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: Mar 4, 2026
Bad steering rack for 2019 Atlas VW. No recall announced but multiple vehicles having similar issues nationwide. Car has always had a small vibration in the steering and over time it has steadily gotten worst. I recently added new tires and an alignment. the problem is mechanical in nature and presents an extreme safety risk to the vehicle. The vehicle has been looked at multiple times in the past... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2026
In January 2025, Covert Ford [XXX] ) performed a federally mandated PCM recall repair via their mobile service unit. Immediately upon completion, my check engine light (CEL) cam e on. Prior to this service, the vehicle had zero warning lights, fault codes, or symptoms of any kind. The CEL appeared directly and exclusively following the recall work. The timeline is unambiguous. In March 2025, I re... Read more
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2022) — POWER TRAIN
May 2, 2026
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
NHTSA Recall Number23V896. The bolt on my shaft has been broken for 9 MONTHS. Ford and Dealer giving me the run around. PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE!!!.
Incident date: Apr 29, 2026
I have a 2018 Ford F-150 Platinum Truck. The truck began hard shifting and jolting the truck while slowing down or speeding up. Threw codes P2707/P2708 (F-clutch solenoid); the CDF played part in this issue. I lost several gears (to include gears 1-3, 5, 7, and 9 in drive, and reverse) WHILE driving. This was extremely dangerous and I needed a follow vehicle to stay at a safe distance to escort my... Read more
Incident date: Apr 19, 2026
There is a recall on my year model 2017 Mercedes E3 hundred 4matic for the steering column shift module, but I’m being told that my specific vin was not included, but it is having the exact issues as the recall while driving the shift lever will not leave drive to go into reverse. It will only go to park. It refuses shift commands. If I shut the engine off and turn it back on sometimes it will a... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
On April 13, 2026, I arrived home and parked the vehicle, engaging the traditional shifter into the "Park" position and turning off the engine. After exiting and standing on the ground to retrieve a purse from the cabin, the vehicle spontaneously and rapidly began reversing. As the vehicle gained momentum, I was struck by the driver-side door, which knocked me down and resulted in the vehicle ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Nov 4, 2025
Engine failure. Not available for inspection. Engine replaced and damaged engine return for core charge. While driving on the highway, without any for warning, engine stalled, loss of power and dash read “emissions system problem “. Vehicle was towed to Honda of Denton for diagnostic testing. The engine stalling and loss of power at highway speeds caused a great risk for my family in the van... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2026
p1326, rod bearing failure and seizure of motor without warning.
Incident date: Mar 28, 2026
while driving ,the vehicle just shuts off while in motion, then dashboard lights come and message says if you want to start vehicle step on brake and push button , but once I push the button it struggles to start. Mechanic ran a diagnostic test and said its the power train control module that is under a recall on other jeeps but not mine.
Incident date: May 1, 2026
My vehicle has an open PTU recall and when driving down the road my vehicle completely lost power was unable to drive or put vehicle in park in the middle of a turn which resulted in on coming traffic coming towards my vehicle. There were no injuries thankfully. My car was towed to the Jeep dealership in Anchorage, AK to have the PTU recall done as that was the suspected reasoning of the failure. ... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2026
Motor suddenly failed after a required update while driving, nearly causing a crash with multiple commercial vehicles and pedestrians, leaving brake lights dangerously always on and alarm sounding, killed 12v as well.
Incident date: May 31, 2025
Sluggish engine, delayed engine engagement, delayed throttle response. Engine noise under acceleration. My safety is being put at risk when pulling out into oncoming traffic on the highway, engine is not shifting, vehicle not moving as fast as it should. Technical Expert sent out by Arbitrator with the BBB Autoline who confirmed multiple issues with the engine. Vehicle has been to Nissan dealershi... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2026
Transmission valve body failed while driving on highway.
