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 133,534 complaints — component: POWER TRAIN
Incident date: Dec 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the 4WD warning light was illuminated, turned on and off, and then remained illuminated. There was an abnormal clunking sound while driving at 15 MPH and accelerating. Upon research, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to the local deal... Read more
Incident date: Dec 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, after the signal turned green, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle only revved but failed to properly respond. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and later towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was d... Read more
Incident date: Dec 14, 2025
Recall was done for this and my jeep has this issue I currently have a power train controller that is out I have no power from controller to rear. Currently now my all wheel drive doesn't work at all .
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
My truck went into "limp" mode and had very little power. It was towed to the dealership where they diagnosed the issue as a bad solenoid causing the engine misfires. The solenoid was replaced, but the issue was not fixed. Now the dealership is stating the engine has bent lifters and the repairs will not be covered under the ongoing massive engine recall. The vehicle had the pico test on 9/17 and... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2025
Fuel pump control module failed and vehicle is available for inspection upon request. cell [XXX] Truck engine shut down twice on interstate 10 eastbound in TX at interstate speeds, in heavy traffic causing dangerous threat to my family and I while powerlessly navigating between high speed traffic and 18 wheelers to exit road independent service center?Yes and independent. Code read on truck'... Read more
Incident date: Dec 13, 2025
I am writing to formally file a complaint and request an expansion of recall coverage regarding a starter motor failure on my 2021 BMW X5, which occurred at approximately 38,000 miles. Recently, my vehicle experienced a sudden failure to start. After inspection, the issue was diagnosed as a starter malfunction. I am aware that BMW has issued a recall addressing starter-related defects for certain... Read more
Incident date: Dec 6, 2025
This is a 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe. It currently has 22,700 miles on it. These issues began prior to 20,000 miles. The car stops driving with out warning. This has occurred on three occasions, while driving in traffic. It locks up, but power is still working. A message pops up that says put the vehicle in Drive...which it already is. It comes to an abrupt stop. It will not regain power. You hav... Read more
Incident date: Dec 6, 2025
While driving from Phoenix to Tucson in midday traffic, the vehicle displayed a "Check Transmission" error message. Immediately following this warning, the vehicle experienced a significant loss of motive power while navigating a busy intersection. The car would not shift gears appropriately to maintain speed or move out of the path of traffic, which created an immediate risk of a collision. I was... Read more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2025
THE CAR WAS MAKING A GRINDING SOUND, VIBRATES, SLOWS DOWN. GRINDING SOUND IS LIKE GRINDING GEARS OR A SNOWPLOW SCRAPING PAVEMENT. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN APRIL BECAUSE OF RECALL. I ONLY HAVE 23765 MILES ON IT BUT ORIGINAL 5 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED ON 12/09/2025. THE SAME NOISE STARTED AGAIN ON 12/10/2025 AND IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER I BOUGHT FROM ON 12/10/25. The master warning light came on 12/10/... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Chrysler 200. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The engine warning light was illuminated prior to the failure. The failure persisted over time. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure was related to the cruise control, transmission, and fuel pump. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed o... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2025
Both front axles began clicking/clunking at 10K miles on the odometer. Taking to dealer to have CVs replaced this week under warranty. Worried that this will be quite expensive and lemon law once the warranty runs out.
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2018) — POWER TRAIN
Dec 15, 2025
Incident date: Dec 10, 2025
The transmission has developed a transmission whining noise which Toyota has released a TSB 0008-21. My vehicle has 104,000 miles and is now out of warranty. If this is a known defect on many Toyota vehicle models a transmission replacement should be free if no longer in warranty.
