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: Oct 19, 2025
We just brought this vehicle in for the ongoing transmission problem (previously reported to your agency after the car self-accelerated), as well as the missed seatbelt recall that was not addressed at the last dealership. I advised the service advisor that the seatbelt recall needed to be fixed. The service advisor contacted us several hours later to tell us that they were replacing the transmiss... Read more
Incident date: Jun 7, 2026
First ICCU the power completely went out on 2/23/26. Power went out again April, 2026. Currently car is immobile and unreliable and not safe for driving due to power failures. Towed car to Kia Cerritos. Car supposedly "fixed" (with other issues I've reported to KIA of America & CA BAR/DMV) Currently 12V battery is not holding charge as of 4/27/26, 4/28/26, and 5/2/26. I received a letter from KIA ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2026
At 613 miles, this 2025 Land Rover Range Rover SE experienced simultaneous brake fluid loss from the rear right wheel area, partial loss of engine power, and multiple warning lights including “Stability Control Not Available” and “Restricted Performance.” The vehicle required emergency flatbed towing. DFW Land Rover Dealer inspection identified damage at two points on the brake line near ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
While driving in EV mode my Wrangler 4XE starts to limit power when the battery falls below 50%. The dash display which shows power output clearly starts to limit around 75%, then 50% once the battery hits 40-45% and then even lower as the battery depletes. This makes the car barely powerful enough to hold 50mph and it cannot even climb a hill and hold speed. Then the engine abruptly kicks on i... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2026) - POWER TRAIN
Jun 14, 2026
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
1.First PTU Recall Repair (February 27 – March 3, 2026) Jeep to dealership for Recall 01C PTU replacement. I reported no drivability concerns, brake noises, vibrations, or drivetrain issues. The repair order contains no documentation of any problems with the driveshaft, CV axle, brakes, or related drivetrain components. 2.PTU Failure and Second PTU Replacement (May 1 – May 25, 2026) After reca... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2026
Description When your vehicle is in reverse gear, the vehicles exterior sounder backup alarm may only produce an intermittent warning sound or may be inoperative and produce no warning sound. Safety Risk A backup alarm that does not emit sound may fail to alert pedestrians or other road users of a reversing vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Remedy Parts are available to repai... Read more
Incident date: Mar 6, 2026
My 2023 Chevrolet Colorado (2.7L, approx. 49,000 miles) experiences sudden, intermittent loss of motive power involving the 8-speed automatic transmission. The transmission sets codes and the vehicle drops into limp mode, capped at roughly 45 mph, without warning. The most dangerous symptom is a total loss of acceleration from a stop, especially on inclines — pressing the accelerator produces no... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2026
Transmission had a shutter when we bought it from a dealership at approximately 80,000 miles and after taking it back to dealership 2 different times we were told that was just how these newer 9 speed transmissions shift. Everything was ok and there was nothing to worry about. At approximately 120,000 miles the transmission gave out. Dealership would not honor warranty. So we took it to a private ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 11, 2026
BROUGHT MY CAR TO CHEVROLET CENTER IN WINTER HAVEN FLORIDA BECAUSE I HAD 2 DIAGNOSTIC CODES SHOW UP WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE CODES WERE (U1345: Indicates a communication fault on the LIN (Local Interconnect Network) Bus, usually tied to modules like the active grille shutters, cooling fans, or charge air cooler (CAC) pump.U0632: Indicates lost communication specifically with Cooling Fan 1.)... Read more
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2022) - POWER TRAIN
Jun 14, 2026
Incident date: Jun 14, 2026
Cherokee. Purchased XXX from RightDrive Muncie / AGWB Investors LLC, [XXX]. I am filing this complaint to document: (1) the sale of this vehicle with multiple pre-existing electrical defects and open safety recalls not disclosed at sale; and (2) a pre-existing mechanical defect preventing routine engine maintenance. DIAGNOSTIC EVIDENCE — OBD REPORT #108 (XXX) — 8 FAULT CODES, 6 MODULES U0010-... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2015) - POWER TRAIN
Jun 14, 2026
Incident date: Dec 31, 2014
2020 Ford F-150 custom-built in Sept 2020 developed severe, textbook warning signs of rear-end failure while traveling—specifically severe low-speed metallic clanging and high-pitched whirring from the rear wheels. Recognizing the potential danger, we safely exited the highway and sought an immediate diagnostic from an independent shop. The diagnostic confirmed the defect mechanism detailed in N... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2025
Subject: Dangerous Transmission Failure in 2015 Nissan Altima While my 2015 Nissan Altima has always exhibited questionable performance—including abnormal acceleration, hesitation during throttle response, and mismatched RPMs relative to acceleration—the transmission has now begun to severely slip. I have also experienced sudden loss of power, pronounced shuddering, and complete power failure... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2026
The 48V eTorque Power Pack Unit (PPU), BPCM, and associated cables failed on my 2019 Jeep Wrangler, causing the vehicle to stall and lose all acceleration while driving on the highway. All components are available for inspection upon request. In June 2025, a non-Jeep service center identified stored diagnostic code P0A9C-00 (48V hybrid battery temperature sensor circuit performance failure) along ... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2026
There is times when driving that the transmission jerks when I press the pedal, like the car is slipping when acceleration. I have 76,600 miles on it.
