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: Mar 31, 2025
ABS, Brake, and Traction Control light came up had dealer review these and got error code C1391 and P0441. Initially they said its covered by Toyota customer service program which covered upto 150k miles as my vehicle only has 98k miles. Later they said only 10 years from the vehicle service which ended in 2023 and quoted $4500 to fix. Previously i asked them to check before expiration since it w... Read more
Incident date: Mar 30, 2025
My traction control light, ABS sensor light and brake indicator dash are on. My cruise control does not work. My mechanic says that it is the ABS Control Module. There is a recall for this part, but not for my vin number. The horn fuse had to be removed because the alarm would not stop going off, even when the alarm was not set. This is also associated with the ECM.
Incident date: Mar 30, 2025
Pulling forward in my driveway and my breaks went stiff
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
The vehicle will not start and is showing a warning message , " Low Braking Power Stop in a Safe Place See Owner's Manual".
Incident date: Sep 30, 2024
Vehicle displayed warnings: Service Antilock Brakes Service Electronic Stability Control Service Trailer Brake System The truck has only 4,650 miles on it. When this happens, the above systems do not work along with the 4 wheel drive system. When towing a heavy trailer, the loss of trailer brakes can easily cause an accident due to jackknifing of the trailer and greatly increased stopping dista... Read more
Incident date: Mar 23, 2025
My cars shift lock release keeps getting stuck. I replaced the shift solenoid but that didn't work. I see there was a recall for 2016 kia sorentos for this issue but my VIN was not included in the recall. Can you direct on where I can go from here please! Thank you
Incident date: Mar 30, 2025
Recall # 251 has been going on at great length and I have an appointment for 11:30am April 1,2025 for what they deem as a solution to # 251 Recall that does not fix the problem and goes against everything that the NHTSA and FEDERAL GOVERMENT LAWS are in place for, you are allowing them to continue to not do what the laws clearly state and in a certain time period have repaired, replaced or make re... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2025
The brakes on this vehicle are very spongy, they have to be pushed all the way to the floor to get the vehicle to stop. When pulling a trailer you are on pins and needles wondering if you can get the truck to stop. The trailer brakes are doing most of the stopping. I have owned many trucks and the brakes on this 2024 Chevy Silverado 3500 are the worst that I have ever experienced. This is a Safety... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2014) - SERVICE BRAKES
Mar 30, 2025
Incident date: Jul 15, 2024
I am writing to formally raise a critical safety concern regarding the performance and behavior of the Crosswind Assist system in my 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500, upfitted by Airstream as a B-Class RV. This vehicle, identified by VIN [XXX] , exhibited behavior that I believe constitutes a significant and potentially dangerous flaw in its integrated driver-assistance programming. During a west... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2025
Rear brake pads wore out quick
Incident date: Feb 28, 2025
While entering the [XXX] going East (Home) exit [XXX] I needed to accelerate because of incoming vehicles to my left (Freeway) Instead of going fast my Nissan Pathfinder lose some power to accelarate and my speed reduce to 60 mph And I knew that something is very wrong there is a big trailer behind me, So at this point It felt like my SUV is not responding when I push the pedal, So I decided to pu... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
Power steering leak(took it 3times to get it serviced), breaks(leak), transmission fluid leak(have to refill transmission fluid every week), electrical (dash board lights go off and on sometimes and do other funny stuff), back up My camera doesn’t work(car has blind spots so I need the camera to work), roof windows (work when they want), trunk door (closes by itself hitting me at closing). Che... Read more
Incident date: Apr 6, 2020
My vehicle will phantom brake and kick on the automatic emergency brake system without cause. It has done it as I was accelerating onto the freeway onramp and almost caused a collision with the vehicle behind me. There was nothing in front of me and no reason to brake. It has happened on several occAsions
Incident date: Dec 3, 2024
Multiple times when driving the vehicle will slam on the brakes without warning when there is nothing in front of the vehicle. I have taken it to Honda multiple times and they cannot fix it due to being unable to recreate the spontaneous issue. Also, they did try to recalibrate the sensor, and it still did not work. I don't feel safe driving this car and can't sell it knowing it is dangerous.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
