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 24, 2026

I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding a catastrophic Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) failure and severe electrical short circuit on my 2015 Ford Mustang. This vehicle is exhibiting hard fault code B137F:09 (Steering Wheel Left Switch Pack: Component Failure / Short to Ground or Open). This electronic failure creates an immediate, severe safety hazard that goes entirely outside ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 25, 2026

The engine in my 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country equipped with the 6.2L V8 (L87) experienced a catastrophic failure. While driving, the vehicle suddenly lost power, displayed a “Service ESC” warning, illuminated the check engine light, and unexpectedly shifted into Neutral. After stopping the vehicle, it would not restart. The dashboard would illuminate, but the engine would only produce a f... Read more

Incident date: Jul 26, 2026

The car stalled three times and died in active traffic. The breakdown was so hazardous that the police department had to intervene and push the car out of the road and had to tow the car more than 3 times and was at the Nissan Dealership for over one week. I paid Nissan dealership $5,000 to repair this specific, life-threatening defect, but the car returned to me unfixed.The vehicle is unsafe and ... Read more

Incident date: May 15, 2026

1. Head gasket leaking into engine, car is overheating now. Told it is a slow leak, not safe for long distance travel, need new car. 2. My car is available for inspection upon request. 3. I am a woman and could have been stranded by this in vulnerable situations. I am a travel worker driving to places like Maine and California and camp alone in remote areas. Starting to overheat has happened on ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 20, 2026

Since Nov 2025 there has been a recall with still no remedy for repair. The recall is a huge safety risk regarding the hybrid battery worrying me about it exploding or catching on fire as it warns me to not charge it in my garage and be careful charging it which is the only reason I purchased this hybrid.

Incident date: Apr 24, 2026

This is for Jeep's brand new Hurricane 4 engine. The buyer has no option to chose the reliable 3.6L 6 cylinder in the 2026 Summit model. Theis 4 cylinders throttle response lag, from a stop or slow speed, is EXTREMELY dangerous! When trying to move into traffic from a street or driveway the Jeep just rolls slowly as if it was in Neutral; there is no acceleration. I can floor the accelerator pedal... Read more

Incident date: Jan 6, 2026

"The vehicle has twice suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power at highway speeds (approx. 70 MPH) on the interstate, forcing the driver to coast across active traffic to the shoulder without engine pull. The engine revs freely in 'Drive' but the transmission fails to engage any gears. No dashboard warning lights, check engine lights, or diagnostic trouble codes are triggered during o... Read more

Incident date: Nov 5, 2025

This recall has been in effect for over a year now with no remedy available. I have issues with my engine starting, engine staying running, acceleration during turning, etc. due to this recall. It is extremely unsafe and no remedy being available after a year is very disappointing and puts me in harm everyday.

Incident date: Jul 26, 2026

While I was driving, my 3.3 V6 engine on my 2016 Kia Sorento seized up with no warning. There is no visible oil on the dip stick, although I have changed my oil routinely. There has never been visible oil outside of the engine or on the ground. I never had any warning light come on. I believe the engine burns an extreme amount of oil, which is putting people in a dangerous situation and financial... Read more

Incident date: Jul 24, 2026

Auto Idle Stop (AIS) system failed to restart engine after automatic shutdown at high elevation (~10,000 ft), following a long sustained incline. Vehicle had been driven through extreme heat (100°F+) in foothills prior to the climb, then ascended into cooler mountain air (~70°F). Coolant temperature gauge read normal (under half) at time of incident. At a stop, AIS shut off the engine as design... Read more

Incident date: Jun 21, 2026

Coolant intrusion with eco boost engine.

Incident date: Jun 10, 2026

On [XXX], while traveling at highway speeds on a public roadway, the vehicle suffered a sudden, violent, and catastrophic mechanical explosion in the front drivetrain. Without any prior warning lights, dashboard messages, or operational symptoms, the front differential and driveshaft structurally shattered. The physical violence of the drivetrain components exploding at high speed sent metallic ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 24, 2026

Warning lights keep popping up then something will go wrong with the car. A CVT malfunction came up and wouldn’t allow me to put the car in park then after I turned the car off it went back to normal. More random lights will come up they will all be different problems with the engine or system then once car has been off for a few it would go back to normal

Incident date: Mar 20, 2026

I was driving on the highway at about 60-70 mph and my truck shifted into first gear with my tires basically locking up and slid along the highway. I brought my truck into a ford dealership and they told me they couldn’t get it to replicate the incident so they turned me away. I personally replaced my battery terminals and it hasn’t done it again. Now I will be driving and randomly my truck wi... Read more

Incident date: Jul 25, 2026

Multiple lights and warnings on dashboard of 2019 Honda CRV. Warnings were sudden and all at once and included, Emissions system problem, braking problem, power steering problem, collision mitigation system problem, electric parking brake problem and many others. Honda service centers stated this is a very known problem with 2019 CRV and it’s the fuel injectors and head gasket.

