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 117,788 complaints - component: STEERING
Incident date: Sep 20, 2025
Randomly my steering wheel will get stiff/lock up and pull the car and its hard to control it sometimes
Incident date: Sep 23, 2025
Steering the vehicle in a low gear causes the vehicle to tremble or shudder. The dealership identified the problem to be the transfer case fluid. In manufacturing, BMW put a fluid which did not meet the specifications of the vehicle. The transfer case fluid is documented in the manual of BMW X5 M50i (2021) to be something which does not require replacement in the lifetime of the vehicle. I raised ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 21, 2025
The component that failed was the steering damper. This results in the vehicle violently shaking at freeway speeds after hitting a bump. This has resulted in me having to pull over to get the issue to stop on multiple occasions. In addition, it can be difficult to keep control of the vehicle when this is happening and there is no set way to make it stop once it has begun. It is unpredictable, as i... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and attempting to make a left or right turn, the steering wheel was sticking, requiring extra force to turn the steering wheel. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the rack and pinion were faulty and needed... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Subject: Safety Defect Report – 2015 Ford F-150 Clock Spring Failure To Whom It May Concern at NHTSA, I am writing to report a safety defect in my 2015 Ford F-150 (VIN: [XXX] ). The steering wheel clock spring has failed, which prevents the use of steering wheel controls to cycle through and monitor critical vehicle information. This creates a safety risk because the driver cannot access impor... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2024
Vehicle lost power resulting in the vehicle automatically going into park and powering off while driving. This has happened multiple times. In addition, we will get strange electronic codes. Tested battery and systems successfully, but problem persists.
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2021) - STEERING
Sep 23, 2025
Incident date: Sep 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse and depressing the accelerator pedal, the power steering failed to operate as needed. Neither a dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numb... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2022) - STEERING
Sep 23, 2025
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
When vehicle is behind driven, and adaptive cruise and steering assist are active the vehicle regularly falsely interprets road lines. When this happens the vehicle veers quickly. This has happened multiple times veering the vehicle into oncoming traffic, off the road, or onto the shoulder. It can be corrected by driver intervention but the car maneuvers quickly when falsely reading road signs
Incident date: Aug 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while driving and making a right turn on several occasions, the steering wheel was sticking and failed to automatically return to center after the turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE25009 (Steering). The manufacturer was... Read more
Incident date: Sep 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring an increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rack and pinion. T... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2020) - STEERING
Sep 23, 2025
Incident date: Sep 19, 2025
crossed over an overpass, the different road heights cause the death wobble. Have not taken to dealer yet.
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2019) - STEERING
Sep 23, 2025
Incident date: Sep 23, 2025
While driving on the highway, the dashboard illuminated with power steering & lane departure warnings. Upon this happening, the power steering did fail, and would not come back on regardless of the driving mode (2022 Hyundai Veloster N). Because of my high speed, I was able to navigate to an off ramp and pull off the road without incident. At slow speed, I was barely able to turn the steering whee... Read more
Incident date: Sep 18, 2025
Two instances: 1) While reversing out of a parking spot, several warning lights flashed at once, including Power Steering System disabled, Service Hybrid Engine System, and two others - lost power steering. I parked and restarted the car and it drove normally. 2) While in park, the car started but would not shift gears and it would not turn off. It was stuck in this position for 10 minutes unti... Read more
Incident date: Jul 5, 2025
Since I purchased the car the steering wheel will jerk, when im on a 2 lane road. It always jerks towards on-coming traffic, and it only does this when there is a car coming in the opposite lane and is just about to pass me. I have to fight with the steering wheel to get it back to go straight. Because of this whenever I am on a 2 lane road like this I always drive slow. This is the first car I'v... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 3500
(2025) - STEERING
Sep 23, 2025
Incident date: May 26, 2025
In my 2013 Dodge Ram, after 12 years of running and driving practically perfectly, my Electrical Power Steering failed in June 2025 and lost power steering. My wife could have gotten into a collision. Even though this issues is part of a general recall issue for RAM during 2013-2016 models about, my RAM dealer has instructed me that VIN # is not part of the recall I had to pay out of pocket to r... Read more
Incident date: Nov 30, 2021
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse out of a parking space, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The power steering failed, and the "Steering Assist Fault" warning light was illuminated. The contact previously received notification of Warranty Extended Coverage, NHTSA ID Number: 10236689 (Steering); however, at the time the notice was recei... Read more
Incident date: Sep 9, 2025
While driving at approximately 39,000 miles, the vehicle developed loud rattling and creaking noises from the front suspension when steering or backing out. A Tesla service center inspected the car and confirmed that both front lower lateral link assemblies were completely torn and required replacement. This failure placed safety at risk by compromising front suspension stability and steering con... Read more
Incident date: Sep 22, 2025
When I make a left or right turn, the steering wheel does not return to the center on its own. I have to manually bring it back to center in order to straighten the wheels after a turn.
