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 62,429 complaints - component: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident date: Apr 6, 2025
My auto flashed an Engine Malfunction error then lost power. I had to pull over immediately. Would not restart. Unsafe road with no shoulder in a no passing two lane road. Towed to dealer. They told me gas tank sensors failed. Resolution is a new gas tank. This could have been much worse had there been a car behind me, had children in car, been on a highway etc. The auto did not show any signs of... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2025
I’ve been experiencing intermittent start failures with my 2015 Volkswagen Jetta. The issue typically occurs after driving short distances, turning off the engine, and attempting to restart the vehicle within 15–45 minutes. The dashboard lights stay on, but the engine fails to crank. After extended wait times (1–3 hours or more), it will sometimes start again. A diagnostic scanner showed DT... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2024
The fuel tank system keeps failing. It will not show how much gas is in the car even after filling up. It is a risk because the fuel could run out in the middle of driving and leave the driver in an accident or stranded. The car stalls randomly when the fuel tank system error is on and it is very scary.
Incident date: Apr 4, 2025
My Chevy Volt went into Reduced Propulsion System Power Mode, the Engine light came on and the vehicle stalled while sitting at a traffic light on [XXX] at [XXX] in Tyler Texas. Checking the computer and the complaints online I found that my 15 AMP #03 fuse (No Walk Home) had blown. I replaced the fuse and the next day on [XXX] the same thing happened again after driving 30 miles. The vehicle stal... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
The vehicle mostly jerks when in drive mode/accelerating. There is possible oil leakage (slightly for the time being).
Incident date: Apr 7, 2025
MY 2021 Harley Pan America died on the side of the ALCAN hiway 200 miles out of Fairbanks in June 2023, was able to restart, Fairbanks dealer diagnosed faulty fuel pump, no pump available before departure date so left for home in Washington state. 150 miles from home it went in to limp mode in heavy traffic narrowly avoided collision to get out of traffic. Limp mode to purchasing dealer at 40 mph.... Read more
Incident date: Feb 13, 2025
On [XXX] brought Maverick 24 2.0L gas AWD on Electronic Control Unit ( ECU) to Ford Dealer#3 PJ Ford. Was advised Hybrid trucks have ECU on inside bulkhead rear cab wall behind flip down seat. However on later 2.0 L options gas are mounted behind driver side front bumper near and behind front driver side plastic/ fabric wheel well parallel to shot axel ( CVJ) approximately 12 high from ground. Up... Read more
Incident date: Oct 8, 2023
My truck is outfitted with the CP4 fuel pump. These pumps are failing on a regular basis and destroying entire fuel systems costing the vehicle owner as much as $20,000 to replace. If this pump goes out while driving, it could be a major safety issue. I tow a 44 foot trailer with my truck and this can cause a deadly accident. I called Ford and there is no recall as of now. There are attorneys... Read more
Incident date: Jul 12, 2016
Hybrid system failure resulting in vehicle not being drivable at all. Failure is due to corrosion from connector between high voltage harness into rear traction motor. Failure occurred 8,000 miles past warrantee cut-off (100,000) and will require weeks to months to fix 2/2 parts on backorder.
