Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 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 2,215,138 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 116,327 complaints — component: STEERING
Incident date: Mar 3, 2026
The power assist has gone out. It became very hard to drive the truck. I was coming home from work when it happened. It’s obviously a danger to cause an accident, it’s very difficult to steer the truck. It has not been to the dealer or mechanic yet. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the incident. Yes it is available for inspection upon request. The problem continues today.
Incident date: Mar 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the message “Power Steering Inoperable” was displayed. The steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was driven to a dealer at a very slow pace and was diagnosed with the electric power steering failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failu... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
On March 13, 2026, I was operating my 2015 Hyundai Tucson when the steering locked up, causing me to crash into a tree head-on. In the course of this head-on crash, my airbags failed to deploy. As a direct result of my airbags not deploying in a serious car crash, my head hit the steering wheel, causing a confirmed concussion diagnosis of Post Traumatic Headache and Post Concussion Syndrome in a h... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 4, 2026
The electronic power steering system randomly cuts out. While turning on the on ramp, speeding up to get up to highway speeds the power steering randomly cuts out when hitting small bumps. This caused the van to almost drive into the wall going 40+ mph. I had to use 2 hands an a lot of force to correct the steering. This is especially scary because I regularly drive on snowy roads on i70 in the w... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2022) — STEERING
Mar 20, 2026
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
Travel Assist option is controlled by a sensor in the steering wheel. There is no way to disable it. When the sensor malfunctions, it plays an extremely loud and repetitive beep that cannot be disabled. It’s extremely distracting while I drive and happens every 30-45 seconds.
Incident date: Feb 7, 2026
I am submitting this complaint to report a serious safety issue involving my 2021 Chevrolet Suburban equipped with the 3.0L Duramax diesel engine. The vehicle has experienced a recurring problem related to the engine wiring harness. While driving, the vehicle will unexpectedly stall without warning. At the same time, there is an immediate loss of power steering assist, significantly reducing the ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2026
1Rear end shifted to passenger side 3 in 2. The intermittent shaft made the steering wheel over turn over half a turn. 3 manifold bolts replaced but snapped again. Fuel pump went out. Tailgate has opened multiple times. 120 k seems unfit to drive wheel studs drivers rear broke off 1 by 1 till there were 2 left
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 2500
(2025) — STEERING
Mar 19, 2026
Incident date: Mar 12, 2026
I was driving the truck on my way to work in [XXX] , last March 12, 2026, at around 6:50 am. It was raining when I entered the exit ramp to work going west; the truck died, and the steering wheel locked. I tried to start it, but it wouldn't. The dashboard displayed: 'Trailer Park Brake Failed,' 'Power Steering Pump Needs Service,' and 'Axle Repair Error.' I was on the exit ramp for a highway that ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 10, 2026
The FSD system in my Model Y is hazardous. When I first purchased the car on 2/9/2026, they secretly loaded it with very outdated software, as follows: “Software” 2025.44.300 Full Self-Driving v13.2.9 I’ve already driven this car 9960 miles, about 85% of which was on FSD. I will itemize for you a list of events that have occurred with this car with me driving for which dash cam footage exist... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
My 2016 Colorado is experiencing the same loss of power steering issue that the 2015 models have which was recalled. The 2016 models need to be included. It started 2 years ago and will randomly cut in and out. I was unaware of the recall when it first occurred and I took it to the dealer and after inspection they said my battery was low and would fix it. It didn’t fix it. I also have a har... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2026
The contact was an insurance company that called on behalf of the previous owner. The contact's Insurance Company took possession of a 2025 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a loud popping noise was heard coming from the vehicle with no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that following the failure, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 5, 2026
