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.

2,245,377 Total Complaints

140,173 Reported Crashes

56,794 Reported Fires

8,580 Reported 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

How to Read NHTSA Consumer Complaints › How NHTSA Investigations Work › Used Car: 7 Recall Checks to Run First › The Takata Airbag Recall: Full Story › OBD-II Codes Explained › All Articles ›

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Showing 78,884 complaints - component: SERVICE BRAKES

Incident date: Feb 6, 2026

I own 2 2009 Toyota Prius. Both cars less than 175,000 miles and both have failed ABS modules. The ABS module in this vehicle is also the power brake booster. This failure can cause braking issues such as loss of braking or sudden brake application. Only known fix is replacement of the ABS brake module which requires the Toyota Techstream service computer.

Incident date: Apr 23, 2026

I was trying to stop at a light and the brakes wouldn't work. I almost crashed into the car in front of me but I had to step on it really hard to stop. Then the brakes were stiff and it was hard to stop. I brought it to a Chevy dealer yesterday and they said the vacuum pump exploded and pieces were in the engine, and it messed up the cam shaft. This is 5l worth of damage. When I looked it up onlin... Read more

Incident date: Feb 11, 2026

ABS braking system suddenly not working. ABS, BRAKE, and traction control lights all turned on.

Incident date: Apr 3, 2026

The brake booster and brake booster pump assembly (also referred to as the Accumulater or Accentuater) have failed in my vehicle the same as Toyota's known defect that was mentioned in their Customer Support Program 20TE07 (part numbers can be found within the filing of their CSP 20TE07). I am reporting that this issue appears to have affected more than their initial estimate of ~118,960 states im... Read more

Incident date: May 6, 2026

I was driving home after dropping my kids off at school and when I was almost home my dash lit up with the traction control light, check engine light, ABS light, red break light, service ESC message, forward collision system unavailable message and break system failure 62 MPH top speed ( was switching between 43 MPH top speed and 62 MPH top speed ), I went to slow down and I had no brakes at all.... Read more

Incident date: Apr 29, 2026

I have 2014 Prius v 5 with 100,000 miles but I had issues with brake booster pump

Incident date: Dec 11, 2024

Actuator needs replacing, currently at 127k miles and displaying traction control, brake and ABS warning lights. The repair will be a few thousand dollars, the cars market value is only around $6k. This is a known Toyota defect for this generation of Prius but Toyota hasn’t recalled these vehicles. I think Toyota should have to pay. The vehicle is out of warranty at 127k miles and it’s a 2013

Incident date: Apr 25, 2026

Brake assist activates for no apparent reason

Incident date: Apr 2, 2026

This truck was parked on a job site, on a flat parking lot over blacktop, doing a regen for the 5th time in just a few days. The truck had 4,000 miles on it. When it completed the regen, we shut the truck off. Within 15 minutes the truck was fully engulfed in flames. A fire investigator looked at it and determined the fire started in the engine bay, below the master cylinder. He said this was a... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Apr 23, 2026

I traded my 2001 F250 for this yard art with intentions pf pulling our fifth wheel all over the country. It has sat un-usable for two years. I would happily pay for the parts if they were available. They are not at least that is what the dealer keeps telling me. Milton Ruben in Augusta. The recall is about two years old now and nothing is happening. I can't sell it, I can't trade it,, This is comp... Read more

Incident date: Apr 30, 2026

Brake booster vaccum pump failure

Incident date: May 1, 2026

At approximately 30,000 miles, upon starting my 2025 Chevrolet Traverse LT, the brake pedal traveled completely to the floorboards with zero resistance. Simultaneously, the 'Service Brake Assist' warning message appeared. This loss of hydraulic pressure occurred while stationary. This follows a dealership visit one week prior for a 'glitchy' check engine light that was dismissed by service staff.T... Read more

Incident date: May 1, 2025

Traction control, ABS, and brake light all illuminated, then on 5/3/2026 while driving the speedometer quit completely. Replaced all 4 wheel speed sensors to see if it would help and nothing changed.

