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: Mar 7, 2025
The steering wheel became difficult to control.Also,steering wheel module waring light came on.
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
The vehicle has recently started to have power steering failure, making it a hazard while driving at times.
Incident date: Jan 7, 1987
I have been and currently experiencing the death wobble while going on high speeds on the freeway. It feels like my jeep is out of control as the steering wheel Shakes and the whole car Shakes. I took it to the dealership where they just completed repairs for the shaking and put new suspension on. About two days later, I still experience the same shaking. There are no warning lights that come on.
VOLKSWAGEN
TAOS
(2022) - STEERING
Mar 8, 2025
Incident date: Mar 8, 2025
Towards the end of January, my car computer was reset because the car was telling me that I needed an oil change early and the dealership told me it could just be a computer issue. I then took my car to get an oil change and full vehicle inspection on February 24th, 2 days after that on the 26th I was leaving my school parking lot when the vehicle accelerated awkwardly when I was leaving out of a ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
It’s happened 2x in owning the 22 Vw Taos. The car will start be good for about 5 seconds, then car shakes like the engines misfiring, check engine light flashes, steering does become locked a little and difficult. Once you start up again it’s fine. Happened in Nov 2024 and today 3/8/2024
Incident date: Mar 8, 2025
This incident is replicable. When driving in lower speed (parking) and moments after switching into a gear (drive or reverse) the power steering goes out. The dash flashes with 2 errors “service AndvanceTrac” and “Hill Assist” following dash lights illuminate: Airbags, ABS, & Traction control. Once the vehicle is turned off and then back on, the indicator lights go away and power steering ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 6, 2025
My brother in law was driving my 2018 Range Rover (with only 47,000 miles) on the busy highway. Without any warning, the car lost power. He was able to swerve into breakdown lane (thankful he was in right lane). The car was smoking so badly he thought the car was going to explode into fire so he and his wife evacuated the car and sat a safe distance away. Car was towed to the Range Rover Deal... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2025
EL carro se va hacia el lado izquierdo aún teniendo el volante en línea recta , a la velocidad que se maneje hace el mismo problema , llego al punto que de no poderse controlar la dirección me salí de la calle y al frenar pegué con el volante estando embarazada y ahora mi bebé está en el hospital en cuidados intensivos, lo llevamos muchas veces a revisión , le hicieron alineación y los es... Read more
Incident date: Jan 25, 2025
Was driving my truck and everything was working fine then the power streering just shut off making it very difficult to control the vehicle then proceeded to go off and intermittently at different times after that now it has been completely gone and not came back. The rack and pinion would have to be replaced.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2022) - STEERING
Mar 7, 2025
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
Clicking/popping noise when turning steering wheel. Was told it could be the steering gear box issue that is associated with the CIVICs but there is not fix yet at the dealer near me. No warning lights, but this is starting to become an issue
Incident date: Feb 4, 2025
It’s sticking bad and clicking. Very dangerous feeling. Highway speeds I need to make strong corrections to unstick the steering wheel. It’s a constant fight to keep it in the lines.
Incident date: Jan 15, 2025
Electronic Power Steering fails and there is a loss of control with turning the wheel (left/right). This is a hazard especially on the road as it not only puts myself at risk but other drivers lives at risk. There is a red steering wheel that lights up on the dash which indicates loss of power steering. There have been multiple reports already of Electronic Power Steering Failure with Volkswagen v... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2014
I turned my car on and a Warning light of adaptive steering sensor came on. Then my steering wheel was not in the correct position while I was driving. I only have 80 thousand miles on this vehicle. I feel like this vehicle should have been included the recalls of the other 2017 ford edges. Adaptive steering issues. Please add my VIN # to the recall so I can fix this. I’m afraid to drive it now.... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2025
When turning the steering wheel to the left, the steering wheel jerks and pulls to the left, gets stuck some and the jerk back into place when coming out a left turn or curve to balance steering wheel position. Searched for recall and took to Hyundai but they could not find anything. They say maybe purchase tires, rotate your tires and/or wheel alignment. I have done it all. They said they heard ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2025
The horn is a button on the top right of the yoke steering. With a turning wheel the position is not stationary and in situations where it is warranted to warn other vehicle or person you keep looking for it and get distracted. I have had this vehicle for about three weeks and I find this as a serious safety issue. Today I contacted Tesla and it seems they have a new steering that come with manual... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2025
While making low speed turns steering wheel rips out of hand and is momentarily uncontrollable, and very hard to handle. This issue has caused me to almost crash numerous times.
