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: Aug 10, 2026
On Monday, XXX, my 2018 Jeep Wrangler JKU had several errors displayed on the dashboard: ABS, Brake, and Traction Control failures. I took my vehicle to an auto repair shop and they diagnosed it as a faulty ABS Module. This part is on back-order as per discussion with local Jeep dealers in [XXX]. Stellantis confirms that this part is not available as it has been deemed a systematic failure. The... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2025
The Hydro Boost Pump Port Tube Assembly (Mopar P/N 04581758AA / 4581758AA) on my 2018 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins has failed and requires replacement. My concern is that this component is part of the hydraulic assist system supporting critical steering/braking functions. A failure or loss of hydraulic pressure could result in significantly increased steering or braking effort and create a serious safety... Read more
Incident date: Jul 16, 2026
While driving at about 60 mph on highway, several systems in the car failed without prior warning. The message on dashboard said Catastrophic Electric System Failure. Brakes would not work for a moment and then started working. All windows came down and went up on their own. No lights were working. No blinkers or side lights were working. With a lot of difficulty and hand signals moved to the h... Read more
Incident date: May 8, 2026
The brakes failed; they felt spongy, as if my foot were pressing directly against the road. The car accelerated and I headed toward a wall; the sensors didn't stop the vehicle. It came to a halt against the wall after the impact. I was on my way to the repair shop for a scheduled appointment due to electrical problems.
Crash
Incident date: Aug 18, 2026
Found large oil spot in driveway, took truck to dealer. Dealer inspected for problem and found brake fluid low and leaking brake line at master cylinder.
Incident date: Aug 19, 2026
While driving, I suddenly smelled something burning. Immediately after, a warning popped up stating 'Engine power is reducing,' the check engine light came on, and I experienced a sudden, near-total loss of power braking assist, making the brake pedal extremely hard to press. I had to use intense force to bring the vehicle to a stop. A scan of the vehicle's OBD-II codes revealed codes P0556 (Brake... Read more
Incident date: Sep 27, 2024
My ABS alarms constantly as I drive. This issue started in September 2024. I cannot use my truck as desired because of constant alarming making traveling, as the truck was purchased for, impossible to enjoy for us. I have contacted my dealership approximately twenty times about repairing. I have been given multiple answers but have received no help. I have contacted customer care, customer servic... Read more
Incident date: Aug 16, 2026
The abs module on many of these vehicles has a known fault. You can’t find replacement parts, even the Jeep dealership can’t get them. Many ppl are driving around with faulty modules, on a waiting list for parts. I’m one of those people. All has been fine until I was driving toward 228 business in Angleton to turn towards Walmart. I was going about 45-48 and went to brake to slow down ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 16, 2026
Check engine, ABS, Service Shifter suddenly pops up and the steering was hard to turn almost had an accident
Incident date: Aug 15, 2026
On 08/15/26, I was at a traffic light waiting to make a left turn on a major roadway. Because the wait was on a hill, the park brake automatically engaged. When the traffic light turned green and as I attempted to accelerate, the electronic parking brake failed to release as it should and normally does. Since the vehicle would not move normally, I was unable to safely make my intended left turn so... Read more
Incident date: Aug 14, 2026
I took it in for the Maine state inspection and it won't pass because the rotors have delaminated, the caliper is starting to shift up, and the brake hoses are going bad already. The service tech says this is a known issue with these vehicles. Unacceptable for a vehicle with 42k miles.
Incident date: Oct 30, 2025
In October 2025, the Anti-lock Breaking System (ABS) Brake, traction control, downhill control indicators all illuminated. This also impacts cruise control and acceleration from a stopped position. My repair technician placed an order for the necessary ABS control module with MOPAR. The expected delivery date was August 2026. In August 2026, MOPAR informed them the part was on a nationwide back or... Read more
Incident date: Aug 17, 2026
While pulling into our house/garage to part, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and traveled ~12 feet crashing into and through the wall dividing the garage and the living area.