Incident date: Jun 12, 2026
Upon starting my car, the check engine light illuminated. Took my car to my mechanic and they confirmed an engine issue. Also stated the Ford 2.0 Liter engine has a high failure rate. My 2017 Ford Fusion SE (2.0 L Turbo Engine – VIN # [XXX]) with only 82,300 miles, which was purchased new, that has developed a water intrusion issue as identified in the Ford TSB 19-2346. After two separate... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2022
While driving on interstate 15 and going 65-70mph the vehicle dashboard flashed “Charging Error, vehicle will shut down”. Before my wife could make it through traffic to the shoulder the vehicle lost all motive power including power steering. She was able to just coast the vehicle and get into the shoulder. Vehicle would not restart. The transmission had been previously replaced during rec... Read more
Incident date: Oct 20, 2025
Our 2024 Toyota Crown Platinum has been experiencing random loss of power or torque when merging into traffic from a complete stop. The vehicle will be working fine; then, while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop, there is no torque or ability to accelerate up to posted speed. Not sure if it is an engine or transmission issue…but it represents a significant safety concern when it ha... Read more
Incident date: Jun 4, 2026
When driving, the vehicle self shifted into neutral and was unresponsive. All of the dash warning lights came on and I was not able to apply throttle or shift the car into drive. I had to coast in neutral to the side of the road. This is a safety issue and there was a high possibly of crashing if it wasn’t on a rural road. This is the second time this has happened. The first time VW service sai... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2026
In Highway speeds the death Wobble is uncontrollable. To the point my daughters in the back got scared and cried thinking we would crash. I take to jeep and they told me nothing was wrong. They lied to me.
Incident date: Jun 4, 2026
My truck engine has failed due to metal shavings in the oil related to the L87 engine recall, and the failure occurred after GM had replaced the truck’s oil as part of the recall remedy. The recall remedy did not prevent the failure of the engine.
Incident date: Jun 9, 2026
My truck engine has failed due to metal shavings in the oil related to the L87 engine recall, and the failure occurred after GM had replaced the truck’s oil as part of the recall remedy. The recall remedy did not prevent the failure of the engine.
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2024) - POWER TRAIN
Jun 14, 2026
Incident date: May 28, 2026
Engine light came on. Car started shaking and making noise when shifting. Speed would not increase while driving. When shifting into park the car does not recognize that’s it’s in park and had to jiggle the gear shift. Took it to an independent mechanic and they said it’s probably the transmission. Have to take it to a transmission shop.
