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: Feb 26, 2025
While driving at normal roadway speeds, the vehicle experienced a sudden and unexpected loss of power during acceleration. The engine remained running, but the vehicle failed to respond appropriately to throttle input, resulting in a significant reduction in forward movement. This created a dangerous situation, particularly in traffic conditions where consistent acceleration is required. The issu... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2026
Head gasket failed at 58k miles without overheating per assessment at honda dealership. Safety was affected by going into limp mode instantly turning left onto 55 mph 4 lane road, no warning lights prior going into limp mode. Brief misfire occurred prior to incident, (did not know at time because it did not seem significant and no warning light). Dealer reports multiple 2018 honda accord 1.5L ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
On Feb. 25th, 2026, while driving at high speeds (about 45 mph), the vehicle suffered a sudden and total loss of motive power. Diagnostic reports(DIACODE: D6121_00000000_01_901) later confirmed a failing 12V battery system with only 37% startability limit. This critical electrical failure coincided with the engine stalling, which resulted in the immediate impairment of electronic power steering an... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly shifted into neutral(N). There was transmission fluid on the ground, and the vehicle became disabled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a transmission accumulator leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the fail... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
I’m reporting a serious transmission issue with my 2016 F-150. While driving, the 'wrench' light suddenly pops up on my dash and the truck starts shifting erratically. Sometimes it feels like it’s searching for a gear or jerking unexpectedly. I had the codes scanned and found P0706, P0707, and P1921. These are all related to the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS) signal. I know the NHTSA is curr... Read more
Incident date: Nov 13, 2025
The PTU assembly has failed internally. The repair shop has collected a DTC as well which is C14A7-97 "PTU obstructed." The vehicle is available for inspection, but the repair shop has not disassembled the unit as disassembly is not required based off the symptoms and trouble code populated, the only repair for this is PTU replacement. If the vehicle had continued to be driven, there is a poss... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2026
A “Service 4WD” warning light is currently illuminated on the dashboard. The front axles and shock/strut assemblies have already been replaced; however, the warning light remains on. The dealership has diagnosed the issue as a failed Power Transfer Unit (PTU). I was informed that many vehicles of similar make, model, and year are covered under a recall for this issue, but my specific vehicle ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
The mechanics at the Honda dealership reported the following on a vehicle that has approximately 27,000 miles on it: 1. The clutch assembly failed and requires a complete clutch kit replacement. 2. The crankshaft oil seal is leaking, which causes oil to be splattered around the engine bay as the crankshaft spins. 3. Timing chain tensioner cover is seeping oil. Honda provided a video showing the... Read more
Incident date: Mar 9, 2026
This complaint is NOT related to the existing recall associated with this vehicle. The vehicle is experiencing a serious loss of power and acceleration issue. The car is unable to accelerate past approximately 60 mph. When pressing the accelerator fully, the vehicle does not respond or increase speed. While attempting to accelerate, the engine RPM increases and then suddenly drops repeatedly, caus... Read more
Incident date: Mar 3, 2026
The contact rented a 2024 Dodge Hornet. While driving 50-75 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound, and the steering wheel was not turning as intended. Additionally, the steering wheel and the front axle were not responding as intended, and constant adjustments were needed; the contact had to grip the steering wheel tightly. The contact stated that the failure increased while turning the s... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2026
My Jeep has been cutting off while driving for the past several months. I've taken it to be serviced several times and everything, from the alternator, engine, fuel pump, battery, etc. are all fine. But the vehicle will cut of while driving or while idling at the traffic light. This is a MAJOR safety hazard. Not only for myself and the occupants of the vehicle but other drivers on the road as well... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2019) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 17, 2026
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
Torch Converter was changed 1 1/2 years ago and now the CDF drum is going out, causing hard shifting and skipping shifts. This dangerous as the primary family driver to transport our children and the pause in shifting attempting to merge on the interstate is very dangerous and could ultimately lead to death if there is oncoming and if shifts hard or pauses with shifting when merging.
