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: May 1, 2026

Low oil sensor continues to light up and says i am low on oil. Found out that my oil pump was the main cause of the issue. At this time I have to have the oil pump replaced. It was also determined there have been numerous reports regarding oil pump failure in the 2020 BMW x7 due to an internal plastic part.

Incident date: Jun 19, 2026

The AFM lifters on 1,7,4,6 cylinders go out with no warning causing shuttering and misfires. Scary! This is the second Escalade with the problem and the 2019 engine has occurred twice in 6 months. I have inserted a lockout device to prevent the vehicle from going into 4 cylinder mode since the last episode (6 months ago) and it still failed another AFM lifter. GM said they will fix the 3rd one und... Read more

Incident date: Jun 13, 2026

While driving the vehicle on the highway it suddenly it made a ticking noise and would not go more than 40 miles per hour. We limped into a repair shop. The upper catalyst crumbled and was sucked into the lower catalyst causing total failure. The vehicle was completely incapacitated on the roadway. This is all available for inspection. The vehicle has less than 7,000 miles on it when it faile... Read more

Incident date: May 22, 2026

I am filing a complaint regarding my 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250. My vehicle recently triggered a check engine light and was diagnosed by an independent mechanic with code P052E, related to the positive crankcase ventilation regulator valve / crankcase ventilation system. My mechanic advised that this issue appears to be similar to a known Mercedes-Benz issue affecting other model years and/or rel... Read more

Incident date: Jun 17, 2026

For over a year, engine shudders/jerks when accelerating. I see this has been a repeated complaint by many for a few years now. How is this not a recall?????

Incident date: Apr 6, 2026

After driving the vehicle around all day, I parked it and turned it off and then it set on fire.

Fire

Incident date: Nov 14, 2024

This is a brand new truck with 22,000 miles, a rod came loose in the engine when i was driving it, and blew a hole in the engine at 65 MPH, the rod then shot through my oil pan, I lost all drivability, no steering, no gas and I could not see due to black smoke. I almost died! I was able to pull over all the way to the left by the grace of God, not being able to see and having cars driving by at t... Read more

Incident date: Feb 1, 2026

Engine Cooling System (Thermostat Housing / Water Outlet) The vehicle suffered a premature structural failure of the factory engine coolant thermostat housing. The component, which is manufactured from a fragile plastic composite, cracked completely open without warning, causing an immediate, rapid loss of engine coolant. This constitutes a severe safety hazard. A sudden, catastrophic loss of eng... Read more

Incident date: Jun 16, 2026

The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted into first gear. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times; however, the failure was not duplicated. The failure reo... Read more

Incident date: Jun 19, 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Titan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle intermittently stalled; the contact waited several minutes for the vehicle to return to normal operation. The Check Engine warning light was illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact researched and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was n... Read more

Incident date: Jun 22, 2026

Vehicle: 2017 Ford Edge Titanium, 2.0L EcoBoost, AWD Mileage at Incident: ~90,000 (mountain 2 lane canyon road steep cliffs and very little pull off space) Description of Problem: While driving uphill on a 2-lane mountain road, my vehicle displayed “Engine Coolant Over Temperature” (and related engine heat) warnings. The temperature gauge rose rapidly, engine power was severely limited (coul... Read more

Incident date: Jun 18, 2026

The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Impala. The contact stated that while driving and turning into a shopping center, there was blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipes before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was later towed to the residence and inspected by an independent mechanic, who discovered that the spark plugs were bent, and that the engine had seized. The contact was informed that the engin... Read more

Incident date: Jun 15, 2026

My vehicle engine failed on the interstate after getting KDS update on my vehicle and it is covered Kia Corporate and the franchise dealer are actively claiming they 'cannot share or access' the vehicle's electronic diagnostic data, despite the mandatory use of the connected Kia KDS tool, in an apparent attempt to obscure a documented safety defect and deny a class-action lifetime engine warranty.... Read more

