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
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2021) — POWER TRAIN
Feb 18, 2026
Incident date: Feb 17, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while stopped, the vehicle hesitated and shuddered while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle stopped in the middle of the road and failed to move even while in neutral(N). Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a defective fuel pump. The contac... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2025
I am reaching out regarding our 2021 Toyota Highlander which currently has $65 K miles and is just out of warranty. Recently we noticed a wining noise during acceleration. We took the vehicle to the dealer who told us that the transmission will need to be REPLACED. $9500 repair. This is a known issue with Toyota and they will not work with us on this. We are stuck! No customer goodwill! Tha... Read more
Incident date: Sep 30, 2025
My 2022 Nissan Leaf (VIN ending 558192) is affected by recall R25C8 (Lithium-ion Battery Expansion / Fire Risk from Quick Charging). The recall, announced September 30, 2025, requires a software update to the battery management system. Nissan has advised not to use the CHAdeMO DC fast charging port until remedied. No remedy is currently available, and the software update has not been deployed. Thi... Read more
Incident date: Oct 17, 2024
Incident occured october 17, 2024. Was driving approximately 30mph on a local road when lights flashed to "check electric vehicle system". Was speed restricted to 25mph (on 45mph road) and was able to make it back home approximately 1 mile away. Car completely shut down in my street prior to making it to my driveway. It needed to be towed to the nearest dealership. No lights in dash working and fl... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2026
See attached document for complaint.
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 19, 2026
My car exhibited a random loss of power which led to dangerous driving conditions. At times, when I wanted to accelerate to pass a vehicle on a two lane highway, I would enter the left lane to pass a vehicle and had zero acceleration which left me in a vulnerable position relative to oncoming traffic. Other times, the vehicle would not accelerate from a stop, rev to high RPMs and not shift out of ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V512000 (POWER TRAIN). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the part was not yet available for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2025
Two months after purchasing my used Chevy 2022 Malibu my engine light came on and also a notification stating Engine Power Reduced and the car was not performing well. I went to advanced auto to get a diagnostic and the results that were generated was the code P0299 along with several other codes. I have been dealing with this same issue over 6 months even after taking it to Chevrolet and them fix... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2022) — POWER TRAIN
Feb 18, 2026
Incident date: Feb 16, 2026
Last year my vehicle started making noises. I took it to the mechanic, and they informed me it needs a new rear differential unit. I called the dealer Brigham-Gill Village Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and they told me the vehicle was out of warranty, however i noticed A 2025 recall affects 2017-2019 Jeep Cherokees, including the Limited trim, due to a faulty Power Transfer Unit (PTU) that can disengage... Read more
Incident date: Feb 15, 2026
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Dec 26, 2025
I have 2 Kenworth trucks VIN [XXX] and [XXX] both on recall NHTSA 24V190. The recalls have been performed my issue is with reimbursement for prior replacement for the recalled parts. I have attached emails from Paccar as well as the invoices for the replacement of the recalled parts. Any help you can provide is appreciated as I'm not getting anywhere with Paccar or the dealers. INFORMATION REDAC... Read more
THOR MOTOR COACH
MAGNITUDE
(2022) — POWER TRAIN
Feb 18, 2026
Incident date: Feb 16, 2026
The transmission shift cable does not work on the vehicle and will not shift out of gear, Unable to use vehicle due to the break in the cable.
TOYOTA
RAV4 PRIME
(2023) — POWER TRAIN
Feb 18, 2026
Incident date: Sep 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, and the vehicle decelerated unintendedly. Additionally, the vehicle failed to exceed 42 MPH. Later in the day, the gear shifter was shifted to reverse; however, the vehicle failed to reverse as intended. The vehicle wa... Read more
Incident date: Jun 21, 2023
"(NHTSA Recall 22V-681): Affects 2020 - 2023 Titan ...trucks, Where the vehicle may not stay in park, increasing crash risk. Owners are advised to use the parking brake every time they park'" I brought my Nissan Titan to Wallace Nissan in Stuart, Florida because I have had the Titan roll down my driveway when the parking pawl did not engage. I pulled into my driveway and placed the vehic... Read more
Incident date: Feb 4, 2026
Transmission has been in the dealer multiple times due to transmission slipping, exhibiting a shudder/buck/jerk/hesitation to shift while accelerating and driving up to 35 mph. The software in the powertrain control module (PCM) was reset on multiple visits in an attempt to correct the issue prior to the physical partial repair of the transmission. At Odometer reading 69,685 mi Services Perform... Read more
TOYOTA
RAV4 PRIME
(2023) — POWER TRAIN
Feb 18, 2026
Incident date: Sep 14, 2025
Vehicle: 2021 Ford F-150 (VIN: [XXX] ). The vehicle has been undrivable due to since Aug 4, 2025 and is currently at a Ford dealer in Amarillo, TX. Ford/dealer state it is undrivable due to a recall condition and that parts are not available / no ETA for remedy. Component: rear axle nuts and axle shafts, axle shafts are stripped, may cause rollaway or power loss while driving ,according to Ford. ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 13, 2026
For full details please refer to complaint 11715221. Since the initial complaint, repairs have been completed and I will attach a list of parts that were replaced. The repair confirmed the rear axle bolt sheared and there were significant metal shavings in the rear differential. When the bolt broke, numerous other components were damaged as detailed in the repair documentation. Ford has refused to... Read more
Incident date: Feb 16, 2026
Service Stabiltrak came up. ABS, All wheel drive, one pedal driving, acceleration it's reduced, traction control is off . Car is not safe to drive because acceleration and braking has been greatly compromised.