Incident date: Feb 14, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Dodge Charger. The contact stated that the “Service Shifter” message was intermittently displayed. While driving 60 MPH, the message was displayed and the vehicle shut off immediately. The vehicle was unable to be driven and was shifted into park. After shifting into park and waiting for several minutes, the contact was able to continue driving. A week later, while atte... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
I was merging onto the highway. I got a warning that I needed to check my electrical system. I was able to back down the highway ramp and park on a side street. Within 20 minutes the car was fully dead and AAA needed to tow it to the dealer. The dealer confirmed that the ICCU needs a replacement. My family is lucky this happened in a place we could safely get to a side street. Had it happened 5 ... Read more
TOYOTA
CAMRY HYBRID
(2026) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 17, 2026
Incident date: Dec 16, 2025
The remedy to fix the current recall is taking absurdly long. I have driven a car previously in which there was a sudden loss of power and the risk to myself and other drivers is very dangerous. I just purchased this car in Nov. and the recall was soon after. I am very disappointed in this lack of urgency in finding a remedy. I purchased this car for my teen daughter to drive - what a mark on the ... Read more
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2021) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 17, 2026
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
During acceleration above 25 mph a noticeable whining sound is heard from the transmission. When not acceleration the sound goes away. The vehicle only has 72300 miles
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
At about 80K on my truck I noticed severe slipping of the transmission while accelerating. Most noticeable when getting on the freeway, or accelerating to pass someone. I called our local dealership and the service person said there was no recall, but they could take a look at it. I saw online many reports of the same issue. They give possible fixes, fluid levels, reset adaptive tables, software u... Read more
Incident date: Jun 17, 2020
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the gear shifter failed to shift into park. The gear shifter was shifted back and forth for approximately 20 to 30 minutes before eventually shifting into park(P) as intended. The shift to park(P) warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and repaired; how... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2021) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 17, 2026
Incident date: Feb 26, 2026
Up until failure, car showed no signs of a problem and was properly maintained. While driving under normal highway conditions one of the transmission lines blew which resulted in the vehicle breaking down and requiring a tow to the closest dealer who determined new transmission lines and a new transmission were needed. My daughter and I were in the car and the car became unsafe to drive in a very... Read more
Incident date: Mar 11, 2026
The Integrating Charging Control Unit (ICCU) failed while attempting to accelerate onto an Interstate Highway. The car then went into 'Limp' mode which only allowed a sped of 20 mph. Luckily I was able to get to the next exit without getting hit by car already on the highway going ~60-70 mph. The car showed both a 'battery warning' and a 'car over heating' symbol (the car has no engine, so assume ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 21, 2026
Drivetrain malfunction creating error message of critical failure on brake system and chassis. The first of 2 such issues so far in 4 months of ownership. Car is under original mfr warranty. Dealer charged $600 to fix. This is a PHEV and with the electrical system issues it prevents the car from functioning safely
Incident date: Mar 14, 2026
Drivetrain malfunction reoccurring 2x in 45 days. First error message the dealer charged me $600 to fix. Bringing car in second time now. Unsafe to drive due to power cutoff. This is a PHEV. Car is under the original mfr warranty and less than 3 years old.
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2023) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 17, 2026
Incident date: Mar 8, 2026
My 2023 GMC Sierra has 60,571 miles for a while now while driving the transmission slips and slams into gears. Recently driving with my kids in the car on highway going 70mph the back brakes locked up multiple times, so scary and dangerous while driving. I now currently have a code P-0747 in the system.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 3500
(2020) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 17, 2026
Incident date: Jan 21, 2026
This is a supplemental update to complaint #XXX filed February 7, 2026, regarding my 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Diesel (VIN: [XXX] ). The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of propulsion on January 21, 2026, consistent with the defect mechanism described in Recall 24V797. Recall software was installed May 27, 2025. Failure occurred eight months later with no warning. GM's response... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
ICCU failed. The car suddenly decelerated from 40mph to 25mph or less with no warning. The ICCU is confirmed to be an issue for Hyundai. I had the software update to fix the problem in 2025. It is currently at the dealership in Fort Mill, SC. DTC error code shows it as an ICCU failure. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they f... Read more
Incident date: Mar 3, 2026
My turbo and fuel injectors went out at the same time. It has been fixed, so I don't think it can be inspected My safety was put at risk. The car randomly went into limp mode on the interstate at high speeds and suddenly came to almost a complete stop Yes, it was inspected by a mechanic, everyone with a 2018 honda accords are having this issue Yes, it was inspected by a mechanic. No warning la... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2025) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 17, 2026
Incident date: Feb 27, 2026
2025 Volkswagen Jetta SE with 12,000. Developed transmission whine from 1200-2000 RPM. During low speed acceleration and when engine is under slight load. It is whining sound coming from transmission.