Incident date: Apr 8, 2025
ihave?opntitle.2011fordfusionseflexfuel1OFTHEEXPENSIVEMACHANICALREPLACE ,TOREPAIR/ELECTRONICASSISTSHUTOFFTOMANUALSTEER:FORDWILLREPLACEAIRBAGREPAIR:DRIVEABLE'RUNS:ELECTRONICPOWERSTERINGASSISTANCESHUTOFF':DRIVABLE;REPAIRPALSAYONWED'.STEERINGASSIST/#VIN.TOO15YEARS,FORDDEALER,SERVICETELLSMEMILAGEW/YEARSOLDNOAPPLYbut$.288.00.DIAGNOSIS{FORDPROCONTACTCENTEROFEXCELLENCE./DIAGNOSIS288.00-300.00/SERVICEMAN/... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2025
The car has severe rust on the frame to the point of the rust corroding a hole in the frame making it unsafe to drive. Black paint has been applied to conceal the extent of the rust, demonstrating clear intent to mislead and a disregard for human safety. The catalytic converter has been aftermarket welded into place and failing emissions. Other repairs needed cannot be done because the rust da... Read more
LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
(2017) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 7, 2025
Incident date: Apr 1, 2022
Car keep stalling misfire just started muffler sound smoke lack of power when driving
Incident date: Apr 5, 2025
I brought my 2015 Volkswagen (with only 50,000 miles) to Island Volkswagen in NY for a fuel system recall repair. Before this, the car had no fuel smell, no leaks, and was driving normally. Immediately after the recall work, I began smelling fuel. The dealership told me the fuel line is leaking and needs to be replaced. I never had this issue before, and it’s clearly related to the repair they ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 13, 2024
Vehicle was being driven at highway speed at about 0555. There were no warning lights including no battery or low voltage warnings. Suddenly every warning light came on and all systems failed. Engine had stopped and computer had shifted vehicle into neutral. Power steering and power brakes had failed as well. At least one driver side rear tail light went out (I think forward headlights as well... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2025
After driving over a hour or so the rpm will stick at 3 and the mph will not go over 60. The car occasionally lose power as well. I have already had the throttle body and the alternator recently done.
Incident date: Apr 6, 2025
We rented a '23 Pacifica from Enterprise. While driving 70mph on an interstate in Houston, a safety warning popped up "Stop Safely Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon". On the interstate, I wasn't able to keep my speed. Speed dropped quickly and dramatically. Luckily, I was able to get to the side but could have been hit in the process. My 2 daughters were in the car. It was terrifying. According to my re... Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2024
Car was charging on a typical 48A J1722 home charger. Car stopped charging early and displayed "Service High Voltage System" and "Reduced Acceleration. Drive with Care" Scanner shows codes P1E00 and U362C
Incident date: Dec 22, 2024
I received a recall notice for this vehicle. When I called my nearest Honda, Leadcar Honda, in Yorkville, NY, they stated that they could not get my vehicle in for recall repairs until August of 2025. I called in March of 2025.
Incident date: Apr 7, 2025
I bought a 2019 Chevy Blazer in February 2023 . The vehicle has issues when I fill it with gas. As soon as I gas up to full it starts jerking immediately afterwards. It makes loud popping sounds. The engine dies completely. It starts to tremble and will not go. When I try to turn in back on , the starter works very hard before it will turn back on. It does turn back on eventually but I have ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2025
The recalls associated to my vehicle are the same exact problems I am experiencing. My car is stalling and stalled on the highway. I couldn’t accelerate and had to drive with my hazards.
Incident date: Apr 7, 2025
I was driving and a warning popped up on my dashboard screen telling me that the "high voltage electrical system needed to be serviced" and another one followed that said "acceleration reduced drive with caution." At the same time my heat stopped working and only cold air would blow from the vents (it was a cold day so I did not test to see if the A/C was also broken). I discovered a day or so l... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2025
School buses. We have a fleet of these and the condition is happening repeatedly and to almost every bus with this PSI brand 8.8L gasoline engine. The engine exhaust downpipes melt from excessive heat and/or fuel. The pipes then crack and produce an exhaust leak near the body firewall. Potential for exhaust and flame to escape from the pipe.