Incident date: Oct 6, 2025
While driving my F-150 I made a turn and when I went to accelerate again, the truck acted like it was in neutral - would not go. Engine continued to run but would not accelerate. A second car was directly behind me and almost rear-ended me when truck failed to move. Pulled over, tried low gear and reverse and nothing happened. Transmission is shot. Currently in for a rebuild. This is the Ford 10-s... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a detached rear axle bolt. The contact was informed that the repair was covered under recall and that the parts needed to be ordered. The vehicle was not repaired... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2024
P0128 code. Coolant temperature sensor and thermostat failure.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2024
I have had 22 recalls to date on this vehicle and received 1 recall notice. Engine light comes on alot, makes noises and then goes away after a couple days. Windshield washer stopped working on front windshield, now back stopped working. Tire pressure monitor & sensor default stays on (previous recall) Window on driver side stopped working, back passenger door on drivers side don't shut correctly ... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2019) — POWER TRAIN
Feb 18, 2026
Incident date: Jan 11, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V838000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); 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 ESC and ABS warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the v... Read more
Incident date: Feb 18, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a clunking sound coming from the vehicle while attempting to shift gears. There was no warning light illuminated. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly hesitated while attempting to accelerate. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a d... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
The contact owned a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while in reverse(R) and reversing into a parking spot, it was difficult to accelerate over a patch of ice. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle accelerated quickly and failed to stop while depressing the brake pedal and the vehicle drove through a fence and crashed into a brick building and stopped. The con... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 7, 2025
The electrical system fails, and the battery is not charging sufficiently. When the auto start/stop engages, the car does not restart in traffic. Requested a battery test at the dealership in May 2025; was told it could not be done that day because it would require leaving the dealer service shop. Eventually, the electrical system became unstable, and the car stopped in traffic on 11/07/2025. Repl... Read more
Incident date: Feb 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped at a stop light, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the driver’s and passenger’s side rear wheels locked up. The contact stated that after several seconds, the vehicle started operating as intended. Neither an independent mechanic nor a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer o... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that the 4WD feature failed to operate with the “Service 4WD” message displayed with an audible chime. The vehicle was initially taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with a defective PTU. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair, but the contact declined to repair the vehicle. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Ca... Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2026
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Spark. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the transmission was shifting hard. The diagnostic trouble codes: P0700 and P0841 were retrieved after the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed w... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2019) — POWER TRAIN
Feb 18, 2026
Incident date: Feb 15, 2026
Lifter failed on my Chevy Tahoe 6.2L engine at ~75K miles in September 2025. One lifter bank was replaced. No reason for lifter failure was given. Less than 5 months later the other lifter bank has failed and damaged the cam shaft. Again, no reason for failure was provided. Failed lifters can cause catastrophic engine failure, which is incredibly dangerous when the vehicle is in motion. No chec... Read more
Incident date: Nov 18, 2024
The morning after a successful level 2 charge (from 35% to 80%), the ICCU fuse blew, resulting in no power to the car. I had to have it towed to have it fixed (both the fuse and ICCU were replaced under warranty). The car had 20,013 miles when the fuse blew and I had both safety recalls (software updates) addressed when they came out. I thought the updates were to prevent this from happening. For... Read more
Incident date: Sep 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with VVT sensor failure. The sensors were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic, where a solenoid was replaced. The vehicle was repa... Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2026
I am reporting a series of safety concerns regarding my 2017 Chevy Volt, which have persisted despite multiple attempts to address them with the dealership. These issues pose significant risks to my safety and that of others on the road. On January 18th, 2024, I brought my vehicle to the dealer after experiencing reduced propulsion power while driving on the highway, coupled with the illumination ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the rear wheels locked up. The contact stated that the failure almost caused a crash. No warning lights were illuminated. The rear wheels locked up for several seconds, then the rear wheels released, and the tires chirped. The vehicle was not dia... Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2026
I’m concerned that my transmission was defective. My vehicle has 94K miles and was told by dealer I needed a new transaxle. We have never used our vehicle to tow or ever been stuck. It just doesn’t make sense why it would be defective. I was able to locate a Toyota bulletin regarding this.
