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 23, 2026

While driving, alarm bells go off and the display reads “engine is off. Pull over and put in p/n”. Car maintains radio but engine is off until able to be restarted. Has happened twice and been brought to dealership twice. They say there is no code showing and send us home without repairs. Extreme safety concerns for car to turn off mid driving.

Incident date: May 9, 2026

Our 2016 Acura MDX SH-AWD has the exact same engine problem/damage caused by the Connecting Rod Bearing recall. Our vehicle displayed the exact symptoms described by countless other MDX owners including owners who have vehicles both on & not included on the current recall list.

Incident date: Mar 11, 2026

My Honda accord keeps trying to turn off in the middle of the fwy and I know it’s due to the fuel pump, I have a misfire and all the warning lights came on. This is due to Honda having the fuel pump recalled that has damaged all the fuel injectors. It took them almost a year to get the recall parts and now myself and a ton of others are now having to pay for these fuel injectors to have a car th... Read more

Incident date: Jun 13, 2025

Instrument cluster failed to turn on once car is turned on. Speedometer does not display and the electric charge does not display.

Incident date: Jun 23, 2026

The 2017 to 2022 Honda CR-V are lemons in my opinion. I bought the car new in 2018 and it has 79,000 miles on it. I recently had to have my head gasket replaced at a cost of $4,000. This seems to be a big problem with these years. I am in two different Honda CR-V blogs and a lot of people are having this same problem. I am [XXX] and I was hoping this would be my last car to buy. I like the car but... Read more

Incident date: Jun 10, 2026

Rear Door / lift gate will not go all the way up or stay up without manual assistance, causing 2 head injuries and 2 arm injuries on recent occasions. We have confirmed with the dealer & one Nissan Certified Mechanic that this is a common problem. The dealer & 2 mechanics have said they do not know how to fix this without replacing the entire lifting assembly. We did not ask for estimates. We shou... Read more

Incident date: Dec 17, 2025

the vehicle was driven for approximately 30 minutes, operating with zero dashboard warnings or performance indicators. The vehicle was then parked on my property and turned off completely. Approximately two hours and thirty minutes later, the vehicle spontaneously ignited while stationary and unoccupied. The local fire department responded and successfully extinguished the blaze. Both physical obs... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Jun 22, 2026

Loud knocking noise started while motor is running. Took to dealer who confirmed the noise and inspected. Metal confirmed in the oil pan and throughout motor. Service advisor said a new motor will be needed and has sent info to GM. This vehicle was checked per the recall and passed the pico test. Oil was changed to new GM 0-40 by dealer.

Incident date: Jun 22, 2026

The engine in my 2018 Hyundai Elantra suffered a sudden internal failure at 118,444 miles. The vehicle began knocking, losing power, and running roughly. A dealership inspection confirmed heavy scoring on cylinders 1, 3, and 4, oil intrusion into the cylinders, and piston top slapping. The engine is not repairable and requires full replacement. This failure matches the known defect pattern of Hyu... Read more

Incident date: Aug 26, 2025

While in traffic, the van goes into idle and then will not restart. This has happened to us at least 5 times. The frequency has increased and now occurs at least once a week. We are very much worried about how unsafe this is because we could be hit from any direction while in active traffic. We noticed NHTSA investigation (ID# PE25-03) is already underway and feel that the issues apply to our situ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 22, 2026

All of a sudden, the car began to make a ticking noise (it sounded like a playing card was in the spoke of a bicycle). I brought the car home and took it to the Honda dealership in Poway, CA. They diagnosed the car with pitting in the rod bearings in cylinder 4. They told us that this can cause engine failure (do not drive the car) and that the engine needed to be replaced. There were no error mes... Read more

Incident date: Jun 17, 2026

engine failure causing vehicle to be unsafe to drive. our vehicle was not included in the L-87 loss of propulsion GMC recall even though it is a 2021 Yukon 6.2L. the engine failure is same as those being recalled. vehicle is currently at Cardinale GMC in Seaside CA waiting repair. the only warning of the impending failure was loud noises coming from engine compartment while driving on the freeway.... Read more

