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: Nov 27, 2025
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.
Incident date: Dec 12, 2024
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
Incident date: Feb 24, 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: Sep 11, 2025
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: Dec 24, 2025
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 1, 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 25, 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
MERCEDES-BENZ
GLK350
(2013) - STEERING
Feb 27, 2026
Incident date: Feb 3, 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
LAND ROVER
DEFENDER
(2023) - STEERING
Feb 26, 2026
Incident date: Feb 6, 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: Feb 10, 2026
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
Incident date: Oct 13, 2025
The front lower lateral link (rearward lower control arm) fastener/bolt completely backed out and fell off the vehicle while in motion, causing the lateral link to separate entirely from the subframe. This is the exact mechanical failure described in Tesla Recall Campaign 23V-235 (Service Bulletin SB-23-31-001), however, my specific VIN was not included in that recall. The vehicle and components a... Read more
Incident date: Aug 12, 2025
There are three concerns in this write up: at 117000 miles the blind spot monitoring system has fails and will cost $300 to repair. More concerning is that it was recommended I replace the Power Steering Lines at a cost of $927 and the Transmission Lines at a cost of $797 due to severe rusting and corrosion. Its recommended before they rust through and break/leak.
Incident date: Feb 18, 2026
Since new Jeep has experienced "excess play in the steering" the Jeeps steering "wanders" and vehicle pulls to both the left and right. Steering wandering increases in hot temperatures and at higher speeds and becomes UNSAFE to operate the vehicle. When purchasing new, I noticed the "excess play in the steering", but was told by the Jeep salesperson that "that's how Jeeps drive" and "They do not d... Read more
Incident date: May 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became difficult to turn and was sticking. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn while driving at high speeds. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2021) - STEERING
Feb 26, 2026
Incident date: Sep 9, 2025
Turning left or right, the cv axle clicks as if it’s going to crack in half. It’s been happening for months now. I’m scared to drive the car.
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2021) - STEERING
Feb 25, 2026
Incident date: Feb 19, 2026
Steering gear assembly malfunction. Internal rack & pinion failure is present. Rack is binding/seized. When making a turn on the vehicle, the steering wheel does not return to center, creating a highly dangerous situation where if the steering wheel is not manually returned to center it can cause a motor vehicle accident. In other words, once a turn is initiated the car will remain in a turned st... Read more
Incident date: Nov 13, 2025
DEFECT: Steering wheel fails to fully return to center after turns, consistently stopping 1/2-1 inch off-center. Minor steering adjustments stick and don't self-correct. Pronounced binding zone near center prevents smooth return. SYMPTOMS: After curves, wheel returns 80% but stops visibly off-center requiring manual correction. Minor lane adjustments stick and require counter-correction. Constant ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 24, 2025
Intermittent power steering issues, especially at low speeds and in cold weather.
Incident date: Feb 21, 2026
The steering wheel over time is very loose and in my case i need to be very careful with it because I feel I am losing control on my car while driving. You can feel the steering wheel moving up and down without little to know force also while driving. I don't even drive that fast since my way to work is always in a school zones.
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving approximately 3 MPH and turning left into a driveway, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn. The contact stopped, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and drove back to the residence. The contact had researched online and associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V340000 (Steering). An appointmen... Read more
Incident date: Feb 5, 2026
The stirring wheel consistently sticks and jerks in speeds 35 and over. The steering wheel constantly has to be adjusted to drive in a lane. It is unsettling situation. While driving my 2019 Honda Civic , the steering wheel frequently sticks or feels like it slips when making slight adjustments or turning. This is especially noticeable at highway speeds and during low-speed turns. It requires addi... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
i was driving and the steering wheel locked, the whole steering column has to be replaced it brought up a code saying torque input sensor i've only put 10,000 miles on this car and have only had it for 11 months
Incident date: Feb 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the steering wheel seized and failed to respond as designed. The vehicle was restarted several times before the steering wheel unlocked. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V284000 (STEERING); however... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2026
After a 2K miles, clicking sounds began with CV joints. Clicking progressively getting louder and can be felt. This is a safety issue because these joints will ultimately fail. Honda states there is NO FIX to the issue. There are many many many owners who are experiencing this same issue.