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
I got into the car and started it up. Put in reverse car shuts off. Re started and put in reverse. Was able to drive out of apartment parking lot then no power to speed and car was a little jerky and on dashboard it said warning malfunction see owners manual with a few pictures on dashboard
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS CROSS SPORT
(2025) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 17, 2026
Incident date: Feb 27, 2026
The vehicle is experiencing multiple system malfunctions involving engine performance and electrical components. Symptoms include engine trembling at idle, abnormal ticking and hissing noises, and the vehicle pulling while driving. An independent diagnostic scan performed within 24 hours of purchase identified more than twenty fault codes. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The... Read more
LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
(2017) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 17, 2026
Incident date: Jan 9, 2026
Safety defect P1326 code is a known indicator of rod bearing wear. When it triggered, the vehicle immediately went into Limp Mode, creating a significant safety hazard. The behavior aligns with the documented defect affecting NU GDI Engines and is not consistent with normal Engine wear. I have confirmed the KSDS software update was performed. I have taken the vehicle to Clay Cooley Kia of Plano... Read more
Incident date: Dec 26, 2025
Just took my car to the Chevy dealership today and had them go over the car because I keep getting the message steering assist has been reduced and the fan is constantly running at the highest speed and it also makes it where I can not use the a/c or heat in the car! I don’t know the code off hand but it has something to do with the cam shaft and the thermostat for the antifreeze! From what Chev... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
On 02/27/2026, a 2024 Mazda CX-50 (20700 miles) exhibited a severe burning smell following a 3-hour highway drive and a subsequent steep, 2-mile mountain climb to a restaurant in Jasper, TN. The smell was strongly observed by multiple occupants upon exiting the vehicle. On 03/02/2026, a technician at Mazda of Knoxville confirmed via video a 'flat grease ring' slung onto the undercarriage, indicati... Read more
Incident date: May 30, 2025
My 2017 Nissan Sentra is experiencing CVT transmission problems. The vehicle hesitates when accelerating, slips between gears, and sometimes loses power while driving. This creates a dangerous situation when entering traffic or driving at highway speeds. I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs, but they stated there was nothing they could do because the vehicle is slightly over the 84,000-mile extend... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle briefly lost motive power before slamming into gear. Additionally, the vehicle vibrated abnormally while changing gear. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manu... Read more
Incident date: Jan 31, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that approximately one month prior to receiving notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V741000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); the vehicle experienced electrical failures and the battery failed to hold a charge, and the vehicle was not operational. Additionally, the transmission was extremely low on transmission fluid, and the differential was leaki... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
The transmission began making a wheezing sound. The dealership looked at the vehicle and determined it needed a new transmission. This is a known problem. Toyota issued a service bulletin on the issue in February 2021. I purchased the vehicle a few months after that. T-SB-0008-21
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2023) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 16, 2026
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
2019 Ford Edge shudders and fails to accelerate making it difficult and unsafe to merge with traffic, execute left turns, and drive safely. There are no warning lights. This appears to be a known problem with the torque converter but no recall has been issued.