Incident date: Jun 17, 2026

My 2025 Honda Odyssey fails to restart after the Auto Idle Stop (AIS) system engages at a complete stop at traffic lights and intersections. When I release the brake, the engine does not restart as designed. I am forced to shift into Park and manually restart the vehicle using the ignition button. This has occurred multiple times and is intermittent. I am aware of NHTSA engineering analysis EA2500... Read more

Incident date: Jun 14, 2026

No warning lights, engine stalled in the middle of the freeway almost got killed by a semi truck was behind me, engine lost power and found that needed new engine because of the camshaft and internal damage.confirmed by certified mechanic

Incident date: Apr 1, 2026

Vehicle: 2023 Jeep Wagoneer Mileage at time of incident: 43,400 miles Component: Engine Cooling System / Thermostat Incident Description: This vehicle has experienced two separate thermostat failures since purchase. The first failure occurred the day after I purchased the vehicle, in April 2024, at only 104 miles. This time the vehicle overheated /stall pattern even after confirming coolant was at... Read more

Incident date: Apr 1, 2026

Vehicle makes a grinding noise on gear change on 6 speed automatic transmission due to Abrupt speed changes. Seems like changes in gears suddenly. It almost caused me to crash my truck .

Incident date: Jun 23, 2026

Engine seized middle of road had to coast off into a safe spot to park

Incident date: May 20, 2026

Learning that my vehicle is subject to a battery-related recall has seriously undermined my trust. Battery defects in electric vehicles can present risks that include thermal events, loss of vehicle functionality, and other potentially dangerous situations. My vehicle has had warning signs, I received emails about the risks my vehicle can present directly from Mercedes. I have had my vehicle in th... Read more

Incident date: Mar 23, 2026

I had a misfire on cylinder three. All vehicle lights came on. Vehicle had spark plugs and fuel injectors replaced. The problem persisted and the next code I received was a turbo burst under pressure code. So turbo and water pump were replaced. This made the problem worse because the new turbo made the head gasket leak. Now after paying $4000 in repairs I have to have the head gasket replaced f... Read more

Incident date: Jul 15, 2025

I own a 2018 Honda Accord equipped with the 1.5L turbocharged engine. At approximately 53,666 miles, the vehicle developed a rough idle, engine shaking during startup, intermittent check engine light, and a cylinder 1 misfire code (P0301). I took the vehicle to a Honda dealership for diagnosis. The dealership confirmed coolant intrusion into cylinder #1 after performing a cooling system pressure ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 15, 2026

I was driving home on the interstate from vacation and I was set on cruise control it was 1 am so not a lot of traffic was on the road thank god. It could have been really terrible if lots of traffic was present as the engine just died without notice! The vehicle was decelerating nothing was working I could not speed up. I was able to get over to the side of the road. I got a notification on my ph... Read more

Incident date: Jun 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 35 MPH, the contact received an email and text from OnStar with DTC: P129F, and the message to not drive the vehicle was displayed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump power control module had failed.... Read more

Incident date: Jun 13, 2026

I am retired and have always bought GM vehicles which are taken care of with required oil changes etc. This one I have only owned 25,000 mi each year (I have owned two years). So, when purchased it has high 50,000 miles not sure of exact, and it has only been driven 2 years. When calling escalation at GM, they act as though it doesn't matter and too bad. 110,000 miles and the truck needs a new... Read more

Incident date: Jun 13, 2026

The engine failed completely and is currently available for inspection at my residence. While traveling on a family vacation at highway speeds, the engine suffered a catastrophic connecting-rod bearing failure and seized. This caused an immediate loss of motive power, braking assistance, and steering control, nearly resulting in a fatal multi-car collision with my child in the vehicle. Warning lig... Read more

