Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 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 2,215,138 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 48,526 complaints — component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Incident date: Dec 25, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC G6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING IN PARK, DRIVE, AND REVERSE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS SOMETIMES UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT RECOGNIZED AS BEING IN THE PARKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE ... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
BEETLE
(2009) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 26, 2012
Incident date: Aug 1, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE STOPPED OR WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE F... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
C280
(2006) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 23, 2012
Incident date: Mar 1, 2012
2006 MERCEDES BENZ C280. CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION FREEZES AT 20 MPH WHILE THE RPM GOES INTO THE DANGER ZONE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE SEALS FAILED AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE MODULE. *JB
Incident date: Aug 9, 2007
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA ODYSSEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION EMITTED A GRINDING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER 5 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY TAKEN TO AN IND... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2012
OVER THE LAST WEEK I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNING OFF....NO RPM'S, NO SPEED...WHILE I AM STILL IN DRIVE (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). IN VIEWING VARIOUS WEBSITES, THIS IS NOW BECOMING A COMMON OCCURRENCE...AND IT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. ALTHOUGH HEADLIGHTS STILL WORK, POWER STEERING IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE...SO I MUST HURRIEDLY SHIFT INTO N TO GLIDE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR D... Read more
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2005) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 21, 2012
Incident date: Mar 1, 2012
TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING IN TO RADIATOR. *JS
Incident date: Mar 15, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURE IN THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER, WHICH WAS CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,930. UPDATED 04/19/12*LJ UPDATED 04/25/12
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2006) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 20, 2012
Incident date: Mar 2, 2012
THE CAR LOOSES POWER/ ACCELERATION WHILE IM DRIVING, THE PRNDS LIGHT AND OTHERS START GOING ON AND FLASHING ON DASH. ITS IN THE DEALERSHIP AS OF MARCH 12, 2012 AND THEY ARE CHARGING ME FOR CHANGING THE METATRONIC UNIT IN THE TRANSMISSION. VW HAD A RECALL DONE ON THE 2008-2010 VW'S WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSIONS BUT NOT THE EARLIER ONES LIKE MINE 2006. I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING AS THE OTHERS HAV... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2012
AT 50,000 MILES , AND EARLIER, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, THE TRUCK LOST ALL POWER, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. UPON TAKING THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE, AND NEEDED REPLACING. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO VENT. [XXX] IN... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
CLK350
(2007) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 20, 2012
Incident date: Mar 16, 2012
THE TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP IN LOW GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRANSMISSION WON'T CHANGE GEARS. *KB
Incident date: Mar 1, 2012
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, TOOK IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC WAS TOLD NEED NEW TRANSMISSION AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. READ UP ON THE ISSUES AND THIS HAS BEEN A REPORTED PROBLEM FOR 1000'S OF MAXIMAS. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, DISCOVERED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED FOR SAME PROBLEM AS WELL. *KB
Incident date: Mar 5, 2012
WE BROUGHT OUR NISSAN 2006 XTERRA IN TO THE BOARDWALK AUTO CENTER. REDWOOD CITY, CA - NISSAN TO HAVE THEM CHECK ON WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION ISSUE (NISSAN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AT THEIR EXPENSE OVER $8000, ONCE AND THE FUEL GAUGE TWICE PLUS A COUPLE OF OTHER RECALL ITEMS). WHEN WE PICKED UP THE CAR THEY TOLD US WE NEEDED A NEW TIMING CHAIN FOR ABOUT $2000 (WE HAVE HEARD THE... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2011
GRADUAL FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION DUE TO RUPTURED TRANSMISSION COOLER INSIDE RADIATOR ALLOWING COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION FLUID. SYMPTOM STARTED AS SMALL VIBRATION AND NUMEROUS SERVICE ATTEMPTS COULD NOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM. HAD TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND SERVICE CENTER DID NOT MENTION ANY DISCOLORATION OF FLUID OR OTHER PROBLEM. HAD RADIATOR DRAINED AND FLUSHED AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED,SERVICE CENTER D... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2012
