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
Incident date: Jul 31, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the rubber-flexible coupling between the transmission became shredded into pieces and the vehicle swerved off the road. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic, who confirmed that the rubber transmission coupler had failed and needed to be upgraded to the metal ve... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2024
There was premature torque converter failure that’s has taken out the transmission unexpectedly. I was coming from a side street to get onto a main highway and as I left the stop sign the truck stalled upon take off and I was stuck half way on the highway and halfway on the side road. Until it jerked hard back into gear and pulled off. If the torque converter wouldn’t have caught in time then ... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2022) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 4, 2026
Incident date: Jul 27, 2026
While driving normally at approximately 55 mph on the highway, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic, and spontaneous structural failure of the rear driver-side suspension and drivetrain. Without striking any road debris, potholes, or other vehicles, the entire driver-side rear wheel, wheel assembly, and structural axle components completely fractured and ejected from the moving vehicle. An ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jun 15, 2026
I am filing a safety complaint against Scott Stark’s South Point Hyundai for selling me a vehicle with an active open safety recall, a blown transmission, an A/C failure, and a dry-rotted tire. Before returning the car for service under a promised 1,000-mile warranty, my sister, who has worked for Corporate Hyundai for 15 years, helped me conduct a full intake baseline inspection at her dealersh... Read more
Incident date: Oct 13, 2025
Vehicle is experiencing a distinct, high-pitched mechanical whine or grind sound from the transmission during acceleration that increases in pitch with vehicle speed. The noise does not happen while cruising or coasting. This symptom aligns directly with Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0008-21 ('Whine or Grind Noise From Transmission'). I am concerned about a premature, catastrophic interna... Read more
Incident date: Jun 2, 2026
I was driving down the highway when the 3 bolts holding the exhaust under the car broke off. My exhaust was dragging down the highway until I could safely get pulled over. The bolts are welded in of course so you can’t just put new bolts in you have to replace the whole catalytic converter, which is a pain to do unless you take it to the dealer and pay $2000.
Incident date: Aug 3, 2026
My truck has shown wrench on dash multiple times, dropped gear several times suddenly. Less than 10 years old but over 150,000 miles so Ford has agreed to a fix under extended warranty program 26N04. Unfortunately they were allowed to add the phrase whichever comes first. This eliminates me from getting them to fix the cause which is the lead frame module. A PCM will not fix a bad part. This is... Read more
Incident date: Oct 25, 2023
had transmission replaced 2 times and update to transmission. this is a brand new car purchased in 2023. first transmission replaced at 20,963 miles, 2nd replaced at 33,543 miles, 35,221 miles transmission update. It was cumulative 33 out of service. We feel this vehicle is unsafe to drive. Even after all the transmissions replaced om the is vehicle had 2 more incidents. One was loss of power in... Read more
HIGHLAND RIDGE FW
MESA RIDGE
(2022) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 3, 2026
Incident date: Jul 16, 2022
The 10-speed automatic transmission on my 2020 Mustang failed internally at approximately 18,073 miles. The vehicle began shifting harshly at low speeds with an intermittent clunk. While driving, the transmission would slip slightly and then either surge forward or hesitate with a dull thud before engaging. The behavior was unpredictable and worsened over time. No warning lamp ever appeared and n... Read more
Incident date: Jul 18, 2026
I own a 2022 Hyundai Elantra with only 72,000 miles my check engine light came on for the code p048900 for the Egr valve. It is no longer covered by any warranties but other year models have been recalled due to the same issue.
Incident date: Jul 30, 2026
I am experiencing ongoing issues with the 6L80E transmission that have significantly affected the performance and reliability of my vehicle. The transmission shifts harshly between gears, hesitates when accelerating, and occasionally slips before engaging. There is also a noticeable shudder during acceleration and inconsistent shifting, especially at lower speeds. These problems have become more ... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2026
Complete transmission failure at 76,000 miles.
Incident date: Aug 3, 2026
I am filing a safety complaint regarding a recurring, hazardous transmission failure during highway and incline driving (specifically experienced on mountain highway passes in Arkansas). While driving at highway speeds on uphill inclines, the transmission severely hesitates and struggles to downshift under load. When it finally engages, it violently slams into gear. During these episodes, the truc... Read more
Incident date: Aug 2, 2026
My vehicle is having bad shifting and jerking from 1st to 2nd. It has now gotten worse and does the jerking through all gears at 81,000 miles. A certified Ford dealer is doing a diagnosis on it. But Ford wont cover anything as the transmission it has is widely know issue. The CDF drum is only a bulletin no full recall. This issues occures while driving and will shoot up to gear 8 and try to shift ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 2, 2026
My truck shudders when driving. It has 78,000 miles on it. It started shuttering around 73,000 miles. I baby my truck and don't do switch backs or hot rod around.
