE. VIN [XXX] I bought brand new from Tasca Ford, Seekonk MA 02771 (508) 336-7200 in late 2018. My vehicle has never been driven by anyone; I am the sole owner and take exceptionally diligent care of my vehicle. The year of the vehicle, though 8 years old now, only has 39,579 miles on it as of today as I have not driven far, and no one drove in 2020 Covid. I just paid out... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

I am filing this complaint because Volkswagen is refusing to honor its factory powertrain warranty to cover a catastrophic internal engine failure on a vehicle with only 22,531 miles. The vehicle is well within its manufacturer's powertrain warranty limits. I have provided Volkswagen with two official receipts proving routine oil changes, GEICO insurance records proving the accident caused no fron... Read more

Incident date: Apr 1, 2025

2023 Honda CRV hybrid bought from dealership in Clarksville, Indiana. at 63,000 miles the head gasket blew causing major damage. Regular maintenance and oil changes done. Technician said the component just failed for no known reason and exploded. Repair priced at $5300 Honda Corporation refusing to provide any assistance. Research shows many people having same issues of blown head gaskets at only... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

Engine squeeled then shut down. It froze up. Its a 6.2

Incident date: Jun 16, 2026

I am having problems with my transmission; it puts itself into park when we tried to put it in gear. It has been sitting in my back driveway for almost a year as we can't drive it. When this happened, we had just pulled into my front driveway after a 2+ hour trip and put the car in park. Then without turning it off, went to put it in reverse to move it - the car BY ITSELF went into park - we Wa... Read more

Incident date: Jul 24, 2026

My Sonata 2016 suddenly lit up the Check Engine icon, which was blinking. It is available for inspection request, as it's in the shop right now. Added 2 qts of oil just to be safe. Was hoping the light would go away in the morning. It didn't. The car was sputtering and jerking while I was attempting to get where I was going, so I drove a little slower so it wouldn't stall out, which would hav... Read more

Incident date: Aug 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle previously failed the vehicle state inspection due to the check engine warning light being illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle stalled intermittently while driving. The contact had to pull over, wait, and then restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed an unknown recall repair for the canister p... Read more

Incident date: Aug 1, 2026

Vehicle intermittently fails to accelerate when accelerator pedal is depressed after stopping. Vehicle may move extremely slowly for several seconds and then suddenly regain power. This has occurred while entering/intersecting traffic and has resulted in near-collision situations. Dealer cannot duplicate the problem.

Incident date: Apr 1, 2024

I was driving doing about 60 mph. All of a sudden the engine stopped and the truck just coasted. I was able to find a safe spot on the side of the road and pull over. Called a tow truck and had it taken to the GM dealership nearby. The trucks engine was just fixed in October of 2025 for the camshaft and lifter rods. It’s currently in the shop and I’m waiting for the diagnostics.

Incident date: Aug 4, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? During a multipoint inspection that was earlier than advised due to multiple dashboard lights engaging, we were told that our car has an oil leak due from the timing covers and lower pan seal. They removed the oil separator and found value stem seals to be out towards the exhaust side creating an oil... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

Engine blew around May, what caused this issue would be unknown even though the dealership said it was excessive RTV on the oil pan, there was no RTV on the oil pan (i have a picture). I was driving on the highway and slowing down to take my exit, it happened around 25mph, car got stuck on 3rd gear if im not mistaken (its an automatic transmission by the way). Ended up with 3 holes in the engine b... Read more

Incident date: Aug 9, 2026

Nearly 25% of the total time I have owned this Certified Pre-Owned vehicle (146 out of 564 days), it has been non-functional and in the shop — roughly 1 out of every 4 days of ownership. I am a [XXX} with a [XXX] child, and I purchased this vehicle as a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Porsche — expecting the manufacturer's rigorous inspection and warranty to ensure reliability and safety. Instead, t... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

In Feb-2020 While driving on [XXX] just south of Altoona, PA experienced sudden loss of power with multiple warning lights on in the dashboard along with engine light. Safely maneuvered the vehicle to the shoulder. Turned it off, waited some minutes and then tried restarting it. To my surprise vehicle started with normal power but lights still present. I continued my driving and after few miles la... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

In July 2026, our 2018 Honda Accord required a head gasket replacement. Prior to the diagnosis, the vehicle began experiencing rough starts and engine misfires. While driving, the car suddenly lost power and would not accelerate beyond approximately 10 mph. After returning home and restarting the vehicle, its performance temporarily returned to normal; however, the engine continued to idle roughly... Read more

Incident date: Feb 24, 2025

While driving on the highway, the check engine light illuminated. Approximately 5 to 10 minutes later, the battery warning light came on. Upon exiting the highway and coming to a stop at an intersection, the automatic engine Start/Stop system engaged and shut down the engine. When attempting to safely proceed, the vehicle suffered a complete electrical failure due to the 48V mild-hybrid eTorque sy... Read more

Incident date: Jul 24, 2026

2019 Ford Mustang with 3.2 EcoBoost engine has coolant intrusion into the engine thru a defectively made engine block. Diagnosed by the Ford dealer in Hinesville,GA on August 11,2026. Car has 52,731 miles on it and has always been maintained by the local Ford service department. Car is a daily driver, no abuse or rough driving. Car is available for inspection upon request Coolant intrusion can cau... 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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