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: Dec 10, 2025
The steering is affected, and my vehicle is available for inspection at request. When engaging in longer highway drives (40+ minutes) and going at higher speeds (50mph+), the steering wheel starts to "stick" close to the center/0 degree mark when making small adjustments in lane (+/-1 to +/- 3 degrees from 0 degrees) or when moving between lanes. This means I have to pay special attention after ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 24, 2025
The car was jump start due to a bad battery it cold and the light was left on. Right after the jump start a check engine light can on. When I put the vehicle in drive to turn the steering wheel it violently snapped bad and broken one of my finger nail. I tried aging in disbelief it happened aging this shouldn't be happening it could've broke my fingers.
Incident date: Oct 18, 2025
My 2013 Honda CRV completely broke down in late August 2025, as I was backing out of my driveway. Our lives were at risk. This could have happened in traffic, causing a terrible collision. My local Honda dealership found the chain guides broken and the timing off, and recommended replacement of several parts (timing chain, guides, tensioner, exhaust cam, rockers, and ... VTC actuator). Initially, ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2025
My 2018 Tesla Model S has a recurring safety-critical defect involving the steering system and the Chassis CAN communication network. On October 20, 2025, the vehicle had to be towed to a Tesla Service Center because it would not power on and displayed multiple safety alerts (traction control disabled, stability control disabled, ABS disabled, and reduced steering assist). Tesla documented that th... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
While driving, the power steering warning came on and the steering wheel became extremely tight, making it very difficult to turn. This has happened more than once, most recently on December 8, 2025. The loss of steering assist occurred while the vehicle was in motion and created a serious safety concern. The dealership retrieved diagnostic code C1250-52, which indicates an internal malfunction o... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2025
Filing this complaint regarding a known safety defect affecting my 2019 Jeep Wrangler Sport - specifically the steering damper column defect commonly referred to as "Death Wobble." ISSUE: My vehicle experiences violent and uncontrollable steering wheel oscillation when hitting bumps or road imperfections at highway speeds (typically above 55 mph). This phenomenon causes the entire front end to sha... Read more
TOYOTA
RAV4 PRIME
(2023) - STEERING
Dec 10, 2025
Incident date: Dec 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was an abnormal sound coming from the transmission. The message "Reduced Engine Power” was displayed and the transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the ... Read more
TOYOTA
SIENNA HYBRID
(2025) - STEERING
Dec 10, 2025
Incident date: Oct 7, 2025
Death wobble. Play in steering box.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2019) - STEERING
Dec 10, 2025
Incident date: Dec 10, 2025
Failure of Power Steering A hard steering wheel on a 2012 Ford Explorer with electric steering (EPAS
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2024) - STEERING
Dec 10, 2025
Incident date: Feb 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V581000 (Steering) and 21V461000 (Steering). The contact stated that while in reverse(R) and turning the steering wheel, the contact observed a clicking sound coming from under the front of the vehicle. The contact stated there was no warning light or messages displayed. The vehicle was taken to ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKS. The contact stated that while reversing into a parking space, the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was later restarted, and the traction control and power steering warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle then experienced a loss of power steering assist. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the steering gear had fail... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
My vehicle is under an open safety recall 01C involving the PTU system, and there has been no remedy available for nearly a year. This defect caused a dangerous and sudden loss of acceleration while I was driving, and the manufacturer has still provided no fix, and no support through the dealership. The incident occurred when I was stopped at a red light. When the light turned green,I pressed the... Read more
Incident date: Nov 22, 2025
My Jeep is disabled due to a drivetrain failure covered under Jeep’s XJ1 Warranty Extension. The required part is on extended backorder (weeks) and Jeep is unable to provide a remedy or transportation while the vehicle is inoperable. This results in a safety hazard and unreasonable delay of repair. Power Transfer Unit (PTU) failure under warranty extension XJ1. Vehicle is disabled and cannot be... Read more
Incident date: Dec 5, 2025
Power steering failure and tech said it was corrosion of wire harness and not considered a mechanical failure. Water had entered the power steering rack and harness. Pump and rack need to be replaced as well. Driving on highway and power steering gave out without warning. Had to pull to the side of the road. Safety at risk.
Incident date: Dec 6, 2025
Describe the Safety Issue: My 2023 Honda Accord (VIN: 1HGCY1F28PA010141) stalled in traffic due to electrical system failure. A certified Honda technician found undisclosed non-factory wiring, exposed wires, removed aftermarket alarm components, BCM communication failure, and multiple hard codes that cannot be cleared. The vehicle has serious electrical defects that affect engine communication and... Read more
Incident date: Oct 25, 2025
I had Hold feature engaged during a I-70 construction traffic stop. after 7 or 8 minutes auto rolled forward by it's self and something like eps turned on. I was floored at this hazzard and it could have killed someone, if they were infront of my auto.