Incident date: Sep 22, 2025
7/1/2021 my Honda Accord spinned out on the freeway, the car next to me avoided me driving towards the right side where guardrail was, hitting the wall, right tire collapsed; State Farm paid out $6k damage, slapped me with a premium increase from $300 plus /6 mos to $700 plus, also I had to repair the car $500 plus; that was a car defect, Honda motor co. was liable for all damages and repair and ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 17, 2025
The EPS system Electric Power Steering failed without warning while in the middle in a turn almost causing an accident and the truck running off the road. Other trucks of this model have problems with the EPS and have been recalled but my truck of the same model is not.
Incident date: Sep 20, 2025
Driving normally about 30mph about 2 minutes into my trip, heard chime and power steering stopped. Got it to the side of the road and re-started engine. Power steering came back. Drove about another 10 minutes and it happened again. Re-started engine and it was fine for the rest of the day.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2022) - STEERING
Sep 22, 2025
Incident date: Sep 19, 2025
Ongoing issues with the screen displaying upside down, blurry, red/green lines, powering on and completely off. Rearview calibration issue off centered (dealership fixed). This also impacts the cruise control alerts, lane keeping assist, etc. and occasionally powers vehicle off. Dealership was able to fix delayed reverse transmission via software for the PCM. Multiple dealership repair attempts ha... Read more
Incident date: Sep 20, 2025
My car wouldn’t start and the dashboard says “Engine Stopped / Power steering low” car will stop driving completely randomly. No codes are popping up when I test the car.
LAND ROVER
RANGE ROVER
(2017) - STEERING
Sep 22, 2025
Incident date: Sep 9, 2025
My 2019 Jeep Wrangler is experiencing the "death wobble" every time I hit any uneven pavement while traveling at 60-65. This is extremely unsettling and could cause serious injury or death. Why haven't all the Jeeps during this time span been recalled considering the number of reports of this issue on the 2019 Jeep Wrangler?
Incident date: Aug 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the steering wheel was turned to the left while reversing down the driveway at approximately 3 MPH, the passenger’s side front tire fell into the wheel well. The contact stated there was no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the passenger’s side front tie rods, control arm, and ball... Read more
Incident date: Sep 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2003 Honda Accord. The contact stated that there were several mechanical failures with the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a failure with the ignition switch, and the key could not be removed from the cylinder, and the shift lever failed to shift into drive(D), park(P), or into reverse(R). The contact stated that while the vehicle was in drive(D), the drive(D) indicat... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V514000 (Steering); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not ex... Read more
Incident date: Sep 21, 2025
While driving on the highway on 09/19/2025, my 2023 Maserati Grecale suddenly lost all electrical power. The battery failed without warning, and the vehicle became completely unresponsive, including loss of steering and braking functions. This created an extremely dangerous situation where I had no control over the car in the middle of a highway while driving at 55mph. This is a major safety defe... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
This motorcycle is unstable at highway speeds. I believe the aerodynamics of the fairing and the front fender are to blame. It is not an issue when I ride the bike with a passenger, thus more total weight resolves the issue. I am 160 lbs. and when I ride solo and get around semis, or have a headwind, the front end begins to shake side to side at around 70mph, depending on the wind, oscillation beg... Read more
Incident date: Sep 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact and her husband met her son on the side of the road, and the contact's husband drove the vehicle to the residence without power steering functionality. The contact stated tha... Read more
Incident date: Sep 22, 2025
Since I’ve got the vehicle i experienced issues with it not going in drive or reverse sporadically. I was air to obtain this in video and show it to the dealer for the first time Dec 2023. In addition and overtime it’s seems this issue may go hand and hand with the lane assist issue that had been known on Chevy models where they either don’t work of they don’t recognize the lanes correctly... Read more
Incident date: Sep 22, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC60. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds and turning, the front end of the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound. Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel seized after turning, which required the contact to jam the steering wheel for the steering wheel to return to the center. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehic... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2024