Incident date: Apr 16, 2026

On multiple occasions, this vehicle has initiated automated braking with no other vehicles in the immediate proximity. On 2 occasions, the automated braking has resulted in near misses of rear end collisions. This is an intermittently occurring fault that has become more frequent as of late. The vehicle has <100k on the odometer. The vehicle was taken to the local Honda dealer and their invest... Read more

Incident date: Apr 28, 2026

Year/Make/Model: 2013 Toyota Prius • Component: Brake Booster Assembly with Master Cylinder (Part #47070-47060) Description of the Defect: After approximately 30–40 minutes of driving, my dashboard illuminates with the Brake, ABS, and VSC warning lights simultaneously. The brake pedal becomes inconsistent and requires significantly more effort to stop the vehicle. This is a known internal flui... Read more

Incident date: Apr 23, 2026

I put the car in reverse, and it accelerated uncontrollably, and the brake wouldn't work, and it hit another car Then, I put it in drive, and it accelerated uncontrollably again, and the brake wouldn't work again It was accelerating uncontrollably in both reverse and drive and the break wasn't working I got it stopped with the emergency parking brake There were warning lights and signals during th... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Mar 16, 2026

On 4/16/26, while driving my 2015 Toyota Prius (approximately 87,000 miles) on the freeway, I applied the brakes while transitioning from the [XXX] onto the [XXX] . As I veered right on the curved onramp, the brakes failed to engage properly, causing the vehicle to spin out of control and collide with the side railing. There were fortunately no nearby vehicles on the 2-lane onramp at the time. U... Read more

Incident date: May 5, 2026

I was driving down my neighborhood road about 20mph there were no other cars around on the road at all only mailboxes and cars parked in driveways. The car suddenly slams the brakes hard enough the tires were squealing and threw us forward thankfully me and my child had our seat belts on. It scared the heck out of us cause there was no warning and definitely not expected.

Incident date: Aug 1, 2024

I have replaced all brake components except abs motor. After researching online this vehicle has same issues as stated with other models . Brake pedal goes to floor after spending $3500!

Incident date: May 6, 2026

Brake lines were definitely not replaced even though known to be defective and prone to corrosion and leaks. Almost got into a accident because the known recalled area let go on the highway

Incident date: Mar 10, 2026

We purchased a 2019 Atlas in 2020 and recently had to take it to the dealership in [XXX] multiple times with no answers as to why the steering is shaking and the car vibrating at speeds over 50 mph. Apparently according to this complaint link, [XXX] it is very common and consumers have had the same poor response from their dealerships to fix this safety concern. I got a quite (PARTS ONLY) for $... Read more

Incident date: May 6, 2026

Steering is horrible specifically to the left in a curve it doesn't go back to center when letting it you have to force it which is jerking car back right into other lane off the road. The brakes squeal awful the car has about 40,000 miles on it. Can't see any recall on any of this with my car but it definitely has issues.

Incident date: Apr 29, 2026

The service brake system has a recurring uneven/abnormal braking issue. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The concern has been reported to a Genesis dealer multiple times. After prior complaints of uneven braking, the dealer resurfaced/cut the rotors several times, but the problem kept returning. New brakes and rotors were installed in November 2025, but the uneven braking conc... Read more

Incident date: May 3, 2026

I called FCA for recall information on May 6, 2026 - NHTSA Recall Number24V-896. FCA advised the part is not available yet. I checked [XXX] for a HCU/ABS part and it is available for purchase and explained to FCA it is available. Then FCA says you can go ahead and replace it and file for reimbursement with no timeline for reimbursement. Local RAM service deparment said not parts available. ... Read more

Incident date: Feb 20, 2026

The break light came on. The local garage says I need a new master cylinder, and the dealer I purchesed the car from will not verify an extended warantee item or silent recall. This master cylinder part is all over the the internet as defective on multiple years.

