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.

2,245,377 Total Complaints

140,173 Reported Crashes

56,794 Reported Fires

8,580 Reported 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

How to Read NHTSA Consumer Complaints › How NHTSA Investigations Work › Used Car: 7 Recall Checks to Run First › The Takata Airbag Recall: Full Story › OBD-II Codes Explained › All Articles ›

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Showing 117,788 complaints - component: STEERING

Incident date: May 24, 2026

When driving at least 55 mph the steering wheel becomes stiff and auto correct on it own. This consistently happen during the duration of the ride.

Incident date: Feb 19, 2026

At times, the steering wheel becomes hard to turn exactly like changing lanes when the lane assist is on. This occurs when lane assist is off!

Incident date: May 12, 2026

Other cars for the same year model have a recall for the issue I’m having. 24S44 Is the ford recall code. Power steering is boosted and can oscillate side side. I’ve seen other mustangs with this recall have the same issue get repaired. Mine has the exact same issue. I didn’t notice it was an issue until I had an alignment. The alignment from factory was so bad the inside of the

Incident date: May 23, 2026

am filing this complaint regarding a power steering rack leak on my [2018] Toyota Tacoma with [83,000] miles, which I purchased used three months ago from Fred Anderson Toyota of Greer in South Carolina. The dealer represented the vehicle as having passed a 160-point inspection and implied CPO-level standards, but it was not actually Certified Pre-Owned. The steering rack is now leaking power stee... Read more

Incident date: May 25, 2026

My steering wheel sticks especially in highway driving. The steering wheel feels as if it momentarily "locks" or "sticks" in the center position while driving at highway speeds. When I try to correct it, the wheel snaps free, often causing the vehicle to jerk or overcorrect. This is a big safety concern. There is a recall, but my model year of 2021 is not included in the recall. This has been ... Read more

Incident date: May 26, 2026

I am filing a vehicle safety complaint regarding a 2024 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy due to repeated safety-related mechanical failures and ongoing defects that create dangerous and unpredictable driving conditions. Since purchase in August 2024, the vehicle has experienced multiple serious issues, including steering rack problems causing sticking, resistance, abnormal noises, and inconsistent st... Read more

Incident date: May 25, 2026

My Ford Explorer has less than 97,000 miles on it and im experiencing popping noises and slight play in steering. upon inspecting the tie-rod I found that the rack and pinion had play in it. the vehicle hasn't been wrecked so there's no reason I should be losing my steering rack under 100k miles.

Incident date: Jan 1, 2026

Electronically controlled thermostat and sensor fail or get stuck at a much lower coolant temperature causing the dash to display the “steering assist is reduced drive with care.” It isn’t just a message, the steering is much harder to use potentially causing an accident. The ac completely doesn’t work causing potential for sensitive, elderly, or young children and pets to overheat inside... Read more

Incident date: May 1, 2026

The steering wheel is slightly sticking while driving/steering on interstates and highways where mostly noticed, but also noticing on curved backroads. When navigating a curve the steering wheel has slightly stuck and the automatic brake light flashes on very briefly. This has happened several times now and both main drivers of the car have noticed the issue. We are reporting now out of fear that... Read more

Incident date: May 17, 2026

Vehicle: 2021 Honda Civic Mileage: Approximately 58,000 miles Over the past couple of months, I have experienced a steering issue that appears to be worsening. While driving at highway speeds, the steering wheel intermittently feels as though it “sticks” or catches near center, requiring constant small corrections to maintain a straight path. The steering does not feel smooth or normal and cr... Read more

Incident date: May 22, 2026

Steering has become intermittently "sticky". When it happens, if I try to turn the steering wheel a very short distance it will resist until I put enough force to move it about twice as far as intended. Although the greater steering angle achieved has not been sufficient to take me out of my lane, it could do so. When steering is working normally, I easily turn the steering wheel to any angle wit... Read more

Incident date: May 23, 2026

My wheels will not stay aligned. I’ve had all the property services done to the car, and extra, by a Honda Dealer. I have 8 repair records to alignment on a new car, in under 18 months. Under my state of Virginia laws, only three safety fixes on a car authorize the car as a ‘dud’ and should be a buy back. Honda Corp has in their possession all documents and all notices needed under the law, ... Read more