Incident date: Jun 17, 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the engine warning light was illuminated and the message “Engine Failure – Shift to Park or Neutral” was displayed. The dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The failure was a recurring failure. The manufacturer was not made aware ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 21, 2026

My 2017 Hyundai Sonata SE, equipped with the Theta II 2.4L GDI engine, is experiencing severe powertrain failures including rhythmic metallic engine knocking, catastrophic oil consumption, and un-commanded surges/jumping in speed while driving. These symptoms manifested following an unauthorized engine replacement performed by Hyundai of El Cajon under Repair Order [XXX], where the dealer covertly... Read more

Incident date: Oct 1, 2025

This vehicle received a PCM update performed in strict accordance with Ford service procedures, per TSB/SSMO No. 24E12, on 1/02/26. At the time of the update, no stored or pending diagnostic trouble codes related to catalyst efficiency were present, and the vehicle was operating as designed. Pre- and post-update scan data has been retained and is available upon request. Approximately 100 miles aft... Read more

Incident date: Jan 1, 2024

With no warning, my engine 6.2 L stopped running at highway speeds and failed to restart. The power train completely failed for a second time after having a previous engine replaced for the same failure in 2024. I had the car inspected per the recall along with changes in the oil viscosity as recommended along with service inspection. The car left me stranded again on rural highway for over 5 h... Read more

Incident date: Jun 22, 2026

The engine block cracked and leaked coolant, causing sputtering and misfiring. It has been reported to the NHTSA that Ford is refusing to fix our car.

Incident date: Mar 10, 2026

I own a 2021 Toyota Highlander with approximately 127k miles. The vehicle has developed a noticeable whining/whirring noise during acceleration. The noise appears to originate from the drivetrain/transmission area and has become increasingly noticeable over time. The condition occurs every-time during acceleration and is present under normal driving conditions. I am concerned that this may indica... Read more

Incident date: Mar 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at high speeds, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the oil gauge fluctuated. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with fuel pump failure. An appointment was scheduled to inspect the veh... Read more

Incident date: Jun 11, 2026

The thermometer and thermometer sensor are glitching . The engine temp needle will not rise at all, the engine fan will run the whole time driving and then when it is turned off will run for 10 min . Right before this happens a notice shows the guided steering is being limited. I disconnected the battery and it reset , I drove and there were no issues , next time I started my car the engine temp ... Read more

Incident date: Apr 25, 2026

While I was visiting my mother in Kentucky my 6.2 truck engine failed. It all happened really quick and no warning signs prior. Truck passed recall in April 26. I just left visiting my mother at nursing home. I was on Mountain Parkway when it all of a sudden started making a noise. It sounded like it was coming through firewall. All of sudden check engine light came on and I pulled over right be... Read more

Incident date: Jun 20, 2026

The engine cooling fan activates at high speed and runs continuously for an extended period — in one instance, overnight — after the vehicle has been turned off, locked, and left unattended. This has occurred on multiple occasions. No warning lamps or messages appear before or during the event. The vehicle gives no indication anything is wrong; the fan simply runs at full speed on its own, wit... Read more

Incident date: Jun 20, 2026

If I have a sensor that will malfunction due to water then there should be a water indicator alert. My sunroof vent was blocked and water went into my trunk where the core module is. I had just come to a red light to turn on to a major highway and my car began to smell like fuel. I rolled down the windows and realized the smell was not as strong as inside. The light turned green and as I stepped o... Read more

Incident date: Jun 14, 2026

Complete sudden engine failure , motor lost acceleration. It started with engine knocking then full and complete engine failure. Oil light illuminated when engine failed. I did check the engine and oil was full on a cold engine and the vehicle is properly maintained as it is a leased infiniti vehicle. Please note there have been two previous engine light incidents. First I was told it was a sp... Read more

Incident date: Jun 21, 2026

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The primary failure involved the engine. The vehicle experienced a major engine failure that resulted in an engine replacement under a manufacturer recall. After the replacement engine was installed, the vehicle later developed additional engine-related problems. An independent mechanic advised th... Read more