Incident date: Mar 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V199000 (Air Bags, Steering); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer... Read more
Incident date: Jul 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2023 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V199000 (Air Bags, Steering); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer... Read more
HYUNDAI
KONA ELECTRIC
(2024) - STEERING
Mar 7, 2025
Incident date: Feb 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25-30 MPH, the power steering became inoperable. The contact was able to continue driving; however, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistanc... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
In January 2024 I started getting power steering issues and multiple warning lights related to the electrical systems. I took my vehicle to Car Pros Kia for inspection and repair on 2/1/2024. They took it for a test drive at which time it caught fire.
Fire
Incident date: Jan 14, 2025
When driving and going into turns the steering wheel does not return to center.
Incident date: Mar 7, 2025
Steering has sticky response from the neutral position. Car has 60000 mi. Seems be after car warms up, and over 35 mph. When driving, when car is starting to drift left, light steering to right hangs up briefly before jumping right slightly. No warning lights and lane departure is off. No tire problems. Recent alignment. No recall on this car, but problem seems very similar to other cr-v r... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2025
Steering sticks in certain position to the left and has to be forcefully reentered (there's also a clunking noise that the steering makes when this problem occurs). Problem began about a year ago and I have taken vehicle in to be repaired multiple times. I believed it was a tire issue at first, however, after a few weeks ago I was assured that the tires was not the problem. This feature is incr... Read more
Incident date: Feb 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the contact heard a warning chime and then observed that the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and the power steering warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact pulled over, turned off, and restarted the ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 6, 2025
The car is un safe to drive, the RPM fluctuations, gos up and down at low speed, doesn’t potential problems with the torque converter clutch, is juddering and unstable RPMs, noticeable during acceleration or deceleration
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2024) - STEERING
Mar 6, 2025
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
The power steering stops working intermittently while driving. Today we were going about 40mph and the steering wheel locked up for about 2 minutes. We were driving straight forward . When we came to the stop light we turned the engine off and restarted the engine. We could have a major accident. It has been doing this for about 3 weeks. We are not going to drive it until it fixed.
Incident date: Mar 6, 2025
Sticky steering due to faulty eps gearbox. Recall is for 2022-2025 but many 2021 are affected. Steering is stiff and difficult, constant corrections being made just trying to steer straight, steering wheel does not want to return to zero position after taking a curve. Steering gets worse when it's cold out or after some rain due to the moisture.
Incident date: Mar 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff, and difficult to turn in either direction. The contact was able to veer over to the shoulder of the road. The message "Power Steering Assist Failure" was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and the contact was informed that the rep... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2025
3/5/2024. Upon startup, car does not have power steering. Error code UI_a020 on screen and steering wheel very difficult to move as car reverses. Put car back into park and arranged for alternate transportation. Manufacturer advises "monitoring and reporting back when/if alert re-occurs"
Incident date: Mar 6, 2025
The jeep will display “power steering unavailable” while driving, causing the steering wheel to lock up and be unable to turn while driving. Then the automatic braking, collision warning, and lane departure will all announce it is unavailable. This has caused us almost to crash multiple times. We took the vehicle to Jeep, they witnessed the power steering fail while driving, and told they can ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2024
This steering issue waa forst noticed fall of 2024. Wheel will not come back to center on its own. For ex if you turn to the right it keeps going right, you have to consciously bring it back to center. Steering feels heavy/like no power steering. Safety issue ! I brought it in Nov 2023 at 37k mikes. They thought it was that i needed new tires and alignment, but that didnt help. I brought it back M... Read more
Incident date: Mar 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who observed a small amount of fluid within the engine compartment. The dealer later determined that the fluid was power steering fluid.... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
My steering is making loud noises and so is the suspension. It’s so loud it’s embarrassing to drive. The steering wheel also came apart because it wasn’t glued down properly and had air bubbles. I see recalls for cars but not my specific vin. Tesla says no wheel replacement for me and cost of replacing link assembly parts and bolts would cost me 2000$
Incident date: Nov 1, 2024
