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.

2,245,377 Total Complaints

140,173 Reported Crashes

56,794 Reported Fires

8,580 Reported 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

How to Read NHTSA Consumer Complaints › How NHTSA Investigations Work › Used Car: 7 Recall Checks to Run First › The Takata Airbag Recall: Full Story › OBD-II Codes Explained › All Articles ›

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Showing 137,132 complaints - component: POWER TRAIN

Incident date: Jul 23, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? **Transmission How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? **Car stalled, no warming. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? **Yes, J&M Transmission in Tracy, Ca Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, i... Read more

Incident date: Feb 9, 2026

Begin with cliff, I was not wanting to lock or locked or start the vehicle as I was driving. I stopped at the light vehicle started shaking, and as I drove through the light to pull over power steering assist failure, terrain, failure, and control failure.

Incident date: Jul 27, 2026

While driving on the highway going 70 mph, the vehicle lost all power and shut down engaging the automatic emergency brake system. This is the second time it has happened. Car is currently at dealership awaiting service.

Incident date: May 16, 2026

The engine experienced a sudden failure that caused the vehicle to become completely inoperable. Prior to the failure, the vehicle exhibited intermittent hesitation, rough idling, and loss of power during acceleration. These symptoms began several weeks before the complete failure. No warning lamps were illuminated at first, but shortly before the breakdown, the vehicle displayed a check engine li... Read more

Incident date: Jul 26, 2026

The car stalled three times and died in active traffic. The breakdown was so hazardous that the police department had to intervene and push the car out of the road and had to tow the car more than 3 times and was at the Nissan Dealership for over one week. I paid Nissan dealership $5,000 to repair this specific, life-threatening defect, but the car returned to me unfixed.The vehicle is unsafe and ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 20, 2026

I had stopped at an intersection and when I applied the gas, the truck stuttered a bit before going. It ran okay for less than a mile. I stopped at the next intersection and when I applied the gas, the truck shuttered, started to go then just stopped. It stayed running but didn't want to go. I was able to get it through the intersection but that was it. The message i am getting is powertrain malfu... Read more

Incident date: Jul 25, 2026

"The vehicle has twice suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of motive power at highway speeds (approx. 70 MPH) on the interstate, forcing the driver to coast across active traffic to the shoulder without engine pull. The engine revs freely in 'Drive' but the transmission fails to engage any gears. No dashboard warning lights, check engine lights, or diagnostic trouble codes are triggered during o... Read more

Incident date: Jul 26, 2026

This recall has been in effect for over a year now with no remedy available. I have issues with my engine starting, engine staying running, acceleration during turning, etc. due to this recall. It is extremely unsafe and no remedy being available after a year is very disappointing and puts me in harm everyday.

Incident date: Mar 19, 2026

Transmission shuttered while driving on the freeway at 65 mph, the rpm dial indicator show high and my speed dropped to 40 mph. The transmission fluid was burnt and the torque converter was replaced

Incident date: Jul 24, 2026

Car stalls when I’m at a red light, very dangerous

Incident date: Jul 26, 2026

Recently my car started making a grinding metallic noise while trying to accelerate from a stop this was the first real indicator to start doing research. I found that Toyota CH-R 2018 has known issues with premature CVT transmission bearing failure, with recalls in Canada but not in the US even though they are exactly the same. I also discovered the class action lawsuit due to Toyotas blind eye a... Read more

Incident date: Jul 26, 2026

Transmission completely failed and had to be risky rebuilt. I was just driving down the highway and the transmission went into limp mode and I came to a fast slow down as it dropped the gearing. Also have noticed a huge issue with electronics putting me into a limp mode with wipers on headlights wont shut off, lose dash lights and speedometer with no blinkers or hazard lights. This left me in a v... Read more