My vehicle has outright lost power and shut down entirely with the engine non functional approximately 6 times since I acquired it back in March of 2024. This recall has existed for 2 months prior to me getting my vehicle and I was unaware of the recall at the time I purchased it because dealerships selling vehicles with open recalls wasn’t something I was aware was legal considering the imminen... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2019) - SERVICE BRAKES
Mar 29, 2025
Incident date: Mar 26, 2025
Dear NHTSA, I am filing a complaint against General Motors, LLC (GM) for failing to follow through on a legally binding lemon law settlement and leaving me with an inoperable, unsafe vehicle. Vehicle Information: •Vehicle: 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 •VIN: [XXX] •Date of Purchase: [XXX] •Dealership: Diamond Chevrolet Buick GMC Nature of the Complaint: 1.Vehicle Declared a Lemon: •GM acknowl... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
Hydraulic pump problem
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
I dont know what fail in the car.brakes system sensors i really dont know.but i was leaving the dentals office about to take main road when all the sudden my car just fully stopped all four weels where some how braked and the car turned off by itself i was stuck in the middle of the road and cars barely missed me. I honestly was in a very dangerous situation.i have a video of how the car braked ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2025
Brakes are squealing when in reverse. After the vehicle has not been driven for a day or even parked for more than an hour. Placing the vehicle in reverse, when backing out of the carport and turning the steering wheel to the left, there is a bad brake squeal. Had the same issue on my 2024 Toyota Tundra. That was fixed under T-SB-0043-24. The 2022-2024 Lexus GX550 has the same issue and has had a ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 23, 2025
New 3 Month old vehicle with less than 5000 miles without warning had full failure of Brake Pedal Simulator Control Unit while on road. Immediately lost use of brakes and parking brake. Luckily driver was on a back road going uphill and was able to bring vehicle to a standstill. Honda will not provide answers regarding reason/cause for unit failure. They also cannot provide advice on how to respo... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
When the Atlas is cold, there is a weird screeching/grinding sound coming from the drivers side front when I press the brakes while in motion. Car has 12 miles on it. Brought it into the dealer and they say that it’s a known issue with the OEM brakes, but as it “does not cause a safety concern” it’s not covered under warranty. Dealer said that he could replace brakes with non OEM and the... Read more
Incident date: Mar 25, 2025
Steering didn't work correctly which led to brakes not doing what I needed which led to slamming into a cement edge at a freeway exit or entrance. Seat belts locked up. Air bags did not deploy. Front passenger tire flat. Car towed next day. Ford dealership did NOTHING even when it was discovered Ford sold us a car with a FLAT spare tire (donut). Dealership said no recalls, but coverup or fixed but... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
My service park brake lights came on, and I had issues where my parking brake tried to engage when I was driving a couple of times. Then when I tried to drive it to a mechanic it completely locked up and I couldn’t drive it. It turns out that my spare tire well was flooded due to a known leak issue, which there is an open recall for that/a power lift module. But due to this leak, the blood water... Read more
Incident date: Sep 20, 2024
Current Ford recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 only includes VINs with automatic transmissions. However, the oil pump belt & timing belt are the same used on the automatic transmissions that are subject of the recall. These components are just as likely to fail on manual transmission VINs but are not included in the current campaign.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
Related to the known HCU failure on these vehicles. My first submitted complaint was on Oct 22, 2022 and this issue is still not resolved. I received a letter in mail on January 21st of this year stating that a recall was finally underway. Now it's late March and everyone's standard response is "No Remedy Yet". The remedy is actually installing HCU part number 68143491AB which replaces the corrupt... Read more
Incident date: Aug 28, 2024
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Jul 24, 2023
The pump in the power-assist brakes puts out less vacuum power than needed, increasing stopping distance and the risk of a crash. My car rolls and doesn't stop. I have new brakes so this is unacceptable!!
