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: Aug 8, 2026

Rod bearing failure, diagnosed by Honda Service. At a stop light, vehicle starting making very loud noises (video proof). I pulled over right away and had it towed to not risk an accident or more damage. Honda(same place that the vehicle was purchased at did most preventive maintenance) diagnosis: "Engine Major Miscellaneous | rod bearing failure. removed timing covers and confirmed t belt is ... Read more

Incident date: Jan 5, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, the contact observed a loud grinding noise emanating from the engine compartment and a burning odor coming from the vents into the cabin. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was no oil in the transfer box and the transfer box needed to be replaced. The veh... Read more

Incident date: Sep 4, 2026

My 2020 Acura MDX has experienced repeated Auto Idle Stop system malfunctions. When the system activates at a stop, the engine shuts off and does not return to normal operation as expected. The incidents are becoming more frequent and create a safety concern when the vehicle is stopped in traffic. This problem has been reported by telephone on multiple prior occasions. The 12-volt battery has als... Read more

Incident date: Sep 1, 2026

I am submitting a safety complaint regarding my 2020 Ford Escape, which currently has an unrepaired safety recall involving the fuel injectors. Recall Information: Manufacturer Recall Number: 25S76 NHTSA Recall Number: 25V467 Recall Date: July 16, 2025 According to the recall notice, a fuel injector may crack and cause fuel to accumulate on top of the engine. The notice states that liquid fuel a... Read more

Incident date: Jun 12, 2026

I am filing this complaint regarding my 2019 Kia Sorento and an engine failure related to Kia’s Product Improvement Campaign/KSDS (Knock Sensor Detection System) campaign. I purchased this vehicle used in 2022. Prior to the engine failure, I was never notified of any Product Improvement Campaign affecting my vehicle. Had I been notified, I would have immediately taken the vehicle to an authoriz... Read more

Incident date: Aug 20, 2026

Engine seized per Kia Inspected by Kia after AAA TOWED AND COULD NOT START CAR warning lamps have been on for over 6 months. Kia inspected and ran diagnostics at that time and said it was nothing to fix just an annoying dashboard malfunction.

Incident date: Aug 28, 2026

Sparl Plug recall on Jeep Grand Cherokee 2026 L Laredo 4x4. While driving my 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Laredo 4x4, the vehicle occasionally jerks/shudders when I shift into Drive and begin moving. The vehicle feels sluggish and does not respond smoothly when accelerating. This has happened even after the vehicle has been running for several minutes. The vehicle is new, and I am concerned that thi... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2026

I purchased a 2017 Lincoln MKZ and began experiencing serious engine problems, including repeated overheating and an engine misfire. The vehicle developed a check-engine light and a P0301 misfire code. I was advised by a repair shop that the vehicle has a serious engine problem and that the engine needs to be replaced. I am concerned that the overheating and engine problems could cause the vehicl... Read more

Incident date: Aug 18, 2026

I own a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan that has experienced ongoing excessive oil consumption. At approximately 60,000 miles, the vehicle experienced a much more serious incident. While traveling approximately 75 mph on the interstate, the vehicle began actively spraying engine oil, covering the exterior of the vehicle. A warning light then appeared instructing me to check the engine oil level. I was abl... Read more

Incident date: Dec 15, 2025

The engine needed to be replaced with just over 2,000 miles.

Incident date: Jul 16, 2025

My 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is subject to Ford Safety Recall 25S76 / NHTSA Recall 25V467 concerning cracked fuel injectors that may leak fuel and create an under-hood fire risk. This recall was issued in July 2025. Approximately 14 months later, Ford still has not made the final repair available for my vehicle. I had Ford’s interim PCM software update performed by an authorized Ford dealer on De... Read more

Incident date: Jun 13, 2025

Car began throwing a P0304 code in June of 2025. I took it to Brookshire Car Care and they ran a diagnostic, but found nothing to be wrong. In November of 2025, the car began throwing a P0304 code again and this time also had a P0303 code and P0335. The car was taken to Christian Brothers as it was unsafe to drive and the closest mechanic to my location. They found the crankshaft sensor to be dama... Read more