Incident date: Jun 18, 2026

The hybrid cooling system on my 2019 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid repeatedly displayed a red dashboard warning while the vehicle was in motion: "Hybrid coolant level too low / Park vehicle safely / Let vehicle cool down." This warning appeared on multiple occasions at speeds of approximately 22 mph, 38–40 mph, and 47 mph, as documented in timestamped photos and videos taken in November 2025. A separ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2025

My car has only 28,392 miles on it, but the yellow check engine light recently came on due to a faulty oil pump solenoid. I took it back to the dealership, and the repair cost was a staggering $7,000; they told me this is a common issue with this Mercedes engine. If this fails to function, engine noise will increase while driving and fuel consumption will rise; there may also be other unknown risk... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2025

2015 and 2016 Hard top Mini Coopers, Standard (F55) are prone to their environmental air catalyst sensor breaking, causing a check engine light and emissions issues. The remedy is replacing the entire radiator. This occurred on my vehicle at only 40,000 miles. MINI is aware of the issue, but only issued an extended warranty for "S" (or 4-cylinder) models, despite the 3-cylinder base model contain... Read more

Incident date: Jun 20, 2026

My engine is the same 1.0 that is in the recall for these cars getting a new short block. TheRecall Numbers: Ford recall 23S64 (NHTSA Campaign 23V905). . For some reason the 2015 is not covered in this whileine had the same catastrophic failure and I have been have a hard time (over 5 years) to get it repaired or find a replacement engine. The 2015 eco boost 1.0 should be included in this recall

Incident date: May 1, 2026

Received "reduced propulsion" message, with no engine detected. Car slowed to a near stop while driving on the Interstate highway. Very dangerous to have that suddenly happen. Message popped up randomly with no prior warning.

Incident date: Jun 19, 2026

While driving on a major highway ([XXX]) at over 60 MPH, we had a complete and catastrophic system wide shut down of our vehicle, culminating in our car grinding to a halt. This entire process elapsed over a 15-20 second period. We barely were able to get our vehicle to the "left" shoulder along the median of the highway where we had to sit for over 75 minutes with oncoming traffic racing past us... Read more

Incident date: Mar 20, 2026

While heading west on interstate after a Drs. Appointment my wife was driving our 2021 Nissan Altima when suddenly there was a loss of power to the engine as if the engine was overheating or had loss of fuel or only able to slowly exit the freeway to a safe place and call a tow truck, after 1 1/2 days of diagnosing and testing. I was able to drive the vehicle with no issues for approximately 4000 ... Read more

Incident date: Mar 20, 2026

While driving on the highway my vehicle experienced a sudden severe loss of power that led you a metallic rattling noise under the front of the vehicle and smoke coming out the exhaust pipes. Took it to a Ford dealership for diagnosis and repair however, it recommendations were long engine block replacement due to coolant intrusion from a cylinder wall cracking due to a manufacturer defect that is... Read more

Incident date: Sep 13, 2025

My car consumes an over abundant amount of oil about 1 quart every 1000 to 1500 miles. There is a civil lawsuit right now about the piston rings having low tension and my car has every symptom of this. This could lead to turbo issues, and several thousands of dollars in repair costs. I’ve already had to replace my oil pan, timing cover, and pcv and the car only has 80,000 miles on it.

Incident date: Jun 2, 2026

[XXX] I was driving on [XXX], my Honda Accord suddenly spun out to the right, the car next to me tried to avoid me but hitting the embankment, my insurance co, had to shell out $6000 to settle the claim, my premium doubled, , was told would continue for 6 years, car brake repair $500 plus INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident date: Jun 17, 2026

Oil separator valve went out which caused the upper timing cover gasket, Cambridge assembly seal, oil pan and seal to fail. Could have caused the engine to fail whiling driving which could have resulted in an accident occurring. Confirmed by dealership. No other inspection has been done on it. Oil light came on whiling driving. I put in more oil. It goes in for regular oil changes and as not... Read more

