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: Jun 7, 2026

While driving, the engine stalled and produced a cranking noise. Subsequently, the display screen turned black. Currently, I am experiencing a problem where I cannot turn off the vehicle or shift gears, rendering it immobilized. I have taken the vehicle to a Chrysler dealership, and they have been unable to identify any faults. However, I believe the vehicle is not safe to drive.

Incident date: Jul 22, 2026

On June 25, 2026, at approximately 84,000 miles, while traveling approximately 60-65 mph on Highway 121 in a posted 65 mph zone, driving my 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4 equipped with the 6.2L L87 engine, multiple warning messages suddenly appeared, including “Check ESC,” “Check Parking Brake,” “Check Brakes,” and “Check Engine.” The engine began operating abnormally. I drove directly t... Read more

Incident date: Jul 10, 2026

Hi, I had to transport a few lumber pieces that did not fit into the trunk of my Kia EV6, so I had to leave the hatch open (I pulled it down as far as possible and secured it via a rope against the latch). When I started driving the car started beeping frantically, but allowed me to drive. When I crossed an intersection traffic came to a temporary halt, and when I came to a stop my Kia all of a su... Read more

Incident date: Jul 15, 2026

Multiple lights and warnings on dashboard of 2019 Honda CRV. Car would not reverse. Warnings were 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 mechanic stated this is a very known problem with 2019 CRV and it’s the fuel injectors and head gasket.

Incident date: Jul 19, 2026

I bought this car brand new and since I purchased it in December of 2021. Every summer this car leaves me stranded everytime I shut the car off and its hot outside I took it to several kia dealerships while in warranty but because it was not showing a code they couldn't fix it. The warranty ran out and this car still won't start if its hot outside but has no issues in the winter. After 3 yrs of de... Read more

Incident date: Jul 18, 2026

I test drove the vehicle at an auction, watched several other people test drive the vehicle. Before the auction I test drove it one more time and put my obd scan tool on it to make sure there were no hidden codes or problems. I won the bid,and picked up the vehicle. I drove it approximately 6 miles from the auction and the falshing engine light popped on. I immediately pulled over in heavy freeway... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2021

The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the engine warning light illuminated. The failure was a recurring failure. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage... Read more

Incident date: Sep 11, 2025

On XXX the vehicle stalled on a busy road, with no warning/ messages appearing until the car died. It was left at Dakota K Auto Repair in Buffalo Grove, IL the same day. They replicated the stalling issue four times, but were unable to diagnose the issue. The vehicle was then brought to Hyundai Auto Nation O'Hare in Des Plaines, IL on XXX. The vehicle stalled twice while they drove it. On XXX thei... Read more

Incident date: Sep 11, 2025

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas suddenly lost all power and acceleration while driving at approximately 45 mph with a child passenger. There were no warning lights, messages, or abnormal symptoms prior to the failure. Pressing the accelerator pedal, including flooring it, produced no response, and the vehicle continued to decelerate. I was able to coast into a nearby neighborhood and pull off the road s... Read more

Incident date: Mar 26, 2026

I am writing to formally document a significant engine failure on my 2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring (VIN: [XXX], License: [XXX], Odometer: 78,159 miles). The vehicle began exhibiting visible smoke from under the hood and severe oil leakage — oil was actively pooling beneath the car and leaving a trail. Upon inspection by Cal West Auto Center (San Marcos, CA), the vehicle was diagnosed with a lea... Read more

Incident date: Jul 12, 2026

Vehicle: 2018 Ford Edge Titanium AWD, 2.0L EcoBoost VIN: [XXX] I am reporting a serious safety concern involving my 2018 Ford Edge following an engine block replacement performed by Power Ford in [XXX], due to the known coolant intrusion issue. Before the engine replacement, I routinely drove long trips between [XXX], [XXX], and [XXX] without any loss of power or drivability problems. Immediately ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 21, 2026

As I was driving, air conditioner failed to function, resulting in car overheating and 'Check Engine' light coming on. Was able drive car safely home. Problem was later diagnosed as malfunctioning radiator fan.