Incident date: Mar 8, 2026

While driving my 2015 Ram 1500, I was exiting the freeway and attempting to merge into traffic when the electric power steering system appeared to fail or malfunction. The steering suddenly became very stiff, and I struggled to turn the steering wheel while trying to safely merge. Shortly after the steering became difficult to control, the power steering warning light came on. This created a safe... Read more

Incident date: Jan 6, 2026

During normal driving in rainy conditions, I experienced a sudden and unexpected loss of vehicle control involving steering behavior. At the time of the incident, the lane-keeping/driver-assist system was active, and I had both hands on the steering wheel while actively controlling the vehicle. Without any prior warning lights, dashboard messages, or alerts, the vehicle suddenly began to behave ab... Read more

Crash 3 injured

Incident date: Apr 30, 2026

While driving the vehicle on a long straight road the steering would bind while driving straight. When moving the steering wheel to make any slight adjustments it'd stick and force me to over or understeer left or right of center making the vehicle very unsafe to drive and hold a straight course on the highway. I've only noticed this happening at highway speeds. It was very scary to drive because ... Read more

Incident date: May 24, 2026

On [XXX], my 2017 Land Rover Range Rover HSE Td6 diesel (VIN: [XXX] ) suffered a complete, catastrophic engine failure without warning at approximately 70 mph on [XXX] . My wife and our two infant sons (ages [XXX] and [XXX] ) were passengers. There were no prior warning lights or symptoms. The engine stopped instantaneously, eliminating power steering and power brakes while I was overtaking a sem... Read more

Incident date: May 20, 2024

Steering locked up with all warning lights lite up. No control over vehicle. Yes this put all people in the vehicle at risk of death or injury. This happened at an intersection while making a turn-no other vehicles were at the intersection- if there had been or had this happened entering an interstate highway or turning onto a high speed road could have been hit from several directions. Not re... Read more

Incident date: May 25, 2026

My lower control arm weld has cracked. It was checked shortly after purchase and passed inspection at the Chevy garage in Elkins, WV. Now the weld is cracked on both driver and passenger sides and it making a clunking sound. I do not feel safe to drive this vehicle. This problem should of been fixed when the recall came out, they should of replaced with new parts. My husband Inspected the problem... Read more

Incident date: May 25, 2026

My truck will not start when I press the push-button ignition. After waiting a few seconds and trying multiple times, it typically starts on the third attempt. Additionally, it will not restart after the auto stop feature activates at stop signs or traffic lights. This is very concerning, especially when pulling into oncoming traffic, as I’m worried the truck could shut off while I’m crossing.... Read more

Incident date: May 12, 2026

Hello, I am reporting a steering-related issue involving the inner tie rods on my 2021 Nissan Sentra. Nissan previously issued safety recall campaign PM985 for bent inner tie rods on certain Sentra vehicles from the same model year. Two separate repair facilities inspected my vehicle and confirmed problems involving the inner tie rods and steering system components. No warning lamps or dashboard m... Read more

Incident date: May 16, 2026

My truck after doing all the symptoms stated in the recall a ford technician deemed it unsafe to drive has been grounded since May 9th the dealer nor ford manufacture will give me a rental.or help in anyway..so June 9th will be 30 days for a truck I cant drive and still making payments and have full coverage on that I have to pay for it would appreciate if ford would help or buy it back

Incident date: May 20, 2026

While driving a 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid Titanium (approximately 157,000 miles), the Electronic Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) system suddenly failed without warning during heavy rain in Philadelphia, PA. I was driving near the riverfront area by [XXX] when the steering immediately became extremely stiff and difficult to turn. No prior warning lights or steering-related symptoms were present befor... Read more

Incident date: May 20, 2026

I was driving my brand new 2025 Kia Telluride that was purchased from the dealership 3 weeks before the incident. The engine died while driving approximately 40 mph on a flat road. The engine died and then there was a loud beeping and a flashing alert on the dashboard in the circle where the righthand indicator camera view appears that said, “Engine Off-Shift to P or N then start engine.” This... Read more

