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: Apr 1, 2026
Vehicle has 48283 miles with a failing eps. Dealer stated that it’s out of warranty due to mileage stating that I would have to pay for a new one. Even with the mass recall they said they can’t do anything. Popping noises occurred a little over a year ago and was diagnosed as tire cupping and that it needed tires to fix the noises.
Incident date: Apr 16, 2026
I am writing to formally report a serious safety defect regarding the steering system of my 2024 Mazda CX-90. While driving at various speeds, the steering wheel frequently exhibits a "sticking" or "binding" sensation. In several instances, the steering wheel has become momentarily stuck in a fixed position, requiring significant physical force to "break it loose" and regain control of the vehicl... Read more
Incident date: Feb 28, 2026
When driving along a straight stretch of road, the steering sticks and must be jerked or forced to adjust direction of vehicle. The steering makes a clicking noise with minor movements of the steering wheel. The condition is much worse in hot humid weather. We just returned from several months in Florida where the problem was significantly worse. It is also bad on long interstate drives. The prob... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70-75 MPH, the steering wheel was pulling to the right, and the vehicle unintendedly attempted to switch lanes. The contact swerved to avoid another vehicle. Several unknown lights were illuminated. The Lane Departure/Lane Keep Assist feature was previously turned off by the owner. While driving around a curve, ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH on the interstate, the vehicle started shuddering. The vehicle was pulled over safely to the side of the road. The AWD, Hill Descent Assist, power steering, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact checked the manual and continued to drive. While driving days later, there was an abnormal fuel odo... Read more
Incident date: Apr 12, 2026
The steering rack is the component that has failed. On multiple occasions while I am driving on the freeway the steering will randomly pull in the opposite direction of the turn that I am on. Or if it the pavement is uneven it will hit the bump and stick and get harder to steer or pull one way or the other. I have been in 3 near accidents at freeway speeds. I have taken it to the dealer and they s... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2026
Steering gets "sticky". Brought car to Honda dealer and just by test driving the car they want $6000 to replace bad bearings, steering motor and gearbox. No diagnostic test was done or parts looked at physically. I brought car to a local mechanic who also test drove car and did a diagnostic test and they said the steering motor and gearbox are fine and said nothing wrong with car. Honda has had ... Read more
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2019) - STEERING
Apr 16, 2026
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Ford F-250 SD. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH on the highway, the steering wheel failed to turn as intended. Due to the failure, the vehicle struck a curb. There were no injuries or property damage. The vehicle was turned off, and it was shifted into park(P). The brakes were inoperable during the failure. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be i... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
Car is out of alignment resolutions in the rear passenger tire to wear down at an abnormal rate. Had the vehicle inspected by a local mechanic and two different dealerships. All three inspections came back with the same answer. The camber and the toe for the right rear tire can not be set to a center good alignment. Leaving it in the red zone that will result in excessive Tire wear, handling and ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 30, 2026
Three separate safety incidents occurred within the last 3 months. INCIDENT 1: On at least two occasions while turning, the steering felt aggressive and notchy, resisting or jerking unexpectedly during the turn. INCIDENT 2: While driving on the Florida Turnpike at approximately 80 mph southbound around 7:00 AM, the vehicle suddenly reacted as if detecting an obstacle and applied what felt like eme... Read more
LAND ROVER
RANGE ROVER VELAR
(2019) - STEERING
Apr 16, 2026
Incident date: Apr 10, 2026
Multiple times, with the Pilot Assist system engaged, the vehicle has pulled me out of my intended travel lane when on a curve, near an on / off ramp, and generally tends to drift from the left to right of the intended lane of travel on straight sections of road. It will drift to the rumble strip and sometimes into the next lane with both hands firmly on the wheel. I find myself fighting the sys... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2026
Vehicle steering locked up while driving causing driver to end up in oncoming traffic. Also, vehicles remote start turns on, but after a few seconds car shuts off.
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60-65 MPH, the steering wheel was sticking. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.
