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 24, 2026

The engine had a critical failure at 49,000 miles. It was replaced under the drivetrain warranty. That came with a 12 Month, 12,000 mile warranty. Now I have a SECOND engine failure at 59,000 Miles. This will come with only a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty because it is NOT under recall. ALSO my transmission is now slipping and they are replacing the Valve Body. They had my truck for 4 months t... Read more

Incident date: Jun 19, 2026

Around the end of May 2026, my vehicle stalled without warning while traveling at highway speed. The engine light and EPS warning light illuminated simultaneously. The engine cranks but will not start. The vehicle was towed to a Hyundai dealership on June 15, 2026 where the engine failure was confirmed. My safety was directly at risk. The vehicle lost power on an active highway with no warning, c... Read more

Incident date: May 22, 2026

Complete engine failure while driving on an interstate highway, no previous issue or warning. The car made some knocking noises and then became completely inoperable. Was able to steer it to the side of highway, in traffic, just enough to get off the main roadway. The experience was terrifying and put us and others around us at risk or a highway speed crash due to loss of all power to the vehicle.... Read more

Incident date: Jun 16, 2026

I bought the vehicle used with 40,000 miles it’s has 100,856 now the engine shot off while I was driving and brought it to the GMC dealer that GM instructed me to the dealer had me pay 284.95 for inspection and then try to charge me 1284.95 for a complete tar down of the engine because of misfiring and ESC error codes.

Incident date: May 26, 2026

Engine light stays on along with manual light and charging system service now. Battery, alternator changed out, 3 mechanic repair shops can not find what is wrong. Vehicle bogs down and does not run right when the Manuel light comes one which is about 2 times a week.

Incident date: May 1, 2025

Honda pilot would not restart after auto ideal engine stop. This issue caused all the warnings lights to come on with blinking engine light! Honda dealer was not able to resolve the issue and ended up paying $1500 even though it was a part of their service bulletin 23-009.

Incident date: Jun 25, 2026

2018 Ford Escape SE with a 1.5l Ecoboost engine is experiencing coolant intrusion into the cylinders. This is a well documented flaw in the engine block for which the repairs are more expensive than the value of the vehicle. Service centers have validated the problem and the flaw has been redesigned in newer vehicles. The only problem reported by OBD2 data is cylinder misfire, indicative of a cool... Read more

Incident date: Jun 2, 2026

Head cracked and allowed coolant to intrude into the cylinders causing misfiring and white smoke to come out of the exhaust. Barely made it off the highway to a safe location as I was quickly loosing acceleration. Issue confirmed by Sames Ford dealership in Harlingen, TX (codes p0302 and p0303). They informed me that this is a known issue with this 1.5L Ecoboost motor in this vehicle. Vehicle is a... Read more

Incident date: May 14, 2026

Engine shut off at 60mph on mountain road. No warning, noise or other indications. Warning appeared once engine shut down; instructed to stop and restart vehicle. All temps and pressures were in normal operating range at time of shut down. wrestled vehicle to a stop, towed home (midnight) and then towed to dealership next morning. Safety at risk with vehicle shutdown at 60mph, fortunately no traf... Read more

Incident date: Jun 30, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to exceed 6 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the ABS module needed to be replaced. The dealer had retrieved DTC: P2074. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. While... Read more

Incident date: Jun 30, 2026

Check engine light came on, engine started "sputtering". No danger at time. Took to established repair center who notified us the engine had a common problem with this year/model Ford where the coolant leaks into the engine block. Total engine replacement is only option. We were told Ford knows about this but is doing nothing about it. Also told if we were to continue driving it it would likely c... Read more

Incident date: Nov 27, 2024

I am submitting this complaint regarding a 2017 Ford Edge equipped with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine. My vehicle has experienced the well-documented coolant intrusion defect that allows engine coolant to leak into one or more cylinders. This defect has resulted in engine misfires, coolant loss without any visible external leak, and ultimately complete engine failure, leaving the vehicle inoperable. A... Read more

