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: Nov 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while driving, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver, and the vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, turned off, and restarted several times for the power steering function to reset. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The failure had occurred several times. The failure was associated with the steering wh... Read more
Incident date: Feb 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds on several occasions, the steering wheel started shaking abnormally. The contact added that on several occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality, but the vehicle regained power steering functionality shortly afterwards. The "Power Steering Assist F... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
Tire rods and suspension failed vehicle is unsafe to operate .
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
It makes a clicking sound when the steering is near the end of travel in either direction. I believe this is a problem becoming more and more common with the CV joint or axle. But this vehicle used on 2/24/26 with 17,000 miles on it.
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
1) While in a gradual turn, with the steering wheel in the 10 or 11 o'clock position, and/or in the 1 or 2 o'clock position, the steering gets stuck and requires to over correct. This happens pretty much all the time and it is very scary at the moment. It feels like you need to yank the wheel so much that you might hit a car next to you. Apparently this is a very known problem with this 2018 Chrys... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2024) — STEERING
Mar 2, 2026
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
The rear trunk opening while the vehicle is in motion The vehicle shutting down while driving at speeds over 40 mph, failing to recognize that it is moving The radio and infotainment system freezing for days at a time The vehicle frequently dying and becoming completely inoperable Situations where the vehicle cannot be jump-started because it sparks, while all doors remain locked, leaving me w... Read more
Incident date: Feb 18, 2026
While slowly turning into a parking space at approximately 1 mph (?) the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated. The vehicle mounted the curb, and struck a a parked car and hit a brick retaining wall, causing damage to both. This all happened within a few seconds and there were no warning lights or messages before or during the accident. I was not injured and there were no other people present. The po... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 28, 2026
The vehicle is throwing a steering code of LSAK. The steering is being compromised as the vehicle cannot determine if it is being steered correctly or not. After researching this code, I have seen hundreds of other people so far complaining about the same code for this year, make and model. One person had stated that his steering stopped mid way on his drive. I looked up the prices of correcti... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
I had an issue while I was driving my 2022 Jeep Mojave as I was accelerating to join traffic on the highway, and merging to the left. I suddenly lost my power steering capability. I no longer had power steering throughout my entire drive at Highway speed however once I encountered traffic on the highway and I slowed down to approximate 20-30 mph suddenly my power steering returned. This was extre... Read more
Incident date: Sep 12, 2025
Steering is stiff at center. When turning left or right, it starts to free up and at 1/4 turn its stiffens up again then frees then stiff. The steering repeats this returning to center. I have also experienced in the last 6000 miles the truck pulling hard to the left somedays and other days pulling hard right. there was also an episode when the steering wheel shook valiantly at 70mph on a newly pa... Read more
Incident date: Feb 18, 2026
I was driving on the highway and the power steering in truck disappeared and the warning light turned on. Lost the power steering.
Incident date: Feb 18, 2026
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was turned off, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The failure became more persistent over time, and several attempts were needed for the power steering feature to become operable. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone t... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2026
The Electric Power Steering Pump has failed. The same problem has been confirmed by the dealer where I take my vehicle to get all its oil changes etc. While driving the truck the power steering will randomly stop working. This is a huge safety concern especially since the 3 times it has happen I have my wife and [XXX] old son in the vehicle with me. I am able to turn the vehicle off and then back... Read more
LAND ROVER
RANGE ROVER SPORT
(2016) — STEERING
Mar 2, 2026
Incident date: Feb 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The contact stated that the suspension warning lights were intermittently flashing. The contact was notified about NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V514000 (Steering); during a State Inspection. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were on backorder. The contact called two other dealers, Land Rover Dublin (5775 Venture Dr Ste B, Dubl... Read more
MITSUBISHI
ECLIPSE CROSS
(2022) — STEERING
Mar 2, 2026
Incident date: Nov 14, 2025
The steering issue in my 2018 Honda Civic has put my safety and that of others at severe risk by causing unpredictable sticky and jerky movements at highway speeds, potentially leading to loss of control and crashes—I’ve had to fight the wheel multiple times on LA freeways just to stay in my lane, and it’s only getting worse with heat buildup. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confi... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2025
When turning left (only) and accelerating, there is a distinct "clicking" noise and shudder coming from the front left undercarriage. It can be felt through the steering wheel. I believe it is coming from the CV joint and could lead to failure of that link and loss of steering control.
Incident date: Feb 26, 2026
Driving along at 70 mph and just crossed a bridge and met the asphalt when all of a sudden the steering wheel shook violently & almost caused a fatal accident. Tractor trailer & cars swung to avoid me. Went to pull out onto expressway & at 15 mph & the rumble strips along the right shoulder caused it to shake again tremendously. This vehicle has had at least 8 episodes with the death wobble.This v... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2022) — STEERING
Mar 1, 2026
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
I had a warning light for lane assist not working that would ding constantly. Dealer said known issue. Replaced steering wheel. Now I’m out of warranty at 59000 miles and it needs another steering wheel. They did not fix the issue. It is part of the airbag system and I’m worried about the lane assist which I can’t turn off might go haywire and make vehicle swerve itself into other cars.