Incident date: Mar 11, 2026

Seats still don't work after recall fix on 2nd and 3rd row. Front seats also do not work when moving 2nd row seat front to back front seat moved instead. Power train engine issues been in hyundai service 3 times diff services depts and still not fixed have not been able to drive car since mar due to these issues. Engine light on 3 power train warning codes on. When pushing gas car hesitates and al... Read more

Incident date: Apr 13, 2026

My kia soul has high oil consumption. When informed of the recall for the piston rings, I had First Team Kia look at it. They informed me that they didn't see anything wrong so they cleared the recall. They NEVER performed the oil consumption test. Within 3 weeks, I traveled over 800 miles, round trip, and upon my return home I had to put 4 qrts of oil back in my car. I took my car to Southern Aut... Read more

Incident date: Aug 28, 2026

Check engine light illuminated. Dealer retrieved DTC P0457 for an EVAP leak. Dealer performed EVAP diagnostic testing and determined that the canister purge valve was leaking. Purge valve was replaced at owner expense. After replacement, EVAP leak verification passed and DTC was resolved. I am reporting the failure because Ford has previously identified canister purge valve failures on other Ford ... Read more

Incident date: Sep 22, 2025

EXHAUST FUMES ENTER CABIN WHEN DRIVING LOW SPEEDS AND AT IDLE, ODORS CONFIRMED BY DEALER REPAIR ATTEMPTS MADE BUT PROBLEM STILL EXSIST. FUMES STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE EYES WATER AND GIVE OCCUPANTS HEADACHES

Incident date: Jul 15, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was t... Read more

Incident date: Jul 10, 2026

Engine oil leak. My mechanic found an engine oil leak that is very substantial. I have spoken to several other Jeep renegade owners who have stated that theirs is also leaking. These need to be checked out by an authorized deal ASAP due to the danger of fire. I smell burning all the while I am driving it and constantly adding oil. Mine is a 2022 model Jeep renegade and I have owned it since 202... Read more

Incident date: Sep 4, 2026

I have contacted my dealer several times over the past year, and filed a complaint with Ford Motor Company's, Office of General Counsel. To date, NO response from Ford. The dealer relies on Ford for the fix. This is an alarming issue, in that the failure will be mostly unexpected and perhaps catastrophic. I find it unusual and negligent for Ford to take this long for the remedy. My dealer tel... Read more

Incident date: Sep 26, 2025

EPC light kicks on which is puts your car in limp mode, which is caused by a cylinder head issue. The EPC limits your car acceleration and speed ability, this is extremely dangerous especially on the highway. It’s been a year & Volkswagen is refusing to take responsibility and offer a recall when it’s an ongoing issue with 2021-2022 Volkswagen Tiguans. The cylinder heads have been on back orde... Read more

Incident date: Aug 14, 2026

On August 14, 2026, while driving and decelerating, I heard a knocking sound from the engine and the vehicle had difficulty downshifting. As the transmission shifted from second gear to first, the engine stalled immediately and the vehicle dropped into neutral while on the roadway. I lost propulsion in traffic. The vehicle behind me nearly rear-ended us due to the sudden stall. My children were in... Read more

Incident date: Sep 2, 2026

Coolant intrusion in the my 2016 Ford Fusion with 1.5L EcoBoost before even hitting 80000 miles.

Incident date: Sep 2, 2026

Engine failure- my car goes into engine failure when I am driving it.

Incident date: Mar 11, 2024

My vehicles service engine light has been on for over a year now. I have contacted the service department and Ford Dealership. I was told that it was covered under Ford and I would not be charged. I have called the Ford Customer Service Department about my vehicle, but nothing seems to be correct. I am making a car payment, but I am not getting service down on my vehicle especially when it's not m... Read more

Incident date: Sep 3, 2026

When my car starts up, engine rpm is around 1500 or above 1000. If I would switch to reverse, the car sudden jerks back stronger and quicker than I expected even though my foot isn’t on the accelerator pedal and have pressed the brake lightly.