Incident date: May 1, 2026

On [XXX], while traveling at highway speeds on a public roadway, the vehicle suffered a sudden, violent, and catastrophic mechanical explosion in the front drivetrain. Without any prior warning lights, dashboard messages, or operational symptoms, the front differential and driveshaft structurally shattered. The physical violence of the drivetrain components exploding at high speed sent metallic ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 24, 2026

Warning lights keep popping up then something will go wrong with the car. A CVT malfunction came up and wouldn’t allow me to put the car in park then after I turned the car off it went back to normal. More random lights will come up they will all be different problems with the engine or system then once car has been off for a few it would go back to normal

Incident date: Mar 20, 2026

For 14 months, I attempted to get active recalls fixed on the car at Downtown Sacramento Ford, which claimed to be certified pre-owned per Folsom Lake Ford but had existing recalls and issues when I bought it in March of 2024. My car finally broke down on 07/11/26 and was towed on 07/12/26 to the Elk Grove Ford dealership and "looked at" on 07/13/26. Today is 07/26/26, and I am still in a rental t... Read more

Incident date: May 3, 2026

Shudder at low speed gear. Changes

Incident date: May 1, 2026

Was driving and a loud pop happened when pulling onto the hwy and lost power. Immediately pulled into parking lot and tried to restart but would not start. My son came over that evening and towed back to my house and the discovered the oil pan was cracked along with block and piston shattered. There are parts inside the oil pan. This has not been inspected by a dealer or service center. No warnin... Read more

Incident date: Jul 25, 2026

Throwing code P0841. RPM’s bouncing, slow to accelerate, enters limp mode. Dangerous when on the road as the car is not properly accelerating with the flow of traffic and could potentially stall out in the middle of the road. Will need either the valve body replaced or an entire transmission replacement. After a lot of research, this is an EXTREMELY common problem with this CVT transmission and ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 11, 2026

My transmission hard shifts from 1st to 3rd. It really switches in 2nd gear. It also hard shifts into 5th and 8th gear. Sometimes it misses the gear almost like I’m in neutral. This happens when I’m in 7th or 8th gear. Plus, if I’m on the highway and I need to accelerate, I feel a hard clunk while changing gears. This started in May.

Incident date: Sep 7, 2022

My 2023 Kia Niro Hybrid EX has experienced multiple warning messages and unresolved concerns after previous repairs. After the first recall repair, I began receiving intermittent warning messages while driving. The messages appeared briefly and disappeared before I could safely document them. After a second repair, the transmission was replaced. Shortly afterward, the vehicle displayed an overheat... Read more

Incident date: Jul 26, 2026

The high voltage battery will no longer charge neither from being plugged in to the charger on the wall nor from the buikt in system onboard the car. There are warning lights saying the inverter coolant is low but the reservoir is at the proper level. I suspect the coolant for the Hybrid charging inverter is bad and crystalizes causing blockages in the inverter coolant system. My car refuses to... Read more

Incident date: Jul 25, 2026

Transmission broke.

Incident date: May 1, 2026

This specific jeep should have been recalled with all the other 2019 jeep cherokees, my transfer case failed as well causing the differential to fail, there's so many people trying to get those 2 parts it was 1 year before I got my jeep back, my jeep is a 2019 jeep cherokee latitude plus, barley made 96k miles before failure, exact same issue as all recalled jeeps, spent 8k for repairs just for it... Read more

Incident date: Jul 20, 2026

The CVT transmission is slipping and losing acceleration while driving, overheating and smelling really bad like burnt rubber, the oil is black and smells burnt, its currently at 52,100 miles and I sent it up to Chuck Colvin Nissan and they did not fix my car, they drove it back to me and when I test drove it myself it broke down on the side of the road and I had to sit for 30 minutes for it to co... Read more

Incident date: Jul 20, 2026

While making a U-turn on a high-speed arterial roadway (Philips Highway) with a child passenger, the vehicle suffered a sudden, complete failure of the driver-side rear CV axle/driveshaft assembly. A loud pop occurred followed immediately by total loss of vehicle propulsion, leaving the vehicle stranded across active lanes of traffic and creating an extreme hazard for severe rear-end impact. There... Read more

