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: Feb 1, 2026

I own a 2023 BMW 530i affected by NHTSA recall campaign 26V-438 (BMW "Engine Starter" recall), issued July 8, 2026. Per BMW's own recall documentation, unexpected wear on an internal starter component can cause the starter to malfunction and, in an extreme case, cause a thermal event or fire when starting the engine OR while the engine is running. As of this complaint, BMW's official status for th... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2026

Knocking sound and flashing engine light came on. When brought to dealership it was determined that lower bearing failure took place requiring full engine replacement. '

Incident date: Apr 15, 2026

I was on the highway and the truck escalated in speed then it would decreased In speed . (61 mph to 45-41mph. Then it decreased speed all the way to a complete stop. Then burst into flames in front of truck. Truck made crackling sounds and proceeded to burn all the way back to the back seats of truck.

Fire

Incident date: Mar 3, 2025

While driving at ~50mph, the truck immediately went into reduced power mode, temperatures spiked to 260 from 210. Engine code P1006 showed indicating coolant control valve failure. After experiencing, I discovered that GM issued Special Coverage for Coolant Control Valve (N252508341). However, the local Chevy dealership indicated my truck would not be covered even though it is within the timefra... Read more

Incident date: Mar 3, 2026

Bought this car brand new from Nissan dealership 7/2023. Had issues with battery, sensor (causing car to go into low mode), and now complete engine failure all in a span of 7 months. Towed to dealership, told need new engine/turbo cost: $9,462. Reached out to Nissan Consumer Affairs for support as this car has less than 100k miles on it. Told nothing they can do-not on recall. Did online research ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 7, 2026

Vehicle has had a fire recall for over one year with no remedy or fix available.

Incident date: Jun 13, 2026

2017 Golf has been nothing but a nightmare. [1] 2018-2021, it was Infotainment system that I had to repair 3 times; once under warranty, twice out of pocket. Stupid navigation system malfunctions every time they upgrade the map or something and caused another visit to the dealer for replacing the entire radio and that little disk in the glove box. How many times would anyone do this during ownersh... Read more

Incident date: Jun 8, 2026

While driving from Tampa to Miramar Beach, Florida, the vehicle operated normally on the highway. However, shortly after exiting the highway and driving in slow traffic, the engine temperature gauge suddenly rose into the red zone, and the air conditioning automatically shut off. I immediately pulled over and allowed the vehicle to cool. The engine temperature returned to normal, and after the en... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2026

Just purchased a used 2021 KIA seltos with about 45k miles. I did my research and checked prior if there were any major issues. Since it showed zero recalls and received relatively good reviews I thought it would be a safe and reliable vehicle. I was wrong.I had the vehicle for only about three months when I noticed the check engine light come on while driving on the freeway. It was solid, however... Read more

Incident date: Jun 15, 2026

It originally started about two years ago when the check engine light came on (along with others) that point to a code with the Mass Air Flow sensor. It would stall at low RPMs at traffic lights, and was extremely worrying during normal driving. We got it replaced and so far okay, but recently the ABS and traction control lights come on and stay on. Another issue that many MANY Nissan owners exper... Read more

Incident date: Jul 24, 2026

head gasket well known issue with no campaign or warranty coverage Volkswagen issued an official TSB 15-23-01 (Head Gasket Leakage) acknowledging that the original factory head gasket design on early Taos models allows coolant to leak. The production line was eventually updated with a redesigned gasket. They denied coverage or even partial reduction in labor.

Incident date: Jun 20, 2026

Car was driving weird Consuming lots of oil Check engine light flashing Took to mechanic where they replaced the spark plugs and ignition coils, cleared light. Issue was resolved for about a month. Rough idling began car begin to shake while driving. Took back to shop was told rod bearring problem. Upon research found out this is a COMMKON problem among Hyundai vehicles however my vehicle was no... Read more

Incident date: Jul 7, 2026

Summary of Complaint I am submitting this complaint to report what I believe may be a safety-related defect involving the twin-turbocharger system on my 2022 Toyota Tundra (VIN: [XXX]). The driver’s side turbocharger failed at approximately 58,000 miles and had to be replaced. Approximately 6,000 miles later, at around 64,000 miles, the passenger-side turbocharger also failed. The vehicle ha... Read more

Incident date: Jul 24, 2026

On June 24, 2026, Safety Recall 20UF (Suction Jet Pump) was completed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer. Upon leaving the dealership, the vehicle immediately experienced a severe engine stall and extended no-start condition. During the recall service, liquid fuel flooded the EVAP lines and charcoal canister, saturating the intake with raw fuel. This caused an immediate safety hazard, stalling the... Read more

Incident date: Jun 24, 2026

Took my car to Honda they stated my head gaskets and turbo charger was bad .. every shop that i talked to about the problem had stated that they have been getting a alot of my models coming in with the same issue

Incident date: Jul 7, 2026

I was driving and stopped at the tunnel for traffic. My car shut off and wouldn’t turn back on. It seemed to have overheated. After about ten minutes, it started again. I was told it was told the oil pump controller affecting the stop and go on my car. Priority Hyundaii in [XXX] didn’t didn’t have the part to repair it. Now they are refusing to repair it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 16, 2025