Incident date: Mar 20, 2026

2018 Honda Pilot – Engine Failed to Restart During Auto Idle Stop I own a 2018 Honda Pilot that has experienced an intermittent Auto Idle Stop restart failure. Approximately 18 months ago, my Honda dealer performed the Honda service bulletin repair related to the Auto Idle Stop restart issue, including replacement of the starter. More recently, I began experiencing intermittent hard starts aft... Read more

Incident date: Mar 20, 2026

For 14 months, I attempted to get active recalls fixed on the car at Downtown Sacramento Ford, which claimed to be certified pre-owned per Folsom Lake Ford but had existing recalls and issues when I bought it in March of 2024. My car finally broke down on 07/11/26 and was towed on 07/12/26 to the Elk Grove Ford dealership and "looked at" on 07/13/26. Today is 07/26/26, and I am still in a rental t... Read more

Incident date: Jan 1, 2026

My 2022 Kia seltos with 47669 miles does while while driving. It DID NOT make a noise or shake. The engine light and oils light come on and the car dies. I have maintained regular oil changes and maintenance on the vehicle since the time of purchase.

Incident date: Jul 18, 2026

While on the way to work going about 60 mph my car came to a complete stop with a semi behind me. By the grace of God I was able to start it in time. It happened atleast 9 other times since then. Jeep has been made aware and when I went for the recall I asked if that was a symptom they said no but this happens a lot. Didn’t put it on the report. I have kids and family members who have been in my... Read more

Incident date: Jul 18, 2026

The engine (6.2L V8) in my 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 failed at approximately 40,750 miles. I began hearing a ticking noise coming from the engine, and the dealership subsequently diagnosed the cause as damaged bearings that in turn damaged the crankshaft, requiring a full engine replacement. Notably, this vehicle was not included in the related recall covering this engine defect, despite exhibiting... Read more

Incident date: Jul 11, 2026

Tracking battery default

Incident date: May 11, 2026

Tracking battery default

Incident date: Jul 25, 2026

Tracking battery default

Incident date: May 1, 2026

Was driving and a loud pop happened when pulling onto the hwy and lost power. Immediately pulled into parking lot and tried to restart but would not start. My son came over that evening and towed back to my house and the discovered the oil pan was cracked along with block and piston shattered. There are parts inside the oil pan. This has not been inspected by a dealer or service center. No warnin... Read more

Incident date: Jul 11, 2026

My 2022 Cadillac Escalade received the remedy for Recall 25V-274 (L87 6.2L V8 loss of propulsion) on July 22nd at the dealer. The vehicle passed inspection and was given the higher-viscosity 0W-40 oil change remedy rather than an engine replacement. Since that service, the engine has begun stalling. It stalls when the vehicle is stopped. This symptom was not present before the recall service was ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 11, 2026

My 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid is experiencing repeated electrical and hybrid battery failures. The battery has died multiple times, and the vehicle has shut off while driving, including at higher speeds. When the vehicle shuts off, all electrical systems reset, warning lights flash, and the dashboard displays “User Authorization” notifications. This creates a serious safety hazard for me and my ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 20, 2026

Temperature alert went off for too hot. Was stranded in North Carolina while driving for vacation. Had to get a rental while thermostat was replaced. This is a known and widespread issue yet no recall has been sent out.

Incident date: Jul 1, 2026

Exhaust fumes leak into the cabin while increasing speed.

Incident date: Dec 23, 2025

We had a recall done, Campaign 92C, and every since then the car drives horrible. It's worse when cool, it sputters, and hesitates especially when excellerating. Even after warmed up it seems to slam in and out of gear at low speeds, even when foot is not on the gas. The drive is choppy. The dealership told us to drive it and let the transmission "learn" our driving patterns, but it has not resol... Read more

Incident date: Dec 23, 2025

Hi, smell a very strong gas smell inside the cabin. And it doesn't matter if the fuel tank is full are nearly empty.

Incident date: Jul 16, 2026

When I am driving my car randomly states check engine and makes a beeping noise and then the engine starts to make some type of combustion noise and then slows down and then turns off.

Incident date: Jul 6, 2026

My 2023 Kia Niro Hybrid EX has experienced multiple warning messages and unresolved concerns after previous repairs. After the first recall repair, I began receiving intermittent warning messages while driving. The messages appeared briefly and disappeared before I could safely document them. After a second repair, the transmission was replaced. Shortly afterward, the vehicle displayed an overheat... Read more

Incident date: Jul 8, 2026

I have a 2019 Chevy high country that went into engine failure when going down the freeway to work. The engine light came on flashing and the engine was stuttering. I had it taken into the local Dealership where they first replaced catalytic converter. 3 months later I had engine failure again going down the freeway. I had them drop a whole new engine into it. I understand there is an investigatio... Read more

Incident date: Sep 10, 2025

Oil pressure acting weird. We checked the oil and there were only 2 quarts of oil in truck. I just had an oil change 3 weeks ago. No oil leaks. Engine must be burning oil for some reason.

Incident date: Jun 9, 1992

Engine failure while driving, causing Engine Warning lights to come on as well as loss of acceleration. Safely was a concern due to incident occurred while on the interstate during rush hour traffic. Vehicle was towed to a Nissan dealership, who ran a diagnostic test and confirmed that the engine needs to be replaced. There were no Warning lights or messages prior to incident.