Incident date: May 1, 2026

While driving my car home, my transmission completely gave out. I was trying to get up a hill, and out of nowhere, my car was just revving and was not going anywhere. I tried to turn the car off and back on, but it did nothing. We towed my car to a mechanic and they gave me the unfortunate news that my transmission needed completely replaced or rebuilt. I towed it to a transmission specialist, and... Read more

Incident date: Apr 8, 2026

power and began running rough. The check engine light illuminated, and the vehicle did not perform normally. I previously had the vehicle diagnosed and repaired at a Honda dealership for this same issue. The repair was completed less than two months ago. After only a few thousand miles since the repair, the exact same symptoms returned, including the check engine light, rough engine operation, and... Read more

Incident date: Jun 20, 2026

Warning lights began flashing on dash. Brought van to repair shop and was told and show leakage of oil into cylinders with metal shavings visible. Also heard a ticking sound while idling for a few weeks. Van only has 145,000 miles on it and was regularly serviced.

Incident date: Mar 4, 2026

My Accord sputters and feels like the engine is choking at low RPM (between 1k & 2k), I started a 3-hour daily commute in the Los Angeles freeway traffic last March. That's when the problem became very prominent. I realized that there's a 2016 Honda Accord recall issued on 1/28/2019 on its fuel system and fuel pump. However, for some reason, when I entered my VIN, it showed zero recalled items. ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 12, 2022

Randomly when auto/start stop feature engages and shuts down the engine when I let go off the brake the engine doesn't restart and a system problem message show up on the dash. Have to shut down the car and restart for the engine to start running again.

Incident date: Jun 19, 2026

The vehicle burns an unreasonable amount of oil. This clogs tue catalytic converter creating risks of breakdown or fire. There are many documented cases of this on the vehicle models and yet Kia has not resolved. Instead we pay for the issue. Car ownership has been consistent on maintenance and yet this issue remains.

Incident date: Mar 24, 2025

I recently bought this 2020 Kia soul the 2 L engine and I’ve noticed every 700 miles 1 quart of oil in this concerns me because how do I not affect it would’ve ran dry and burn the motor up that me is safety. I understand that they have it to replace motor and engine for the original owner, but since I am second owner of this vehicle I don’t qualify for the hundred thousand miles 10 year war... Read more

Incident date: Mar 24, 2025

the car shot up in RPM would not slow down spinning tires while holding the brake hard. had to go in neutral and kill the motor, when restarted it would continue to do the same thing

Incident date: Jun 18, 2026

Power train the engine roars up and drops jarring you back and forth second car within a yr first blew up brand new both and Hyundia and dealership blew me off

Incident date: Jun 19, 2026

[XXX] [XXX] Phone: [XXX] Vehicle Information: Year: 2023 Make: GMC Model: Sierra Denali Ultimate Engine: 6.2L V8 VIN: [XXX]: Mileage: Approximately 52,000 miles BACKGROUND: I previously had the engine serviced under a GM recall campaign related to known 6.2L V8 engine concerns. Despite that repair, the vehicle has since experienced two separate highway-speed loss-of-propulsion events. COMPLAINT Th... Read more

Incident date: Jun 18, 2026

RV with Cummins 450 engine with 20k miles new, goes into limp mode on major interstate. I limp into a Freightliner and they clear the code do a def burn for and hour but it doesn’t really do it ,charges me 500$. Had to deal w this all this stress afraid to go any further all summer long last year searching for Freightliner repair shops along the way, diverting our trip to be close to a shop, ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 17, 2026

The car went from 70 miles an hour to 25 miles an hour all of a sudden on the highway and then would not allow to accelerate afterwards. Battery stopped charging and we had to stop it multiple times to get it to continue to drive no faults or issue on the dashboard.

Incident date: May 18, 2026

Driving my car on Interstate highway going approximately 65 miles an hour, and the engine just stopped. It started chugging.. I then check the engine oil stick, there was very little Oil, and it was very dark and thick. Got the car home and it’s been sitting ever since. I’m going to have to take it to Kia to have it checked. I spoke with corporate they said that if the recall repaired was co... 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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