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 78,884 complaints - component: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident date: Jan 28, 2025
I have had the truck for 2 weeks. Three times I've almost rearended a car in front because of a braking system that doesn't stop the truck quickly enough. The pedal will travel 6" at times before it engages. This is very dangerous especially when braking when travelling around curves or round a bouts. I've taken the vehicle to two dealers and an independent brake shop. Dealers say it's normal... Read more
Incident date: Aug 29, 2023
[XXX]. While approaching a red light traffic signal ABS kicked in with a slight acceleration and reduced braking. There was a car ahead of me stopped at the red light. Applying normal pressure to the brakes was not slowing my vehicle requiring me to use both feet to force enough pressure to the brakes to stop within feet of hitting the vehicle in front of me. This was on a main public road and the... Read more
Incident date: Aug 17, 2025
I pushed my breaks and the hydro booster started spraying fluid inside the cab I lost my breaks I was backing up down my sister's drive way hit a telephone pole with the back of the truck it made a little dent
Incident date: Aug 29, 2025
Anti-lock brake module is bad
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
I was exiting the expressway coming up to the back of a semi truck & the brake became hard to push down. Thankfully I was able to stop in time & didn't rear end the truck. It put me & my [XXX] old in danger had I not been able to apply the force needed to push the brake petal down. No dash alerts appeared until at least 10 min after I noticed the issue. I have a mechanic changing the brake boo... Read more
Incident date: Aug 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Service Brakes" was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on several occasions, but no fault for the issue was identified. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and eventually, the dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the brake booster was fau... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2025
Brake lines have completely rusted through. Car had additional rust issues on the subframe which Mercedes admitted and replaced as part of an extended warranty . When that was repaired they never mentioned the brakes. Now 3 months later the brake lines rusted completely through … seems both subframe and lines rust at the same rate. And I would presume both cause equal safety risk. Why have... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2025
On October 24, 2024, my 2025 Ford Explorer ST experienced a sudden steering column lock and complete loss of braking while I was driving, leading to a crash and injuries. The vehicle had approximately 800 miles and was a warranty replacement provided weeks earlier. Prior to delivery, the dealer referenced a Quality Assurance hold of about two months on this vehicle, which was not disclosed to me... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jul 18, 2025
My 2021 Lincoln Aviator grand touring PHEV has on 3 separate occasions randomly gone into “brick” mode where power is to some components like the Sync screen, and some lights, but main dash won’t boot, the lock/unlock doesn’t work but lock icon flashes on door panel, the vehicle won’t start. This is after short trips out with my family for the evening. Not a fob issue. All 3 times the sa... Read more
Incident date: Aug 22, 2025
All my idiot lights appeared on my dashboard. My mechanic plugged in and nothing came up so I took it to White Plains Honda on Aug.5. They called me on Aug.14 and said my brake booster was bad. They said that they worked on trying to find the problem 12 hours. So with the diagnosis and part and labor, my cost is $5447+ tax. So I called Honda North America, got a case number. On Aug 26 Honda NA s... Read more
Incident date: Aug 22, 2025
In the past 2 weeks my 2025 Honda CRV has automatically braked four times while driving on the road at about 45 miles an hour. Nothing else was around me - no vehicles, no animals, etc.
Incident date: Aug 25, 2025
I am filing this complaint regarding the unavailability of a critical safety component for my vehicle. Multiple dealers have informed me that the part is not available through the Mopar parts chain. However, the identical part is currently available for purchase by consumers through MoparGenuineParts.com (111 Bond Street, Westbury, NY 11590) at the following link: [XXX] ). One verified buyer eve... Read more
HYUNDAI
TUCSON HYBRID
(2024) - SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 28, 2025
Incident date: Aug 26, 2025
Rear tires locked up in reverse. While in gear they lock up randomly. Car shut off and broke down while driving on expressway and lost control. No accident but could’ve been bad. 4x4 light on says svc. Mechanic says shows signs of new safety recall 02C? Talked to Jeep dealership and they weren’t aware of such recall on this model. Need help on who to contact and what to do.
Incident date: Aug 27, 2025
The car was in the cruise control with auto mode and it just veered to the left from a car in front and crashed into the median and totaled the car.