Incident date: Jun 30, 2026

My 2022 GMC Yukon (6.2L L87 V8, VIN [XXX]) is covered by recall 25V-274 / GM N252494000, "L87 Engine Loss of Propulsion." In May 2025, at about 65,800 miles, the engine lost power and shut down while I was driving, then developed a loud knocking noise and an intermittent low-oil-pressure warning. The dealer (The Faricy Boys Automotive, Salida, CO) found excessive metal in the oil sample and replac... Read more

Incident date: Apr 30, 2026

Engine faílúre on June 26, 2026.Dies while moving. Engine died while turning from my side street onto busy street and traffic.I could've been struck in the rear had I not pulled out far enough in advance for the traffic to move around me. This is a second engine failure for my Kia. The engine was replaced in December 2023/ January 2024. Incident #11558201. It does not immediately restart. After... Read more

Incident date: Jan 1, 2026

Low speed hesitancy and shuddering. Car has lost power when driving at 55 mph. Car does not want to move at very slow speeds as in a parking garage. It hesitates and starts to roll backwards.

Incident date: Jun 26, 2026

Manufacturer has delayed repaired vehicle under campaign 23V905. Loss of use / unable to use this unsafe vehicle. It has been at the dealership and supposedly awaiting parts since September 2025. Manufacturer’s customer service people cannot provide additional details around delivery dates. Customer service both at the dealership and manufacturer have been polite; however, the dealer has provi... Read more

Incident date: May 2, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from underneath the vehicle while depressing the accelerator pedal to accelerate. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a hole in the exhaust system causing the acceleratio... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2026

After a car wash, the car started to smoke out of a tail pipe, down shifting hard, car was shaking while running in park in the driveway- so we took it right to Chevy Turnersville, and they are now saying the whole engine is internally damaged ( not by the carwash) and the whole engine needs to be replaced. The trucks warranty just expired in Feb, the car ran perfectly fine before this. I dont un... Read more

Incident date: Sep 1, 2025

I purchased a 2014 Toyota Prius V in 2013, and it currently has 120,000 miles on it. Last month, the engine light came on, so I took it to a dealership. They diagnosed the issue and provided the codes P0302 and P0304. After consulting multiple shops, all confirmed that coolant is leaking into the engine, which means I either need to repair the head gasket or replace the engine entirely. The quotes... Read more

Incident date: May 6, 2026

Continuously when I am driving the vehicle, it will randomly loose acceleration and come to an almost complete stop when driving, including on major interstates.

Incident date: Jun 26, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated while seated inside the vehicle with his wife, the gear shifter was shifted into drive; however, while depressing the brake pedal the vehicle accelerated independently. The check engine warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 30, 2026

The engine's Dynamic Fuel Management (DFM) lifter failed and damaged the camshaft at around 70,700 miles. The broken components are available for inspection upon request. This failure put occupants at risk because the vehicle suddenly lost power, began shaking violently, and could not accelerate safely in traffic. This unexpected loss of propulsion created an immediate collision hazard. The proble... Read more

Incident date: Jun 30, 2026

Check-engine light related to code P0301 (misfire, cylinder 1). This is a known issue on many Ford engines, including the 2.0L ecoBoost in our Escape (with Titanium trim). Reference: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10169807-0001.pdf

Incident date: May 20, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25-35 MPH on the highway, the engine and oil check warning light was illuminated. The Kia App alerted the driver to check the engine when convenient. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. There was a loud knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was ta... Read more

Incident date: Jun 29, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 BMW X3. The contact stated that while vehicle was stopped at an intersection with the engine running, the message “Auto Start Feature Off” was displayed, and the starter was cycling unexpectedly. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted but was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not ma... Read more

Incident date: Mar 28, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55-60 MPH, the park, neutral, and drive lights started to cycle and flash. The transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear with the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The local dealer was contacted about NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); and confirmed that par... Read more