Incident date: Mar 27, 2025
Subject: Safety Complaint – 2012 Toyota Prius Brake Booster Failure (C1391 Code) I am writing to formally report a serious safety defect in my 2012 Toyota Prius involving the brake system. Recently, my vehicle’s dashboard displayed the ABS, traction control, and brake warning lights, indicating a critical braking issue. Upon diagnostic testing at a Toyota dealership, the vehicle was found to h... Read more
Incident date: Mar 3, 2025
I was able to distinguish today the car noises my vehicle is making happens when I break. Like a “eeeeek” sound. My mileage is under 8,000, had the car almost a year. Also I notice my wheel stiffens. I’m able to verify it happens when I merge - specifically when the lane dashes end. The wheel somehow gets tight even when driving with both hands. As if the vehicle gets confused. This has hap... Read more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2025
Dear NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, I am filing this formal complaint to report the sale and interstate delivery of a dangerously defective and noncompliant vehicle sold to me by Arlington Auto Group, located at 3621 Columbia Pike, Arlington, Virginia. On [XXX], I purchased a 2013 Fiat 500 (VIN: [XXX] ). The vehicle was delivered to my home in Englewood, Colorado on [XXX]. Within 24 hour... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2024
Emergency/parking brake locks up on its own and causes the rear caliper to become extremely hot and causes poor breaking performance.
Incident date: Feb 27, 2025
Excessive corrosion on rear brake lines. I've never had to replace brake lines on car before. The cost is almost $5,000 out of pocket and I believe this due to low quality products used to manufacture the original brake lines. I believe there should be an investigation into the brake lines as there could be serious injury if they fail.
Incident date: Mar 27, 2025
Mercedes had a recall for rusty subframe but the rear break lines are rusting out as well and it should be a recall just like the subframe. I have brake line leaking now and it will cost around 2500-3500 to fix per mercedes
Incident date: Mar 8, 2025
Auto was parked in driveway, facing garage (door opened). When I turned on ignition to place car in garage it accelerated without warning. My hard braking had no effect and car went through garage knocking out the back wall and a large portion of cement block foundation.
Crash
Incident date: Jul 17, 2021
I am writing to bring to your attention a serious safety issue I have experienced with my 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring, which has 58,757 miles on it and has been diligently maintained with all scheduled services up to date by Honda dealership. On March 18, 2025, I reported a brake fluid leak originating from underneath the brake pedal inside the cabin. Upon taking the vehicle to an authorized ... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2024) - SERVICE BRAKES
Mar 27, 2025
Incident date: Mar 12, 2025
I am reporting Ed Morse Cadillac Delray Beach, for improperly handling a manufacturer recall service, which resulted in a new safety issue on my 2013 Cadillac SRX. On February 22nd 2025 I brought my vehicle in for the Cadillac rear tow link separation recall. After the dealership performed the repair, my ABS system malfunctioned—an issue that never existed before. The dealership initially ackno... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2025
Very hard to brake, like stepping on a brick. Have to start breaking way in advance. Also keep getting a "shift to park" alert and car won't shut down and can't get out of it sometimes.