SHORTLY AFTER I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AFTER ABOUT 2-3 YEARS AGO. I NOTICED IT WOULD JERK & WAS HARD TO SHIFT GEARS. IT WOULD SOMETIMES BE IN GEAR & NOT GAS. AFTER I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT IT WAS A WIRE OR CABLE LOOSE TO THE TRANS. EVERYTHING SEEMED OK FOR AWHILE THEREAFTER BUT THEN IT STARTED AGAIN. JUST RECENTLY AS I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED LIGHT SE... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2012
DRIVING WITH THE FAMILY, GOING 50 MPH AND THE CAR CUTS OUT COMPLETELY DEAD WITH NO WARNING. HAD TO COAST INTO THE MEDIAN. PUT CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED. EXACTLY ONE WEEK LATER, CAR DIED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN. CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. SAME ISSUES WITH 04 AND 05 FORDS THAT ARE BEING RECALLED. 06 NEEDS TO BE RECALLED TOO. NOW I HAVE TO SPEND 3K ON A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAU... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2012
THIS INCIDENT FIRST HAPPENED WHILE I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND SINCE MANY TIMES. THE CAR GETS STUCK IN FULL THROTTLE AND SOMETIMES IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP I HAVE TO THROW INTO NEUTRAL TO KEEP FROM SLAMMING INTO VEHICLES, IT HAS TORN UP MY NEW BRAKE PADS THAT I PUT ON IN THE FALL. IT WILL BE FINE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THEN ALL OF SUDDEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE CAR WILL GET STUCK IN FULL THROTTLE. I... Read more
Incident date: Mar 3, 2012
I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA) IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT ON MARCH 3RD, 2012. IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, AND THE ROAD CONDITION WAS GOOD. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING LEXUS RX 350 2011 MODEL (MILEAGE: 2124MILES). MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE SITTING ON THE BACK SEATS. SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE FOR PARKING AND ABOUT TO FINALIZE THE PARKING BY GOING FORWARD BY ABOUT 3 FEET. AT THA... Read more
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2001) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 20, 2012
Incident date: Mar 20, 2012
I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED. I KEPT HITTING THE BRAKE AND IT FINALLY STOPPED. I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATED AGAIN. I TRIED HITTING THE BRAKE AND IT WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL IT HIT THE GARAGE DOOR. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST IT WAS GOING, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING AT AN EXCESSIVE SPEED. *KB
Crash
Incident date: Jan 19, 2012
WHEN TURNING MY CAR ON AND PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR JERKED INTO GEAR AND WHERE THE R SHOULD APPEAR FOR REVERSE ON THE DASH, ALL THE LETTERS WERE SCRAMBLED TOGETHER. THE CAR DROVE IN REVERSE AND THEN WHEN I PUT IT INTO DRIVE, IT JERKED AGAIN AND THEN WOULD HARDLY ACCELERATE. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A COUPLE MINUTES, TURNING IT OFF, AND TURNING IT BACK ON,... Read more
CHEVROLET
MALIBU MAXX
(2005) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 20, 2012
Incident date: Feb 8, 2012
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ALREADY ON THIS CAR, AND IT STILL IS NOT RIGHT. THE POWER STEERING WILL BE GONE NO MATTER THE TEMPERATURE, BUT THEN COMES RIGHT BACK. THE BRAKES ARE ALWAYS GOING BAD ON IT, I HAVE REPLACED THEM SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE 25K MILES OF OWNING THE CAR. THE DRIVER SEAT LEANS TO THE LEFT AND DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS NOT NORMAL UNTIL AFTER READING REPORTS OF IT BEING... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2011
WHEN CAR TURNED ON, RPM NEEDLE ZOOMED UP TO 4 AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN. TOWED CAR AND FIXED TRANSMISSION FOR $2000. JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER, DELAY IN SHIFTING. ELECTRONICS OF TRANSMISSION WERE FIXED. ONE MONTH LATER, RPM NEEDLE JERKING AND HOPPING, CAR NOT RESPONDING WELL TO GAS INPUT. THANK GOODNESS ALL THESE INCIDENTS WERE ON LOCAL ROADS AND LOTS BY MY HOME. IMAGINE ON THE FREEWAY OR BUSY R... Read more
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2006) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 20, 2012
Incident date: Mar 16, 2012
WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE, MY VEHICLE SHAKES AND THE SPEED DOES NOT INCREASE. I HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT AND I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS MIXING WITH THE RADIATOR. THERE IS A PURPLE SLIME UNDER THE RADIATOR CAP AND THERE IS CORROSION UNDER THE CAP OF THE OVERFLOW. THIS WILL COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD. TRYING TO MERGE IN WITH TRAFFIC IS DANGEROUS SINCE THE VEHICLE... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2012