Incident date: Jun 27, 2025
My 2019 Subaru Ascent Limited had a safety recall that was related to a CVT transmission issue. That safety recall was addressed by Sewell Subaru (Dallas, TX) in January of 2025. This past Wednesday, July 29, I was driving on a state highway on my way to work from my residence. Not even two miles away from my residence, I felt a jerk and a loud "thud". That was followed by loss of power in that th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 26, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Dart. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V674000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Incident date: Jul 23, 2026
In October 2025, FCA issued Recall A0C for the shift cable on my daughter’s 2014 Dodge Dart. Beginning shortly after the recall was announced, we contacted multiple Dodge dealerships on several occasions to have the recall repair performed. Every dealership gave us the same response: the replacement part was unavailable, and we would be contacted when it arrived. We were never contacted, and the... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2019) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 3, 2026
Incident date: Jun 15, 2026
The vehicle since purchase has a delay of a few seconds after hitting the gas pedal to move forward. Once the vehicle does decide to move, it surges to a high rpm before switching to second gear moving forward rather aggressively. This causes the vehicle to be unpredictable and unsafe when making decisions in navigating traffic.
Incident date: Jun 15, 2026
My 2016 Nissan Altima has approximately 68,900 miles. When I am stopped and press the gas pedal, the vehicle sometimes hesitates before it begins moving. It does not accelerate normally, which is dangerous when I am pulling into traffic, crossing an intersection, or making a turn. At other times while driving, the vehicle will not accelerate properly and appears to become stuck in a low gear. The ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2026
Motorcycle was already part of the recall for the shifting to neutral issue. This motorcycle has shifted itself to neutral twice after coming to a stop. Each time I attempted to accelerate after the traffic light became green and was unable to move as I was unaware it was in neutral. I was riding in sport mode with the transmission in automatic mode.
Incident date: Apr 1, 2025
When I drove the car, All most all light on the dashboard are on onthe road, and when I stop and tried to go, the car is somewhat not controled. I immidieatly went to dealership and dignosed P2764 CVT balve problem. And they add wheel bearing is problem. Subaru noticed these problems but my 88,278 mile 2016 forester has all the lights on and it was very scared and it took 4400 dollars for fixing.
Incident date: Aug 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The contact used a fluid cleaner, and the light turned off. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train). The contact called the local dealer, and it was confirmed that th... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2018) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 3, 2026
Incident date: Jun 6, 2026
My transmission gave out for the 3rd time on 8-1-26 as I was driving it slow down while on the highway busy street and studder it only goes into 2nd and 3rd gear when slowing down I can hear things clicking i know its the duel clutch because this is the 3rd time it happen both times it was fixed by a ford dealer. No message prior to problem but when it happen this message showed up " transmission ... Read more
EVENFLO
SHYFT DUALRIDE
(9999) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 3, 2026
Incident date: Jun 6, 2026
2021 Chevy Silverado 5.3 trail boss lifters has failed on this driver two times while driving on highway engine lost power with my family in the vehicle. Dealer warranty fixed lifter the first time lifter went out at 1100 miles. The vehicle has failed again with multiple lifters going out and camshaft needing being replaced also on my extended warranty at 73000 miles. I do not want to take this ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 17, 2026
My vehicle has a recurrent issue with failing front axle assemblies. The vehicle experienced rotational clicking and had both from axle assemblies replaced around 20,000 miles. Around 40,000 miles the clicking returned and toyota has refused to replace the failing axles again. I currently am at 63,000 miles and I won an arbitration case regarding the axles. The arbitration decision ordered toy... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the vehicle. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and upon inspection of the rear passenger’s side wheel end hub bolt, the dealer discovered the bolt was fractured. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 26, 2025
While on a long road trip on a hot day, on the interstate, the car suddenly lost speed and would not accelerate. It was like the car had shifted into neutral. I was coasting on the interstate, steadily slowing, and was forced to pull over to the shoulder. I turned the car off and waited a couple of minutes then turned the car back on. No error messages were displaying at that time. About 5-10 min... Read more
Incident date: Nov 26, 2025
On several occasions, moving the gear selector from Reverse to Drive, the transmission has failed to engage Drive, with the dashboard displaying "D" and the vehicle moving in reverse upon throttle application. Fortunately, objects, pets or pedestrians were not present behind the vehicle during the occurrences. The dealership was unable to duplicate the condition and found no software updates or o... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2022
Vehicle Information: Year: 2014 Make: Ford Model: F-150 Component: Power Train (Transmission / Powertrain Control Module) Dealership Involved:Midway Motors Ford, 2075 E Kansas Ave, McPherson, KS 67460 Complaint Description:I am filing a formal safety complaint against Ford Motor Company and Midway Motors Ford in McPherson, KS, for failing to provide a free remedy under active federal safety reca... Read more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2026
I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2023 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly does not accelerate for up to 3 seconds while pressing the gas pedal, brakes either harshly or too soft at varying times, and very irregularly. This occurred while accelerating onto the highway, and almost ever... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2026
OEM transmission had to be replaced 3 years after new purchase. Replacement transmission installed at Ford dealership has failed after less then 2 years. About to have third transmission installed.
