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 137,132 complaints - component: POWER TRAIN
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2015) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 5, 2026
Incident date: Jul 15, 2026
A P0741 warning light comes on and off leading driver to believe the problem is intermittent when in fact it is a torque converter failed. The intermittent nature of the warning light could lead drivers to believe the problem is not a safety issue, particularly on a SUV with only 105,000 miles. However, when a converter fails it is definitely a safety issue.
Incident date: Jun 12, 2025
On May 10, 2026, my 2016 Ford F-150 (6R80 transmission) went into limp mode and displayed a wrench warning light while driving. The truck lost normal transmission function and would not shift properly, creating a hazardous situation in traffic. The PCM has stored active Output Shaft Speed sensor codes P0720 and P0722, confirmed by a Paul Miller Ford IDS diagnostic scan, indicating a failing molde... Read more
FORD
FUSION HYBRID
(2018) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 5, 2026
Incident date: Jul 20, 2026
While driving (end of June 2026) at 55 mph, my truck downshifted and slowed immediately cause the tires to lose traction before shifting back and regaining control. My truck was brought to a local shop as it was unsafe to drive. The shop said the lead frame needed to be replaced and we did. I then received recall information for NHTSA recall 26V237. I attempted to be reimbursed for the lead fr... Read more
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2023) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 5, 2026
Incident date: Aug 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated and failed to properly accelerate. The service transmission and service fuel management system messages were displayed, and the check engine warning light was flashing with several other unknown warnings illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and while ... Read more
TOYOTA
RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2025) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 5, 2026
Incident date: Aug 1, 2026
I am receiving a shift to park warning message when vehicle is in park and is turned off.
Incident date: Jul 23, 2026
I was driving home from vacation on I-77 in Virginia, and felt large jolt and heard several clicking type noises. Two separate service engine lights immediately came on the dashboard, and I was able to safely pull over. I had my vehicle towed to a nearby dealership to be looked at by a mechanic. The mechanic indicated the existence of safety recall notice 26S48/(NHTSA 26V402). I spoke with the... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2026
Shuddering and loss of acceleration/vehicle slowed on its own while driving on the highway. Managed to get to Firestone and diagnostic codes P0776 and P0841 came up. Advised to take vehicle to dealer shop as work could not be done on CVT there. Car was towed to Nissan Bonney Road Virginia Beach. Transmission replacement recommended and my car only has 53,000 miles on it but is outside the 84 month... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE L
(2022) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 5, 2026
Incident date: Aug 4, 2024
My 2020 ford Explorer had several issues with the hill assist, TCM control, power train malfunctions, it shifted very hard between first and second gear, at times it felt like it wouldn't accelerate at all and would pop into gear at higher speeds. I took it to Family Ford of Enfield several times for repairs which never fixed the overall problem. After several times at Family Ford of Enfield, I ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 5, 2026
On July 30, my 2022 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon suffered an extremely dangerous, unexpected complete electrical and engine failure while in operation. The vehicle abruptly shut down without any warning, causing an immediate loss of power steering and power braking. Prior to and during this shutdown, diagnostic codes associated with lost communication were triggered, (Lost Communication with Transmissio... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
After driving for awhile, stopped in a store for a minute and came out and my van barely started. Made my next stop a minute down the road, and when I came out the car wouldnt turn over. Let it sit for a minute and still heard the start click once and nothing. Let it sit for 10 15 mins then tried to start it and it worked. Had battery and alternator tested at Auto Parts store and both ok. After re... Read more
Incident date: Aug 5, 2026
Started with only 320 miles just days after purchasing this new 2026 RAM 3500 on XXX. I have taken the truck to three differ RAM dealerships as this issue continues to occur. [XXX]; [XXX]; and [XXX] Westside all had attempted to fix the issue. I had to return the truck a number of times to [XXX] and [XXX] for the same reasons. The following warmings messages are displayed: FCW/Cruise Control Unav... Read more
Incident date: Aug 4, 2026
I live on a busy road on top of a hill. When leaving the truck will often hesitate leaving me with a heavy loss of acceleration. I’ve I been in numerous situations were I was almost rear ended! The truck will also jolt you when it shifts like hitting a wall.
Incident date: Jul 25, 2026
Was driving my vehicle roughly 10-15mph after a stop, noticed vehicle wasn’t shifting into the gears properly as it was only in 2nd gear and the RPMs kept climbing, when it finally shifted into 3rd gear my transmission proceeded to lockup cause my rear tires to skid and stop in the middle of traffic and in the middle of an intersection disrupting the flow of traffic. Vehicle displayed a wrench l... Read more
Incident date: Jun 3, 2026
My 2023 Kia Sportage EX Hybrid has experienced repeated engine-related failures since October 2022, requiring multiple dealer repairs. The safety issue escalated in 2026 when the vehicle experienced sudden loss of acceleration while driving on highways. In April/May 2026, the vehicle lost acceleration twice within approximately 10–15 minutes. Warning messages appeared, including Check Engine Lig... Read more
Incident date: Jun 4, 2026
I'm losing power than normal all of a sudden. When I step on the gas after light hits green in sport and sport plus mode my car losses traction even when traction control is on, and I hear a loud clunck sound. After the the loud clunck sound the car losses RPM while driving I step off the gas and step back on it and the RPM goes back to normal again.