Incident date: May 6, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that all the warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle stalled upon starting. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the fuse was replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While depressing the start button, the look in the rear mirror was displayed. The vehicle failed to start. The brake pedal was kickin... Read more

Incident date: Apr 1, 2026

1)Brakes were changed, rotors and pads. Brakes were bled 3 times and it still does not stop correctly. Even when the brakaes are on, it releases itself. 2)Truck keeps shuddering and loosing power. 3Electronics will not stay bluetoothed and it connects and disconnects all by itself all the time. Appears there are recalls on these 3 issues.

Incident date: May 1, 2026

All of my braking/abs lights intermittently go on and off. My 2019 Honda HRV runs fine but when dealer looked at it they said it was the VSA and to replace would be over $4k. Dealer said eventually my vehicle may shut down if not taken care of. I am wondering if this is a common problem and if will be a recall?

Incident date: May 6, 2025

The ABS module has failed. The jeep was not involved in an accident, it is at my house not driveable because Jeep does not have the ABS module. The part has been on factory back order with no date of availability. No aftermarket company produces the past. I now have a jeep that is useless. Jeep should be held accountable for availability of the part.

Incident date: Apr 8, 2026

I was leaving for work, backing out of the driveway, and the brakes just locked up out of no where. I’ve done this multiple times and the brakes have never done this. I tried pulling up and trying again, turning the car off and back on, and backing a different way out of the driveway. It kept locking up on me and nothing was in the way. My husband had to eventually take me to work. The automatic... Read more

Incident date: Mar 11, 2026

I was driving on the street about 15 miles per hour when the car sensor sensed something in front of my car and stopped automatically when there was nothing in front of me. Almost caused a rear-end accident, luckily, the car behind was able to stop

Incident date: Oct 27, 2025

The break pedal sticks down during high temperatures ( generally during summer months especially when park outside in the sun and high humidity) and causes the brakes to drag and the break pedal doesn’t come up by itself! Also the brake lights stay on. It is very dangerous to drive on this condition. I just want theNHTSA to be aware of this and I have seen a lot of complaints on line I contacted... Read more

Incident date: Apr 12, 2026

My 6 year old son and I were coming down the road and came up on 2 deer and I was coming up on a sharp curve and when I hit my brakes my steering wheel LOCKED up completely and the steering wheel is so bent where I tried my best to control it but I failed and we hit a tree head on. Broke my nose and my sons leg broke in between the back seat air bag and door air bag

Crash 2 injured

Incident date: Apr 12, 2026

I have the warning power steering on my dash and it’s getting harder to steer and turn then it quits and does it again it’s not safe at all

Incident date: May 4, 2026

Car was parked and the ABS braking unit caught fire. Fire Marshal watched CCTV from restaurant from across the street. He watched it from when the car was parked until the fire department arrived. No one went near the car or threw anything at the car. Fire Marshal saw when the smoke began, then an electrical arc and flames. The 2024 Mini Clubman was totaled by our insurance company. Luckily ... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Nov 1, 2025

When applying the brakes when slowing down fro a traffic light or in traffic, the brkaes suddely stop workign for a few sseconds at a speed of 5-10 mph, causing car to lurch forward before the brakes reengage. This has existed for a couple of year but has gotten worse in thelast 6 month.s The risk is that the lurch occurs prior ot the full stop ,potentilly causing the car to run into the car ... Read more

Incident date: May 3, 2026

I am submitting this complaint to document ongoing brake related concerns on my 2020 Hyundai Elantra that may affect vehicle safety. Since April 2024, I have experienced repeated brake rotor warpage that causes vibration during braking, reduced braking consistency, and a noticeable change in stopping behavior. These symptoms raise concerns about braking performance and overall vehicle control. I r... Read more