Incident date: Jun 21, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 GMC Yukon. While the contact's wife was driving approximately 5-10 MPH on a city street and approaching a stop sign, the vehicle experienced a failure and became inoperable. The contact stated that while the driver was attempting to restart the vehicle, the battery warning light and engine warning light illuminated, and the "Low Battery - Start Engine" message was displayed... Read more

Incident date: Jun 28, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light, the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power. The message, "Transmission System Failure - Apply Parking Brake while Parked - See Dealer," was displayed. The gear shifter indicator warning light was occasionally illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to use the Push-To-Start feature to start the ve... Read more

Incident date: May 3, 2026

UNKNOWN the vehicle has had a check engine light since purchase, the doors do not lock, the SOS systems failure, ENGINE FAULT SYSTEM and BRAKE SYSTEMS illuminate regularly. The vehicle has stranded my kids and I after purchasing, where the dealer has cleared the codes and promised it’s fine repeatedly.

3 injured

Incident date: May 28, 2024

December 2025 I was at a complete stop and the car clunked and the brake pedal got hard hard to push and then a couple months later a brake sensor light came on and when I plugged the code reader into it, it said give me a brake sensor code, and then it started slamming on the brakes all by itself when I went to takeoff hard like give you whiplash hard and it didn’t just do it once it did it a f... Read more

Incident date: Jun 30, 2026

There was a recall issued within the last year for my make and model vehicle, in March 2026, it was fixed when my car was towed to a Mazda dealership due to a check engine light and "hybrid engine malfunction". On June 24, 2026, the vehicle went into limp mode, the error message resolved upon turning off the vehicle. There were no check engine lights that appeared. On June 25, 2026, the vehicle we... Read more

Incident date: Apr 8, 2026

Coolant Intrusion issue with the 1.5-litre EcoBoost. Short block was replaced by Ford Dealer then engine failed again after only 7,000-miles. Required complete new engine installed at my expense, $12,185.28.

Incident date: Mar 2, 2026

After performing the 68c recall vehicle no longer drives the way it was designed. When in hybrid mode pushing the accelerator to the floor results in a 2-6 second delay waiting for the gas motor to kick in and then it slams the power into the car. This car is extremely unsafe and impossible to merge into the highway correctly now. Car does not show any warnings and dealer claims this is normal op... Read more

Incident date: Jun 25, 2026

My 2013 Equinox is experiencing the excessive oil loss without warning..this led to transmission..engine..timing failure. The car loses power jerks at slower speeds it sounds horrible and has cost a lot of money for repairs. Still don’t know if it will last much longer. This is a burden on my family as we can’t afford to just go buy another vehicle. I purchased it in 2022 and in 2019 there was... Read more

Incident date: Jun 26, 2026

This is an issue that could lead to sudden engine failure while driving, causing a serious accident risk. A few months ago the engine sputtered while idle after starting and the heater wasn't working well. Noticed coolant was a low and topped it off. The issue seemed resolved after this. A few weeks ago the check engine light came on indicating a misfire in cylinder 2. We changed the spark plugs,... Read more

Incident date: Jun 26, 2026

am the original owner of this 2015 Jeep Wrangler, which I purchased new. The vehicle has been properly maintained according to the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule. I have records documenting routine maintenance, including regular oil changes. At approximately 75,000 miles, I began hearing a persistent ticking noise from the engine. Because I was concerned that the noise could indi... Read more

Incident date: Jun 16, 2026

On 6/9/2010 I was accelerating up a ramp to merge with traffic on Rt146 north . I had reached the top of the ramp and as I viewed the oncoming traffic behind in the mirror I began to shift into the right lane. Suddenly the engine light started flashing, my truck immediately lost power and slowed to 40mph. The truck that had been well behind me was suddenly swerving to avoid my truck . I nearly go... Read more

Incident date: Feb 1, 2026

While driving at night, the 2016 Pilot, it started making a loud rattling noise then just died in the middle of the road and failed to start. There were no service or check engine lights on at the time of failure or at any point prior to the failure. We were stranded in the middle of the road at risk of getting hit by other cars. The electronic transmission would not go into neutral and we had... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Jun 24, 2026

The engine failed due to coolant system leak. Ford is well aware of this issue but refuses to do a recall.