HYUNDAI
TUCSON HYBRID
(2025) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 4, 2026
Incident date: Aug 3, 2026
I bought my f150 a year ago. now I’m experiencing timing issues, Vvt solenoid failure (all four) . Loss of power, limp mode, failure to shift etc … I’ve had several mechanics look at it .
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
The transmission failed. The dealership computer identified the failure with Safety Recall 236.
LAND ROVER
DEFENDER
(2021) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 4, 2026
Incident date: Aug 4, 2026
My 2017 Genesis G80 3.8L, VIN [XXX], has approximately 43,840 miles and intermittently slips or shifts improperly between approximately third and fifth gears while driving and causes harsh jolts forward. Jenkins Genesis confirmed the condition, stated that the transmission was slipping from the 3–5 clutch area, and recommended complete transmission replacement. The malfunction is unpredictable ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 22, 2026
I received notice over a year ago that the engine in my Lexus was defective and failure could cause damage, injury or death because the engine would seize up. We drive in rural areas, often outside of cell service. We are [XXX] and to be stranded, especially at night, would be very dangerous. I have made several calls to dealers and Lexus in Plano, and no one is willing to do anything about the... Read more
Incident date: Jul 27, 2026
PTU failure at 62000 miles. There is a recall for the exact issue on the exact part for 2019 to 2025 Jeep Cherokees but this one, as well as several thousand others, somehow do not fall under this recall. Why? From what the dealer told us this is a “critical safety issue that could result in serious injury or death” so why would this not be a recall along with the 60000+ other ones? Dealer to... Read more
Incident date: Jul 27, 2026
The contact's son owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his son was driving 15 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to 1st gear, causing the rear wheels to lock up and the vehicle to skid toward the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the contact's workplace. The vehicle was towed to a transmission specialist, where the failure was associated ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
On July 23, 2026, the transmission failed. I was driving for a weekend getaway (4.5 hrs from my home) and the transmission jerked extremely hard three times and I lost control of the car. I was driving through the mountains at 8pm. The RPM was in the red zone, even though my speed was fairly low. The car would not go into Park or Reverse. I took the car to HONOR GMC for diagnostic and they to... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2025
While driving the vehicle the minivan will lose all acceleration. There is usually a preceding error displayed on the dashboard to pull over immediately. The dealership has thus far been unable to fix it.
Incident date: Aug 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted from 5th gear to 2nd gear with the WRENCH icon displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (POWER TRAIN). After the software update was performed, the vehicle continued to intermittently experience... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions and attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle continued to roll forward several inches with the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard. The vehicle also unintendedly rolled forward... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the torque converter, flex plate, and transmission fluid pump were inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was informed that the veh... Read more
Incident date: Jul 26, 2026
Power tranfer unit failed and needs to be replaced. Dealer confirmed. Service 4wd light came on prior to taking it in for service. PTU failures can cause sudden loss of propulsion, drivetrain binding, hesitation, or rollaway while parked, all of which can lead to accidents and damage. This is a known and common occurrence in 2017-2023 Jeep vehicles and somehow it still takes forever for them to g... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2026
THROTTLE LAG With the 2026 Mercedes CLE 300, throttle lag is driven by a combination of software programming, transmission behavior, and turbocharger dynamics working simultaneously.The following situation is when it usually occurs:Transitioning from a slow roll up a ramp (like the parking ramp at my condo) or pulling away from an intersection or traffic light or stop sign, you can catch the power... Read more
Incident date: May 30, 2026
ENGINE SPUTTERING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. RECALL IS STILL NOT RESOLVED REGARDING COMPUTER UPDATE AT THIS TIME AND DEALERSHIP SAID NO CODE NO REPAIR FOR OVER A YEAR. NOW I MUST REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE ISSUE MANY TSB ISSUED FOR THE POWERTRAIN ISSUE.