Incident date: Mar 4, 2026
DIAGNOSIS FOUND TRANS FLUID WICKING UP HARNESS TO ENGINE ECM CONTAMINATING HARNESS AND ECU GIVEN FALSE/ABNORMAL READINGS AT ECM. EXTENSIVE REPAIRS NECESSARY W/ INTERNAL TRANS WIRE REPLACEMENT, ENGINE HARNESS REPLACEMENT & ENGINE ECU REPLACEMENT. OTHER CLEANING MAY BE NECESSARY OR OTHER HARNESS REPLACEMENT NECESSARY [Other]: TRANSMISSION WIRE REPLACMENT [Other]: ENGINE HARNESS REPLACEMENT [Other]:... Read more
Incident date: Feb 27, 2026
REPLACED A PROPELLOR SHAFT AT 59,000 MILES 8/23/2025. PAID $859.00. UNAWARE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AND COVORERD BY A MANUFACTURERS WARRANTEE. SIX MONTHS LATER MY MECHANIC(1) AND CAR DEALER(2) RECOMMEND A BODY CONTROL MODULE AND POSSIBLE REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPLACEMENT ESTIMATED BETWEEN $1500-$3500. THIS VEHICLE STILL HAS LESS THAN 69000. THIS HAS BEEN A HARDSHIP AFTER PURCHASING A NEWER VEHIC... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
TAOS
(2022) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 16, 2026
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
While I was driving the car started beeping and all dashboard lights started flickering. Transmission started stuttering and engine rpm fluctuating wildly. Fortunately I was in my neighborhood and was only going about 15 mph and was able to pull to a stop. The issue is with a faulty star bus connection near the glove box. After watching a you tube on the same issue, I learned to hit the a... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, several unknown transmission codes were displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that a transmission flush was needed. The vehicle was repaired; however... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2017) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 16, 2026
Incident date: Dec 3, 2025
My transmission is slipping / hesitating / delay shifting. I have always had it serviced on time and taken very good care of it. I even went and had the fluid flushed & refreshed and it is still happening. It makes driving unpredictable and makes me feel extremely unsafe in my car. There aren’t any lights on, on my dashboard. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insuranc... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
EQB 300 4MATIC
(2023) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 16, 2026
Incident date: Jun 26, 2025
My 2023 GMC Yukon Denali with the 6.2L V8 suffered a sudden loss of propulsion while traveling at approximately 70–75 mph on the highway with my wife and young daughter in the vehicle. The engine RPM dropped immediately to zero and the vehicle displayed a message instructing me to press start. I do not recall any meaningful prior warning lamps or symptoms before the failure. I did not hear a lou... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2023) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 16, 2026
Incident date: Mar 7, 2026
Claim submitted to VW Customer Care on March 8, 2026. Current problems cited include: Doors malfunctioning; vehicle difficult to start and power off; steering and braking warnings; complete loss of power steering; compromised performance in significant lag between accelerator depression and vehicle response; electrical malfunction alerts (17+); numerous dashboard warnings; distressing repetitive... Read more
Incident date: Sep 16, 2025
The rear passenger door actuators have both failed. The rear hatch will not unlock using the touch button. We just received notice that our transmission/transfer case needs replacing. $13K for this.
Incident date: Oct 15, 2025
My 2020 Toyota Highlander experiences transmission jerking and hesitation during low speed acceleration. The issue was first reported to the dealership while under warranty but was not diagnosed. The vehicle now requires transmission replacement 7k miles over the warranty despite the issue being reported during the warranty. Toyota has refused a repair under warranty and has violated their terms... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2025
1. The transmission warning symptoms first appeared on March 9, including a transmission warning light, delayed gear engagement, slipping gears, and loud mechanical noise. 2.5-liter turbo engine use an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). It has been in McGrath City Hyundai since March 10 for inspecton. 2. We were not harmed, but were very concerned about the safety of the car. 3. We only tried... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
This concerns my 2025 Subaru Outback Touring XT- with a turbo charges engine and standardd CVT transmission. When I get to street speed and brake to slow down, as the car slows and the tach decreases to 1000 rpm +/- a bit, the car shows an obvious power surge that can be felt through the accelerator and brake pedal and can be clearly seen on the tach as a jump to about 1100 rpm + . I had the fi... Read more
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2023) — POWER TRAIN
Mar 16, 2026
Incident date: Feb 10, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was a mechanical clunking sound coming from the rear of the vehicle, and the 4WD failed to engage as needed. The message "Service 4WD" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the PTU needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired.... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2026
Check engine light with rough shifting and vehicle wouldn’t go in reverse. For safety reasons we had the vehicle towed to our local Chevy Dealership. Transmission needed a valve body rebuild. This is a known issue with this transmission but our VIN wasn’t under that recall.