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2018) — POWER TRAIN
Dec 15, 2025
Incident date: Dec 10, 2025
I have 125,000 miles on my truck. I was traveling with my grandkids in the back seat. We were going through a four way stop. My truck started tapping like a lifter issue. The next thing I know is the truck engine light started flashing and car started to shake. Then, my truck lost all power and a big cloud of blue smoke came out of the tail pipe. The truck could not be driven any further. The s... Read more
AUDI
RS 6 AVANT
(2022) — POWER TRAIN
Dec 15, 2025
Incident date: Dec 14, 2025
Repair (component replacement) performed under Audi recall 27BQ (or 27BQ_DLR_LAUNCH) for faulty starter-alternator that can cause immediate catastrophic failure of all electrical systems affecting powertrain, steering, suspension, safety features, and emissions equipment has failed after 12 months and 2,516 miles. The replacement component suffers from the same catastrophic failure. Car indicates ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 14, 2025
Transmission locked up and had to be replaced April 8 of 2025. I was blessed it did not lock up while I was driving, but did as soon as I pulled in my driveway. While driving that evening I had some issue with it not downshifting. When stopped in driveway could not restart the car. Had to have a special tow truck take it to the repair shop. I never got a warning light regarding the transmission n... Read more
Incident date: Dec 14, 2025
The vehicle’s engine and powertrain management system repeatedly fails with multiple DTC's triggering a full-system cascade of safety-critical warnings and automatic power-limiting. The issue affects the engine, transmission, emissions, AWD, brake system, stability assist, steering assist, ABS/VSA, hill-start assist. The vehicle is fully available for inspection upon request. During each failur... Read more
MAZDA
CX-90 PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2025) — POWER TRAIN
Dec 14, 2025
Incident date: Nov 13, 2025
2017 Ford Edge Titanium, 2.0L with 6F35 Transmission, ~70kmiles, owner has all service records. After routine service at Ford dealership ([XXX]), oil and filter change, inspection and coolant replacement; Owner noticed upon driving home that the car would try to stall when placed into gear, then shudder and buck until the throttle was nudged and the car would start moving (forward or backward). Ow... Read more
Incident date: Dec 5, 2025
ICCU failed. Heard a popping sound from rear of passenger compartment, dash errors lit up, car went to limp mode
Incident date: Dec 5, 2025
We where driving down the PA Turnpike Pike when the transmission began to shift between 8 and 9th gears. A wrench icon turned on. I pulled over and the transmission stayed stuck in 9th gear even when parked. I turned off the truck and opened the door which turned the ignition off. When I opened the door I heard a click from the transmission. Turned the truck back on and it ran normal and the wrenc... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
The car would stall every time I put it in drive or reverse. It would also randomly stop while moving and cars have almost hit me due to this. There are no warning lights on the dash to see what it could be. It would shake like crazy and not move. According to forums, these transmissions fail or the torque converter becomes locked up. There are also law suits pending due to this issue. I was stuck... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2012) — POWER TRAIN
Dec 14, 2025
Incident date: Dec 13, 2025
The cuts off in the Middle of the street in front of a school .The vehicle will not start up.I try to Crank it on vehicle make a loud screeching sound like metal to metal .Dash lights 4wd pop on then a lightning symbol came on.The vehicle wont change gears steering wheel lock ,wheels lock ,The front left turning signal does not work all the other lights do.My wife and I avoided a collision when th... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2025
When in stop and go traffic, almost coming to a complete stop or completely stopped the truck will intermittently have a throttle delay or lag where there is no power for 1-3 seconds followed buy a surge of acceleration. I’ve almost had a couple accidents where in stop and go traffic the truck surged almost Causing me to rear end the vehicle ahead of me. Another time I was stopped at a 2 way unr... Read more
Incident date: Dec 13, 2025
When accelerating from a stop vehicle shutters/perks hard
AUXBEAM
LED HEADLIGHT BULB
(9999) — POWER TRAIN
Dec 13, 2025
Incident date: Dec 13, 2025
The transmission stutters at 20 to 40 mph. Per the Ford dealership in Toledo, Ohio that is a transmission problem and known by the Ford dealerships and Ford manufacture with the Edges. The employee told me that the Fords are known for transmission problems, and the Ford manufacturer has done nothing to fix the issue. I’m wondering why there is not a recall on this and they’re they are not bein... Read more
Incident date: Nov 8, 2025
I have an 2023 L87 engine that could stop functioning at any moment. I'm retired and bought this vehicle as my last truck. I don't feel safe driving it on long trips which is why I bought it. Also the transmission shifts rough from 1st to 2nd when I accelerate. When I inquired about the transmission problem at the dealership the showed me a letter sized notice saying this might be a problem. But ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 30, 2025
My vehicle has always been jerky, lagging to accelerate, limp, giving the shift solenoid code error.