Crash
Incident date: Dec 2, 2024
EPS becomes difficult to steer occasionally, Brakes seem to lose stopping ability Leaking oil @ either oil pan or transmission
MITSUBISHI
OUTLANDER
(2022) - SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 28, 2025
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
In February of 2024, my ABS, traction control and brake warning lights came on. This disables the ABS, traction control and cruise control. After scanning the vehicle for codes, there is a C2200 internal fault for the ABS control module. Making sure it is not a sensor issue, I tested all four wheels and all check out fine. Looking up the C2200, I would need to replace the module. The problem is, t... Read more
Incident date: Aug 22, 2025
At low rate of speeds coming to a stop the ABS braking system will activate on uneven surfaces, loose gravel or rough terrain. When this happens you have no control when the car will stop. We've almost went into the back of another vehicle or went out into an intersection. This has happened multiple times and we've been made aware there is a class action lawsuit about this issue
Incident date: Aug 19, 2025
I have taken my car into Hyundai three times time. When I am driving, coming up to a stop at a light, sign or because of a hazard, there are times my brakes lock up completely and I cannot stop my car. Each time I've taken my car, I've been told "we cannot replicate the problem we are unable to fix it" It happens at least 5-10 times a week. I've almost crashed at least 7 times and I have to move o... Read more
Incident date: Aug 21, 2025
MERCEDES-BENZ CORPORATE IS SHOWING A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR ME AS A CONSUMER AND HUMAN! MY BRAKES RECENTLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING (I LOST MY ABILITY TO BRAKE) AND IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. MY LIFE AND SAFETY WAS PUT IN JEOPARDY AND I AM IN SHOCK. AT THEIR REQUEST I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED IN TO MERCEDES-BENZ SERVICE AND CORPORATE ESCALATION IS DENYING MY CLAIM AND NOT PROVIDI... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2025
There has been multiple times that when I am driving on the highway doing 60 miles an hour, the dashboard will light up to BRAKE the car when there is nothing in front of the car, no other car no trash nothing. It has done this on slower roads where the speed limit is 40 mph and under but it will actually brake the car and I have had cars behind me when this happens. This keeps happening multiply ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 28, 2025
My wife was driving the vehicle. While attempting to stop, the brakes failed. The brake warning light came on and alarmed. She was not able to stop safely without using the parking brake. Brake fluid was gone and completely drained into the brake booster. My family was completely at risk. Thankfully there were no injuries or damage. The vehicle was towed to a Ford dealership. The dealershi... Read more
HONDA
ACCORD HYBRID
(2018) - SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 28, 2025
Incident date: Aug 27, 2025
When slowing down to park vehicle, there was a sudden surge forward on 3 separate occasions. The first in June 2025 caused me to go over a mound of dirt and into wooded area before stopping. This cost my insurance $7200. to fix. Then again it happened with my husband driving. Again, on 8-27-25. Both times we were able to slam on brakes to prevent hitting another vehicle or person.
Crash
Incident date: Jul 9, 2025
so i have a Honda pilot and have been seeing a light saying that my collision mitigation system is broke so i took it in for a diagnostic which i was charged for which is fine and normal i guess but they told me that the system was broken possibly from just driving through construction zones and this causes phantom braking so i have to get it fixed but they want to charge me for the repairs which ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 9, 2025
It is a known problem that Priuses manufactured from 2004 to 2015 have issues with the brake master cylinder and brake booster accumulator. When the vehicle computer recognizes an internal leak (ABS C1391) or other issue in the accumulator pump, it completely disables the regenerative braking system, which significantly reduces braking power. In my case, the problem is intermittent, and the vehicl... Read more
POLESTAR
POLESTAR 2
(2022) - SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 28, 2025
Incident date: Aug 27, 2025
This is a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara, it is need of a new ABS Modulator. This part has not been available for quite some time almost over a year. This is a critical safety feature that needs to be addressed. Jeep dealer told me and also a local mechanic not to drive in wet conditions. I have taken it to 3 different mechanics, dealer, and two outside the dealer, none can get the part. I have a ... Read more
JEEP
GRAND WAGONEER
(2022) - SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 28, 2025
Incident date: Jul 28, 2025