Crash
Incident date: Aug 15, 2026
As I was driving, the vehicle's air conditioning suddenly began blowing warm/hot air. Moments later, the check engine light and all electronic service stability lights illuminated on the dashboard. Simultaneously, the vehicle suffered a complete loss of electronic brake assist, resulting in an extremely hard brake pedal and a severe reduction in braking power. The vehicle also displayed a "No Driv... Read more
Incident date: May 27, 2026
On XXX, about 8:30 a.m., in clear, sunny weather, I was turning my 2024 Honda Accord Sport Hybrid into a marked parking space. My foot was off the accelerator; I applied light brake pressure while the vehicle moved under 5 mph. Without warning, it suddenly and spontaneously accelerated at high speed. Within seconds it drove over a concrete parking stop, traveled through dense landscaping, and coll... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
My RAM vehicle has several open safety recalls. For more than six months, I have repeatedly contacted my local authorized RAM dealership (Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram FIAT of Winter Haven, Address: [XXX], Phone: [XXX]) to have these safety recalls completed. The dealership has advised me that the required recall parts are unavailable and therefore they cannot perform the repairs. I also contacted RAM/... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2023
I own a Ram pickup that has experienced a failure of the ABS brake module. The replacement ABS module is not available from the manufacturer, and I have now been waiting approximately three years for the necessary replacement part. I have contacted Ram dealerships regarding this problem and have repeatedly been told that the ABS module is on backorder and/or unavailable. Despite waiting for appro... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
This truck has been built with a brake hydraulic control unit ("HCU") that is susceptible to failure or malfunction which may result in a reduction or change of Anti-Lock Brake System ("ABS")/Electronic Stability Control ("ESC") /Traction Control performance. A failing HCU will initially result in the intermittent loss of ABS/Traction control progressing to permanent loss. Safety Risk The loss of... Read more
Incident date: Feb 10, 2026
ABS module failure. Warning lights on dash- ABS lamp (code C2200), traction control lamp, service trailer brake system message, and red brake fault lamp illuminated. Does not go away after vehicle running. Reduced braking feel present. Will not pass state inspection for legal road use due to red brake lamp on status, no abs module replacements from dealer- national backorder with unknown shipping ... Read more
Incident date: May 23, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle jumped a curb, went down a riverbank, and crashed into a telephone pole. The air bags did not deploy. The brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The parking brake was engaged, and the vehicle stopped. The message “Parking Brake Malfunction - See Dealer” was displayed... Read more
Crash
Incident date: May 20, 2026
The car’s brakes hardened on the highway, posing a life-threatening danger, right before the engine died. Following a tow to the dealership’s service center, an initial inspection revealed a broken vacuum pump and broken camshaft. The dealership stated that there was evidence that camshaft debris may be scattered throughout the engine. No further inspection has been done at this time due to th... Read more
Incident date: Aug 14, 2026
The car accelerates on its own at times. I am not pressing the gas or going down a hill. It is flat road, sometimes even pulling into my driveway. There is also feeling like I am being bumped from the back and moving when I am idle. I am strict about oil changes and have it fully inspected when I take it every 3 months as I am a single mom and cannot afford for my children and I to be hurt in an a... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2024) - SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 17, 2026
Incident date: Aug 15, 2026
Brakes were replaced in 2025 after dealership said there was manufacturer issues with premature wear on the brakes. Same day brakes were replaced they started making grinding noises again. We called the dealership ship and they said it would stop with in a few days never did. Now a year later the the replacement brakes failed on us.
FREIGHTLINER
CASCADIA
(2026) - SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 17, 2026
Incident date: May 24, 2026
On May 24, 2026, while driving home from the Ocotillo Wells OHV Recreation Area toward San Diego, California, a drive of roughly 90 miles, a dashboard warning reading "Stability Controls Not Working" illuminated on [XXX] near Warner Springs in San Diego County. The vehicle is a 2026 Freightliner Cascadia chassis carrying a Renegade Classic 43CMD Super C motorhome body. The vehicle was approximatel... Read more
Incident date: Jul 6, 2026
I was driving and the traction control light, down-hill decent, abs, and parking brake light came on. Diagnostics came back to the brake module being defective.