I HAVE A 2011 F150 WITH THE 3.5 ECOBOOST. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ROUGH 3-4 UPSHIFTS SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW. BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO DEALER TWICE AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ROUGH SHIFT. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE ENGINE STUMBLE ON ME TWICE WILL TRYING TO PASS. I HAVE READ OTHERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND AM HOPING FORD WILL HAVE A FIX BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IN A WRECK. *KB
Incident date: Feb 1, 2012
THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, KICKING, JERKING, AND HARDSHIFTING FROM GEAR TO GEAR. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND THEN JUMPS INTO GEAR. *JS
Incident date: Feb 15, 2012
I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 12000 MILES ON IT AND UNDER WARRANTY. AT 12750 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FLARE FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AND 4TH TO 5TH GEAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPROGRAMMED AND I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT APX. 250 MILES AND IT WOULD CORRECT ITSELF. AT 13150 MILES THE PROBLEM WAS WORSE THAN BEFORE SO I TOOK IT BACK IN. THE DEALER CHECKED IT AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRON... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2012
THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S FAULT AS IT IS MENTIONED ON THE WEB AS WELL AS BY AUTO SHOPS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR CAN STOP ANYTIME! I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF $$ ALREADY FIXING OTHER PARTS AND CANNOT FIX THIS PROBLEM AS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM/DEFAULT FROM THE MANUFACTURERS. PLEASE ALL RAISE YOUR VOICE AND HAVE THE COMPANY TAKE CARE OF THIS AS THEY ARE NOT HELPING ME IN THIS MATTER! *JS
Incident date: Jan 3, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE IN ANY GEAR WHICH WAS SELECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW MANUFACTURER'S TRANSMISSION. ONE WEEK LATER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AS THE CONTACT ATTE... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2008
AT APPROX. 70,000 MILES TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME AND WAS REPLACED. NOW AT APPROX. 105,000 TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. HONDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OR TO HELP RECTIFY A POTENTIAL DEFECT IN TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *JS
Incident date: Jun 4, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DEACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. THERE WAS A CONSTANT INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS UNTIL THE CONTACT APPLIED HEAVY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE THE F... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
GTI
(2008) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 19, 2012
Incident date: Dec 19, 2011
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION DOG BONE MOUNT BOLT BROKE. THIS DAMAGED: THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING - THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING SUPPORT - THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ASSEMBLY - STEERING - THE WIRING HARNESS - THE RADIATOR - THE RADIATOR FAN - ADDITIONAL ITEMS. THE LOSS OF CONTROL THAT RESULTED COULD HAVE LED TO BODILY INJURY. VW IS DECLINING WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THIS DEFECT. *JS
Incident date: Mar 12, 2010
I GOT THIS CAR IN 2009 AROUND ABOUT NOVEMBER. BY MARCH 2010, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME WITH NO WARNING. GOT ANOTHER TRANSMISSION NOW MARCH 2012 I JUST FOUND OUT TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT AGAIN AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT REBUILT AGAIN. HOW LONG DO A TRANSMISSION SUPPOSE TO LAST IN A FORD TAURUS ANYWAY. I MEAN WILL I HAVE TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT EVERY TWO YEARS AS LONG AS I O... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2010
CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 70 WHEN THE CAR ALL-OF-THE-SUDDEN ACCELERATED OUT OF MY CONTROL TO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE RPM AND THEN SNAPPED AT ABOUT 90, RENDERING MY CAR COMPLETELY USELESS. I FOUND MYSELF COASTING W/ VERY LITTLE CONTROL, OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, 5 MILES FROM THE NEAREST EXIT. COST OVER $2000 OUT-OF-POCKET TO COMPLETELY REPLACE 200 TRANSMISSION-RELATED PARTS. *JS
Incident date: Mar 15, 2012
TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR IS FAULTY. CAR BANGS INTO GEAR FROM PARK AND REVERSE, AS WELL AS ERRATICALLY SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. *JS
MERCEDES-BENZ
CLS550
(2011) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 14, 2012
Incident date: Apr 15, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ CLS 550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AFTER BEING SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND DRIVEN OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CODES NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPD... Read more
Incident date: Oct 14, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATION PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO ABRUPTLY STOMP ON THE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR IT TO RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE OR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CABLE FAILED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE CABLES WOULD NEED TO BE ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN ON THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS IN ORDER TO REGAIN VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILU... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