Incident date: Feb 16, 2026
10 speed transmission started to have hard shifts and dead spots. Some shifting issues happened at low speeds(1 thru 5 speeds) and then others showed at highway speeds; downshifts from 10 to 8 gears. Issue with transmission stated at around 142,000 miles but became very problematic at around 145, 000 miles. At this point I had to get a new transmission; cost was approximately $10000.00. This w... Read more
Incident date: Jan 31, 2026
My Seltos had a recall in 2021 (recall number SC209) because the piston oil rings were not property heated which can result in engine damage. The problem was supposedly repaired in 2021, yet in 2026 at 50,000 miles I am having piston notice problems and the engine light is constantly lit. The car has stalled on several occasions. I am being told that my vehicle with only 50,000 miles needs a br... Read more
Incident date: Oct 13, 2025
1. The Power Transfer Unit (PTU) and transfer case have failed. The vehicle was initially suspected to have a wheel bearing issue due to a howling noise during the test drive. However, after purchase, the noise worsened significantly. An independent repair shop diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed that the transfer case and bearings are defective and unsafe. The vehicle is currently at the dealersh... Read more
Incident date: Jan 26, 2026
Passenger side rear axle leaking gear oil. Issued was repaired by dealership No warning I just saw the oil on the tire and in my driveway
Incident date: Jul 30, 2024
The contact's husband owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while her son was driving 60 MPH, the driver lost control of the steering wheel and the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted, and the vehicle almost came to a complete stop. Despite the fa... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The message "4WD Low" was displayed, and there was a grinding sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with PTU failure. The contact was informed that the PTU needed to... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Genesis. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light or while the vehicle was in drive, the vehicle failed to move, and the engine shut off unexpectedly. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. To restart the vehicle, the driver had to shift the gear selector into park and then press the start button. The vehicle was tak... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2026
The ICCU failed while I was driving my car on a 50 mph road. Check electrical system warning lights appeared. Maximum speed was reduced to 19mph and my car became a road hazard for other cars on the road. I managed to pull off the road once I found a safe spot. After visiting the Kia dealership, the problem was confirmed as a failed ICCU (Integrated Charging and Control Unit) and replaced unde... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2026
Turbo failed due to oil lines clogged. Failed again after repair two weeks later on highway almost causing a collision.
MITSUBISHI
OUTLANDER
(2020) — POWER TRAIN
Feb 18, 2026
Incident date: Dec 6, 2023
I was driving under normal conditions and the vehicle began lurching, limiting acceleration, with an error saying "reduce acceleration". Was able to get home but the next time the truck was started there was a check engine light and the vehicle was unable to shift into reverse gear. When attempting to put it into reverse, it gives the error "conditions not correct to shift" and turn on the parking... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2025
During day to day driving when the truck is accelerating from a stopped position there's a massive clunk or hard shift from either 1st to 2nd gear. have also heard similar complaints from other 2015 sierra 1500 owners saying the transmission is having a hard shift on acceleration from a stop. Have seen possible issues with the TCCM
Incident date: Feb 13, 2024
10 speed transmission hard shifting, sudden power surges, during shifting it’s getting stuck in gear. Sudden shifting while driving. It’s come to my attention this is a known issue for my 2017 Ford F150 EcoBoost 3.5L V6, 10 speed automatic transmission. I need help with repairs. Was told to report this on this site.
Incident date: Apr 22, 2023
I am reporting a persistent safety defect involving loss of intended drivability in my 2017 Ram 1500 with an 8-speed automatic transmission. For the past 3 years, on almost every use of the vehicle, the transmission enters an abnormal operating state where it becomes stuck in a single gear (most often 3rd or 4th) and will not upshift or downshift. When this occurs, the vehicle experiences reduced... Read more
Incident date: Nov 14, 2025
2018 Toyota Highlander Platinum started with a whine noise, vibration, and went into limp mode. The transmission has been noted to needing to be replaced. I am currently at 75,453 miles and started to hear the whine at around 65,000 miles. This car is not safe to drive.
Incident date: Dec 21, 2025
My 2021 Ford F-150 has been inoperable for over three months due to a safety recall involving the rear axle hub. The dealer and manufacturer have been unable to remedy the recall within a reasonable time due to parts unavailability, and no repair timeline has been provided. I requested a loaner vehicle from the dealer and was told there were six to seven customers ahead of me. The dealer reported... Read more