Incident date: May 22, 2026

While driving my new Grand Highlander, I have experienced a serious and recurring safety issue. Even with lane assist turned off, the vehicle automatically steers to the right when I exit a regular highway — apparently misinterpreting the widening road as a lane shift. When this happens, the steering overrides my input and I am forced to pull the wheel hard to regain control and stay in my lane.... Read more

Incident date: Jul 15, 2025

My 2022 Honda CRV is experiencing a "STICKY or CATCHING" steering wheel under normal driving conditions. The vehicle will not self-correct to the center unless some manual effort is attempted. (Especially when re-centering from a left-hand curve). The issue has become increasingly more pronounced over time. It became apparent that this was a design flaw once I began to investigate the problem on... Read more

Incident date: May 22, 2026

The vehicle's power steering does not work properly, especially at slow speeds and when attempting to back up. However, it has also failed while traveling on the interstate highway at high speeds. When you attempt to make a turn, the power steering feels like it is fighting you and wants to pull the vehicle back in the opposite direction. I took the vehicle in to be serviced, and they replaced ... Read more

Incident date: Jan 1, 2025

I had a red sign on dashboard saying:*chassis failure, park the car carefully.* the car was towed to Porshe. And, was released after one week as safe to drive and dismissed the sign as a glitch. The second day of releasing the car, I had a major accident while parking the car in the garage. The accident resulted in damage to the outer wall and to cabinets. I requested an investigation of the car a... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Dec 31, 1969

Notice the steering seems to be sticking on slight movement of the steering wheel. Later noticed clicking notice associated with the sticking. When making turning the sticking and notice seem to get louder. Steering wheel feels like something is loose.

Incident date: May 17, 2026

Death wobble almost caused me to go head on with a semi at 57mph.. it doesn’t matter the speed either . I’ve had it to two different dealerships they replace the steering stabilizer that made it worse . They tell me it doesn’t do it when they have it .It’s been aligned 4 times replaced tires and it’s getting worse. Something needs to be done I know several people with this issue. And I k... Read more

Incident date: May 23, 2026

Se traba y se pone duro el "gobierno" junto con la cremallera electroasistida el volante no gira ni con el carro prendido, no eh echo uso de la campaña 15S18, nunca ah Sido asistido por el fabricante Ford, ni mucho menos lo eh metido a un taller de servicio independiente ni con aseguradoras y no me marco algún sensor del tablero antes de que me sucediera este problema con la "dirección asistida... Read more

Incident date: Apr 6, 2026

I purchased this vehicle at the end of February 2026. Since the purchase this vehicle has on numerous occasions for no reason applied the brakes and made the steering wheel shake. This has almost caused an accident on several occasions, with today another instance on 5-23-2026. I would turn the system off but from what I understand it re-engages itself after every drive. I like the vehicle but im... Read more

Incident date: Mar 9, 2026

I took my vehicle into the dealership. Almost three weeks ago for a recall on the front end, a steering component. However, they told us that the parts were back ordered several days after the vehicle had been there for three weeks. And then all of a sudden, they call and a week and a 1 after that. And send a vehicle is done. I picked up the vehicle yesterday and it is not fixed. The problem still... Read more

Incident date: May 23, 2026

My pillar are coming off to the point when it rains water get inside my car. It’s messed up my system in my car. I can’t close my sun roof and water comes down from my lights that’s above my head where you put your sunny sunglasses in. I been calling around and still haven’t got no where.

Incident date: Mar 10, 2026

The clicking and ratchet sounds that my vehicle make while driving, but especially while turning/reversing along with the looser feeling of the steering during these times. It seems very unsafe almost like the axle is going to break while driving. Only had vehicle for 3 months.

Incident date: Oct 16, 2024

Intermittent abs brake light on return trip in June 2025 diagnosed as a bad abs module. Dealer did not have any stated on back order, now almost a year later as of 5/20/26 Jim Browne Chrysler still states module on back order. And as you know there are no aftermarket parts for replacement. With this issue it keeps other functions of the truck from working. This has been way too long for the gover... Read more

Incident date: Jun 16, 2025

I own a 2023 Toyota Tundra that is part of the major engine recall due to machining debris in the 3.4L V6 engine. A few days prior to the failure, I called the dealership to raise concerns that the acceleration was starting to not act right. Despite this, while driving at 70 mph on the highway yesterday (May 22, 2026), the engine suddenly failed and died without any prior warning, it is my belief ... Read more

