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.
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
Showing 40,899 complaints - component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident date: May 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 3 MPH, the vehicle started to sputter. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was made aware of an undisclosed recall. The mechanic determined that the short block needed to be replaced and there was coolant intrusion into the engine. The vehicle was taken... Read more
Incident date: Jun 19, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a f... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there was coolant intrusion into various cylinders, resulting in engine damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the co... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2024) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 9, 2025
Incident date: Jul 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and Classic Chevrolet Buick GMC of Cleburne (822 Walter P. Holliday, Cleburne, TX 76033); were contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amoun... Read more
Incident date: Jul 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was hot(H). The vehicle was steered to a side parking lot and turned off and coolant was added to the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that there was coolant intrusion into the engine, and that the engine... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
TAOS
(2022) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 9, 2025
Incident date: Jun 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN ... Read more
FORD
MUSTANG MACH E
(2023) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 9, 2025
Incident date: Jul 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle was idling rough with smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The coolant level was constantly low despite adding coolant once every 3 days. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The dealer confirmed there were no recalls associated with the failure. The contact learned of Customer Sati... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine hesitated while turning over, with black smoke coming from the exhaust. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact scanned the vehicle with an OBD2 scanner for an unknown error code related to the catalytic converter. The vehicle was taken to a local AutoZone, where it was d... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing rough idling, with the RPM fluctuating while driving. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact s... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle failed to start. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the coolant reservoir was empty. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the cylinders and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle w... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2022) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 9, 2025
Incident date: Jul 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle started shuddering. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was coolant leaking into the cylinder. The mechanic informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that on several occasions while checking the oil level, there was no oil on the "dip stick". The contact stated that the engine consumed 2-3 quarts of oil approximately 4,000 miles. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving on ... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
TAOS
(2022) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 8, 2025
Incident date: Jun 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and jerked while a... Read more
Incident date: Nov 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. VIN tool c... Read more
Incident date: Nov 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated to start and was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the dealer discovered coolant intrusion into the engine block, causing engine damage. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact ... Read more
Incident date: May 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. Th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Yukon. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had no... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while attempting to open the doors, the remote failed to unlock the doors. The contact used the key and opened the door manually. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start, and the battery terminal cables were tightened by the contact’s boyfriend. While the contact’s boyfriend was driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); 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 while idling at a stop sign or a stop light and attempting to accelerate, ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle started sputtering. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that there was coolant leaking into ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine light had illuminated and the vehicle had experienced rough operation. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the cam phasers were faulty and advised that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failur... Read more
KUMHO
SPARE TIRE T121
(9999) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 8, 2025
Incident date: Jul 7, 2025
See attached document for complaint.
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2022) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 8, 2025
Incident date: Jun 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manu... Read more
Incident date: Jun 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped for a traffic signal or stopped for traffic, the vehicle was stalling. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the crankshaft sensor had failed and needed to be replace... Read more
Incident date: Jun 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the failure recurred while parking the vehicle and while at a complete stop. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH downhill, a coolant message was displayed. The contact decelerated and drove to the residence. The contact's neighbo... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine seizure due to coolant intrusion in the engine. The contact stated that while the dealer was in the process of replacing the engine, the dealer informed the contact that the transmission also needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the engine and ... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to move before shutting down. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number 25V437000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). ... Read more
GRAND DESIGN
MOMENTUM
(2021) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 7, 2025
Incident date: Jul 7, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 428I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving above 50 MPH, the vehicle was shaking and vibrating abnormally and failed to properly accelerate. The contact stated that the message "Turn Off Engine" was displayed. The contact stated that the engine had experienced excessive oil consumption. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed and it wa... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2023) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 7, 2025
Incident date: Jul 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the engine and low oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated the vehicle was shaking abnormally, and the vehicle failed to exceed 30 MPH. The vehicle was driven to a nearby park... Read more
Incident date: Jun 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue.... Read more
Incident date: Jul 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal hissing sound coming from the engine and then a popping sound. In addition, the accelerator pedal involuntarily moved, and the vehicle... Read more
Incident date: May 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Yukon. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact ha... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Soul. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the catalytic converter was defective and needed to be replaced. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V120000 (Engine, Engine and Engine Cooling); however,... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2015) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 7, 2025
Incident date: Jun 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that after the vehicle was started in the morning, the vehicle was idling rough. The contact stated that later while driving at various speeds, there was a misfire coming from the engine. The contact stated that while checking the engine oil level, the contact became aware that the coolant reservoir level was low. The contact refilled the co... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed a service update on the vehicle, which required a software update. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, who diagnosed that the catalytic converter had failed and needed to be replaced. ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the iss... Read more
Incident date: Jun 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the engine and oxygen sensor warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired, the oxygen sensor warning light illuminated again. The vehicle was taken for an oil ch... Read more
Incident date: Jul 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the message "Service Engine Soon" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact used the Ford App and became aware of a failure with the transmission. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for a diagnostic test and the contact was informed that there was coolant intrusion into the cyli... Read more
FORD
FUSION HYBRID
(2012) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 7, 2025
Incident date: Jul 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the oil warning light illuminated. The contact pulled into a gas station and inspected the vehicle. The contact stated that during the in... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 BMW X5. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed coolant leaking on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the low coolant warning light was illuminated. The contact refilled the coolant reservoir. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with coolant pump failure. The contact was informed th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 6, 2025
See attached document for complaint.
HONDA
ACCORD CROSSTOUR
(2010) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 3, 2025
Incident date: Jun 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicl... Read more
POLESTAR
POLESTAR 2
(2024) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 3, 2025
Incident date: Jul 3, 2025
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2020 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was no longer being driven due to safety concerns. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The cont... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2024) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 3, 2025
Incident date: Jul 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a f... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a rea... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 25 MPH, she noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust. The driver pulled over into a gas station and called her husband to inform him of the failure and drove the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken a dealer and was inspected, and the technician became aware of a leak; however, the technician was una... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2019) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jul 3, 2025
Incident date: Jul 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle started shuddering. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was later illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into cylinder #3, causing an eng... Read more