This problem has happened sporadically since the first instance described below. I was driving in the left lane at 65mph on the highway during a bend in the road. The steering when extremely stiff, which is extremely alarming on the highway. The car chimed and produced the messages, "check power steering" and "check lane departure warning system". From that point until I was able to stop somewhere... Read more
Incident date: Sep 22, 2025
The steering column locks up. When start vehicle and make turn to get on road the steering locks up and cannot turn the wheel. This is safety concern and not safe to drive.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
The steering is sticky, the power steering does not return the wheel to center whenever I turn. It feels jerky whenever trying to remain center in the lane, especially at highway speeds. Makes slight noise when turning
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE L
(2025) - STEERING
Sep 21, 2025
Incident date: Aug 7, 2025
In March 2023 I reported my keys stolen by a tow truck driver and in March 2025 I discovered my auto registration documents was forged by the auto dealer. The time In August 2024 my ID was stolen and because of slander HPD refused to investigate. All of this was followed by more violence against me and I decided to move to another state. I believe my car has been tampered with as the reasons for ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 17, 2025
I noticed a subtle clunk noise about a month ago coming from the steering wheel and the front left side of the vehicle when turning the steering wheel at a low velocity and also when the car was idle. The noise gradually started becoming more frequent and louder as days went on. As I was driving the vehicle was not driving smooth as usual it almost felt wobbly when turning the steering wheel. Ther... Read more
Incident date: Sep 21, 2025
When the wheel gets turned to the right to go around a curve, the steering wheel gets "Stuck". The car continues to turn when exiting the turn, and will only return back to center by having to pull hard on the steering wheel.
Incident date: Sep 21, 2025
I have a 2021 GMC Acadia that keeps saying steering assist not available. But when it does this, the temperature gage stops working and so does the AC. After you turn the car off the fan still runs for at least 10 minutes.
ALFA ROMEO
STELVIO
(2018) - STEERING
Sep 21, 2025
Incident date: Jun 21, 2025
The steering seems to get a sticky feel after driving for a while. The steering wheel will get a sticky feel while a slight turn in the road and it will happen either turning left or right. Then on the highway it seems to happen so you can't keep the car going straight.
Incident date: Aug 31, 2025
Lower ball joint separated from knuckle and it says 0 recalls repaired i want it replaced because there oem they were never replaced when recalled
Crash
Incident date: Sep 30, 2024
my power steering intermittently 'locks"Cannnot remove key from ignition.Car loses its data memory, time &date go haywire. A lot of times car wont start.I have taken it a few times to my mechanic. He has run scans, but all the codes are clear.This is the problem.He has checked the Battery&Altenator, all fine.He tried cleaning some ground wires. He feels bad charging me money because he cant fix a ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 19, 2025
I was going to the pharmacist. When I started my vehicle there was an alert for ""steering assist fault service required". I tried to turn the steering wheel and it would not turn. I could not use my vehicle.
Incident date: Jan 15, 2025
Vehicle slightly swaying from left to right while driving making it difficult to keep it in the middle of the lane. Also the steering wheel not quite on center making it even more difficult to keep it straight forward.
Incident date: Sep 14, 2025
Over the past two weeks, on three occasions, the steering "stuck" momentarily (for about a second each time) during low-speed small turns at around 15 mph. Once, a "Service Power Steering" message appeared for approximately 2 seconds, then disappeared; we did not see this message again. Yesterday, the steering locked completely when moving the vehicle from a parking space. We were unable to steer ... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 3500
(2010) - STEERING
Sep 21, 2025
Incident date: Sep 8, 2025
The steering wheel will not return to center and feels like its binding on something, sometimes its tough to steer other times not. Does not feel safe. No warning lamps and nobody has inspected or worked on it yet.
Incident date: Sep 20, 2025
On a cold morning in February of 2025, i was going to get my wife and me a biscuit and sausage for breakfast. I went to the garage, cranked my truck and noticed the steering wheel would not move. I also noticed a steering wheel light with an exclamation running through it on my instrument panel. I shut it down and went inside to tell my wife. She did a search on the internet and found that others ... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2024
The steering latch to adjust steering wheel unlocks while I’m driving causing my steering wheel to drop literally while I’m driving.
Incident date: Sep 14, 2025
Since the day I bought my 2013 Edge I have had nothing but problems ranging from Backup Camera always has a distorted image, appears upside down or it will just be blank. For the last year I have had my car looked at, changed everything that could possibly be changed to now my car can be going down the road running 55-60 MPH and the car will just shut down and flash random warnings on the dash but... Read more