Stop/start system malfunction this is the 2nd time I've had to fix this problem the first time was with dealership in Henderson ky and it will cause more problems later big expenses and a whole vehicle failure so before im out to much money and left with no working vehicle that I still got to pay for i will be returning it this system failure has almost caused a major crash and has caused missed d... Read more
Incident date: Aug 25, 2025
Hose from power steering pump came off causing truck to loose power steering and brakes. Fortunately we had just exited the interstate and were in a parking lot when this occurred. Truck was towed 90 miles to dealer who confirmed that hose was incorrectly installed by factory
Incident date: Sep 15, 2024
I was driving down the highway, and my wife and I decided to stop at Costco to get protein bars and gas for the drive home. We also had a [XXX] , [XXX] old, and [XXX] in the car. As we were approaching the end of the exit ramp at approximately 30 miles per hour, the engine jerked the car two or three times then died. When it died, I lost power steering and the car slammed to a stop. The car also ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: May 29, 2025
I own a 2016 Ram 1500. The ABS control module has failed, which has completely disabled both the ABS system and the traction control system. This is a serious safety hazard because the vehicle now has no anti-lock braking or stability control, creating dangerous conditions in wet or emergency braking situations. •Component/System Failed: The ABS control module has malfunctioned. The part is stil... Read more
Incident date: Aug 14, 2025
1. Soft / Spongy Brakes. Brake pedal depresses 1/3 - 1/2 way to the floor before the brakes grab. I had one close call hard stop incident, and now I allow extra car lengths for safety. 2. In park, the truck rolls noticeably before the transmission lock engages. I'd estimate 3 degrees. Your foot drags noticeably if on ground. Purchased new the end of May 29, 2025 and noticed these issues imme... Read more
Incident date: Aug 19, 2025
Summary: Unintended full brake engagement at highway speeds caused by electronic parking brake/Auto Hold button defect. Extreme risk of collision. Details: On [XXX], my wife was driving our 2023 Kia Forte GT Line when the Auto Hold and electronic parking brake system malfunctioned. The system fully engaged the brakes without warning while traveling at highway speed, scraping the brake rotors and ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2020
Brake lines rust and corrode at the plastic support clips. Brake lines are not made from quality materials. Suffrage also corroded. Suffrage was changed by dealer though when vehicle was returned the Brake lines were broken. Car entered Suffrage service with brake lines intact, rusted i wouldn't doubt but intact. When returned after changing Suffrage, brake line was broken and leaking brake fluid.... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
The contact owned a 2024 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving 65 MPH, and was driving on the exit ramp, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact's daughter stated that the brake pedal felt hard. The contact's daughter used the emergency brake but failed to function as intended. In addition, the steering wheel locked. The contact... Read more
Crash
3 injured
Incident date: Jun 10, 2025
(1) On Saturday 8/23/25, the braking system failed while driving on gravel roads going downhill.
(2) I could not stop the vehicle going downhill. I thought I was going to crash. As I started to go downhill @ ~5 mph, I put my foot on the brake pedal, the car would not brake. Pressing hard or lightly didn’t make a difference. It felt like an anti-lock brake (ALB) pulse 1X and then gave up re... Read more
Incident date: Aug 23, 2025
All 4 Brake lines (tubes) from either from ABS or Brake booster pump are corroded and pierced. All brake fluid leaked front center of the vehicle and lost all brake. Brake lines or tubes are looks good from under the front and back tires. It looks like a quality of the brake lines / tubes from ABS to the bottom are not meeting the expected quality.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2023
This braking issue happened on 4 occasions. While in stop and go traffic I would be braking, nursing the brakes the car would take over and slam me to a complete stop. It would not go again until I hit the gas. On two of those occasions the car behind me had to move into the nxt lane or over to the shoulder. The last time the seatbelt caught me so hard I had shoulder and neck pain for about 3 week... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 23, 2025
On August 15, 2025, my 2010 Mazda 3 began displaying the ABS warning light intermittently while driving. The ABS system is a critical safety feature, and when the light comes on, I am unsure if the braking system will function properly in an emergency. I scanned the vehicle using a Foxwell diagnostic tool and retrieved the following ABS-related fault codes: C0020:1C-2B – ABS Pump Motor Control... Read more