Incident date: Apr 29, 2026
On 7/25 I responded to the Recall & drove my 2021 Ford Eco-Sport vehicle into dealership due to1st Recall regarding the "Front Half Shaft" where there is obvious contact with transmission. However, the maintenance receipt showed passed inspection. Yet again, I received the 2nd Recall regarding the "Oil Pump Drive Belt/Tensioner" I responded to the notice & drove it to the dealership on March 26 ex... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2026
The vehicle experienced a sudden and violent downshift while driving, causing a severe jolt to the drivetrain. Following this incident, the transmission entered a 'Limp Mode' and remained stuck in 2nd gear, refusing to upshift to any higher gears. This made it impossible to maintain normal traffic speeds, creating a significant safety hazard on public roads. The vehicle is now effectively inoperab... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2017) — POWER TRAIN
May 1, 2026
Incident date: May 1, 2026
The ecoboost 2.0 engine allowed coolant to intrude into the block. The engine misfires, runs rough, and had the potential to allow large amount of coolant into the cylinder resulting in complete engine stoppage. The safety of the driver and those around the driver are at risk when the engine shuts off. The engine has been inspected by an independent service center. Yes, the engine light illuminat... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2026
Transmission is hunting for gear when decelerating. Back and forth it tries to change gear. Just started. I have 64,000 miles on the truck. At 22,000 it started shuddering and the fluid was changed which corrected the issue then. At 53,000 the shudder returned and I paid the dealerdealership to replace the torque converter. Now 12,000 miles later I'm having a shifting issue. This Transmissi... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to shift properly when the accelerator was applied. The contact was unaware of any warning lights illuminated at the time of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the power transfer unit and drivetrain had failed and needed to be replaced.... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
The vehicle suddenly stalled while driving on the highway at normal speed without warning. The engine lost power completely, creating a dangerous situation and a risk of collision with surrounding traffic. The vehicle had to be towed to a repair shop, where the issue was diagnosed as engine failure. There were no warning lights or prior symptoms before the incident. This appears to be a serious ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was slipping and hesitated to shift into gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V075000 (Power Train); however, the failure persisted after the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle exp... Read more
Incident date: Apr 17, 2026
In January of 2026, I took my 2021 Ford bronco sport Outer Banks to the dealership because my car had a wrench light come on and it went into limp mode. Supposedly it was fixed and now it is April 2026 and my car went into limp mode again, it would not shift in the park and would not start and now the dealership is telling me that there’s transmission issues but from what I’ve read, there is c... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into park and failed to shut off. There was a shift to a park error message displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a contact issue in the transmission box. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 91,355.
Incident date: Oct 28, 2024
The torque converter has been going since before I bought this vehicle. When the RPMs are between one and two, the entire vehicle starts shaking and there is no acceleration. This is a huge safety concern, especially with traffic.
Incident date: May 1, 2026
I had been hearing a humming noise for around a year and when reported to the dealer I was told that the rear electric motor had to be replaced. I had been researching online about this issue and apparently, is something a lot of Solterra owner have gone through. After a week of the car at the dealer, Subaru still doesn't approve the repairs that should be under Power Train guarantee. Should thi... Read more
Incident date: Apr 28, 2026
I was driving my 2018 Chevy Volt at about 30 mph on EV mode. The battery was at 50%, the car was performing normally. Then the battery jumped to 100%, the check engine light came on, and the vehicle lost power. I was in rush hour traffic and unable to get the vehicle to go faster than 5-10 mph. I switched to "normal" mode to engage the gasoline engine, hoping this would help but it did not... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
A well known issue with the torque converter failing due to poor manufacturing and design. Allowing debris to enter the filter system due to the torque converter falling apart. Causing astronomical amounts in repair costs
KIA
CARNIVAL HYBRID
(2025) — POWER TRAIN
May 1, 2026
Incident date: Apr 27, 2025
The issue is a dangerous hesitation during low-speed rolling acceleration. In real-world driving, when I slow down but do not come to a full stop — such as when merging, changing lanes, entering traffic, crossing an intersection, or rolling through a turn — the gasoline engine can shut off while the truck is still moving. When I then press the accelerator to re-enter traffic or move quickly ou... Read more
Incident date: Mar 30, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the lost motive power and inadvertently shifted to park (P). Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The transmission failed to shift out of park (P). The contact stated that the failure occurred twice. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to duplica... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
On April 15, 2026, I brought my 2018 Ford Edge SEL to an authorized Ford dealership with a loud rattling noise at startup and an illuminated check engine light. Ford Motor Company had previously sent me two written notices (September 2022 and June 2023) identifying a known cracked flexplate defect on my vehicle under Customer Satisfaction Program 22N12, describing these exact symptoms. The defect ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2026
CV joint failure/noise observed during low-speed turns. Clicking/popping sound from front axle area. Issue appears to worsen over time and may impact drivability and safety.
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2021) — POWER TRAIN
May 1, 2026
Incident date: Apr 30, 2026
The transmission failed after 56,000 miles. Based on the research this UA80 transmission has a lot of problems and Toyota has issued TBS and even extended warranty for the previous year models in the past. The transmission failed right after the time allowance for the 5 years 60,000 mile powertrain warranty, but within the mileage.
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
The transmission of the 2021 Suburban failed. While operating the vehicle down a state highway, out of nowhere the power was reduced significantly while in traffic. It would not go over 30 MPH after forcing itself to 30 MPH while driving down the busy highway. After struggling to find a safe place to park, the vehicle would not, and still will not, go into reverse. There were no warning lights of ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2025
This is the 2nd time the transmission has went on this vehicle. First time was 12/2022 when my son was on his way home from [XXX] to [XXX] from school. Towed to Ford in MA. Ford stated there was a recall on the TCM. Vin did not fall under the recall. Thank god we had Mechanical breakdown with Geico. Had transmission repaired. April 29, 2026, car will not go in reverse or forward once again!... Read more
Incident date: Apr 30, 2026
After recall 68c was completed the electric only power is way down. They did not fix the battery, they just reduced performance to try and minimize the risk and save them from replacing the defective part. This is not a fix but a fundamental change in the cars functionality as bought and is not acceptable.