Incident date: Jul 1, 2025

I bought my 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Touring van in February 2018 brand new from Burlington Chrysler, Burlington, NJ. In May 2026 the check engine light came on and I brought the van to my mechanic. The code he pulled was for #5 cylinder. I had the repair done. A month later in June of 2026 the che ck engine light came back on and this time the code was for the catalytic converter. On July 21, 2026... Read more

Incident date: Jul 6, 2026

I bought the vehicle new in November 2025. 2026 Toyota Tubdra TRD SR5. In the first week I noticed a lot of jerking and shaking. I brought it to the dealer and was told it was a break in period and it should go away. I’ve had the truck in the shop 5-6 times since and the jerking and shaking hasn’t gone away. I’m at 6300 miles now. The dealer won’t even respond to me anymore. The only way t... Read more

Incident date: Jul 7, 2026

Cylinder Miss fire at idle due to damaged spark plugs

Incident date: Jul 21, 2026

engine light on solid. replaced per code solenoid purge sensor. after a month light back on. Replaced per code solenoid purge sensor. Light came back on after 3 wks. Went to Ford dealership. Says coolant leaked into cylinders. Out of warranty 91,000 miles. Over 7 yrs, 84,000 miles. Need to replace engine at my expense. Seems unfair. I'm elderly and like most people these days on fixed bu... Read more

Incident date: Jul 16, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 62 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with the message "Reduced Engine Power" displayed, and the check engine warning light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where a diagnostic scan retrieved DTC: P0299, indicating a failure with the turbo charger. The vehicle w... Read more

Incident date: Jul 22, 2026

My motor failed me in my 2017 ford edge 2.0. Very bad misfire from the famous coolent problem caused by Fords decision to make a bad design with coolent ports between the cylinders, that as had my car bucking and was actually very dangerous on the highway i broke down on. Almost cause a accident. When this happen i lost brakes for a second. Car was clunking and bucking do to the motor not running ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 20, 2026

Defect in engine block causing coolant intrusion.

Incident date: Jun 26, 2026

Car was driving absolutely fine, no dash lights no signs of distress for 1.5 years then suddenly out of the blue it made a "weird noise" -no lights on dash board, and it went away. Two days later my daughter was sitting in a fast-food line and the car just died. They had to push her out of the line. She turned the car off and when she turned it back on it started up and she drove home. We made ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60–65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle started sliding. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled. The brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not n... Read more

Incident date: Jul 15, 2026

previous warranty repair for a failed fuel injector (RO #1103175) resulted in severe gasoline dilution of the engine oil. the vehicle now vents raw fuel vapors into the cabin (Fire Hazard) and hesitates/jerks when braking at stoplights (Stall/Crash Hazard). Kia Corporate has refused to communicate for over two weeks while the dealer holds the car.

Incident date: May 30, 2026

The vehicle is equipment with a Stop/start when brake is applied and vehicle is at a stop, the engine turns off. Randomly the engine does not restart when brake is released and accelerator is pressed, vehicle is required to be put in park and restarted . This has happened on the highway while in traffic, the engine did not restart and required to be put in park and restarted while traffic flowe... Read more

Incident date: Jun 23, 2026

Driving down the interstate at 70 miles per hour, started losing power, engine light came on. Engine started making a loud banging noise as I pulled onto an exit.

Incident date: Jun 23, 2026

Bought my car in 2019. Was unaware of coolant intrusion problem on my vehicle. Check engine light came on and mechanic just quoted me $13,000 to fix.