Incident date: Jun 19, 2026

I am reporting a severe, systemic manufacturing defect in the 3.5L EcoBoost engine timing system (cam phasers and timing chain) of my 2017 Ford Expedition that poses an immediate highway safety hazard. Approximately February 2026 Upon start up heard odd rattle type noise, a week later heard noise again thought maybe due to recent Ford Dealership changing engine belts. Searched websites discovered... Read more

Incident date: Jun 23, 2026

Sometimes when I am driving and stop, the automatic engine does not turn back on. This has caused my car to stop and need to be restarted in the middle of the road and the amount of times this happens has been increasing.

Incident date: Jun 8, 2026

In August 2025 I purchased a brand new 2025 Cadillac Escalade ESV Sport Platinum. Purchase Price $155,000. I maintained the car to the highest level possible since taking ownership. The total miles put on the car between August 2025 and May 2026 was 6,142. On May 14, 2026 at approx. 8am EST I was driving the car southbound on Alternate AIA (going from my house to my office). As the car was appr... Read more

Incident date: May 4, 2026

Head gasket blown on engine. Burned off coolant so no leaks detected and just showed high temperature to pull over and let engine cool. Could have cause engine fire and/or disabled vehicle while on road. Very expensive fix and dealers who were contacted said they’ve had multiple vehicles repaired for same issue. Online is widely reported problem with this make and model and among the different t... Read more

Incident date: Jun 16, 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

Incident date: Jun 12, 2026

Stuck Thermostat. Vehicle not achieving operating temperature in the correct time. ALL 3 of the people I know with CT-6's had the exact same issue this year.

Incident date: May 21, 2026

The AFM caused piston flapping and other major engine problems such as abnormal wear. The problem with the engine could have caused a catastrophic failure along the side of a highway. The problem has been diagnosed and the engine has been replaced at my expense. The repairs were made at a local mechanic shop. The engine would start make a loud ticking noise at 2000 RPM or above. The mechanic sh... Read more

Incident date: Jun 17, 2026

The van has intermittent warm-start slow cranking and occasional Auto Idle Stop restart failures. The van fails to start intermittently during auto idle stops. This puts the driver and passengers at risk by failing to drive right away. It causes a potential collision from the rear. It has not been reproducible by the dealer and was inspected by the dealer. No warnings were present prior to fa... Read more

Incident date: May 11, 2026

I have a 2014 Jeep Cherokee that i have had since 2019. Since I have owned it, there have been several transmission recalls. I am currently dealing with a new transmission issue, where it is jerky and fails to go when pressing the gas after being at a stop. I am also dealing with the second oil filter housing leaking. Apparently this is a known issue, due to a plastic housing that cracks and warps... Read more

Incident date: Apr 1, 2026

While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden and momentary loss of power, similar to briefly applying the brakes, after which power resumed. This was followed by a progressively louder squealing noise. I pulled over to investigate, at which point the engine shut off and a low oil pressure warning appeared on the dashboard. The vehicle would not restart. The vehicle was then towed to a dealershi... Read more

Incident date: Jun 13, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle is a 2016 Kia Soul 1.6L GDI with approximately 83,000 miles. The vehicle experienced engine performance issues, loss of power, and stalling. A Kia dealership diagnosed a failed/melted catalytic converter and reported metal shavings in the engine oil. The vehicle has not been repaired and... Read more

Incident date: Mar 1, 2026

The thermostat malfunctioned causing an error message regarding “steering assist is reduced”. When I parked and turned off, the engine fan continued to run. When car was restarted, the temp gauge inside was stuck at C. Took to dealership and they assessed. They repaired the thermostat under power train warranty, however there was a crack in the radiator (top) resulting in the need for a ne... Read more

Incident date: Jun 23, 2026

Vehicle: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max The vehicle intermittently experiences a severe hesitation and shudder during acceleration from approximately 0-40 mph. The condition occurs only under specific circumstances: -The vehicle has been parked long enough for the engine, transmission, and related systems to cool to ambient air temperature. -The vehicle is started and driven shortly th... Read more