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
My 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe LS has experienced repeated service issues within the first year of ownership. The vehicle has been in the repair shop five separate times and out of service for approximately five months total. Due to extended repair periods, the mileage remains extremely low. A primary concern involved the steering system. The steering wheel was noticeably off-center while driving straig... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 2, 2025
I have a 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I purchased July 19, 2024.I started having operational problems with the vehicle within two months. The car was in and out of the dealership five times through Nov. 2025. Each time the problem was verified by the service department and documented as such, including an incident of the engine shutting down when entering the expressway. I filed a lemon law claim... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 11, 2026
Steering is erratic while driving. Car is shifting left and right by itself while driving down the road feeling like the tires want to go different directions from one another. Steering wheel makes noticeable movement on its own left and right while going down a straight smooth road.
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2022) - STEERING
Feb 24, 2026
Incident date: Dec 31, 1969
Steering Instability: The steering wheel would periodically veer to the right and left on its own without my input. This created an unsafe driving condition and required constant correction to maintain control of the vehicle. Blind Spot / Reverse Detection Malfunction: When shifting the vehicle into reverse, the dashboard display indicated that no vehicle was present. However, when visually checki... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2023
The vehicle previously experienced a steering wheel locking issue and was taken to the dealer for repair. The dealer stated the issue was repaired on December 11, 2024. On February 24, 2026, while driving on a public street, the vehicle hesitated or jerked slightly during acceleration and then appeared to operate normally. After a few minutes, multiple warning messages suddenly appeared on the da... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2014) - STEERING
Feb 24, 2026
Incident date: Feb 8, 2026
I visited Car Pros Kia Tacoma for a wheel alignment on my 2025 Kia Niro EV. After the service, I was told the alignment was completed correctly and I was given a printout showing all values in the green. However, the vehicle did not feel stable or safe to drive afterward. The steering felt off, and the car did not track straight. Because the vehicle felt unsafe, I took it to Firestone the next da... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2019) - STEERING
Feb 24, 2026
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
At speeds around 50 mph the steering wheel will "lock up" and become extremely difficult to steer if not impossible. Lowering speed to 28 mph will suddenly jolt the steering back to normal causing extremely dangerous steering response with a danger of over correcting once steering assist is regained. Dealer has not been able to replicate the issue and cannot find anything wrong with the vehicle. T... Read more
JEEP
WAGONEER S
(2025) - STEERING
Feb 24, 2026
Incident date: Oct 30, 2025
I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding my Mercedes-Benz Metris serviced at Mercedes-Benz Coconut Creek (Florida) under Recall VS2LAS561 – 9789VMCRC (Customer Service Case #20781216). On February 12th, I delivered the vehicle for recall service. It was returned on February 23rd without the recall properly completed. Invoice no. 328897 – tag T9514 lists replacement of four Continental... Read more
Incident date: Dec 24, 2025
While making a left turn at approximately 10 mph in light snow conditions, braking became severely impaired with pedal pressure present but vehicle failing to decelerate, and steering became significantly resistant and insufficient to redirect the vehicle away from the obstacle. Vehicle continued toward a tree despite brake pedal input and steering input away from the tree. Slippery road warning l... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
Driver Side and Passenger side CV Joints are failing. Severe grinding clicking sound when turning and accelerating. Honda told me this was normal when it was brought in for service
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
While using Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) software on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and other highways, the vehicle’s automated steering system repeatedly malfunctions by failing to maintain lane centering. Specifically, the car drifts or actively steers across double yellow lines into the lane of oncoming traffic. This issue is a persistent failure of the Advanced Driver Assistance S... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH and turning left, the steering wheel was extremely stiff. The contact stopped, exited the vehicle, opened the hood, and became aware that the power steering hoses were disconnected. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and the failure was associated with NHTSA ID Number: 16V273000 (STEERING);... Read more