I purchased a new 2025 Ram 1500. Within the first week of ownership, the vehicle developed repeated engine misfires, check engine lights, and electrical issues, including a dead battery. The vehicle was repaired multiple times under warranty. The engine later suffered an internal failure that required complete engine replacement. After the engine replacement, the vehicle developed a new drivabili... Read more

Incident date: Jul 14, 2026

On July 15 at approximately 4:30 pm my daughter's 2022 Nissan Rogue stalled while she was making a turn in a busy intersection. She was able to restart it and make it to a safe place to call a tow truck. There were no warning lights on my dashboard. The vehicle had just been serviced less than two weeks prior. The vehicle was towed to the local Nissan dealership. The next day the inspected it... Read more

Incident date: Jul 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the engine seized. The hybrid engine message was displayed. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road and parked. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle started. The contact reset the instrument cluster. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving on... Read more

Incident date: May 31, 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle decelerated to 29 MPH and failed to properly accelerate. The accelerator pedal was depressed and went down to the floorboard. The vehicle was pulled over safely and avoided a crash. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle. The battery power was at 1 percent after drivi... Read more

Incident date: Jul 24, 2026

On June 14, 2026, the driver experienced sudden rough engine running followed immediately by a flashing check engine light. The vehicle was towed to the selling dealer, which has performed all prior maintenance. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and available for inspection. Technician notes show DTC P1326 was stored — the Knock Sensor Detection System code associated with connecting r... Read more

Incident date: Jun 14, 2026

The transmission belt deteriorated. I had noticed my gears slightly delayed over past couple months. On July 10th, i was on freeway during morning commute traffic and the car lost all power. All the dash warning lights came on and I luckily got to side of road. I towed to dealer and they confirmed that it was premature belt deterioration. I sent a claim to honda and they agreed that was the issue... Read more

Incident date: Jul 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a left turn, the message "EyeSight Disabling" was displayed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle then lost motive power and was unable to restart. The contact called 911, and two bystanders assisted in pushing the vehicle to a Jiffy Lube. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, w... Read more

Incident date: Jul 24, 2026

My current 2021 Honda Pilot (purchased used May 2024) is stalling out in live traffic - the most recent on XXX creating a massive safety hazard. (In addition, the engine is making the same exact clicking noise that the 2015 Honda VIN:[XXX] made right before the engine catastrophically seized on my way to work. That 2015 Honda Pilot seized due to a defective Variable Cynlinder Management (VCM) sys... Read more

Incident date: Jul 20, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal knocking sounds. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle later lost motive power while driving with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not... Read more

Incident date: Jul 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the temperature gauge rose significantly, indicating that the engine was overheating. The coolant temperature warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that there were metal shavings inside the engine cylinders, and that the... Read more

Incident date: Sep 11, 2025

Purchased vehicle at 53k miles in March 27 of this year it broke down April 27 a month later took it to Chevy dealership. They said it had recall to reprogram fuel pump later discovered the high pressure fuel pump went out and one fuel injector went bad at the same time. I wasn’t informed on recalls when purchasing vehicle. Bill was $1300+ I had to come out of pocket $520 for the repairs.July 12... Read more

Incident date: May 14, 2026

The BMX1 overheated while parked and on with no warning of any levels being low or any obvious issues for it to overheat. I just saw the starter and overheated recall which led me to check my suv.

Incident date: Jul 1, 2026

Incident Summary: On 07/16/2026, my 2018 Hyundai Tucson experienced a severe engine failure resulting in sudden knocking sound from engine and stopped in middle of road. This sudden failure while operating the vehicle created an immediate safety risk on the roadway. The vehicle was taken to Rick case Hyundai on 07/22/2026 , where diagnostics confirmed on 07/24/2026 internal engine damage tied ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 23, 2026

I was driving and the suv moved forward with a jump like that scared myself, this happened several times. I just had my oil changed at the dealership of which I been working with for 20 years. A few of my sensors went out at the same time. On June 19-26 my suv refused to change gears. I pulled over and tried again. Made it home and towed it to the dealership June 22. I noticed that there are two c... Read more

Incident date: Jul 24, 2026

I drove to work with no issues, lights or warnings. I parked and worked for 7 hours. Upon leaving and cranking the engine, it immediately showed overheated and went into limp mode. I drove it less than 100Ft, parked and called for a tow. There was no puddles or other indications of an issue. Upon towing to the closest dealership, I was informed the oil cooler failed putting coolant into the oil an... Read more

Incident date: Apr 24, 2025

On 20 July 2026, my 2022 Ford Escape HEV caught fire in the engine compartment while parked. The vehicle is likely a total loss (insurance pending). On-site emergency personnel responded within minutes of the fire and the local fire department was on scene within 5 minutes of the 911 call. They cleared the incident (and d/c the 12V) within 32 minutes of arrival. Detroit Fire Department Incident: 2... Read more

Fire

Incident date: May 22, 2026

This vehicle has been into the Ford dealer multiple times for transmission slipping type issues. From before the 60,000 mile powertrain warranty ended and after. The dealer said the only thing needed was an update and reset. Today a different Ford dealer has informed me that during the transmission flush, there are tiny specks and slivers of metal. The engine issue in regard to cam phaser repair... Read more