The car had a recall repair to the steering system done due to it being sticky. But the issue has coma back again while driving on ramps and curvy roads. The steering requires significantly more effort and also has a feel of a ratchet. It also feels like a ratchet, when moving very slow and making tight turns. The car also had a recall battery replacement done for the MHEV battery and now the prob... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the steering wheel was turned to the left and became difficult to turn back to the center. The vehicle was stopped, and the steering wheel symbol in red was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was turned off and restarted, but failed to reset the power steering assist. The failure was intermitt... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2026
I am reporting an ongoing and worsening defect condition involving a Volvo vehicle that has displayed repeated power steering / steering failure warnings and is now also showing additional symptoms consistent with a possible turbo / emissions-related failure. The steering-related warnings have remained active and unresolved over an extended period. The vehicle has displayed dashboard warnings for... Read more
Incident date: Nov 27, 2025
Component: Electric power steering system (steering column rack). Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: Loss of power steering assist renders the steering wheel virtually inoperable, creating an immediate risk of loss of vehicle control for the driver and danger to other road users. The vehicle required towing on November 27, 2025 — one month after purchase (October 25,... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2026
My 2020 Hyundai Kona (VIN: [XXX] ) has a persistent engine stalling safety defect that matches Recall 203 (22-01-042H, NHTSA Campaign 21V301000 – Nu 2.0L Atkinson Engine Inspection and Replacement). The recall addresses improperly heat-treated piston oil rings causing cylinder bore scuffing, accelerated oil consumption, abnormal knocking, and potential engine stall while driving (increasing cras... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed. There was an audible chime with the power steering message flashing on the instrument panel before the steering wheel seized for several seconds. Despite the failure, the vehicle resumed normal operation soon after the temporary failure. Upon invest... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and inoperable, with the maintenance warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The f... Read more
Incident date: Mar 6, 2026
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 has a steering issue. The steering wheel sticks and is jumpy when turning. I took it to the dealer and demonstrated the issue by driving slowly, turning the wheel, releasing it and watching the car continue to turn while the wheel remained in the position I had left it.This anomaly was easily overcome by applying reverse steering pressure or by accelerating the vehicle. After ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
On February 23, 2026, I was driving my 2023 Tesla Model Y under normal city conditions. While parallel parking at very low speed, I suddenly heard a loud metallic bang from the driver’s side of the vehicle. Immediately afterward, the vehicle lost mobility and the steering wheel became unresponsive and would not turn. I exited the vehicle and observed a detached metal suspension component and a b... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at 40-45 MPH, the brakes and steering became inoperable, causing him to crash into an unknown vehicle. The air bags in the other vehicle did deploy. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployments, or fire for the contact's vehicle. A police report was filed. The traction control and ABS warning lights illuminated. The lo... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
Electronic Power Steering just stopped all of a sudden while I was going up the mountain into North Carolina that almost caused an accident the only reason it didn’t is because of the pull off right after the curve I was going through when I lost all steering! With the truck already in the pull off I stopped to see if I had lost a serpentine belt unaware this Ram is equipped with the EPS System.... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
CV axles failed around 42,000 miles. Purchased new tires due to one being worn. After new tires the front end was shaking on acceleration onto the highway. Vibration stopped once the vehicle got up to speed. The tires were rebalanced but that didn't help. The mechanic found the problem to be the CV axles. Once both were replaced the vibration finally stopped.
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
The steering locked up and was completely unable to turn the wheel. This resulted in an accident that sent the car into a ditch. The safety recall for the steering was fixed and it failed again, in which it cost me 1700 to replace the same part again. It has AGAIN failed!!! This is extremely unsafe and should not fail on multiple occasions. This problem needs to be resolved!!!!