Incident date: May 8, 2026
• a theft attempt caused by the widely reported Kia software vulnerability (documented in my police report) • a display failure that Kia refused to repair • a recall that Kia refused to perform because the display was broken • repeated defects lighting, battery warning indicators never come on when the oil is beinf consumed • and now a complete engine failure on a 2022 vehicle
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
With only 7688 miles, have been having transmission issues like hard shifting, not shifting when needing to speedup especially when trying to pass or on highway. In city hard shifting occurs constantly now. I had tried contacting Honda and the dealership to get the gaps issue resolved for past 2 years and nothing. This has been a poor experience for a Honda, which we have been very loyal for over ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 12, 2026
My 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe equipped with a 6L80 transmission began experiencing transmission-related drivability issues at approximately 130,000 miles. The vehicle jerked on takeoff, had delayed/slow shifting, produced a whining noise, and later had intermittent shuddering/surging while driving. During service, metallic debris/shavings were found in the transmission fluid. The transmission ultimately... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2026
The 8-speed automatic transmission (Aisin UB80, the 4-cylinder variant of the UA80 family) failed at approximately 53,000 miles. Symptoms prior to failure: harsh shifting, RPM flare to 4,000 between gears before hard engagement ("thud"), loss of power in Reverse, and a metal-on-metal noise from inside the transmission when power was applied. No dashboard warning lights illuminated at any point. S... Read more
Incident date: Jun 2, 2026
Shortly after purchasing my 2022 Ford Escape, I began experiencing hesitation during acceleration, loss of power, RPM fluctuations, loud howling and whining noises, grinding noises, exhaust-related rattling, coolant bubbling, and a strong sulfur/rotten egg odor. The problems were reported repeatedly to the selling dealer and Ford service departments. Despite multiple complaints, I was repeatedly t... Read more
Incident date: Jun 9, 2026
Made an appointment with a Ford dealership to take a look at my 2018 Ford F-150 10 speed transmission on 12th May of 2026 they said everything checked out. I brought it in because the transmission was slipping and shifting very hard .they said everything checked out and was fine on the 12th of May and two days later my truck didn't want to start up. I had a notification from Ford on my Ford app sa... Read more
Incident date: Jun 6, 2026
CLUTCH HOT FULLY RELEASE CLUTCH PEDAL AND REDUCE CLUTCH USE - January 2025, June 2026, additional occurrences but do not have documentation for it. I’ve had it in with no issues to a Jeep dealership.
Incident date: Jun 5, 2025
Right after the manufacture warranty of 60K miles, the car began to make a humming noise. I took the car into the dealership with 65K miles on 13 Jun 2026, and the Toyota dealership stated that the humming is caused by the transmission and we will need to replace the entire transmission. The cost would be $9,447.29. This issue is known by Toyota and Toyota put out Toyota Service Bulletin (T-SB-... Read more
Incident date: Jun 12, 2026
My CVT transmission has stopped working. At no time during taking it to Nissan dealerships to have oil changes in basic maintenance was it ever suggested to do a filter or fluid change on my transmission although Nissan transmissions are sold to consumers as locked and maintenance free it is a well-known fact that I've come to find out that this is a very incorrect statement and fluid and filters ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
Engine replacement needed at 99,782 miles. P1326 code continuously popping up. Also has excessive oil consumption and electrical problems concerning the forward collision system. Kia refuses to replace engine although the P1326 code is covered by lifetime warranty. The cause of the incident was defect in engine resulting in a recall of all 2011-2019 models. The 2020 Kia optima LX contains a 2.4L G... Read more
Incident date: Jun 6, 2026
I have a misfire and all the warning lights came on. This is due to Honda having the fuel pump recalled that has damaged all the fuel injectors. It took them almost a year to get the recall parts and now myself and a ton of others are now having to pay for these fuel injectors to have a car that doesn't stall and die on the road. Honda should have taken care of this knowing it damaged the fuel inj... Read more
Incident date: Jun 12, 2026
Disgusted & deeply disappointed in my first (& last) experience owning a Toyota is an understatement. I confidently purchased a brand new Camry in 2019, based on their reputation for reliability. But, as soon as the warranty expired, the problems began. First, the electronic water pump failed, costing me $1200. The thermostat failed while I was on vacation last year, costing $300ish. Multiple ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2025
I am having a problem on the transmission as described by the Geras Magazine: "The issue stems from a flawed assembly process involving the counter drive gear support. A locking tab meant to secure a vital retaining nut was not bent properly during factory assembly. This leads to gear movement, internal wear, whining, and eventually failure."
Incident date: May 27, 2026
CVT bearing failure started a little after 100,000 miles. Toyotas estimate for repair is $14,000 and the CVT is on national back order for at least 3 months. Toyota does not sell replacement parts so even if a transmission shop wanted to do the repair they couldn’t because parts are not available. This totaled our car that we bought new only 8 years ago.