Incident date: Jun 13, 2025
Transmission failed, metal shavings in the system
Incident date: Nov 3, 2025
Reduced engine power. Car will not accelerate over 35 mph. Almost rear ended. Will be the second time in dealer for same problem. Also, Shift to Park. Also second time at dealer for same problems. You cannot get out of car until you keep moving the shifting handle.
Incident date: Nov 26, 2025
My car is BROKEN DOWN COMPLETELY. I take care of it extremely well! The transmission went. Out of no where. This needs to be apart of the recall for Transmission Software may Result in Pulley Damage. I’ve had to get the brakes and rotors completely replaced twice in a year and they need to be done AGAIN already. That’s not normal, for brakes to wear that fast. The electric seats do not work an... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2016) — POWER TRAIN
Dec 13, 2025
Incident date: Dec 10, 2025
At around 107,000 miles, we started hearing griding/whining noises from the engine compartment. After multiple inspections from 3 different auto shops a Toyota dealership confirmed the transmission and transfer case had failed and needed to be completely replaced. There were NO warning lamps, messages or other symptoms besides the griding/whinig noise prior to the failure. After the Toyota deale... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2020) — POWER TRAIN
Dec 13, 2025
Incident date: Dec 12, 2025
The failure involves the component covered under the active safety recall campaign. The affected part/system is still installed on the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request by the manufacturer, dealership, or NHTSA. Recall number : 23V6552 While driving in traffic, the vehicle suddenly began to slow down without warning, started jerking, and lost normal operation. I was forced to p... Read more
Incident date: Nov 23, 2025
While driving at approximately 65 mph on I-35 in moderate traffic, my vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of motive power. I was positioned in the far-left passing lane at the time of the incident. A vague notification message appeared on the dashboard screen; however, there was no accompanying audible warning tone to alert me to the severity of the issue before power was lost. The fai... Read more
Incident date: Sep 2, 2024
While driving under normal conditions, my 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Hybrid experienced a sudden and severe loss of propulsion. The vehicle abruptly entered fail-safe (limp) mode and would not accelerate beyond approximately 5–10 mph. This occurred without warning and created an immediate safety hazard in traffic. Multiple warning messages illuminated simultaneously, including: Hybrid System Ma... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2017) — POWER TRAIN
Dec 13, 2025
Incident date: Dec 13, 2025
Transmission issues since 85k miles, park to shift sensor error since owned, rear ideoendent suspension bolts were stripped needed alignment. Car has not performed since ownership.
Incident date: Dec 13, 2025
When starting to accelerate, the automatic transmission shifts hart into second or third gear, and sometime has no power, like it is idling for 5 to 7 seconds before engaging. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by Quirk Ford of Augusta, Maine who said I must have had a faulty transmission from the factory. The safety issue is hesitation from the occasional loss of power during the har... Read more
CHEVROLET
MONTE CARLO
(2004) — POWER TRAIN
Dec 13, 2025
Incident date: Nov 19, 2025
Purchased a used 2020 Toyota CH-R at Fairless Motors in the Philadelphia, PA area. As I was driving homw, noise at front right began. Took to mechanic as per dealer's request and was diagnosed with a transmission failure that required a complete replacement at $11,500. I purchased the car for $20,000, only drove it for one day and am now stuck making $500 per month payments for a car that does ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 11, 2025
-10-speed 10R80 transmission in 2019 F150 it felt unsafe (jerking, loss of power) -takes a long time for truck to get up in speed after making a stop -vehicle has been inspected by a shop -truck has not showed any warning lamps
Incident date: Dec 11, 2025
Transmission pauses from 1st and 2nd gear. Causing to have no acceleration from a stop. Can cause safety issue to accelerate while pulling in front of traffic. Truck has been to the dealer. Dealer says no codes triggered but the pausing still persists and is only getting worse. Truck has been doing it since around 30,000 miles. Truck currently has 36,760 miles.