Incident date: Jun 26, 2026

The car would not accelerate when pressing accelerator, they said the clutch assembly malfunctioned, confirmed by documentation. Myself and others had our safety at risk because the car could not be controlled properly while on the road. The car was taken to the dealer and they confirmed the problem. The dealer's service center gave inspection, and confirmed the problem. The warning message did no... Read more

Incident date: Jun 26, 2026

While driving my 2019 Honda Odyssey at highway speeds on the 60 freeway, the vehicle experienced a sudden and total engine failure/stall without prior warning. I had all my kids in the car as well. CHP advised to call Honda The sudden stalling resulted in an immediate loss of engine power, creating an unsafe scenario on a high-speed freeway. I was forced to navigate the vehicle across traffic ... Read more

Incident date: Apr 1, 2026

I am submitting this complaint regarding the engine timing chain failure in my 2015 GMC Terrain because I believe it presents a serious safety hazard. Before the failure, the vehicle began experiencing intermittent symptoms, including engine jerking, shaking, rough operation, abnormal engine noises, and an intermittent check engine light. While driving on the highway, the engine timing chain fail... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2026

After AIS engaged, the engine wouldn’t come back on. This has been at intersections, etc where it was dangerous to have no engine. It is ridiculous that the feature has not been removed after problems going back to the 2018 model. All to game an emission standard. Shameful.

Incident date: Jul 19, 2026

My engine has developed a severe internal engine/rod knock due to connecting rod bearing failure. My vehicle which is a 2016 Honda Pilot was built at the Lincoln Alabama plant but my VIN was excluded from recall 23V751 based on production dates. However my engine is failing from the same exact crankshaft and bearing defect.

Incident date: Mar 1, 2026

The starter/starter solenoid and related engine oil sealing have failed three times. Most recently on 6/18/2026, and previously in 2024 and 2025, the vehicle would not start: the dashboard illuminated but the engine would not crank. The engine then began smoking and a burning electrical smell entered the cabin. My wife and young child were in the vehicle. The vehicle was rendered completely inoper... Read more

Incident date: Jun 18, 2026

I just bought this used ford edge for my high school daughter. I took it to two different mechanics. Both indicated misfiring happening which means need a new engine. Mechanics said this is widely known issue. Why can dealers sell these cars with a widely known defect. This will create undue financial hardship to me and my family. My stress and anxiety are terrible on this issue.

Incident date: Jul 20, 2026

multi-component engine failure while being operated under normal driving conditions. Despite rigorous, routine, and fully documented preventive maintenance performed in accordance with manufacturer specifications, the vehicle suffered an instantaneous breakdown of its core mechanical systems. A diagnostic assessment confirmed that a sweeping array of vital engine components—including the cam ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 3, 2026

Notification spontaneously received as Engine Maintenance Required; Visit Your Dealer. Service appointment immediately scheduled for Toyota of Plano for the following day. My service advisor recommended replacing the coolant bypass valve, which amounted to a total bill of $745. My agent informed me of CSP 24TE04, however my service advisor didn’t acknowledge any eligibility of VIN pertaining ... Read more

Incident date: Dec 5, 2024

The vehicle in question has the coolant intrusion into cylinders 2 and 3 with rough idle on startup, P0300, P0302, P0303, and white smoke on startup. The vehicle now has 111339 miles on it and the out of pocket cost is more than what the vehicle blue books for in excellent condition. TSB 22-2134 speaks to all the issue and what the repair is. If this is a known issue then I feel this should be ... Read more

Incident date: Dec 5, 2024

I own a 2026 Toyota Corolla purchased in November 2025. The recurring problems began on December 8, 2025, when multiple warning lights appeared on the dashboard along with the message “System Malfunction – Visit Your Dealer.” The warning indicators involved several vehicle safety and driver-assistance systems. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Toyota dealership for inspection and repair... Read more

Incident date: Jul 10, 2026

I have not the slightest idea what is going on with the vehicle that I just bought on June 25th 2026. I have a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas crossover and the car stopped on me three times today. And when I arrived in my garage it said that the engine was hot. I will be taking it to the dealership tomorrow.