Incident date: May 7, 2026
While coasting down or under very light acceleration between 12-20 mph the vehicle has a shudder like driving over a highway rumble strip. While cruising on the highway at 65+ mph, the vehicle has a light shudder or vibration. Vehicle has been checked numerous times for wheel and tire inconsistencies. Brake pads and rotors have also been replaced with no change in issue. Headlights daytime run... Read more
Incident date: Oct 6, 2025
XXX, the emergency mode kept coming on, on the dash of my daughters 2019 Tiguan. I Took the tiguan to VW and they recommended replacement of gear selector unit. This is the car my daughter drives. She recently graduated and is now going to the military, leaving for bootcamp on 6/15. The part has been on backorder for 6 months (since Dec 2025), so she has only been able to drive on short trips and ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2026
There have been multiple times when I’m driving on the highway, at highway speeds, and the expedition will stall when shifting gears. There will be a moment when it sounds like the vehicle is in neutral, a loud clunking sound will be heard, and then it jerks into the gear it should be in. This has happened to me on numerous occasions, even happening at lower rates of speed, like when I’m in to... Read more
Incident date: Jun 12, 2026
After the emissions 9c2 recall car hesitant when changing an Hyundai has knowledgement of the problem but don’t have a fix
Incident date: May 18, 2026
My 2022 Hyundai Tucson Experience, a sudden transmission failure at approximately 92,520 miles. The vehicle develop shifting issues and abnormal noises before losing propulsión. While driving. Hyundai diagnosed and internal Transmission failure and approved transmission replacement. I’m concerned about the sudden loss of proportion and the safety risk this creates. Hyundai proposed repair is to... Read more
Incident date: May 18, 2026
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The braking system failed, preventing the vehicle from stopping properly. The vehicle is currently at a tow yard and is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Because the brakes failed, I was unable to stop at a traffic light. The vehicle en... Read more
Crash
3 injured
Incident date: May 1, 2026
"The CVT/drivetrain failed completely on May 28, 2026 at approximately 76,000 miles. The vehicle suddenly lost all drive power and came to a stop. Car is parked and completely undriveable. The failed component is the CVT transmission assembly — vehicle is available for inspection. Safety risk: Complete loss of drive power while operating a vehicle creates serious crash risk for driver and others... Read more
Incident date: May 28, 2026
Transmission failed at approximately 110,000. Prior to there were episodes of hesitation during acceleration. Transmission was replaced at ford dealership with new parts. This transmission is not available for inspection. The vehicle is at 161,000 miles and is starting to have the same hesitation issues. The vehicle will also die at times when the auto stop engine activates. The new issues have ... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2026
I am driving a 2015 Ford Expedition that utilizes the 6R80 transmission. I am actively experiencing the severe, dangerous highway downshifting failure described in Ford's F-150 safety recall. The truck is throwing codes P0705, P0706, and P0707. My car will go into limp-mode and lose acceleration while driving, light up the wrench and stop displaying the gear and idle high and accelerate at half t... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
Manufacturer Recall Number25TB11 NHTSA Recall Number25V656 Remedy has been pending for over 7 months! Concerned that I could be stranded if the vehicle drive shaft joint fails when off roading.
Incident date: May 6, 2025
This updates a prior complaint (NHTSA tracking XXX). The 2019 Escape 1.5L EcoBoost has the known coolant-intrusion engine defect (white exhaust smoke, overheating, misfires; codes P0300/P0301-P0304). Ford replaced the engine short block under program 21N12 on 3/6/2024 at 62,201 miles. The defect has recurred and the engine has now completely failed a second time. The dealer (Tuttle-Click Ford) con... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE L
(2021) - POWER TRAIN
Jun 12, 2026
Incident date: Jun 12, 2026
I am the second owner of this year and model of Civic. I initially bought it back in 2021 with 14,000 miles on it. The clutch slipped and blew at around 29K miles in 2023. I brought it into a honda dealership and they were at least able to replace the clutch with the SAME CLUTCH under warranty but now it's 2026 and the clutch is going out again. Clutches should not be going out this frequently. I'... Read more
Incident date: Jun 11, 2026
First time it happened on a side road.The vehicle stopped shifting. The wrench illuminated on the dashboard.Following the incident. The vehicle continued to drive slowly without shifting. Shortly after that, the wrench symbol disappeared and the truck operated normally. Second time an incident occurred was two weeks later. I was on a side street when the second incident occurred. The wrench appea... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Honda Prologue. The contact stated that after shifting into reverse, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and a transmission software update was performed, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact was concerned that the failure might recur and no longer drove the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failu... Read more