Incident date: Feb 16, 2026
Title - Sudden Loss of Steering Control While Driving – 2018 Audi Q5 (Aug 2024) While driving my 2018 Audi Q5 at normal road speeds, the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of power steering assist. A dashboard alert stating “Power Steering Malfunction” appeared simultaneously with an immediate and severe increase in steering effort, making the steering wheel extremely difficult ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Civic. The contact stated that there was a lot of play in the steering wheel while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V704000 (Steering). During the visit, it was determined that the steering rack did not need to be replaced. The recall was marked closed and the contact noticed that there was still a lot ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2024
The steering wheel drifts and the power steering light comes on
Incident date: Mar 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel failed to return to center after making a left turn. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact advised that the failure could be related to a rack-and-pinion failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the... Read more
Incident date: Oct 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly decelerated, and the steering wheel started jerking. The messages EPS Failure, Lane Keep Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control Failure were displayed. The contact safely pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not not... Read more
HYUNDAI
ELANTRA HYBRID
(2025) - STEERING
Apr 15, 2026
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
While driving on April 11, 2026 at approximately 1:30 PM on [XXX] , the vehicle experienced a loss of steering response while the roadway curved to the right. The driver turned the steering wheel normally in order to follow the curve. The steering wheel moved freely and felt normal. However, the vehicle did not respond to the steering input and instead continued traveling straight. As a result, th... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
METRIS
(2023) - STEERING
Apr 15, 2026
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
STEERING WHEEL SEEMS LIKE IT STICKS WHEN CORNERING OR TURNING WE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT GOING AROUND A CORNER
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2023) - STEERING
Apr 15, 2026
Incident date: Mar 5, 2026
The power steering randomly fails in the vehicle and works again when the vehicle is restarted. Here is the link to Mercedes's inspection: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Incident date: Oct 16, 2024
The power steering has a notch or almost a stickiness when turning. In turns around interstate ramps the steering almost locks in place requiring physical effort to get the steering to straighten back out. Even driving in a straight line one can feel this notch like feeling where the steering wheel is not operating in a smooth manner. This gives me a serious concern over the safety of driving this... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Niro. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The message, "Turn Off the Vehicle and Stop" was displayed, and the transmission failure warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. Once the vehicle was turned off, the smoke dissipated. The vehicle was towed to t... Read more
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2019) - STEERING
Apr 15, 2026
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Supplementing Tracking #11731142. 2026 Toyota Sequoia i-FORCE MAX Hybrid 4WD, VIN [XXX] , ~7,500 mi. Purchased new 11/22/2025 from Prestige Toyota of Ramsey, NJ. Toyota Case XXX. THREE DEFECTS: 1. STEERING: Steering wheel has physical flex, looseness, and audible creak when touched or pushed. Connected directly to airbag module — raises concerns about steering integrity and airbag dep... Read more
GRAND DESIGN
MOMENTUM
(2020) - STEERING
Apr 15, 2026
Incident date: Oct 1, 2025
I am reporting a serious safety concern with my 2017 Ford Explorer. The vehicle currently has approximately 93,752 miles and has become increasingly unreliable and unsafe to operate. On April 9, 2026, while my wife was driving home from work, the vehicle overheated, creating a dangerous situation and risk of sudden breakdown. This is especially concerning as the vehicle is used to transport childr... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2025
I bought the car at the end of October 2025, so it was always cold till last month. Last month the first day it’s warm I get a warning saying my steering assist has been limited with a code saying the thermostat needs replacing as well as the sensor. This is a known issue with these vehicles and now I have to pay $1500 out of pocket to have fixed because my limited warranty expired 2 weeks befor... Read more
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
For months my vehicle has had intermittent loss of power steering making it nearly impossible to control direction. On Jan. 29, 2026, I ran into the back of a vehicle that stopped suddenly and due to sudden power steering loss, I wasn't able to swerve and avoid collision. I was issued an infraction for this incident and had to file an insurance claim to repair the front end damage to my vehicle.... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 14, 2026
The vehicle has a sticky steering wheel causing overcorrection to either the left or right side. The safety concern is pretty high considering how hard it is to correct the vehicles lane.
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
Power Steerin EPS went out, causin loss of control of truck
CONTINENTAL
CONTRACS C575
(9999) - STEERING
Apr 15, 2026
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
Car begins to wobble very violently when going over 65. This has been ongoing for a while now and when I took it to the Jeep dealership they said it was just my tires. The problem is worse now and I feel unsafe driving my vehicle. I also was never called back for my recalls to be taken care of.
GRAND DESIGN
MOMENTUM
(2020) - STEERING
Apr 15, 2026
Incident date: Oct 25, 2024
While driving, I went to make a right turn and the power steering went out making the turn very difficult using manual muscle to complete the turn. Fortunately, it was in a parking lot. After the ignition was turned off for about 45 minutes, I turned it back on and the steering functioned normally. However, I am very concerned if this problem would again happen and I am driving at a speed and t... Read more
Incident date: Dec 11, 2025
On Friday 1/16/26 @ 9 am, my daughter was backing out her parking space to go to school. As she barely drove forward, the car just suddenly stopped. She got the apartment maintenance guy to take a look, and he said the steering rods were broken and the car needs to be tow. It was inside the parking lot and there was no major impact for it to be broken. Its a 2023 Rogue with only 45200 mileage on i... Read more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2026
Steering is intermittently difficult, requires greater effort, steering wheel sometimes makes noise when turning tight at low speeds. Unexpected periods of difficulty in steering make it harder to control the vehicle, affecting safety (personal and others). Independent service center could not find evidence of a problem; they focused on other components. No other agencies have been contacted or... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
July 2021 bought ram 1500 limited. $75k September 2021 3k miles took to dealer with REVERSE TRAILER STEERING UNAVAILABLE MESSAGES AND BACK UP CAMERA issues. Not fixed. Issues still happening. DEC 2021 ram 1500 recall y80 issued. RTSCM NEEDS updated. April 2022 dealer visit 11k miles recall y80 addressed and repaired. Issues continued. Several undocumented stop by dealer visits by request to look ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2026
Any time I get above 55 miles per hour the steering starts shaking and I feel as if I’m going to lose control of the vehicle. I have had the recalls done on it, but it continues.