Incident date: Aug 8, 2026
Vehicle went into “limp mode” while merging onto a busy road, nearly causing a collision with both oncoming traffic and other vehicles attempting to merge onto the road. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the following: “Checked system codes. Found P0324 knock sensor module performance code. Found the attached TSB by GM. Believed to be the issue: engine has piston sl... Read more
Incident date: Aug 17, 2026
Brakes failed completely due to excessive rust / corrosion on brake line junction area. Brake pedal suddenly went to floor and fluid leaked out near right rear quarter of vehicle in-front of right rear tire.
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2013) - SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 17, 2026
Incident date: Aug 11, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle felt like it had shifted sideways. The contact stated that it seemed as if the steering wheel and the front driver's seat had shifted. In addition, the contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the trunk latch was enabled; however the trunk failed to open or close. The dea... Read more
Incident date: May 28, 2026
The ABS control module (part 68032358AC, ATE 25.0212-1155.4) on my 2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited failed at approximately 109,600 miles with stored diagnostic code C2200 (Anti-lock Brake Module Internal). The ABS, BRAKE, ESP/BAS, and traction control warning lights illuminate intermittently and the fault is permanently stored. When active, the vehicle loses anti-lock braking, electronic stability co... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2026
Hard brake pedal and Service Assist message. This issue was recalled for trucks and larger SUVs but not the Equinox. This is a known safety issue to Chevrolet, making my vehicle undrivable until I can come up with the $1,500 to have it towed and repaired.
Incident date: Aug 16, 2026
The brake vacuum pump failed at 46k causing a loss of brake power. Low brake power park in a safe place and call the dealer.
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2013) - SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 17, 2026
Incident date: Oct 30, 2023
In October/November of 2023, while Hyundai was actively initiating Safety Recall 251 (NHTSA Campaign 23V-651), my vehicle's ABS Control Unit suffered an internal fluid leak that resulted in an electrical short-circuit. The failure caused major electronic communication errors, illuminated dashboard warning lights, and placed the vehicle into Limp Mode, rendering it unsafe to drive. Because the fail... Read more
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2020) - SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 17, 2026
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
Coming to a stop or slowing down the vehicle has a spot where it feels like the brakes fail then come back on. Especially if going down a grade. This happens around 15 to 20 mph. Started off a slight moment when you are sure the brakes quit working for just a second. As the vehicle gets older it has brown to be more noticeable.
Incident date: Aug 16, 2026
The anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic stability/traction control system on my 2013 Ram 1500 have malfunctioned. The Serious incident occurred when another vehicle pulled out in front of me and I had to brake hard. Dash immediately displayed the ABS and brake warning lights, The normal hydraulic brakes operated, but ABS did not activate. The wheels locked and the vehicle skidded sideway... Read more
Incident date: Jul 24, 2026
I was pulling into (my usual) handicapped parking space, at a slow speed. As I approached the curb my brakes did NOT respond to stop my car. Not only did my brakes not respond, the car actually sped up - going up the curb and hitting the handicapped sign pole. The pole broke and stopped my vehicle! I was afraid my (out of control) vehicle would keep going through a store front - it did not. Folks ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Aug 15, 2026
On August 15, 2026, at approximately 5:00 PM, the vehicle was being driven with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged during light rain. As the vehicle approached traffic ahead, it did not slow or brake as expected. The driver recognized that the vehicle was not slowing and attempted to intervene manually by pressing the brake pedal multiple times. The driver reports that despite these attempts,... Read more
Crash
MERCEDES-BENZ
GLE 450 4MATIC
(2024) - SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 17, 2026
Incident date: Jul 4, 2026
Active Brake Assist unexpectedly and forcefully engaged while driving on the highway 3 times. The dashboard display light goes completely black while driving.