Incident date: May 1, 2026
I purchased my truck brand new in July 2022 from Auto Saver Ford in New York. Roughly between 5000 and 10,000 miles at a certain speed the 10 R 80 transmission in my truck would unexpectedly violently slam into a lower gear, causing my truck immediately go to a slower speed, and that I was not ready for. I brought it back multiple times to the dealership under warranty. They told me they fixed the... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds, the vehicle lost motive power. The message "Place Vehicle in Park - Press Brake to Restart" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mile... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the instrument panel became inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated that upon shifting from reverse(R) to drive(D), the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was restarted and shifted to drive(D), and the vehicle responded as intended. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The manufa... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2021) — POWER TRAIN
May 1, 2026
Incident date: May 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V512000(POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2026
Failed PTU is signaling AWD service light. Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk 2014 Later Trims have recalled failure Jeep won't go over 25mph without shaking. Sounds are grinding. Very dangerous to drive
KIA
CARNIVAL HYBRID
(2025) — POWER TRAIN
May 1, 2026
Incident date: Apr 29, 2026
I was driving down the highway, and the dash started to flash a message about the vehicle being unsafe to drive, stop driving immediately, call dealer. I was able to stop and then turn left across traffic with limited power; and continued to make my way back to work thinking I could probably get to my parking lot. The dash continued to display warning lights, starting with brake failure, then par... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2021) — POWER TRAIN
May 1, 2026
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
Transmission shifts hard and downshifts with a huge clunk. Jerking the vehicle very big known issue for these trucks and am extremely low miles. Under 50k miles A bad safety issue and huge repair bill for the consumer.
Incident date: Mar 28, 2026
I am the 2nd owner of my 2016 Ford Escape 1.6L ecoboost, my aunt and uncle were the original owners. Between us we have every maintenance record of every on time and professionally performed requirement the Escape has needed and it ran beautifully. Then, in February 2026 the idle started to get a bit rough and I was preparing to put in the OEM sparkplugs when 3/28/26 the engine overheated, I was s... Read more
Incident date: Apr 17, 2026
I was pulling into a parking spot almost stopped when the vehicle suddenly surged forward. I slammed on the brake and put the car in reverse since it had driven upon the walkway. This happened earlier today and I plan to have it checked out as soon as possible . Never have had this problem before, no warning lights or messages.
Incident date: Apr 19, 2026
Transmission started shifting erratically, clunking, downshifting from 10th gear to 3rd gear driving at 50 mph. Jumps from 1 to 3 then hesitates every gear after
Incident date: Nov 20, 2025
I have 130,000 miles on my 2021 Ford Bronco sport. With no warning I'm unable to put vehicle in gear. I attempt to put the car into drive, then reverse and it will not go. The gear gets stuck in park, but unable to park, The car instructs me to intiated emergency park with many warning lights appearing. when driving it jerks , make grinding noises, and I even lost momentum. Ford said the help lin... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2023
Vehicle Component Failure Description: The electronic gear shifter intermittently shifts into neutral without the driver pressing the release button or applying the brake, and can also slide back into drive without button engagement. This has occurred multiple times since service on 08/27/2025 and continues to occur. The issue has been demonstrated to dealership personnel, who confirmed they cou... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2026
Sunroof exploded Would not go into drive or neutral Lost all power going 75mph going down highway Brake went all the way down to floor and shuts off wouldn’t start back up for about 5 min Was stuck in reverse world not go into drive until I shutdown vehicle and waited a few minutes on a busy street And then today lock/unlock button was opening and locking while driving down street and scree... Read more
Incident date: Nov 28, 2025
Driving my 2012 dodge ram 3500, just as I was crossing one of the busiest intersections in my town my truck lost all power and dropped from 35mph to 5 mph. Barley made it acrossed and pulled over. As soon as I pulled over the engine light comes on, checked code, and U010C lost coms with turbo actuator comes up. Turned truck off and rest code and everything back to normal. About a week later it hap... Read more
TRIUMPH
ROCKET 3 GT
(2020) — POWER TRAIN
Apr 30, 2026
Incident date: Apr 23, 2026
While traveling South on [XXX] toward [XXX] , the vehicle suffered a sudden and catastrophic internal failure of the CVT transmission. This resulted in an immediate and dangerous loss of motive power while in motion on a busy roadway. My husband (who was driving at the time) was forced to manually push the vehicle off the road with the assistance of a police officer to avoid a collision. A subse... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2026
The primary failure is the engine assembly and turbocharger, specifically caused by the failure of the oil pump drive belt and tensioner system (subject of Safety Recall 23S64 / NHTSA 23V-905). Despite an attempted recall "remedy" on August 25, 2025, the engine suffered internal oil starvation due to belt debris (rubber fibers) remaining in the oil passages. The dealership has confirmed in writing... Read more