The contact owned a 2017 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the steering wheel locked in place without warning veering to the right direction, and crashed into a highway guardrail. The air bags did not deploy and the contact did not seek immediate medical attention; however, the contact suffered of headaches days after the accident. The contact later discovered that she... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Feb 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, causing the steering wheel to become very stiff. The contact proceeded to coast the vehicle to a stop and the traction control light illuminated. Additionally, the messages "Service Power Steering Now" and "Advance Track System" were displayed. The local dealer was cont... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH and descending a steep grade, the contact attempted to turn the steering wheel to the right however, the steering wheel failed to turn or respond as needed. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stopped and turned off and restarted the vehicle and was able to regain power ste... Read more
Incident date: Feb 27, 2025
While traveling from Massachusetts to South Carolina we stopped at a rest area for a break. when we re-started the S.U.V., a message was displayed that the power steering assist was no longer working. No warning and it was running fine before stop. Because the same thing happened on my other Ford Edge, I knew what I needed to do. We had to have the car towed off highway to a local Ford dealership,... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
My wife was driving our 2025 Honda CRV on [XXX] when suddenly the car turned off, there were no brakes, and was unable to steer. This happened while driving - moving - She was able to stop, turned the car off, then started the car again. She parked the car in a parking garage, and called the Honda dealership in Manassas, VA. The technician told her to NOT drive the car and have it towed to t... Read more
FREIGHTLINER
CASCADIA
(2023) - STEERING
Mar 6, 2025
Incident date: Oct 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid. While the contact’s daughter was operating the vehicle, the steering wheel was very difficult to turn in either direction, with the message "Power Steering Malfunction" displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the steering rack was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was no... Read more
CHEVROLET
EQUINOX EV
(2024) - STEERING
Mar 5, 2025
Incident date: Mar 5, 2025
I was driving on my way to my house when suddenly I lose the power steering on my truck and the wheel started to get hard to turn luckily I was the only person in the street
Incident date: Feb 9, 2025
The electric power steering (EPS) system on my 2014 Ram 1500 has intermittently failed, most recently when transitioning from idle, such as leaving a parking lot, and during deep turns. This marks the third time I've experienced steering-related issues with this truck. Each time the EPS fails, a "Service Power Steering" alert appears, and the steering becomes extremely difficult, posing a serious ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2025
When it rains(or car wash) my power locks don't work. I get locked out of my car. My car reset itself in the middle of an intersection(like I turned it off and back on again). One of my gauges is always not working. The sunroof doesn't work right. Water is getting in the electrical area somehow. I've taken it to two chevrolet dealerships, but no help.
Incident date: Mar 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the EPS system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the EPS system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2023
My car was recalled for the steering control module issue in 2016, Recall 15S18 and 15N01. Brought it into my Ford dealer in 2016 and Ford declined to fix the steering control module repair. In 2016, car was well within the 10 year window and mileage restriction. Now, my car still is under 150K miles, is at 124,000. The power steering stopped working last week. The error message on dashboard ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2024
Lane keeping will kamikaze the vehicle on to exit ramps or exit only lanes when engaged at a highway speed. This seems most common when the truncated lane markers, usually used on exit-only lanes, and not the full length lane markers (the center line markings). Example: Vehicle is traveling at a static heading, freeway speed, two lane limited access freeway, driver in control, all lane keeping ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while her son was driving 10 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff. The contact stated that a dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electrical steering module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2024
My vehicle is activating “crosswind assist” and applying the brakes automatically, unilaterally, and abruptly while traveling at speeds over 40 mph on the highway, even when conditions are NOT windy. It seems that the sensor is overactive in detecting wind. I have taken it to the Mercedes dealer and they have stated they found no problems with the ESP sensors and state that the vehicle is res... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2025
I have an ongoing problem with this vehicle that KIA will not address. My alternator was replaced under warranty last April 30 and when I got it back, the CV boot was leaking grease all over the underside of the car. It took 6 weeks to get them to replace the cv boot (June 14). After that it continued to spray grease all over the underside of my car and there is an increasing amount of vibratio... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
The vehicle is makeing clicking noises whenever a tight turn left or right is made from a stop. The noise is louder in cold weather and when the car is first driven.