Incident date: May 23, 2026

I was driving on a busy highway at a high but legal speed. For a few seconds the vehicle appeared to reset. I lost control and the screen went blank. It was a miracle I did not hit another vehicle. I contacted the dealer and they stated unless it was happening frequently - there is nothing they could do. I spent hours on the phone with the dealer attempting to schedule an appointment, they st... Read more

Incident date: May 23, 2026

P0128CODE P0024 CODE SECOND Cam Shaft sensor failure Thermostat failure, stuck open Electrical issues from low battery power Failure to shift to park when shutting off vehicle

Incident date: Feb 9, 2026

Sticking steering during gradual turning from 30-70mph.

Incident date: May 8, 2026

The 2010 Ford fusion has 2584 complaints the second highest from 2010 to 2014; mine has been giving me intermittent issues for 3 years now and some times there is no error code and inspection cannot find anything wrong- but for 2010 year their has been none even though those years are the same generation car. Thats not fair stopping at 2011-the 2010 is the same car with the same issue-issue a reca... Read more

Incident date: May 22, 2026

After an over the air software update this past week 2026.14.6 my Tesla Model 3 power steering has failed. EPAS shows ACTICE in service mode, calibration was successfully completed and there are no active EPAS/rack faults. Power steering assists at higher speeds but fails below 20mph. Tesla has a history of steering related software problems and needs to take ownership of the problem.

Incident date: May 12, 2026

Steering randomly will fail to return to center in turns, causing the driver to have to manually turn wheel back to center. Happens in both sharp and sweeping turns in both the left and right direction while accelerating, decelerating, and maintaining speed. Issue occurs several times a week. I nearly hit an oncoming car head-on in a very gentle sweeping left hand turn on May 10th when my Bolt ... Read more

Incident date: May 14, 2026

I just bought this car and discovered that the steering system is actually unsafe; the vehicle makes noises and vibrates at the steering column.

Incident date: May 7, 2026

Major steering issues car loses the power steering randomly, will be driving around a corner and the car won’t turn at all very dangerous car only has 13,000 miles on it

Incident date: May 22, 2026

A major drivetrain service and repair was completed by an authorized manufacturer dealership. After picking up the vehicle, an unusual front-end/steering noise was immediately reported to the staff. Over just 390 miles of driving, the symptom worsened. A subsequent formal inspection by a separate, independent authorized service center confirmed the root cause of the safety failure: the primary axl... Read more

Incident date: Apr 28, 2026

When driving, the steering wheel became less responsive. The next day, we drove a few hundred miles and got gas. After turning the car back on, the steering became even less responsive, resulting in a lot of force being needed to be used in order to turn the vehicle. In addition to this, the car was extremely difficult to keep straight, making driving on a single-lane road extremely dangerous. We... Read more

Incident date: May 21, 2026

The vehicle started to hydroplane in rain on the highway and the lane keeping assist aggressively tried to push me back, which ended up causing us to hydroplane more and causing the vehicle to flip around backwards and we ended up sliding completely off the highway into a ditch totaling the vehicle.

Crash

Incident date: Apr 21, 2026

Front end of vehicle suddenly started to shake violently when accelerating. Issue was reproduced any time when accelerating. No warning was indicated by the vehicle. Car was undrivable above 50 mph. Vehicle had 25K miles. Dealer reproduced issue. Diagnosed it as a catastrophic failure of both CV joints and front bearing(s). Dealer would not release vehicle as it was undrivable due to extreme saf... Read more

Incident date: Apr 12, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became inoperable and became difficult to turn and felt very sticky when attempting to steer with no warning lights illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileag... Read more

Incident date: May 9, 2026

Steering wheel became stuck when making a long left turn while driving on the freeway. The turn lasted approximately 30 seconds. Around 3-4 seconds into the turn, the steering wheel suddenly locked up for approximately 1-2 seconds. Eventually the steering wheel was released resulting in a sudden jerk, leading to the car veering to the right lane. A correction was made using the steering wheel to m... Read more

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Consumer Safety Complaints

What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?

How to interpret what you read

If you've experienced a defect

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