Incident date: Jun 7, 2026
I was exiting the freeway, and as I was turning off of the freeway onto a side street, at approximately 20mph, my vehicle did not respond to throttle input, and left me slowing to a stop in the middle of a busy intersection. I had to shift my vehicle into neutral and then back into drive, to get it to respond to throttle input. When I slow down at intersections, turn and then attempt to throttle m... Read more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2026
On June 18, 2026, while my nearly new 2026 Cadillac Escalade ESV was being driven on the Ohio Turnpike, the vehicle unexpectedly entered reduced-power or limp mode, lost propulsion, shut off, and would not restart. The vehicle had approximately 2,234 miles. The sudden loss of propulsion and engine shutdown occurred in active highway traffic and created a serious risk of a collision. The vehicle h... Read more
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2021) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 4, 2026
Incident date: Oct 1, 2025
My transmission started to have a noticeable whine at 53k miles. It became noticeably louder during acceleration. It was diagnosed at the Toyota dealership as a failing transmission. My vehicle was a few months out of warranty. I was told to contact Toyota corporate to ask for assistance. I was told since I did not have a service record at the dealership, they would deny my claim. I advised t... Read more
CADILLAC
ESCALADE ESV
(2026) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 4, 2026
Incident date: Jun 18, 2026
I was driving and came to a four-way stop. When I accelerated from the stop, I heard a loud snapping noise and immediately lost the ability to drive the vehicle, although the engine continued to run normally. After inspecting the vehicle, it appears that the CV axle failed due to extensive rust and deterioration. While researching repair options, I discovered that a recall was issued for certain ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted and became stuck in a lower gear before shifting into the intended gear. The powertrain warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where DTC: P0705, P0706, P0707, and P1702 were retrieved, indicating a powertrain control modu... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
Third transmission failure in 10 months on this vehicle (8-speed automatic). (1) Oct 2025, 67,885 miles: transmission shuddering; dealer replaced the complete transmission with a GM remanufactured unit under extended warranty (RO 240481, Nucar Lannan Chevrolet of Woburn, MA). (2) Jul 2026, 82,439 miles: vehicle would not shift on the highway while driving; DTC P2824 stored; dealer replaced the tra... Read more
Incident date: Jul 14, 2026
Electronic Throttle Control warning light comes on upon starting vehicle while extended crank occurs. When starting car, the push to start feature will not turn over and continuously cranks multiple times. Issue is intermittent- never know when it will happen which makes it difficult to replicate at service center. Took car into 2 mechanics on separate occasions and finally to the Jeep dealership... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
GLK350
(2013) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 4, 2026
Incident date: Jul 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); 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 that while the vehicle was in park(P), the 4WD warning light illuminated. The dealer wa... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
My 2023 MDX Type S is currently at Mungenast St Louis Acura. Transfer Case and Transmission are both being replaced at roughly 56,000 miles. I made a turn and heard a loud noise. Because I was under acceleration my car was hard to control when it happened. Scared me and immediately let off the gas.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
While accelerating from a complete stop at a traffic light on a multi-lane roadway, the vehicle suddenly lost all engine power without prior warning. The engine RPM dropped immediately to 0, causing the vehicle to stall in the middle of an active intersection and creating an immediate risk of a side-impact collision from oncoming traffic. All warning lights on the instrument cluster illuminated up... Read more
Incident date: Aug 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The contact stated that the power train warning light and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was notified that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 11, 2026
Prior to this incident, the vehicle had no unusual noises, warning lights, or other indications of a drivetrain problem. On 06/18/2026, while driving under normal city driving conditions at approximately 45 mph, we suddenly began hearing a clunking noise coming from the vehicle. We did not know where the noise was coming from at the time, but because it was unusual and appeared to indicate a serio... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle and the vehicle was jerking erratically. The contact stated that the transmission was shifting hard, and the vehicle dr... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2026
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Rear Axle Failure - Dealership has the truck currently How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - It was not Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - Yes Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance... Read more
Incident date: Jul 23, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle hesitated, decelerated unintendedly, and the transmission was slipping. The check engine and the WRENCH Icon warning lights were illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
While driving at highway speeds, with my family in the truck, the 10-speed automatic transmission suddenly and violently executed an uncommanded, unrequested downshift from 9th gear down to 2nd gear. This caused severe, abrupt vehicle deceleration and immediate safety hazard on a public roadway. I was fortunate that no other cars were near me and I was not turning at the time, otherwise it could h... Read more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2026
The Clutch in the Manual Transmission makes a "creaking" noise, and you can feel it when driving too, when depressing the clutch pedal... The creaking noise is annoying, but the feel of the creaking is very distracting when driving the manual transmission, depressing the creaky clutch can distract you from the road because you can feel it; and it only get's worse when left alone. This is a recurri... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2026
Transmission failed. Truck jerks at stop. Transmission went out at 68,000 miles. My dad has a 2019 with same problem and went out at 72,000 miles. Someone needs to hold ford accountable for this. Extended warranty didn't want to pay the full price. Now I am out of pocket $1,800. Going to file a lawsuit against Ford and the extended warranty company
Incident date: Jul 20, 2026
The cv axle is clicking. The out cv boot is torn and leaking grease.
Incident date: Jul 13, 2026
The timing belt/chain is failing on F-150 trucks and multiple people have sent in issues. i think from 2015-2018. It looks like you are already looking at other Fords with same issue. what i was told is that there could be sudden stalling: If the timing is thrown off or the chain snaps, the engine cuts out instantly. Losing power steering and engine power while driving in traffic creates an imme... Read more
Incident date: Aug 4, 2026
Safety recall 25V512 has been open and unfulfilled for nearly a year. The dealer says parts are not available and cannot provide a date when they will be. I can’t believe Ford cannot get parts for a critical recall but can still produce over 1/2 million new trucks annually.