Incident date: May 10, 2026
ABS Brake Sensor is on and the ABS Module needs to be replaced, however there are a lot of other people out there with this same issue and nobody can keep up with the parts to fix the problem. This should be a recall for all Jeeps 2009-10018
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2018) - SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 17, 2026
Incident date: Jul 27, 2026
Subject: Safety Complaint – 2018 Ford Expedition Brake Master Cylinder Recall 25S37 / NHTSA 25V236 I am filing this complaint regarding my 2018 Ford Expedition, which is subject to an open Ford brake master-cylinder recall, Recall 25S37 / NHTSA Recall 25V236. I am currently experiencing brake fluid loss around the brake master cylinder/brake booster area. Because this is directly related to th... Read more
Incident date: Aug 16, 2026
Brake lights not working properly.
Incident date: Jun 11, 2026
Different codes started blanking after I got gas June 11, 2026. Soon as I cranked up it started flashing warnings. Emission system, brake system, sport mode doesn’t work, cruise control doesn’t work, check engine light on, tire pressure light on. I took it to midlands Honda on June 15, 2026. They told me turbocharger and need spark plugs based off mileage. I took it to oreily, they say it only... Read more
Incident date: Aug 14, 2026
When driving normally, oncominng traffic is triggering the frontal collision warning system. Is some cases long enough to start the emergency braking procedure if I do not engage the brakes manually preventing the automatic emergency braking. This usually happens on curves in the road in typically right hand curves. This is happening on 2 lane roads at between 45 and 55 mph. Initiating and emergen... Read more
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2021) - SERVICE BRAKES
Aug 16, 2026
Incident date: Aug 14, 2026
Pre-Collision System warning activated unexpectedly. The vehicle then accelerated by itself unexpectedly and the accelerator/throttle was engaged by itself. Breaks were then hard to push and vertically impossible to slow down. At the time, there was no vehicle or obstruction immediately around the vehicle other than a possible box, or small obstruction in the road. Yes the vehicle is available for... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 23, 2022
Unsure which individual or multiple system components failing. All occurred within 5 miles of home. Driving to destination noted that vehicle was acting or responding weird but did not show signs of any failure reported to daughter while speaking to her on the hands free system in vehicle but did not really pay much attention to what was happening because it did not affect the driving at that time... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jul 25, 2026
when driving the vehicle 7/25/26 my fcw/brake light came on. I felt very insecure for safety reasons and we contacted a local mechanic who specializes in honda and foreign vehicles. We have photos and invoices from the auto shop and we had to rent a vehicle. We are rited with 1 vehicle and my wife was going to visit her mother.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
My vehicle has experienced a complete failure of the ABS Control Module. A dealer diagnosis confirmed internal module failure. The symptoms are: - All ABS system warning lights illuminated (ABS, traction control, brake, sway bar) - Odometer and speedometer stop working while driving - All brake lights remain on continuously - Vehicle exhibits erratic shifting / rough braking This is a documented ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 17, 2024
While driving my 2015 Chevrolet Malibu on a four-lane highway with a posted speed limit of 70 mph, the vehicle displayed an “Engine Power Is Reduced” message and limited the vehicle to less than approximately 25 mph. This created a serious safety concern because the vehicle could no longer maintain highway traffic speed, resulting in a significant speed differential of nearly 45 mph below the ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 14, 2026
While driving on the freeway, I experienced a sudden issue with the vehicle’s braking system. The brake pedal became extremely stiff and difficult to press, and the brake assist stopped functioning. I was still able to apply the brakes, but it required significantly more force than normal to slow and stop the vehicle. Prior to this incident, I had also noticed an issue where the engine did not ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 13, 2026
While driving my 2017 Chevrolet Malibu LT equipped with the 1.5L turbocharged engine, the brake vacuum pump failed due to the pump’s mechanical drive/tang shearing. The failure resulted in loss of vacuum assistance to the power brakes, creating a significantly harder brake pedal and a serious safety concern because braking assistance can be reduced and stopping may require substantially more eff... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2026
The car was being parked in a shopping lot. As the drive was pulling into the parking spot, the car lurched forward on its own and hit the wall. The gas pedal was not pressed. No collision sensors were triggered either. Unclear if related but the car was taken in for maintenance and recall updates the week prior to this accident.
Crash