MERCEDES-BENZ
GLE 350
(2020) - SERVICE BRAKES
Mar 27, 2025
Incident date: Mar 1, 2022
I am writing to you about my 2018 EcoSport. I have been waiting for the parts to come into the dealership since the recall, and yet the parts still have not arrived. I have been having problems with my car before I got it fixed. Now I am having problems with my breaks. I've asked one of the service workers if it was ok to drive it, which he said it was okay. When I left the dealership, I was close... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2024
When operated with driver assist and stop and go assist, the car, often slams the brakes for no reason in the middle of the highway. I have reported this problem multiple times to the dealership and the dealership has kept the car in for investigation multiple times sometimes for more than two weeks. They were able to replicate the problem, but they had absolutely no solution. It’s been a few ye... Read more
Incident date: Mar 11, 2025
The 2015 Volkswagen Beetle was in a minor accident that was rear-ended by another vehicle. No one was injured. The other party claimed responsibility and the vehicle was repaired and the other party paid for the repairs. The problem is with Volkswagen not having the OEM safety equipment available to complete the repairs. The specific part is a spoiler attached to the rear trunk lid that increa... Read more
Crash
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2020) - SERVICE BRAKES
Mar 27, 2025
Incident date: Nov 1, 2024
While driving on the highway at ~70 mph, the brakes just gave out and I narrowly escaped crashing into someone as I drove into the median having been unable to stop in the expected distance. The ABS light just came on and apparently it’s a very known issue that Toyota is refusing to fix or intimate owners. I have been going to the same dealership for 12+ years and never had this brought up by... Read more
Incident date: Dec 12, 2024
I was driving under the posted speed limit on a road near my house going to pick my kids up from school. I was approaching a stop sign at an intersection and began to press on the brake pedal. The pedal traveled all the way to the floor as I was coming yo the stop sign. A driver was approaching me from the left headed east and my car went into the street past the stop sign and the other driver hit... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 10, 2025
In August of 2024, the ABS light came on in my 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (manual transmission). I took it to my mechanic who reported that the error code indicated that the ABS module was bad and needed replacing. We authorized the repair and waited for him to call with a timeline for it to be ready. He was unable to locate any parts from any of his normal suppliers and called the Jeep dealersh... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
For the past 3 years my 2018 Traverse will randomly say shift to park and won't let me turn my vehicle off even though I am in park. In the last week it has gotten worse happening almost every time I drive it and not recognizing that I am in park for anywhere from 2-10 minutes.
Incident date: Mar 26, 2025
My wife was parking the 2024 ioniq and it lurched forward at a high rate of speed and slammed into another car parked in our driveway and drove that vehicle through our home garage door. She feels certain that her foot was on the brake, but even if she accidentally slipped and appleid the brake the forward collision system should have prevented the accident additionally the impact occurred with s... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 5, 2025
It was a hot day and I went to start my 2019 Jetta, it sent me a warning code to safely stop the vehicle and then all electrical shut off but the engine then proceeded to stall in place and not want to start back up. I got it to restart and the parking break locked up. I turned it off again and restarted it and managed to get the parking break off after several attempts. I had to have it towed as ... Read more
LAND ROVER
DISCOVERY
(2017) - SERVICE BRAKES
Mar 26, 2025
Incident date: Feb 28, 2025
I Was driving down highway and receive a fe messages in quick order -front sensors off, front camera off, collision detection off, regenerative braking off - started moving toward right shoulder prior to pulling off - car lost speed at high rate putting me in jeopardy of being rear ended. 2025.06.012 code was loaded into truck the day before - this was first real drive after new code loaded in... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2023) - SERVICE BRAKES
Mar 26, 2025
Incident date: Jan 15, 2025
2024 BZ4x, 590 miles on ODO. Purchased the car on Sunday, 03/23/2025. Monday Morning - Turning on the Car (In my garage). I had it in "ready" while I tried to connect my Toyota app to the car, While talking to Toyota engagement for help.. (Never was able to change the primary driver on it.) The accessory lights flickered and a bell went on and off. Then the car went totally black. Toyota called a ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 20, 2023
I leased the car brand new, maybe a month or 2 later the brakes started making noise. I took it to VW 2-3x and they said that was just a common problem in the atlas and there’s nothing they can do about it. They suggested on the highway, when it is safe to slam the brakes to get rid of the noise. Not only is this dangerous but also my tires are worn down from constantly braking trying to get rid... Read more
Incident date: Mar 25, 2025
The brakes sound horrible when they are cold. They grind and vibrate until they are warmed up and the car only has 8K miles on it. We are being forced to pay to have the brake pads replaced with ceramic brake pads from the semi-metallic factory ones. We have only had the car 2 weeks. They said VW would cover 70% of the cost, but with the number of complaints, this should be covered completely.