Incident date: Aug 14, 2025
ALREADY SUBMITTED COMPLAINT BUT NEEDED TO EDIT MILEAGE. *ORIGINAL COMPLAINT NUMBER-11683406. COMPONENT SYSTEM FAILURE-MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. *SAFETY-PUT AT RISK AS AFTER GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 8/23/25 SERVICE ADVISOR LET ME LEAVE WITH VEHICLE AND SAID IT WAS PROBALY SAFE TO DRIVE AND PROBABLY AN ELECTRICAL GLITCH. THERE WAS NO WARNING/ALERTS PRIOR TO 8/23/25. TAKING THE SERVICE ADVISORS ADVI... Read more
Incident date: Aug 19, 2025
To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) I am writing to formally submit a safety complaint regarding a serious issue I have encountered with the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) manifold on my 2013 Honda Accord EX-L. This issue raises significant safety concerns and may warrant investigation for a potential recall. Recently, I experienced a failure in the ABS system that resulte... Read more
Incident date: Aug 8, 2025
Hi, i am concerned about the safety of my vehicle. i brought it to the attention of ford motor company and an authorized dealer that i am getting a parking brake warning on my dashboard. the authorized dealer inspected it, and said that the braking system is contaminated due to liquid spilling from the damaged cupholders. i communicated to them, that 1. the cupholders are clearly not strong enough... Read more
Incident date: Aug 25, 2025
*COMPONENT SYSTEM FAILURE- MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER *SAFETY PUT AT RISK - AS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE MEANS THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AS THEY SHOULD. *PROBLEM HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY GMC AND THE DEALERSHIP AS A KNOWN ISSUE IN NEW VEHICLES. *THERE WAS NO WARNING OR ALERTS PRIOR TO THE DAY 8/23/25. ON THAT DAY WAS THE FIRST WARNING LIGHTS I SEEN. *PART ON BACKORDER FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE. GIVEN THE MIL... Read more
Incident date: Jul 14, 2025
When starting the vehicle, the message center displays "Loss Communications Brake System Control Module A." The vehicle losses power steering, speedometer indication, tire pressure monitoring, and stability control. There are numerous codes displayed for Brake System, Power Steering, Parking Brake and Stability Control. This is the third time that this event has happened. Turning the vehicle... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2025
When turning my car on, I received warning lights for the ABS, Stability Track, and Traction Control systems. These stated they had all been deactivated. The Check Engine light also illuminated. I was in a safe, open lot location so I put my truck in drive to confirm this was not a dash/technical issue. The brakes were in fact almost completely deactivated. It took me over 100 feet to come to a st... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH for two hours, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact was able to pull over safely. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the front brake pads and timing chain needed to be repl... Read more
Incident date: Aug 26, 2025
My 2018 equinox was running perfectly. Then several warning lights popped up on the dash. I pulled into my daughter's school and didn't have power breaks. Even though brake fluid was full. It wouldn't start back up. A mechanic shop looked at the car and said they thought the timing was off. But couldn't guarantee it. Another mechanic looked at it a few days later and said I needed a new power b... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2025
All of Sudden i got Electronic Parking Brake/Emissions System Problem today 08/26/2025 and hence reporting this and quick internet research shows so many people having same issue
Incident date: Aug 26, 2025
Abs hydraulic control unit defective dealer and manufacturer have failed to produce replacement parts it’s been over 2 years
Incident date: Aug 5, 2025
I was driving on the highway in stop-and-go traffic when suddenly I found myself depressing the brake pedal to the floor and the car would not stop. Additionally, the eyesight function that prevents forward collisions did not alert for obstruction or stop the vehicle. I was able to put the vehicle in park and then tried to reengage the vehicle, but the brakes failed to respond. I was in the middle... Read more
Incident date: Aug 26, 2025
while actively pressing on brake at a stop sign, car started moving. car only stopped when it bumped into car in front and had to be completely turned off. even with hand brake and in park, car kept moving.
Crash
Incident date: Aug 26, 2025
I was taking my daughter to school; we were about 5 minutes from our home. I came up to a red light and stopped no problem, it turned green and as I proceeded through the intersection to the next red light to make my left-hand turn to get on the freeway, my rearview mirror camara flickered and that was my first indication that something was wrong. After that the ac started turning on and off and m... Read more