MERCEDES-BENZ
EQS 580
(2022) - STEERING
Dec 10, 2025
Incident date: Nov 27, 2025
The car presented steering lock column issues with repair lights on at 50 miles. Since then, they have repaired the system numerous times and replaced that system fully twice. They also replaced the manual start system and six other pieces of the car over 18 visits to two different Chevy dealerships. The car still reduces speed and stops acceleration, has electric issues in the windows, lights and... Read more
Incident date: Oct 31, 2025
I purchased a 2017 F150 in March of 25’. Miraculously no issue started until approx 4000 miles after the purchase. The dealer warranty was good for 3500. In the months that preceded issue after issue began to arise. First and least important in my personal opinion. I get in my truck to head to work and my sliding back glass is laying in backseat, completely intact with the track it slides on. On... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2025
While driving the Electronic Power Steering Rack stopped working. I pulled over and inspected to see if there was any damage to it. Everything looked good, but the power steering was still not working. I turned vehicle on and off a couple times until the Electronic Power steering Rack started working again. This put me and other drivers in danger as I could not steer my vehicle freely without usin... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2025
My 2025 Honda Prologue Touring, purchased in August and currently with only 7,000 miles, is experiencing multiple serious safety issues. The vehicle has already had both the left and right axles replaced. by warranty Now, the left axle is failing again. A defective axle can break at high speeds, which puts my entire family at risk, including my baby. This issue compromises vehicle stability and c... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2025
This has occured multiple times. While driving on freeway at speeds between 65 and 75 MPH and hitting rough asphalt, the vehicle begins shaking violently, almost to the point of losing control. It will only stop if I slow down to under 40 mph or stopping altogether. This has been very frightening when it occurs in traffic on freeways. It seems to occur mainly when on a curve.
Incident date: Dec 2, 2025
I purchased this used Tesla Model 3 (VIN: [XXX] ) from a licensed dealer on July 15th, 2025. The vehicle is still under the original manufacturer warranty. Since ownership, I have experienced a persistent metal-impact noise coming from the suspension and steering area, especially when going over speed bumps, uneven road surfaces, or low-speed turns. The noise sounds like loose metal parts making ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 7, 2025
Intermittent power steering loss. Can go for a couple of days and problem reoccurs. Cannot drive vehicle safely anymore. After re-start, power steering returns. Will fail again randomly.
Incident date: Nov 7, 2025
The contact's father owns a 2013 Ram 1500. While the contact's father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to steer in the intended direction. In addition, the contact stated that the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an unstated computer fail... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2025) - STEERING
Dec 9, 2025
Incident date: Nov 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while in reverse (R) and moving at approximately 4 MPH, the steering wheel had frozen, and he was not able to turn the wheel. The contact stated that he had crashed into his other vehicle. The contact stated that the front end of the other vehicle was not damaged; however, the vehicle he was driving in had damage to the bumper and tailgate.... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 2, 2025
On Sunday Nov. 16th, my steering wheel felt like it was "slipping", akin to how it feels when your serpentine belt tensioner is failing. I checked it out while wife turned the wheel, didn't see any problem, and we went on our way. Later in the day as we were leaving a parking lot, the problem occurred again but worse. And we got a warning about trailer brake controller needs repair. After reviewin... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2024
The contact owns a 2006 Buick Rainer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel jerked independently without warning, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the brake pedal while depressing the brake pedal. The contact had taken the vehicle to two independent mechani... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2025
The electric power steering system on my vehicle intermittently fails while I am driving. When the failure occurs, the steering suddenly becomes extremely heavy and difficult to control, creating an immediate safety risk to me and to others on the road. The loss of power steering has happened multiple times with no advance warning. Each time, the only way to temporarily restore normal steering is ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 29, 2025
Broken/Defective CV axles. Clicking noise occurs when turning both left and right. Vehicle has been to the dealer and dealer has reproduced and noted the issue. Dealer stated nothing can be done due to no fix from Honda.