Incident date: May 28, 2026

I was approaching an exit on 7/23/2026, and all of a sudden my engine light begans flashing very fast! Once I get to the red light at the exit, the engine light stops flashing and the car begins to shake profusely...... When the light turns green, I get on the accelerator and the shaking gets harder and the engine light begins to flash again.

Incident date: Jan 2, 2025

Idle stop and restart problem: After stopping , the engine shut off and won't be able to restart. Happened multiple times even after the Honda services department re-programmed it.

Incident date: Jul 10, 2026

We brought the car in spring of 2025 for our daughter, She as driving from school and engine light came on, car was overheating and car started shaking on the freeway. She pulled the car over to check it out on the freeway, she started the vehicle back on and got the car back to her apartment and parked it. She called Expert Automotive to have them tow it to their shop to find out what happen. The... Read more

Incident date: Aug 25, 2025

The vehicle is suffering from an extreme internal engine oil consumption defect, burning approximately 3 quarts of engine oil every 500 to 600 miles with no external leaks. The internal oil burning heavily fouled the vehicle's ignition system (spark plugs and coil packs), causing severe engine misfires and a sudden vehicle stall while operating in motion on public highways. This unexpected loss of... Read more

Incident date: Jun 7, 2026

Check Engine Light present. Took car to Ford dealership. Formal diagnosis from Ford dealership: Coolant intrusion present causing misfires, specifically in cylinder 4. P0304 and P0316 codes present. This is a known manufacturing issue; however, Lincoln customer service refuses to acknowledge the problem even exists. Upon talking to the Ford dealership service members, they stated that this is a co... Read more

Incident date: Jul 23, 2026

2025 Ranger STX with 950 miles on odometer. When starting vehicle with transmission in park, a pronounced clunk/thump is heard and felt. The clunk/thump varies in intensity with the most intense episode resulting in the physical slight rearward movement of the truck. Symptom seems to be more prevalent when vehicle has been dormant for a few hours or overnight. Initially thought vehicle was going t... Read more

Incident date: Sep 29, 2025

I brought my 2017 Honda CRV (1.5L turbo engine) with approximately 83,000 miles into my independent mechanic on 6/12/26 to fix a crank oil seal after discovered at recent oil change by them and prior in April when I brought vehicle into Honda to replace extended warranty on A/C compressor shaft seal. When they started vehicle before repair white smoke filled the shop. Mechanic said it was head ga... Read more

Incident date: Sep 29, 2025

The bronco sport was being driven, suddenly an gasoline odor was slightly noticed, it was almost dismissed because the intersection the vehicle was currently at has 4 gas stations. The SUV suddenly turned off, alerts popped up on the screen and smoke began to rise from underneath the hood. As the vehicle was exited, the gas odor was noticeable and flames began to shoot from the engine bay. Within ... Read more

Fire

Incident date: May 13, 2026

I presented my vehicle to Oliver Ford-Lincoln in Plymouth, IN for inspection under recall 23S64 / NHTSA 23V-905. The dealership confirmed that the oil pump drive belt degraded, clogging the oil pickup pump screen and causing engine oil starvation and complete engine failure. The dealership subsequently denied recall coverage claiming "bad maintenance history". Under NHTSA Campaign 23V-905, Ford ex... Read more

Incident date: Jul 24, 2026

NHTSA Safety Complaint To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Regarding: Vehicle Safety Hazard / Fraudulent Repairs on 2017 Chevrolet Silverado VIN: [XXX] To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to file an emergency vehicle safety complaint regarding a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado, VIN [XXX], purchased on XXX. Huntley Ford performed unauthorized, fraudulent, and unsafe repairs tha... Read more

Incident date: Jun 12, 2026

My 2018 Honda Accord EX's transmission failed after just 88,000 miles. I have owned 3 Hondas and I never had this experience. All bought a Honda World in Westminster, California. I did some research and spoke to a private transmission service company, Leon's Transmissions, and they told me that in 2018, Honda replaced the old transmission they were using with a CVT transmission. They said that cl... Read more

Incident date: Jan 7, 2026

The Active fuel management system caused the engine to fail

Incident date: Jun 8, 2026

When accelerating Rpm needle jumps rapidly up and down. I’m noticing that I am not able to pick up speed in the car continues to jerk.

Incident date: Jun 18, 2026

The engine has been consuming oil, where we were adding at least a quart of oil between oil changes. We noticed the vehicle would shake like it was going to die while idling at a stop light or in a drive through. Recently my husband was driving home from work on a busy highway and the vehicles check engine light started blinking on and off. He pulled over and had the vehicle towed. The oil consum... Read more

Incident date: Feb 1, 2026

My vehicle has had issues since October of 2024, I bought it March 2024. The first problem that arose was the fuel door button wouldn’t work, the informant screen flickered, and engine light would come on and off all of this began after getting it serviced Oct 2024, I took back to the dealership 3 days later to get it diagnosed. The fuel tank isolation valve was the problem which caused the vehi... 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

Read more from our blog