Incident date: Apr 5, 2026

Dealer is refusing to acknowledge the known BSG defect (TSB 2058831/13) and is instead attempting to charge for secondary electrical failures (ABS/AC) caused by the primary charging system failure. 2023 Audi A3 2.0T, VIN [XXX] . Recurring 48V BSG (Belt Starter Generator) failure causing complete loss of power steering and brake assist. First documented under warranty October 29, 2025 at 45,500 mi... Read more

Incident date: May 4, 2026

I have had an issue with my brakes for a couple years. I have taken my van to a couple of different mechanics to express my concerns and they have changed brakes but the issues continue. The brakes do not always work effectively. They make a hissing sound. When my foot is on the brake, sometimes my van will still roll forward or backwards - this has happened often when leaving parking lots. I... Read more

Incident date: Mar 8, 2026

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2023 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43 4MATIC. The vehicle has approximately 23,000 miles. On multiple occasions, the vehicle has abruptly and violently applied the brakes and/or come to a near stop while I was driving on highways and side roads, even though there was nothing in front of me that should have triggered emergency braking. There was no vehicle, pedestri... Read more

Incident date: May 5, 2026

To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report a critical safety defect regarding my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. This defect resulted in a life-threatening incident while I was driving on the highway, during which my vehicle failed to stop as required. While operating at highway speeds, the brake pedal became extremely hard to depress, making it nearly impossible to decelerate or bring t... Read more

Incident date: May 5, 2026

The hydraulic brake control unit has been setting off warnings and noises constantly for several months. The recall came out in November, 2024 and Ram still has absolutely no answers for when or how to repair. How is it allowed for them to issue a recall that states my trucks brakes could fail at any time and not have a repair for it in over 18 months. I was recently in a minor car accident on ... Read more

Crash

Incident date: May 2, 2026

High-pitched squeal under light braking at low speeds (under 10 mph), typically occurring during the first few stops of the day...Dealer stated TSB Numbers: 20-NA-002 or MC-10232149-0001 only refers to 2020 model year. Please update this TSB so it includes 2024 model year XT4 vehicles. Dealer unable to replace break pads and charge GM without updated TSB. Note: Issue has been ongoing since purch... Read more

Incident date: Apr 23, 2026

while braking and coming to a stop the van surges forward (while brakes are being applied). This has nearly caused accidents on 2 occasions, and has happened 2 other times in the past few months

Incident date: May 1, 2026

I parked my car fully functioning with no lights on the dash board, after getting back in the car i had the abs light, brake light and stability light on. I checked the codes and i had a C2200 code.The ABS module is bad and the part has been back ordered since 2021 from Jeep/Stelantis. Now the part is discontinued and there is no solution at this time. These cars are driving on the road with no AB... Read more

Incident date: Nov 27, 2025

ABS systems not functioning properly, showing engine code U0121 that states lost communication with ABS module. This is a common occurrence with jeeps and is a safety issue due to the abs system not working properly. Also causes the brakes to randomly engage and disengage.

Incident date: May 4, 2026

brakes are bad paint and body arent in good condition have had some stalling problems

Incident date: May 2, 2026

Having abs and traction control dash lights and no cruise control have replaced everything and now being told my HCU unit is the issue and parts are not available which to me is unbelievable due to being part of safety system and not part of recall according to Ram, this makes absolutely no sense to me.

Incident date: May 4, 2026

The vehicle has only been driven for 24K miles and there was an issue with the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) and the recommendation is for it to be completely replaced. Seems ridiculous if the ABS Hydralic Control Unit is meant to last 100k-200k miles.

Incident date: May 4, 2026

Ref NHTSA 24v-896, Recall C4B The problem started back in 2021 when the anti-lock brake Hydraulic Control Unit failed. It was replaces and then it failed again in Dec 2024 while on vacation. When returning home in Jan 2025, the truck was brought to the dealer for repair. It was found to have failed again and told that a repair parts were not available, nor was it known when the redesigned part wou... Read more

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Consumer Safety Complaints

What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?

How to interpret what you read

If you've experienced a defect

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