Incident date: Feb 1, 2025

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle bucks and runs really rough. I believe it has to do with the open recall that has NOT yet been fixed. The fuel MPGs, xxx miles to empty, etc seems to all be affected. The dealer won't do anything about it. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I'd say it's safe to dri... Read more

Incident date: Jul 19, 2026

2018 Hyundai Tucson catastrophic engine failure consistent with known Hyundai Nu engine defect pattern documented across 141 prior owner-filed NHTSA complaints for this same vehicle. OBD codes P0326, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 documented July 19–25, 2026. Independent licensed mechanic confirmed in writing that engine requires replacement. Authorized Hyundai dealership service manager verbally co... Read more

Incident date: Aug 27, 2026

I took my car to the Tigard Oregon bmw dealership for my three recalls that were needing addressed. I turned my car over to them in good working order. After picking it up after the repairs my service engine light came on. My car started knocking and rattling louder and louder. I returned to the dealership and requested they fix the issue. After a few days they contacted my and told me it needs a ... Read more

Incident date: Apr 8, 2026

We had bought this vehicle from the dealership in March 2026, it had seemed like they were trying to get rid of it. Within under a month of purchase, it flashed a malfunction error and broke down. Sent to dealership, they had fixed the relay. Problem has since worsened. Car runs extremely rough and I get two malfunction errors. During long periods of driving with extensive starting and stopping, I... Read more

Incident date: Aug 31, 2026

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan SE R-Line with approximately 54,000 miles. The vehicle experienced a significant engine-related failure involving the oil separator/PCV system. Volkswagen diagnosed a failed oil separator/breather that caused excessive crankcase pressure, resulting in substantial oil expulsion and damage/leaks involving the plastic/composite oil p... Read more

Incident date: Aug 24, 2026

2019 Hyundai Elantra with 2.0L Nu MPI engine suffered catastrophic engine failure at approximately 118,530 miles. Vehicle is currently at the [XXX] Hyundai dealership. Vehicle appears to fall within the exact parameters of Hyundai Recall 203/NHTSA 21V-301. Have spoken to the dealership as well as Hyundai corporate and they have refused to either honor their own recall campaign or do a goodwill ser... Read more

Incident date: Sep 3, 2026

Vehicle stalls at stop lights when the air conditioner is on when idle stop is engaged.

Incident date: Apr 11, 2025

I was driving down the road going the speed limit and all of a sudden it felt like I hit a brick wall my car staked out and I was stuck in the middle of the road for about 20 minutes and finally I got it to start and drove home it did it again 2 months later

Incident date: Aug 29, 2026

I am submitting this formal statement regarding a severe, recurring safety hazard involving sudden engine stalling and internal mechanical noise on my 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.The vehicle has experienced multiple sudden engine stalls during low-speed deceleration, specifically while letting off the accelerator pedal to execute low-speed turns into parking lots. When the stall occurs, the engi... Read more

Incident date: Sep 3, 2026

While stopped at a red light, the Auto Stop/Start system shut off the engine as designed but then failed to restart it. The vehicle remained stalled in the intersection for several minutes while I attempted to restart the engine manually. This left the vehicle and my family stopped in traffic, creating a potential safety risk from surrounding vehicles. There were no warning lamps or messages prior... Read more

Incident date: Aug 29, 2026

Incident date: Jul 20, 2026

2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4, 3.0L LM2 Duramax. In service 08/13/2020. Five glow plug failures on five different cylinders in under 19,000 miles, all at one GM dealer, all part 24000504: Cyl 1, 10/21/2024, 38,650 mi, P0671, RO 13714, warranty. Cyl 6, 11/05/2024, 38,793 mi, P1330, RO 26665, warranty. Cyl 4, 11/29/2024, 39,683 mi, P133B, RO 57498, warranty. Cyl 3, 01/22/2026, 52,959 mi, P0673/P06C7/P13... Read more

Incident date: Feb 5, 2026

I lost power while on the Freeway any indicators flashed: "see manual", "pre-collision assist not available", "service advance track", "downhill assist not available", the check engine light was on. It seems that when to limp mode. I took it to the Ford fusion dealer so they could check the car. They run into test and found that the transmission or motor has failed. I check and found that on that... Read more