Incident date: Jun 18, 2026

While driving my 2015 Kia Optima, the engine failed completely without warning. The vehicle lost power while in motion approximately 300 miles away from my home. All warning lights illuminated and the car shut down during driving conditions, creating a serious safety hazard. The vehicle was towed to a Kia dealership where it was inspected. I was informed the engine has failed and may be related t... Read more

Incident date: Jun 23, 2026

The auto Start/Stop feature doesn't work as needed. It will randomly lurch, turn the car off make me put it in park and then have me restart it. Sometimes the car does not start right away and I am stuck on the road until it decided when and if it will restart. Myself and my family of 5 are not stuck in the road scared of getting smashed into by other drivers unaware that we are stopped or antic... Read more

Incident date: Apr 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "No Coolant" was displayed on the instrument panel, and there was smoke coming from outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a blown head gasket. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The independent m... Read more

Crash

Incident date: May 31, 2026

Engine failed after repair of15000 miles with same break down The dealership did not clean out shredded timing belt and the second belt was shredded

Incident date: May 13, 2026

While driving on the highway, my 2024 Santa Fe Hybrid suddenly and without warning lost propulsion power. The loss of power was immediately accompanied by multiple simultaneous warning lights across the instrument cluster, glitching and abnormal behavior of the cluster display, and then a complete electrical shutdown of the vehicle. After the shutdown, the vehicle would not restart. The failure o... Read more

Incident date: Jun 9, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH and pulling into a parking lot, the sun gear and the drive shaft fractured. The vehicle became inoperable. The vehicle was pushed to a safe place. The check engine warning light illuminated after the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V172000 (Power Train). The vehicle was ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 23, 2026

The vehicle randomly has a yellow A! error code, then it loses power while driving, when going up a hill, sometimes barely makes it. No mechanics can figure this out and its a topic of complaints amongst numerous forums regarding this vehicle. Why isn't there a recall on this?

Incident date: Jun 17, 2026

MY VEHICLE 2022 ACURA TYPE S HAS A TRANSMISSION SYSTEM PROBLEM, BLIND SPOT INFO PROBLEM, AND A ALL WHEEL DRIVE PROBLEM THAT ONLY MY FRONT WHEE;S MAY BE POWERED. IT LOOKS LIKE THE TRANSFER CASE MAYBE FAILING. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 25,000 MILES ON IT AND IS ABOUT TO BE OUT OF WARRANTY

Incident date: Aug 1, 2025

Vehicle overheated and came to a sudden stop on a busy intersection, with my five young children in the car. Faulty thermostat.

Incident date: Jun 16, 2025

High oil consumption, burning a quart of oil or more every 500 miles since bought used at Hyundai dealership.

Incident date: Apr 1, 2025

My 2018 Honda CR-V has only 100,000 miles. A week ago, I noticed that my engine temperature gauge on my dashboard was spiking during low speed driving and I received several engine overheating alarms. There was no white smoke emitting from my exhaust. I checked the coolant reservoir and observed that the reservoir was almost empty. I brought my vehicle to my mechanic who found no external coolant ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 23, 2026

All warning lights began flashing after a SRS recall fix at Honda of Joliet, Illinois. Dealer wanted to do a in depth vehicle scan for $279. I brought it to an independent care repair shop where they did the scan for $199. They found engine damage per attached report. My vehicle’s VIN was not included in the initial recall for the same problem for the same vehicle, year, and engine type. Contact... Read more

Incident date: Jun 23, 2026

My car experienced a sudden internal engine failure due to a known manufacturer design defect causing coolant intrusion into the engine cylinders. A Ford dealer service center diagnosed the issue with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0303, confirming a Cylinder 3 misfire caused by coolant leaking into the block. The vehicle requires a total engine replacement at just ~66000 miles at a cost of over $... 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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