Incident date: May 20, 2026

As I was accelerating out of a stop light on the morning of 7/24/2026, my check engine light came on seemingly out of nowhere. I was able to take the vehicle to an independent repair shop who identified the issue as the plastic oil cooler assembly on the vehicle being broken. My car's oil was completely empty and it would have been but minutes until the engine completely seized up. The oil had spi... Read more

Incident date: Jul 23, 2026

While driving the engine unexpectedly, it was having problems going over certain RPMs. It sounded very loud.. brought it into Honda of Denton, Texas. They examined it and said there was metal shards in my oil in my engine that something was broken. I needed a complete new engine.. 2019 Honda has a bearing recall for the engine when it fails it causes metal shards in the engine. They told me that m... Read more

Incident date: Jun 30, 2026

Vehicle threw code 21A50A (Starter Pinion Timeout) and a Drivetrain Malfunction warning. Car still starts and drives. This is the exact mechanical failure described in Starter Recall 26V-438 / 26V-441, but my 2022 330e VIN is currently excluded.

Incident date: Jul 21, 2026

The car just died while going 55mph on the highway. Complete shutdown but luckily both the steering and brakes worked. After stopping it wouldn’t start again. I had my three children in the car aged [XXX], [XXX], and [XXX]. It was a horrific experience. GMC did some repairs to the engine that took over two months and then the car had a few more warnings pop up just a few weeks later. GMC now sa... Read more

Incident date: May 4, 2025

See attached document for complaint.

Incident date: Mar 3, 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V586000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on approximately five occasions, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode, lost motive power, and stalled on some occasions. The check engine warning light and the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) warning light wer... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2026

after 2 weeks of purchasing the vehicle, engine light came on and dealership said it was bad catalytic converter, a month later, they determined it was caused by coolant leaking into engine. so now I need a new engine and catalytic converter

Incident date: Jan 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine compartment. Later, while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated unexpectedly in the middle of highway traffic. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was coasted off the road and parked in a nea... Read more

Incident date: Jan 1, 2026

See attached document for complaint.

Incident date: Jul 1, 2026

I’m [XXX] with health issues and my mother is [XXX] we bought a car at ( Drive Time ) hoping we would get a good car to go to the dr , I have a [XXX] I can’t afford it though,in my opinion I felt drive time took advantage of us because I look Mexican and indigenous, they sold us a bad car where the engine was bad , as soon as I drove it there’s was a smell I didn’t think k anything about i... Read more

Incident date: Jun 24, 2026

Engine keeps throwing sensors and transmission has hard shifting and slips ford is against changing fluid because i have put mileage on it. Loses power at stop of red lights

Incident date: Dec 1, 2025

The specific issue you are dealing with is Chrysler Recall 67C (NHTSA Campaign 25V720). This recall impacts nearly 300,000 Ram ProMaster vans (model years 2018–2026) due to an overheating radiator cooling fan circuit that poses a significant vehicle fire risk. More than 200 of these are from the VA. Edwards Auto Group In Council Bluffs, IA is trying to make the Veterans Health Administration... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2026

The first problems began in March 2026. No warning lamps turned on. My car began jabbing as I accelerated and a couple days after when I was breaking too. The first mechanic said it could be a coil but the problem didn’t stop after changing it. I then took it to Honda and they confirmed that it was a blown head gasket and that they were surprised no warning messages had appeared. I took it to E... Read more

Incident date: Jul 19, 2026

Premature valve cover gasket oil leak and rear shock absorber oil leak at 43,818 miles At 43,818 miles on 04/25/2026, Acura dealer documented on RO XXX: "Valve cover gasket leaking - Recommend replacement $500+Tax" and "Rear Shock/Strut starting to leak oil residue $435.64". This is premature failure. Valve cover oil leak can cause engine fire hazard - oil leaking onto hot exhaust. Rear shock o... Read more

Incident date: Jul 23, 2026

While driving, my 2020 Chevrolet Equinox suddenly lost power and shut off without warning while I was pulling into traffic. The vehicle would buzz not crank afterward but would not restart. This created a safety hazard because the unexpected engine shutdown occurred while the vehicle was in motion. This is the second brake vacuum pump failure I have experienced with this vehicle. In 2022, the brak... Read more

Incident date: Jul 2, 2026

I received a warning light indicating my car was reaching maximum internal temperature. I immediately shut off the car, then took it to the Honda service center the next morning. They did an inspection and determined there is a leak in my head gasket at cylinder 3. There were no warnings prior to the time of failure. I had recently had my coolant flushed as part of general maintenance and I never ... Read more

Incident date: Oct 15, 2025

Coolant intrusion into the cylinders causing engine failure. This is a repeat of the known 1.5L EcoBoost defect. The engine was previously replaced in 2021 under TSB 21-2269. The repair order shows Ford installed the original defective open-deck short block (part number DS7Z-6009-G) instead of the updated closed-deck design. The same failure has now returned. This defect can cause sudden loss of p... 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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