Incident date: Jul 8, 2026
The transmission on this vehicle has started to make a whining noise from the transmission which is consistent with the symptoms of a failing transmission pump cover under recall S44. If this were to fail while driving it can lead to a serious or fatal accident. I have not yet taken the vehicle in to be serviced as I am trying to work with the manufacturer first. There were no indicators prior to... Read more
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2016) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 3, 2026
Incident date: Jul 29, 2026
I acquired a 2015 Nissan Rogue, but it seems the transmission has failed. Interestingly, the transmission is identified as a 2014 model within the 2015 vehicle. I reached out to the dealership for clarification on whether the transmission had been replaced, but I received no assistance. Discussions in a Nissan forum reveal that this issue is common among Nissan vehicles, yet there is no official r... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while accelerating from a stop or while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked and lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The message “Transmission Fluid Low” was displayed. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The VIN was not under recall. The vehic... Read more
Incident date: Jul 26, 2026
Incident Description: The vehicle entered an Auto Idle Stop event at a traffic light and stalled completely instead of restarting when the brake pedal was released. The red battery warning light illuminated, and the vehicle had to be shifted into Park and the ignition key cycled multiple times to eventually achieve a slow, sluggish crank and engine restart in active traffic. Another vehicle was al... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2024
I own a 2022 Jeep Wagoneer with the 5.7L HEMI eTorque system. The vehicle has lost all power while being driven on two separate occasions. The first occurred on October 22, 2025, on a major interstate. The second occurred on January 30, 2026, on a state highway. In both cases the engine shut off without warning while the vehicle was in motion, with my wife and four children aboard. Power steering... Read more
Incident date: May 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the message “Service 4-Wheel Drive” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who confirmed that the Power Transfer Unit had failed. The failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failur... Read more
BMW
IX XDRIVE45
(2026) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 3, 2026
Incident date: Jul 30, 2026
Manufacturer Recall Number25TB06 NHTSA Recall Number25V322 In regards to the above mentioned recalls. The vehicle's reverse camera began flashing while driving forward. The R light on the gearshift was also flashing. While driving forward about 15 mph out of a parking lot, the vehicle suddenly went into reverse on it's own, locked up and would not move. I had to have the vehicle towed to the deal... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2020) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 3, 2026
Incident date: Jul 22, 2026
The car will randomly start shuttering and powering down without warning. Every light imaginable on the dash is illuminated along with various pop up warnings on the DIC. When this occurs, the car will not move under its own power and it loses its ability to brake entirely. I was in the middle of an intersection this last time, thankfully a police officer was near and directed traffic around me un... Read more
Incident date: Jul 12, 2026
Transmission failure with no electronic warning or codes. Hard shifting was identified while under warranty but because no codes were present no action was taken to correct the issue.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2026
I own a 2021 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk that is included in the PTU safety recall involving sudden loss of motive power and/or loss of the PARK function. My vehicle began exhibiting the exact symptoms of this recall in April 2026 and has been undrivable since that time. The recall was announced in May 2026, but Stellantis has still not provided a repair remedy. As of today, my vehicle has been out of... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to a low gear. The check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated after the first failure. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, restarted, and the contact continued driving. The contact stated that during the ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2026
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The transmission and drivetrain system appear to be defective. The vehicle repeatedly experiences hard shifting, transmission shudder, hesitation during acceleration, delayed engagement when shifting into gear, and erratic gear changes. These problems occur during normal driving and have progressive... Read more
TOYOTA
COROLLA CROSS
(2023) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 3, 2026
Incident date: Aug 3, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while merging onto a two-lane highway, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle lost motive power but was driven in LIMP Mode to the nearest dealer. Prior to the failure, the contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V290000 (Power Train); however, the part ... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2021
I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly downshifted hard, with a jolt that shook the whole truck, then went into emergency limp mode, where I had to pull over to the shoulder, on Interstate 240 in heavy traffic. I was attempting to accelerate to merg... Read more
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2022) - POWER TRAIN
Aug 3, 2026
Incident date: Aug 3, 2026
The vehicle experienced an uncommanded, severe downshift from 5th gear directly into 1st gear while traveling at approximately 45 mph on a public road. This caused sudden, violent engine braking and an immediate drop in speed, creating an extreme rear-end collision hazard and potential loss of vehicle control. This vehicle previously received the PCM software update under Ford Safety Recall 24S37... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal sound while downshifting, with a loud boom coming from the ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission failed to properly shift gears and the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH while driving. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift above third gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who discovered that there... Read more
Incident date: Jul 4, 2026
I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2022 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission FAILS TO ENGAGE AT SLOW SPEEDS, THROTTLE WILL NOT RESPOND FOR UP TO 8 SECONDS This creates a potentially dangerous situation because the truck did not respond as expected when I needed predictable acceleration or propuls... Read more