Incident date: Dec 8, 2025

While driving my 2024 Toyota Tundra, the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle suddenly experienced reduced engine power. I safely pulled over, shut the engine off, and restarted it. After restarting, the vehicle appeared to operate normally, but a diagnostic scan showed DTC P0300 (Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire). On July 20, 2026, I brought the vehicle to an authorized Toyota dealer f... Read more

Incident date: Dec 8, 2025

In the past month 4 times I had a Software, Module malfunction. All lights in in the dash are on like a Christmas Tree. Believe is related to the PGM. When to the Honda dealer in Winter Haven explained what happened and show a short video and they said that because my Vin [XXX] have no recall I have to pay $89.99 for an inspection and other charges to fix the problem. I told the service department... Read more

Incident date: Jul 21, 2026

The vehicle experiences a sudden engine stall shortly after starting, accompanied by an immediate dashboard error message stating: "Starter system faulty, please service vehicle." An OBD-II diagnostic scan confirms active fault code P253200 (Ignition Switch Run Position Circuit High). This failure mirrors Volkswagen Safety Recall 28H7 / NHTSA Campaign 23V604 exactly, but my specific VIN is current... Read more

Incident date: Jul 12, 2026

The car has lost power on the highway multiple times and gone into Limp mode with no warnings on the dashboard. The Rex engine has failed to start as well. Very dangerous on the highway going 20 mph trying to make the next exit. The car has been back to the BMW dealer multiple times (over 2.5 months at the dealer ) with no repair. They are now offering to take the car in trade. The car is stil... Read more

Incident date: Jun 21, 2026

Engine stopped running while driving without any prior notifications, lights, or warnings. Car was stationary in the roadway while my wife tried repeatedly to restart the engine. After several tries the engine started and ran long enough to pull car off roadway. Car was inspected last year and procedures per recall notice where performed and was then deemed safe and reliable. Recall correctio... Read more

Incident date: Apr 4, 2026

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the gear shifter was shifted from neutral(N), to park(P), and then to drive(D) for the vehicle to accelerate as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact researched and became aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not a... Read more

Incident date: Jul 21, 2026

On June 14, 2026, while driving approximately 70 mph on a Michigan freeway, the 6.2L V8 engine began shaking violently. The vehicle lost oil pressure, warning messages appeared on the dashboard, and the vehicle completely lost propulsion and shut down while still in motion. My spouse and child were inside the vehicle. The sudden loss of power at highway speed created a serious risk of a collision... Read more

Incident date: Dec 1, 2024

The engine starter failed on my 2020 BMW Z4 M40i. The vehicle experienced starting failures and the repair shop diagnosed a faulty/shorted engine starter assembly. The symptoms and component failure match the exact defect description of active safety recalls NHTSA 24V-576 and 25V-636 (Starter Motor Fire Risk due to electrical short circuit/overheating). However, when checking my specific 17-digit ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 14, 2026

The cylinder head has cracked and is leaking externally. The engine oil that is leaking out is leaking directly onto the hot exhaust manifold. This can place us as risk due to the engine oil getting ignited by the hot exhaust manifold. There were no warning lamps that came on but there was a smell of burning oil that all of a sudden came up through the vents. This vehicle is currently at Woodhouse... Read more

Incident date: Jun 14, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on two occasions, the vehicle lost power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven over to the side of the road and then towed to the dealer twice; however, the failure was not duplicated on the first visit. During the second visit, the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure... Read more

Incident date: Jun 14, 2026

This Toyota Corolla hatchback is experiencing an issue where it is constantly giving an “ENGINE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED” light and when scanned, it says “coolant bypass valve malfunction”. There is already a recall for many Toyota Corolla Sedans experiencing this issue of this bypass valve being defective, but because this is a hatchback, it is not part of the recall when it should be. The... Read more

Incident date: Oct 1, 2025

2025 Honda Odyssey. When the auto start/stop engaged, the engine failed to turn back on when the brake was released. It left my family stranded at a stoplight for multiple minutes before my wife could get it going again. After going rounds with the dealership and Honda not being able to 'recreate the problem', they finally put in a new starter and the van worked for the next year. Fast forward... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2026

Formal complaint that 2022 thru 2025 Toyota Sequoia equipped with the 3.4L twin-turbo V6 engine architecture (V35A-FTS) suffering from the notorious main bearing failure be included in the current recall of 2022 thru 2025 Toyota Tundra. If the engine block mechanically seizes, the entire drivetrain locks up, rendering the hybrid backup ineffective, creating a major safety issue. (NHTSA Campaign 25... 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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