Incident date: Jul 8, 2025

After replacing the engine less than a year, driving on I 96 going back to her home. The car starts losing power and shaking and the engine light come on. She almost get re-ended because the car lost powers so quick. She gets off the freeway and makes it to a friends house and parks the car. Called J and T Towing to tow the vehicle to Dearborn Tire and alignment in Dearborn to be checked. Trans h... Read more

Incident date: Aug 20, 2025

The electronic throttle control, vehicle speed control, and powertrain/transmission control system failed. When I press the pedal to accelerate there was no power. However I did not lose power to the vehicle as I can see the vehicle was in Drive mode but was not moving forward. I was on a decline hill and the decline helped me go downwards before a truck could hit me. This total loss of accelerati... Read more

Incident date: Sep 29, 2025

Back in 2026 I bought a vehicle from Wild West Ford in Guymon ok about three weeks after I bought the vehicle there was a safety recall on it for the rear axle bolt. Ever since the recall was done, I noticed a significant change in my vehicle rear and it shook real bad. basically I was eating my tires and so I took about to wild West and they told me to go get alignment done so I went and got a... Read more

Incident date: Jul 23, 2026

The vehicle went into BAJA Mode 4wd high then 4wd low range out of nowhere while driving. It shot me off the road , and ive been researching it. There is a 6 page thread about new rangers and ranger raptors doing this on 6G ranger forum, tons of people with the same issue. Super scary. Fear injury or fatality will happen from this as it shoots you hard off the road

Incident date: Jul 23, 2026

2025 Ranger STX with 950 miles on odometer. When starting vehicle with transmission in park, a pronounced clunk/thump is heard and felt. The clunk/thump varies in intensity with the most intense episode resulting in the physical slight rearward movement of the truck. Symptom seems to be more prevalent when vehicle has been dormant for a few hours or overnight. Initially thought vehicle was going t... Read more

Incident date: May 13, 2026

Failing Transmission, does not shift into the gear just hear grinding noise, after few seconds of it, transmission makes very hard shift. This takes place in all phases or driving leading to potentially very dangerous situation of the car not moving or stopping while crossing a street with upcoming traffic, crossing intersection or any other phase of driving. Visited few shops and was advised that... Read more

Incident date: Jul 4, 2026

NHTSA Safety Complaint To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Regarding: Vehicle Safety Hazard / Fraudulent Repairs on 2017 Chevrolet Silverado VIN: [XXX] To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to file an emergency vehicle safety complaint regarding a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado, VIN [XXX], purchased on XXX. Huntley Ford performed unauthorized, fraudulent, and unsafe repairs tha... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2020

When accelerating Rpm needle jumps rapidly up and down. I’m noticing that I am not able to pick up speed in the car continues to jerk.

Incident date: Oct 24, 2024

Honda CRV was parked on the driveway with a little bit of downward slope. The car was started cold in the afternoon in summer time, the gear was shifted to R (reverse). We could see the backview in camera which confirms that the car was in R mode. It move ahead and did not stop. Despite giving acceleration, car keeps moving forward. The remedy for now is to stop the car, open the door, close the d... Read more

Incident date: Jul 16, 2026

P0420 P0441 P0014 P1326 C1260 C1688 C2130 These are the codes that's affecting my car

Incident date: Jun 16, 2026

I attempted to speak with a service advisor at Nissan regarding my concerns and symptoms of the safety recall, I left a message with a service rep explaining my issue and still have not gotten a call back over 48 hrs later. I have started a case with Nissan corporate in regards to NHTSA 26V-080, I explained that I may be experiencing limp modes. I asked if I would be getting a free loaner and I wa... Read more

Incident date: Mar 3, 2025

1st I reported to Ford that when my truck was in park and off, it started rolling down a hill. I jumped in and stopped it. Ford said they see nothing and everything looks fine. Since then I use the emergency break every time. 2nd, you feel the transmission shifting hard. Jerks truck. Also, if you drive around 25 mph, the truck starts jerking like it cant make up its mind what gear to be in.