Incident date: Oct 22, 2025
#1 ) el motor presento esta fallas en las 98mil millas, el motor empezó con un alto consumo de aceite de 5 cuartos de aceite cada 3 mil millas, en repetidas ocasiones estábamos de viaje junto a mi familia, mi esposa, [XXX]. Un dia Hicimos una para frente a un semáforo, y en seguida el vehículo empezo a tirar una gran cantidad de humo blanco por la salida de los escapes, mis hijas entraron en p... Read more
Incident date: Feb 10, 2026
Land Rover's refusal to provide resolution to their Safety REcall DO019, or NHTSA 25V-514 according to their own guidelines. See attached letter.
Incident date: Jan 13, 2026
One only needs to google or ask an AI about "Tesla Model Y Juniper" front end suspension noises and you will find links to hundreds of complaints and at least two YouTube videos now. Based on reports from recent 2026 Tesla Model Y owners, particularly those with the Juniper refresh, the front-end noises over rough or bumpy roads at very slow speeds sound like a widespread suspension-related issue... Read more
Incident date: Nov 27, 2025
Steering Gear. It has been replaced and is not available to inspect. I was unable to turn the steering wheel and had an auto accident as a result. The dealer inspected the vehicle and replaced the steering gear under warranty. It is probable that the defective gear was sent by the dealer to the manufacturer to inspect. The warning lamps activated after the accident.
Crash
Incident date: Feb 28, 2026
To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration I am submitting this formal safety complaint regarding a persistent and dangerous pattern of mechanical and electronic failures in my 2025 Hyundai Elantra N. These issues have rendered the vehicle unsafe for regular operation on public highways. The safety concerns began at 2810 miles when the vehicle first showed signs of structural and electr... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2025
System detected a slide that didn’t happen causing traction control to counter steer making the vehicle slide into a pole
Crash
1 injured
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2025) — STEERING
Feb 28, 2026
Incident date: Feb 26, 2026
On multiple, though infrequent occasions, while beginning a turn in our 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL, the steering wheel, abruptly and without warning, stops turning. The turn cannot be completed without exerting significant force on the wheel to overcome the resistance. This is very dangerous, especially when moving at highway speeds, as drivers may find themselves unable to stay on the road or worse,... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2023) — STEERING
Feb 28, 2026
Incident date: Feb 27, 2026
On [XXX], my 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT caught fire while parked in my residential driveway at [XXX] . The vehicle had been started approximately 10 minutes earlier using the factory-installed remote start system. The vehicle was unattended at the time. My neighbor noticed the vehicle on fire and called 911. The Andover Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire. The fire departmen... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Feb 28, 2026
Traveling at 60MPH on a highway in the middle lane when my truck lost complete power steering. It felt as if I had zero control over my truck at a high speed. I managed to slow down and made it onto the shoulder without crashing. Had my truck towed to Dodge Chrysler ram dealership. Before dropping it off I saw there were at least 10 recalls for my truck that I mentioned to technician. They plugged... Read more
POLESTAR
POLESTAR 2
(2022) — STEERING
Feb 28, 2026
Incident date: Feb 18, 2026
At any speed above 50 mph the steering violently shakes if I hit bridge seams, cracks, or potholes. At speeds about 60 it's significantly worse and around 40 it still wobbles for ~3/4 of a second
Incident date: Oct 7, 2025
I am submitting this urgent complaint regarding my 2015 Honda Odyssey, equipped with the 3.5L V6 engine referenced in (TSB) 20-023 which acknowledges that the front rocker arm oil control valve (spool valve) gasket may fail and leak engine oil directly onto the alternator located beneath it. This condition can cause alternator contamination, charging system failure, electrical malfunction, and pot... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2023) — STEERING
Feb 28, 2026
Incident date: Feb 20, 2026
I bought the 4xe trailhawk in 12/2023 at 2,000 miles it started making a clicking noise when i hit a bump & sometimes when i steer the truck to the right, moving forward the said it was the detachable sway bar it fixed the problem temporary for about 2 weeks i didn’t have any sound, moving forward I’ve replaced 3 sway bars, front control arms, brackets, rear suspension, front airbag suspension... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 1969
Torque sensor. No warning. Has not been looked at by a mechanic. Was working fine when I parked it. Came back out and it was steering funny and making a grinding sound
Incident date: Nov 3, 2025
I get in my 2016 Fusion to go to dinner and I can barely turn my steering wheel. I put it in park and check the power steering fluid. FULL. I tried resetting the power steering assist by starting the car and turning all the way left then right then center. Still can barely turn. Tried disconnecting the battery hoping it would be an electrical glitch. Come to find out it’s could be a steering ass... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
Was driving down the road and the power steering just went out and almost wrecked. This is very dangerous. And I looked and seems to be a very common issue with this. This definitely needs to be investigated. It is not safe at all.