Incident date: Aug 16, 2025
During normal driving in temperatures below approximately 20–27°F, the vehicle began losing electrical charge as indicated by the malfunction indicator light (MIL) and battery warning message. While my wife was attempting to return home, multiple vehicle systems progressively shut down, including electric power steering, ABS, auto-leveling suspension, and lane departure assistance. As she was ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
Power steering failed without warning whilst driving at highway speed on i26, no warnings nor warning lights displayed. Vehicle remained operable, whilst difficult to steer I continued to next exit. As I slowed to a stop the power steering suddenly functioned again. This could lead to a fatal accident if this loss of power steering were to happen in a curve as the steering is exceedingly heavy w... Read more
Incident date: Feb 19, 2026
I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding a severe design defect in the 3.5L V6 engine of my 2013 Ford Explorer. The vehicle is equipped with an internal, chain-driven water pump that is currently failing at 100000 miles, as evidenced by coolant actively draining from the factory weep hole. Because this pump is located inside the engine block and driven by the timing chain, a complete s... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
S 580
(2021) - STEERING
Feb 24, 2026
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
This is a follow up complaint because I would like to attach more files that are pertinent
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
Yesterday I went to the Ford dealership and asked if my 2009 Ford Escape could have the power steering repaired under recall as the code from the OBD2 data is B2278 and that falls under a RECALL for PSCM Power Steering Control Module - STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR MALFUNCTION CAMPAIGN ID: 14V284000 FORD RECALL #14S05 I was advised there is no open recall of my vehicle and that this recall had been... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Feb 21, 2026
Steering shake at 55mph, seems to go away after tires have warmed up. Tried road force balance with no help.
Incident date: Aug 8, 2024
Incident Date: October 26, 2025 Summary: On October 26, 2025, while merging onto a highway at high speed, the vehicle experienced a sudden and total electronic safety system failure. Without driver input, the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system engaged the brakes (phantom braking), causing a dangerous, unprompted deceleration in active traffic. Simultaneously, the Electric Power Steer... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
Belt tensioner/idler pulley began chirping during warm up after starting engine. Noticed serpentine belt was beginning to fray on edges. Dealership confirmed the pulley failed prematurely and caused the serpentine belt to be damaged. Dealership replaced pulley and belt. It was just after warranty expired. The belt is supposed to be replaced at 100,000 miles as routine maintenance, but the failure ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
Component Involved: Front suspension – Lower control arms Braking system (ongoing unresolved brake noise) Description of the Safety Issue: The front lower control arms on my 2024 Mazda CX-90 show visible erosion/corrosion and looseness. The condition was identified during inspection by a national tire service center and documented on video. The component remains on the vehicle and is availabl... Read more
Incident date: Feb 15, 2026
SUV states brake system failure, tell driver not to drive over 43 miles per hour, attempted to have repairs continue to have repeat service with same issues, notified gm customer service of concerns regarding safety of vehicle with no brakes or steering control however vehicle states owner can drive, this is not safe to general public nor myself and family, gm staff stated could have towed did not... Read more
Incident date: Oct 18, 2025
ON FEB172026, I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND CAR STEERING WOULD NOT TURN AND HIT MY PROPERTY.IT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY PROPERTY POLICE REPORT WAS MADE AND CAR END UP IN BODY SHOP. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN. FRONT END IS COMPLETELY DAMAGE.
Crash
Incident date: Feb 20, 2026
Major amount of "Clicking/Clacking" when Turning . . . has progressively gotten worse over the past year until a few months ago when it "Became More Consistant" ==> Took vehicle to Avalon Honda to properly diagnose and record with the Manufacturer's, eg., Honda/GM
Incident date: Nov 12, 2025
The ABS, traction control, and 4x4 lights all came on at the same time. None are operable. During my research I was able to find recall 75b that aligns with the exactly with my current set of issues. 24v-653 is the NHTSA recall number associated. I need that recall added to my vehicle so I can get the very unsafe issue fixed