Crash
Incident date: Dec 23, 2025
The 2023 Toyota RAV4 8-speed transmission is catastrophically defective and poses an immediate safety hazard. It exhibits severe hesitation, slipping, and lurching when accelerating from a stop or low speed, and when attempting to merge into high-speed traffic (I-15/Las Vegas), creating a high risk of rear-end collisions. During these events, the RPMs spike and fall rapidly but the vehicle fails t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2026
I was driving down the road when my power steering went out in the middle of a sharp turn. As the power steering was going out the screen on the dash showed “Service power steering now” and beeped three times, giving me only about a second to read the message and react to losing power steering. The steering wheel jerked right and I almost drove off the road. I have since taken it to a ford dea... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
The steering wheel sticks when turning causing it to lock up unless excessive force is used. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
While driving, the steering wheel suddenly became stiff and difficult to turn, making it hard to control the vehicle. This happened unexpectedly and created a serious safety risk, as I could have lost control and caused an accident. At the same time, the braking response did not feel normal, which made the situation even more dangerous. This issue has occurred despite previous repair attempts, a... Read more
Incident date: Dec 5, 2025
2023 HYUNDAI PALISADE VIN [XXX] Vehicle rear shock absorbers failed. Steering and drivability adversely impacted. Many many many complaints online document these defective parts and Hyundai's failure to resolve problems and supply properly functioning parts. Hyundai customer service is useless and claims no information on replacement part availability or time. Now that Hyundai has their newest ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2026
My steering is making loud clicking noises when turning the vehicle left or right at low speeds. It sounds like loud pops. It is especially prevalent once car has warmed up and driven. It is very prominent when reversing and turning the wheel or moving forward and turning the wheel and also when parked and turned the wheel left or right. I brought this to my dealership’s attention and they conf... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
The front axel makes a terrible clicking or clunking sound when turning. This seems to be a common problem with these cars and my concern it the axel will break or wear down to the point of failure.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2022
Steering wheel feels like it sticks and causes overcorrecting when trying to make small adjustments to steering.
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2026) — STEERING
Mar 18, 2026
Incident date: Mar 14, 2026
I had this truck as brand new for approximately 24 hours when it had a major failure. It had 450 miles on it at time of purchase, but was sold as new. While driving at 45MPH it had a check engine light, service power steering message, lost power steering, lane departure system failure, and reduced power amongst several other lights on the dash. I limped the truck into a gas station parking lot. Af... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2021
Power Steering and stabilitrack keeps popping off on my dashboard. Took it to service at Chevy dealer but they couldn’t seems to find any problem even when they see the issue.
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
Suddenly lost all power steering, then warning power steering attention, no control for steering, very dangerous, couldn't drive vehicle. Took independent car repair to fix. $5k repair to fix problem. Should not happen to vehicle.
Incident date: Aug 25, 2025
rear camera doesn't work--also theres a problem with the rack and pinion
Incident date: Oct 16, 2025
When I rotate my steering I hear a weird sound from the steering. It feels like steering rack issue. It happens during drive as well as when parked. I think this can cause a massive safety problem if steering rack fails while driving. There are no warnings in the car. The problem appeared in mid 2025 and have continued since.
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
The contact called for the owner of a 2022 Ram Promaster 3500. The vehicle was taken to be serviced due to a power steering failure. While operating the vehicle, the owner experienced a power steering failure, and the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or the right. The messages "Service Power Steering", "Service Hill Assist", "Service Collision Warning", "Blind Spot Alert Unavailabl... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
When steering there is noise coming out. When parking or turning wheel all the way to one side it makes weird noise. I see so many complaints about this.
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
Intermittent loss of power steering.
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
Vehicle steering wheel was off-center and the vehicle wandered whenever the road changed camber or had rough sections. The vehicle was purchased used from Carvana,. I took it in for 4-wheel alignment and the tech reported that "All adjustment hardware at rear were pretty loose", and stated that it probably left the factory this way as he saw no evidence of prior adjustments. The left rear tire is ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 11, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving under normal conditions, the vehicle became extremely difficult to steer, and significant physical strength was needed to turn the steering wheel. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (STEERING); and associated the failure with the recall; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was t... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2025
I was driving a 2025 Genesis GV80 loaner vehicle at approximately 65-70mph when I began to hear a loud noise and feel shaking consistent with a tire issue. A tire pressure warning appeared on the dashboard. I immediately slowed down and attempted to safely move to the shoulder of the road. While trying to pull over, the vehicles lane keeping assist appeared to resist my steering input, making it ... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Mar 9, 2026
The front wheel axle makes a clicking noise when turning either left or right. Vehicle has about 10 K miles on it.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the front ball joint and lower control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2025
Both CV axles are making cliking noises and popping sounds honda refuses to make repairs
Incident date: Feb 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that the steering wheel material had been unraveling. The contact received notification of TSB Number: SB2332003. A Tesla Service Center was contacted via the Mobile App Chat feature, and informed the contact that the vehicle would be repaired at the owner's expense because the warranty had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufac... Read more