Incident date: Feb 13, 2025
The motorcycle cuts out when slowing down—engine just dies, but all the electrical stays on. This is a brand-new bike with only 500 miles on it. It happened while I was riding, and I suddenly had no power. Luckily, I was on the right side of the road and managed to coast to the shoulder safely, but it could’ve gone a lot worse. There were no prior warning lights. I scheduled an inspection, bu... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
Car recalled with buy back remedy under 24V-633 and H514 recalls. Timely resolution has not been provided as it has been over 5 months since the H514 recall and it is not reasonable to expect a customer to park and charge outside while limiting charge to 80%. The hazard has not been mitigated with no attempt by Jaguar to contact us to buy back the car in the past 5 months (told we'd be contacted w... Read more
HONDA
ACCORD HYBRID
(2023) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 7, 2025
Incident date: Mar 14, 2025
My wife and son experienced a terrible situation on the way home from training. They had to stop at the nearest gas station due to the vehicle showing extremely low gas in the tank during a short drive home. The fuel gauge initially showed about half a tank but drastically dropped on the way home. They stopped at a gas station to add fuel but during the process, fuel starting spewing out of the ta... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2021
Due to a problem with my car engine, the car would not accelerate and would move slowly despite pressing on the pedal. The car screen indicated that it was PCM problem (the gas would not come up) and it was a reduced engine problem. The car not accelerating despite pressing the pedal can pose serious safety problems. I have not taken the car to a dealer to repair yet.
Incident date: Apr 4, 2025
MULTI PURPOSE LIGHTS ON
Incident date: Mar 15, 2022
Driving at constant speed on highway, vehicle either loses acceleration and / or applies brake for short moment. Tapping the accelerator appears allow the vehicle to resume to initial intended speed. Automatic braking, not intended by the driver is a safety risk for both this and adjacent drivers. The problem has been reproduced by a dealer service center. No other agencies have inspected the... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2025
Purge valve went bad, it was causing the vehicle to try to stall and dropping down to very low rim, always happened after fueling and would sometimes hesitate to go when accelerator was pushed. I had it stall on my trying to pull on to [XXX] in Florida from an exit. That could have been very bad. And I've noticed way too many other people online and in forums having the same concern. Do to safety ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 24, 2024
Throttle lag. When I step on the gas pedal, there is a hesitation or lag which the truck doesn't move forward when asked. Very, very dangerous when entering traffic. Almost caused an accident. Not good. This must be addressed before someone gets hurt or killed. This is no joke and should be taken seriously. I hope this doesn't get ignored as this is a serious problem.
Incident date: Feb 4, 2025
I experienced a no start situation. The vehicle would crank but not start. I did some research on the internet and found other Dodge/Chrysler vehicles with the same problem. I noticed they all had a similar, if not the same TIPM fusebox. The remedy was the same. You can put a bypass jumper wire on the fuse and the car will start. The problem is a fuel relay failure that is soldered to a circuit bo... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2025
NHTSA 23V867 was issued on the car after 8 months of purchase for high voltage battery modules protentional for a fire if overheating occurs. It has been over 18 months and recall only has been mitigated by reducing the ability to charge the car. Due to the potential of fire hazard we have had to stop charging the car in the garage overnight like we use to. Wife makes we stay outside with ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2017
The service engine lamp came on. When the mechanic investigated, it was determined that the problem is identical to the Warranty Bulletin titled Cummins 6.7L Turbocharger Actuator - X99 Warranty Extension that pertains to the 2015 RAM 2500 pickup. My vehicle is a 2016 and there is no warranty extension, even though it is an identical problem. The vehicle was not drivable as is and I had to replace... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2025
In efforts to fix my vehicle for engine engineers have reset the odometer on my vehicle by over 1000 miles breaking federal law. They do not know how or why it happened and are not providing any explanations or follow ups.
Incident date: Apr 4, 2025
Our pacifica has repeatedly stalled on freeways. The engine will just stop running and will not start for 15 minutes to several hours. If it does start, it often will sputter and stall again if you try to put it in ear or press the accelerator. After some time, the problem will resolve itself and the vehicle will drive normally. This problem is infrequent which is what makes it so vexing. Eac... Read more
BRIDGESTONE
DUELER H/L ALENZA
(9999) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 5, 2025
Incident date: Mar 25, 2025
Vehicle lost power and would not accelerate past 30 mph even when fully pressing down on the accelerator. After a few minutes a warning flashed to check vehicle hybrid system. Pulling over to the shoulder and restarting the car returned the car to normal operation.