Incident date: Jun 22, 2026

While driving, my vehicle displayed “Shifter System Malfunction! Service Immediately.” Immediately after, I was unable to shift the vehicle from Drive into Park, Reverse, or Neutral. The only way to park the vehicle was to turn the engine off while it was still in Drive, restart it, and then shift into Park. This is an extreme safety hazard. A driver who cannot change gears can lose control o... Read more

Incident date: Jun 11, 2026

The BMW B58TU oil pump thermoplastic component issue that can cause catastrophic failure to the engine. The the gen 1 oil pump was made from plastic and after issues were discovered, they switched to metal oil pumps. However this known issue is something that BMW has not addressed in the models 2019-2021 that came with the inferior oil pump.

Incident date: Jun 1, 2026

Space does not allow for a complete statement. However, here is a summary. I purchased my 2023 Tahoe on 07/19/23. On 07/27/23, the check engine light came on. Since then, there have been approximately 8-9 instances where the check on. Each time I took the vehicle in for service, however, the check engine light kept coming back on. There have been 2 instances in 2026 where the vehicle would not s... Read more

Incident date: Nov 20, 2025

Traveling had an engine light come on. stopped at a dealer they inspected found multiple errors reset engine light and said continue home. when home bring into my dealer. Got home that night went to start truck, all kinds of errors started popping up on the dash, vehicle would not turn over at all. Had to call wrecker to have brought into shop. First issue could not put the truck into neutral... Read more

Incident date: Apr 2, 2026

I am filing this complaint regarding my 2021 Kia Soul due to repeated engine and powertrain failures and concerns about the quality and safety of the repairs. While my vehicle was under Kia's 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, I repeatedly brought it to the dealership for excessive oil consumption and transmission problems. Despite multiple visits, the dealership performed minor repairs or claimed... Read more

Incident date: Jun 29, 2026

Crankshaft problem. Loud metallic knocking in engine.

Incident date: Jun 1, 2026

My vehicle will NOT drive past 20 MPH,it randomly goes into limp mode with traveling ! I’ve have it tested multiple times and no one seems to know what the issue is !

Incident date: Jun 1, 2026

Issue was first identified in September 2024 when a rattling noise prompted inspection, and the engine was found to be significantly low on oil. Excessive engine oil consumption was confirmed with failure during manufacturer testing. Vehicle emits occasional burning oil smell when idling after 10 miles+ driving. Vehicle failed a 1,000-mile oil consumption test following a “Dynamic Engine Clean... Read more

Incident date: Sep 19, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The contact stated that while driving on two occasions at undisclosed speeds, the check engine, oil, and the Automatic START/STOP System Unavailable warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer twice; however, on the first occasion, the failure was not duplicated. During the second visit, the contact was informed that the coolant was mix... Read more

Incident date: Apr 24, 2026

On June 16, 2026, a 2021 Infiniti QX50 experienced a safety-related malfunction while being driven at approximately 15–20 mph. The vehicle suddenly jerked, lost power response, displayed multiple warning lights, showed a “System Fault – See Owner’s Manual” message, and became unresponsive/difficult to control. The engine remained on, but the vehicle did not respond properly. The vehicle ... Read more

Crash 3 injured

Incident date: Jun 26, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the check engine warning light started flashing and the vehicle entered LIMP Mode. The contact pulled over, turned off, and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as intended while driving to the residence. The contact stated that the following day, while driving 75 MPH with an 18-wheeler behind the vehicle... 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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