Incident date: Aug 29, 2026

I purchased a 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate equipped with the 6.2L V8 engine on XXX. The vehicle currently has approximately 25,000 miles. On XXX, the vehicle underwent the GM recall repair related to the 6.2L engine at Don Mealey Chevrolet. On XXX, approximately nine months after the recall repair, my family and I were traveling on the [XXX] with my two children inside the vehicle when ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 25, 2026

So I spent many months trying to aquire a GMC Sierra Denali and with all the issues with the 20 - 24 6.2 engines we were assured by the dealer that all the issues were resolved with the 2025 6.2 models. So we spent big to aquire an 2025. So I bought one new. My truck had 8000 miles on it with 2 oil changes. So we booked a trip to [XXX] at considerably a large expense and loaded up our Harley's on ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 20, 2026

The car died while going 70 on a highway with no warning signs. The car completely shut off and will not turn over or move at all.

Incident date: Sep 3, 2026

I am reporting a severe factory design defect regarding water intrusion into the EVAP emissions system on my 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid (VIN: [XXX]) After driving home in a normal rainstorm, the vehicle threw diagnostic trouble code P24C0 (EVAP system leak detection pump switching valve stuck ON). The authorized Honda dealership diagnosed the issue as "water intrusion" and charged me an out-of-pocket ... Read more

Incident date: Sep 3, 2026

The A/C evaporator core and the core seal needs replacing on 2020 Hyundai Sonata. Car is 6 years old. I already have a confirmed diagnosis with a PPM refrigerant leak tester at the condensate drain line The diagnosis is 100% confirmed. The evaporator is leaking heavily—we pulled 274 PPM at the drain tube and 177 PPM inside the cabin behind the glove box so refrigerent has been leaking out of the... Read more

Incident date: Dec 3, 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the spark plugs and coils needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the taillights were inoperative, there was o... Read more

Incident date: Aug 29, 2026

My Ford Escape Titanium 2.0L 2017 started overheating. The coolant had just disappeared. The car sputtered in the morning with large plumes of white smoke. Due to the overheating my thermostat failed. I brought my car to the Art Hill Ford dealership in Merrilville Indiana for service. After a 5 hour pressure test, Tiffany A Depowski at Art Hill Ford Lincoln brought me to her desk and notified me ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 28, 2026

While having oil changed at the Ford dealership, I was told there was a small oil leak. I made an appt for a diagnostic test for the following week. I was told the diagnostic test showed a cracked valve cover. I had it repaired while they had the vehicle.

Incident date: Aug 22, 2026

Engine / Fuel/Smog/Emissions System (EGR Cooler) Description of the Safety Hazard - My 2024 Nissan Rogue experienced a sudden and catastrophic failure of the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler assembly. The internal core of the EGR cooler cracked, causing engine coolant to leak and completely drain. This defect caused severe engine overheating, a sudden and dangerous loss of motive power while... Read more

Incident date: Aug 20, 2026

I am reporting a severe safety defect regarding a failed engine coolant bypass valve on my 2022 Toyota Corolla Apex SE (VIN: [XXX], Mileage: 54,700). An authorized Toyota dealership has scanned the vehicle and confirmed active Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P268115 ("Engine Coolant Bypass Valve Circuit Open"). This mechanical and electrical failure triggers an immediate dashboard warning and create... Read more

Incident date: Aug 14, 2026

The 48-Volt Belt-Driven Hybrid Starter Generator / Motor Generator Unit (MGU / eTorque Alternator) suffered a catastrophic failure on my vehicle at approximately [Insert Mileage, e.g., 140,000] miles. The failure occurred while traveling out of state away from home, causing a sudden loss of vehicle charging, dashboard electrical errors ("Battery Saver Mode"), and creating an imminent threat of a... Read more

Incident date: Jul 27, 2026

The internal timing-chain-driven water pump on my 2019 Ford Explorer Sport 3.5L EcoBoost is failing. I began experiencing coolant loss and the cabin heat would turn cold while the vehicle was stopped or idling. The vehicle was professionally inspected by an independent repair facility. After diagnostic testing, the mechanic confirmed coolant leaking from the water pump weep hole and diagnosed a fa... Read more

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Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

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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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