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
When driving the car this winter, noticed the smell of something burning. After that, the heated steering wheel stopped warming. Took it to a repair shop since there was open no recall related to this. Repair shop diagnosis: - heated steering wheel not working due to electrical short. More info below, pictures included. Finding Confirmed customer concern. Attempted to activate the heated steeri... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2018) — STEERING
Feb 27, 2026
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The vehicle was started; however, the steering wheel failed to function as intended. The contact moved the gear shift lever to reverse(R), and the steering wheel seized. The tow truck driver had a difficult time trying to move the vehicle onto the flatbed truck. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that high friction on the gear and the e... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
Around October/November 2025, the vehicle began having intermittent steering issues that have progressively worsened. The steering wheel becomes stiff or feels stuck, and at times it jerks on its own before correcting. Other times I must pull harder to get it to respond, causing over‑correction and difficulty maintaining my lane. This has happened at various speeds, including 65–70 mph on the ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 27, 2026
I was returning from work when I briefly fell asleep, causing my vehicle to drift to the curb and resulting in damage to the right-hand side wheels. This incident was caused by a failure of the Lane Departure Warning and Lane Assist systems, which were not functioning at the time. Had these safety features been operational, a potential accident could have been prevented. I have reported this iss... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2024
Electric power steering rack failure while vehicle was in motion towing a vehicle on a car trailer approaching a bend in the road on a two lane black top at 60 mph. Without any prior warning the steering wheel jerked slightly power steering assist was 100% lost, a chime sounded and error message flashed on the driver information center “Steering Assist Warning”. The vehicle in this case has o... Read more
Incident date: Apr 30, 2025
I have experienced what is call "death wobble" multipletimes. This is a 2022 with 30k millage. It has been to a service center three times and the drag link with ends has been replaced twice. The problem continues and only happens at highway speed. This issue has put us in what could have been a serious accident with semi-trucks on 50+ mph multiple times. I feel like this is a possible life threat... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2026
Power steering randomly cuts out very random and intermittent. So far only done at low speeds but worried if turning in an intersection and i lose steering.
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2013) — STEERING
Feb 27, 2026
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle decelerated and nearly caused a crash on the freeway. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, restarted, and the vehicle operated as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2026) — STEERING
Feb 27, 2026
Incident date: Feb 26, 2026
I stopped at a red light in the middle of a 50 mph intersection when the light turned green The engine completely shut off, and it didn’t want to turn back on. I was stuck in the middle of the intersection in a very high risk area, putting myself and other drivers at risk. OnStar diagnostics didn’t report any issues with the truck. According to their diagnostics, everything should have been ru... Read more
Incident date: Feb 27, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving 45-50 MPH, the steering wheel seized. There were no warning lights illuminated. After restarting the vehicle, the steering wheel unlocked for two seconds and then seized again. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle had not been diagno... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became stiff and difficult to steer to the left or the right. The power steering and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a corroded body ground strap. The error codes were cleared, and a test drive was pe... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The auto cold error message was displayed. The contact stated that the steering wheel violently jerked back and forth three times. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road and turned off. The contact stated that while attempting to start the ve... Read more
Incident date: Feb 18, 2026
Travelling on the expressway I received a warning on my dash that my steering had failed along with other warnings. I lost the power steering and it was very hard to maneuver. I took it to a dealer that said it was electrical (software) and they had to reset it. Why???? My concern is it could have caused an accident if my wife was driving because she would not of been able to steer it. Or if I was... Read more
Incident date: Feb 18, 2026
Good Morning, Ms. Edds My name is [XXX] . I spoke to you a few years back in regards, to a vehicle I had. Well, today I am writing about another situation . I have a 2020 Ford F250 vin [XXX] . Since purchasing this vehicle, I have had recall after recall on it and getting nowhere with Ford Motor Company Customer Service Division. I have a local dealership that I have taken it to Spalding Ford w... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
I was driving down a main road going 45 MPH when my steering wheel locked up and I got a message on my dash to service advanced steering. I was unable to turn my steering wheel in any direction and had to pull over in order to not be involved in a collision.
Incident date: Dec 2, 2025
I was in my 2021 Nissan Rogue and just turned right down the street from my in-laws home ( out of state in Indiana) when the vehicle violently jerked to the right and I was unable to control it and sent me into a ditch. My speed was 14mph when this happened. I managed to get it up on the road and inspected it. I found the right front rim broke, the lower control arm broke, and inner tie rod bent, ... Read more
Crash