E320
(2007) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 12, 2012
Incident date: Feb 27, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, THE GEAR SHIFTER JERKED AND COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATER... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2011
THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IMMEDIATE DECELERATION, FORCED US TO CROSS LANES DURING PERIOD OF HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH NO ABILITY TO CONTROL THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. TRANSMISSION MECHANIC STATED THAT FAILURE WAS RUSTED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS. FOLLOW UP INTERNET R... Read more
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2006) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 9, 2012
Incident date: Feb 26, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT COOLANT LEAKED INTO TRANSMISSION AND THE FLUID FROM THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED INTO THE RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BOTH NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT R... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MINI COOPER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC ORIGINALLY ASSUMED THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SWITCH BUT AFTER SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SWITCH WAS NOT THE ISSUE. THE M... Read more
Incident date: Feb 21, 2012
CPSC#I1220619A. 2004 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND LEFT HIS WIFE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *LN
Incident date: Mar 7, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED, THE FIFTH GEAR FAILED AND THE HOUSING ROD WAS FRACTURED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON IN THE PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,43... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC FAILED TO PRODUCE ANY FAILURE CODES. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AW... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 26, 2012
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, HARD SHIFTS, BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS. TRANSMISSION ACTS LIKE IT'S NOT IN GEAR, DOESN'T ENGAGE UNTIL ABOUT 2,000 RPM THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. ALSO SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND AGAIN WHEN IN 4TH GEAR. *TR TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO FULLY ENGAGE IN TO ANY GEAR WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO, IT WILL SLIP AND CATCH FROM A STOP, THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILS TO LO... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2012
PETITION FOR DEFECT INVESTIGATION INTO MY 2005-2010 NISSAN PATHFINDER, FRONTIER AND XTERRA VEHICLES FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES RELATING TO FAILED TRANSMISSION COOLERS *TGW THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN JERKING OF THEIR VEHICLES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER LOCATED IN THE RADIATOR... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2005) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 5, 2012
Incident date: Aug 15, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE ENGINE WOULD ALSO MISFIRE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE B VALVE, THE GLOW PLUG AND THE GLOW PLUG HARNESS WOULD HAVE TO BE ... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
E500
(2005) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 5, 2012
Incident date: Feb 4, 2012
AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT AN ENTRANCE TO A BUSY HIGHWAY, MY 2005 E500 JUST BARELY MOVED ONTO THE BUSY HIGHWAY, AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS "STUCK" IN ONE OF THE HIGHER GEARS. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, AND RESTARTED IT. AFTER RESTARTING, IT WORKED NORMALLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THEN. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2009
IN FEBRUARY OF 2009 (AT 41,214 MILES), MY 2008 MERCURY MARINER STARTED JERKING WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I GASED. I TOOK THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SINCE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY PERFORMED A "TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL". THREE YEARS LATER, FEBRUARY 2012, MY CAR STARTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN, TRANSMISSION ISSUES. ACCOR... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2008
I PURCHASED A NEW FORD TAURUS SE IN 2003. AFTER ONLY 30,000. MILES ON THE ODOMETER MY TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO GOODYEAR AND A MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REFERRED ME TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. MY QUOTE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT WAS $3,000. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FALLS UNDER "CATASTROPHIC MECHANICAL FAILURE" AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO G... Read more
Incident date: Jun 29, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.