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
Power steering is intermittently working. It happens at different speeds. It makes it very difficult to steer and power steering will engage after executing a turn which will jerk the vehicle and wheel.
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE L
(2022) - STEERING
Apr 14, 2026
Incident date: Apr 14, 2026
The contact owns a 2014 Ram 1500. While driving approximately 15 MPH and making a left turn, the steering wheel and the check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the steering became extremely difficult to turn. The contact stopped, turned off, and restarted the vehicle; however, the steering was stiff and difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, w... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 3500
(2025) - STEERING
Apr 14, 2026
Incident date: Apr 13, 2026
Steering rack failure (wheel does not return to center, crunchy steering with increasingly more resistance over time).
Incident date: Apr 13, 2026
The Steering Gearbox, Electronic Power Steering failed. The steering was resistant and sticks on the highway, causing jerking and overcorrection to control the vehicle. This was with both manual driving and Lane Assist. Took the vehicle to the local Honda dealership, they confirmed the problem, and replaced the steering gearbox, EPS, because it was still under warranty. However, this is the same... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
My steering gear motor attachment bolts have fractured due to severe corrosion, which is the exact defect described in Safety Recall 19S26. This physical failure was confirmed by a Ford dealership technician on 1/11/2024. The technician documented the fractured bolts and recommended a full steering gear replacement. Despite this, Ford is denying the recall repair because this specific VIN was not ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the steering wheel became sticky and jerked while turning in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the electronic steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failur... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2023
2026 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid. Three safety-related defects reported to dealer, all dismissed without proper diagnosis. STEERING: Steering wheel exhibits noticeable flex, looseness, and audible creak when touched or lightly pushed. The steering wheel houses the airbag module. Looseness raises concerns about steering integrity and airbag deployment reliability. Video evidence available. ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 24, 2025
When driving long distance (car is warmed up), and taking a left turn or a left curve on freeway, the steering wheel sticks, and does not return to center. When doing it manually, there is a popping sound before it returns to center. Its the same thing when taking the car out of parking lot after it is standing there overnight. This is not the first time this happened, as it has happened many time... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
TAOS
(2022) - STEERING
Apr 14, 2026
Incident date: Mar 11, 2026
Hello. Since I bought this car in 2015. Every now and again it will go into park when driving and tge car will stop suddenly. It has done it a few times over the years and it’s quite scary. Mercedes has put me off on you, without addressing the situation or looking at the car, unless I pay first it. I think there is a mechanical defect on this car and it is quite dangerous
Incident date: Jan 8, 2024
Steering wheel gets "Stuck" when making a sweeping left turn and needs force to return to neutral. Suspension "creaks" and "grinds" when going over bumps or hills.
Incident date: Apr 13, 2026
The contact owns a 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The contact received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V514000 (Steering) in 2025. The contact had been calling the local dealer for an update on the parts but was advised that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was informe... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2024
While attempting to park in a parking spot at Walmart, the truck just lost steering suddenly, as the steering warning light began to flashand would not budge. Luckily, we were not involved in an accident. This Ram 1500 has an electric power steering (EPS) rack failure, resulting in sudden, total steering loss. There is a steering warning indicator light that flashes while it is malfunctioning. Th... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
The vehicle is experiencing intermittent steering “sticking”, most noticeable during normal highway driving and minor steering corrections. The steering wheel does not always return smoothly and instead feels resistant before releasing. This condition is unexpected, repeatable, and presents a safety risk, particularly during normal lane-keeping. Especially happens during left turns or keeping ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
The failure involves the rear suspension system, specifically suspected rear control arm / suspension linkage play, which caused severe misalignment (rear toe out of specification). The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This defect created a significant safety risk. The abnormal toe condition caused rapid and uneven tire wear, with both rear tires becoming nearly completely bald w... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE HYBRID
(2025) - STEERING
Apr 13, 2026
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
The steering wheel got stiff and impossible to turn. I had to use extreme force to be able to make a left turn. It happened in a large intersection. No warning appeared.