Incident date: Jul 23, 2026

While towing my trailer the vehicle intermittently slams gears and will hesitate the back tires momentarily to the point of screeching. This has led to close calls being nearly rear ended and having to pull over. This started out as a hard slam while trailering on the highway and has progressively gotten worse. Had into dealership twice to multiple times to try and figure out the issue but it’s... Read more

Incident date: Jun 8, 2026

I own a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. While driving, the vehicle suddenly began jerking very hard during acceleration and shifting. The Check Engine Light illuminated, and the vehicle became unsafe to drive because the transmission was not operating normally. I was concerned that the vehicle could suddenly lose power or fail while driving in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash. I took the vehicle ... Read more

Incident date: May 25, 2026

I parked this hybrid rental vehicle on a steep street facing uphill and remained in the car with it on for about 15 to 30 minutes. When I put the vehicle back in Drive, released the brake pedal, and pressed the gas pedal to drive away, the car quickly free-rolled backwards. There was no throttle response, and I had to quickly brake to stop the car from its quick backwards descent. Multiple atte... Read more

Incident date: Jun 28, 2026

The heater hose that feeds the front and rear heater cores ruptured while traveling at highway speeds on a main road. The engine coolant directly sprays onto the engine resulting in a steam cloud that can not be seen through, also rapidly overheating that motor. This caused a dangerous scenario where the driver can not see the road correctly through the steam cloud while trying to pull off of t... Read more

Incident date: Jul 7, 2026

I was driving and stopped at the tunnel for traffic. My car shut off and wouldn’t turn back on. It seemed to have overheated. After about ten minutes, it started again. I was told it was told the oil pump controller affecting the stop and go on my car. Priority Hyundaii in [XXX] didn’t didn’t have the part to repair it. Now they are refusing to repair it. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO ... Read more

Incident date: Oct 1, 2025

Loss of transmission due to Aisin K1 Clutch / Input Shaft failure.

Incident date: Jul 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started to stall, and the transmission failed to properly operate. The vehicle was pulled over to a nearby shop and was advised to take the vehicle back to the facility that performed the oil changes. Several days later, the contact's husband test drove the vehicle and was able to dupl... Read more

Incident date: Jul 16, 2025

I purchased a new 2025 Ram 1500. Within the first week of ownership, the vehicle developed repeated engine misfires, check engine lights, and electrical issues, including a dead battery. The vehicle was repaired multiple times under warranty. The engine later suffered an internal failure that required complete engine replacement. After the engine replacement, the vehicle developed a new drivabili... Read more

Incident date: Jul 23, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel, and the transmission was shifting very roughly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the battery was replaced several times out of pocket; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was... Read more

Incident date: Jun 25, 2026

The PTU has failed and is causing power lose when driving.

Incident date: Jul 14, 2026

My 2019 Infiniti QX50 has the KR20DDET 2.0L VC-Turbo engine involved in NHTSA Recall 25V437/Infiniti Campaign R25B2 for potential engine-bearing failure, but my VIN does not currently show an open recall. The vehicle is at Infiniti Milwaukee, [XXX], [XXX]. During inspection, bronze-colored metallic glitter/debris was found in the engine oil. This may indicate internal bearing wear and appears con... Read more

Incident date: Jul 14, 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while reversing, the message "Service Transmission" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an unknown transmission part was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the transmission gear shifter had failed and needed to be repla... Read more

Incident date: May 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission failed to properly shift from second to third gear without first depressing the brake pedal. The failure was recurring. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximat... Read more

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Consumer Safety Complaints

What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?

How to interpret what you read

If you've experienced a defect

Read more from our blog