Incident date: Dec 11, 2025
In June 2025 and again in December 2025, when my truck stopped at a Red Traffic Light and I applied my brakes to stop the vehicle, my two rear wheels/tires started to spin rapidly non-stop for 60 seconds or the duration of the traffic light, causing a great deal of smoke and noise. My truck acted like a "Drag Racing" machine on a short track revving its engine and spinning its tires for a very sho... Read more
Incident date: Dec 12, 2025
When slowing down and then accelerating OR coming to a stop on an incline and then gassing it, the truck will stall for 1-2 seconds and then launch off. This has almost caused a wreck multiple times as I get stuck in the roadway for 1-2 seconds before being able to cross the lane and complete my turn. The dealership has said they've heard of the issue but could not duplicate it. No dashboard li... Read more
Incident date: Oct 31, 2025
I began hearing an intermittent moderate grinding sound seeming to come from the center of the vehicle just below my console while driving for about the last month's time. On some days, I would not hear the noise at all. On [XXX] I pulled onto a road and when on the road heard a loud clunk then head continuous grinding sounds. I believe it to be a failure of the PTU. I had an issue of a more c... Read more
Incident date: Oct 31, 2025
The fuel delivery system, specifically the fuel pump, has malfunctioned. This vehicle is subject to a fuel pump safety recall, which was reportedly repaired in 2022; however, the vehicle continues to experience the same failure symptoms and is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has stalled multiple times at highway speeds, resulting in sudden loss of power while driving and creatin... Read more
Incident date: Dec 12, 2025
Vehicle periodically fails to accelerate from a stop. Causing a 2-3 second delay in throttle response. This has been happening since new.
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2023) — POWER TRAIN
Dec 12, 2025
Incident date: Dec 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly hard downshifted. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was hesitating while driving the rest of the drive. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The dealer performed an 8-speed transmissi... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Dec 12, 2025
Throttle lag or hesitation after a stop, and is more frequent after stopping on an incline.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
When at a stop, pushing the gas pedal to go, the truck hesitates. Almost like the truck dies then all of the sudden takes off. I have had multiple instances were i was almostnT-boned. Dealer said that is normal for a vehicle with turbos. We don't experience this with my wife's Kia. No warning lights appear. Just to be clear the truck hesitates at almost every stop when trying to accelerate.
Incident date: May 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V896000 (POWER TRAIN), 25V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), and 25V729000 (VISIBILITY). The dealer was contacted. However, parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The manufacturer was contacted; however, the phone call was dropped five times. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Incident date: Sep 12, 2025
Clicking noises when turning. Turning left worse than right. Sounds like bad CV joints. Car only has 13,000 miles on it.
Incident date: Dec 2, 2025
4x4 automatically engages and disengages after the 6.2 engine recall replacement. Dealerships has no solution to the matter. This makes the truck stop operating at normal 2wd speed and limits the turning radius of the truck since it changes to 4wd
Incident date: Dec 2, 2025
I am filing an official safety complaint regarding my 2015 Ford Explorer Sport 3.5L due to a dangerous and sudden power-steering failure that occurred while I was driving with my children in the vehicle. There were no warning lights, alerts, or symptoms leading up to the failure. The power steering went out instantly and without any indication that something was wrong. The moment it failed, the st... Read more