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2021) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 5, 2025
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
2024 Honda Prologue has been having service high voltage system, reduced acceleration, no heat or AC in while in the rain and with toddlers in the car. Car has had this issue twice before and just got the car back from the service on April 2, Had issue in December, Feb 2025 for 11 days. The vehicle was just returned 3 days ago for the same issue. Service keeps stating they don't know what the prob... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
BEETLE
(2018) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 5, 2025
Incident date: Apr 2, 2025
Vehicle produced error without any warning about propulsion system no longer working shortly after low fuel warning when tank is fuel and engine fails and vehicles comes to a crawl.
Incident date: Apr 5, 2025
Kia failed to take accountability for rods related to oil pan and engine damage defect on this vehicle. Did not offer other safety options and did not give any warning signs. I have ALL my receipts and maintenance on vehicle that I DID Maintain my vehicle responsible and this was a Kia vehicle safety issue on manufacturing. I did not receive any warning or lights on my dashboard and I have all my ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2025
1# My fuel system is causing a problem My vehicle will not pass emissions it's been several tries of rejection. It is giving me recall syptoms and I know that this type of vehicle has had fuel issues recalled in the past. The sensors on the car are giving out codes that don't allow me to pass emissions and it's saying something about the( fuel system.) #2 I am having an issue with the electrical ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 3, 2025
Evaporation system is defective and the canister purge valve does not close completely resulting in environmental toxicities put into the air. A check engine light on and after 3 fixes the issue is still present
CADILLAC
ESCALADE ESV
(2023) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 4, 2025
Incident date: Apr 2, 2025
I started vehicle and all warning lights on dash popped up and began scrolling through/flashing. As a vehicle owner, I was startled as it was unsettling to see all the warnings pop up. It appeared every safety feature/component on the vehicle was compromised. I immediately contacted the local Honda dealership as they suggested diagnostics were needed. Dealership invoice states "Diagnose check engi... Read more
TOYOTA
GRAND HIGHLANDER
(2024) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 4, 2025
Incident date: Feb 9, 2025
Engine RPM surged while nose- in parking with foot on brake, causing vehicle to unexpectedly jump the parking barrier and hit a steel sign post, incurring $3,300 cosmetic damage to left front of vehicle. Pressed harder on brake to stop. Cost estimate obtained, complaint filed with American Honda.
Crash
Incident date: Mar 19, 2025
The engine was replaced under a recall related to an engine knock code. About two weeks later, the vehicle lost all power while driving. The dealership confirmed a failure in the high-pressure fuel line and that the turbo had failed at the same time. The same visit revealed oil leaks, and shortly after, the vehicle began emitting white and black smoke. Their technician stated the failures were due... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Feb 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Check Engine and High Pressure Fuel Pump warning lights was illuminated. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The contact did research and was made aware of an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle w... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2025
ICCU failure, no time line for replacement Car at dealer for over a month
Incident date: Apr 3, 2025
1. The Power Conversion System (PCS), still in the vehicle and not available for inspection 2. 2 of the 3 controllers have failed, resulting in limited AC charging (16A out of 48A max). The PCS helps regulate AC and DC electricity and connects the 12V batter to the HV battery. If it fails, it could lead to dangerous situations since the electricity from the HV battery wouldn't be as controlled. I'... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2025
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? While driving the vehicle, it intermittently hesitated during acceleration until there was a very loud popping and banging noise, it was sudden and very loud. We experienced a complete and sudden loss of power. The car then proceeded to send off nearly every alert on the dash, and threw a code which ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
1. PTC Heater, old part is available for inspection 2. PTC heater failed while driving, experienced loss of power and slow loss of secondary electrical systems (the 12v battery was not able to recharge itself with the PTC heater not functioning). When attempting to restart car after pulling into a parking lot, the entire car died (12V battery was drained so it couldn't start up) and had to get tow... Read more