Incident date: Feb 19, 2025
Broken/Defective CV axles. Clicking noise occurs when turning both left and right. Vehicle has been to the dealer and dealer has reproduced and noted the issue. Dealer stated nothing can be done due to no fix from Honda.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2020) - STEERING
Dec 9, 2025
Incident date: Dec 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to steer in the intended direction. In addition, the “Service Stabili-trak” message was displayed, and the “Power Steering Failure” warning light was illuminated. The contact held the steering wheel tightly and pulled on the steering wheel, preventing the veh... Read more
Incident date: Nov 22, 2025
As far as everybody did and shut down three times in a major intersections as far as to completely shut off or keep up with the camera activity and it seems to not be able to empower through the cabin or central part of the cabin where the computer is stored when I had my f****** completely turn itself off and ran or red lights just to barely make it to my house and in the car would not start I ha... Read more
Incident date: Nov 10, 2025
since purchase the car when holding steering straight veers to the left into oncoming traffic. vehicle has been to service 9x work on the subframe was completed at the first go..significant work that VW Corporate could not explain on a new car coming off the line. attempts since from most recent road force 4 wheel balance. car still pulls to the left. VW corporate was notified we would like a ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while the vehicle was started and running, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed a puddle of fluid on the ground underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the fluid was possibly power steering fluid. The contact was on the way to work, and while the vehicle was in ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
On my way home early morning I lost full function of my car. Luckily I was pulling into my home but my car would not go in any other gear but reverse. I could not properly put it in park or cut it off. Now it would turn on because it cannot shift into any gear. If I had made one more stop before heading home I could have been in a very bad accident or worse. This happened on 12/1/25. I immediate... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2025
I drive on the highway everyday to get to work and my steering makes it impossible to drive in a straight line it takes every bit of effort to remain in my lane and when I make a slight adjustment it reacts too much. It is unpredictable and it becomes obvious to drivers around me and makes me look like a bad/crazy driver. It becomes so overwhelming to drive to and from work that I don't want my ca... Read more
Incident date: Dec 5, 2025
This vehicle has the same steering mechanism and the same mechanical issues as the Honda sedans recall earlier this year,, The steering suddenly becomes difficult to turn and hard to maintain. You can restart the car and the steering mechanism will also reset.
Incident date: Jul 30, 2024
Manually have to unlock the shifter to put into gear with a key and the steering wheel is at 90 degrees all the way to the right and won't move back to standard positioning while driving.
Incident date: Dec 8, 2025
On 6 occasions in varying driving conditions “Service AEB System Immediately” message and warning lights has appeared on instrument cluster. When this occurs all safety features are also disengaged. Furthermore, on a different occasion the vehicle was parked for 4 hours and after starting the vehicle I received a “Power Steering Overheat” message and warning light on the instrument cluster... Read more
Incident date: Jul 12, 2025
Suddenly at 82,000 miles, my 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport S 4 door began shaking uncontrollably while I was driving. It was a terrifying experience. I took it to the mechanic and he replaced the steering damper. The uncontrollable shaking continued. The mechanic replaced the steering damper again. The shaking continues. I have had a wheel alignment and tires balanced. I am scared to drive the ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 29, 2025
Steering locked up while traveling down highway unable to turn the Steering wheel had to be towed from highway. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 16V16700. MANUFACTURING CAMPAIGN NUMBER S19 THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING..SPOKE WITH RECALL SPECIALIST AT CHYSLER CUSTOMER CARE ON 12-08-2025: @7:17PM EST . UPON TALKI G TO EMPLOYEE WHOM NAME IS ASHER ID NUMBER T033HD WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE T... Read more
Incident date: Aug 8, 2024
While driving at highway speeds (approx. 65 MPH), the vehicle suffered a sudden and catastrophic loss of motive power. The "Hybrid System Malfunction" warning illuminated, followed immediately by a "Check Engine" light. The vehicle entered a fail-safe mode, then completely shut down. The steering wheel locked, making it extremely difficult to maneuver the vehicle to the shoulder in a dark, remote ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 29, 2025
The contact owns 2016 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V175000 (STEERING); however, the VI... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2025
Per the attached letter to 1 A Auto I installed the subject steering shaft and torqued it per their video instructions. It slipped off causing a complete loss of steering because it wasn't properly fabricated. . Thankfully, I was travelling at low speed and was able to safeky stop, make an emergency repair and got the truck home. It caused a break in the airabag clock spring cable and also brok... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2025
Per the attached letter to 1 A Auto I installed the subject steering shaft and torqued it per their video instructions. It slipped off causing a complete loss of steering because it wasn't properly fabricated. . Thankfully, I was travelling at low speed and was able to safeky stop, make an emergency repair and got the truck home. It caused a break in the airabag clock spring cable and also brok... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2025
I bought this truck used from a dealership in 2022-23 haven't really had any problems till about 2 months ago. Front end started a wobble. A friend of mine just sent me information NHTSA put out about the Death Wobble. I believe it expired in 2024. I never received any kind of recall on this. I was wondering if it would still be something I could get looked into. Thank you.
Incident date: Dec 8, 2025
Accident Statement – Instrument Panel Cluster Failure & Collision While driving my 2025 Ford Outerbanks, the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) screen suddenly went completely black without warning. At the time of the malfunction, I was attempting to merge into traffic on my left with my left turn signal activated. Simultaneously, an 18-wheeler in the lane beside me was merging to his right. The s... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Dec 3, 2025
Hi, my power steering went out. It's tough to turn. I see there was a safety recall, 14S06, that mentions the power steering control module. According to the NHTSA website my car has a safety recall. MAY 29, 2014 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist it will require extra steering effort at lower speed... Read more
Incident date: Sep 25, 2025
My Tesla Model 3 is experiencing premature suspension failures involving the lower lateral links and stabilizer links. These components were already replaced once, and they are failing again in less than 30,000 miles. This is not normal wear for suspension parts on a modern vehicle. These failures cause clunking, instability, and looseness in the front end—conditions that affect the vehicle’s... Read more