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 49,040 complaints — component: STRUCTURE:BODY
Incident date: Feb 2, 2024
Presently, my mileage is approximately 42770. It has started to exhibit vibration throughout the cab. It wasn't as prevalent during the cold and would only last about 30 seconds, after warm up, and around 70 mph. Now that it has gotten warmer, it is happening after warm up at all speeds. I haven't take it to the dealership yet, but have read reports of the problem with the same model year.
Incident date: Oct 19, 2023
When driving my 2013 Ford 350 Crew Cab 4x4 6.7 Diesel with only 68,000 miles stock with original equiptment , I was driving to my chemo appt as I have stage 4 cancer and a mom of a young son the truck started a shake and the sterring wheel violently came away from my hands. It got so bad I almost went into oncoming traffic putting my sons life and myself and others in danger, I have brought this ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2024
What happened today was the sunroof exploded while driving down the interstate. Loud gunshot sound! Lucky the viser was closed when it happened! I have an appointment next week due to dealership backed up but they said I can come by to get it patched until my appointment day. No Warning lights, messages, or anything happened before the incident occurred. Just glad no one was hurt and it didn’t c... Read more
Incident date: Sep 22, 2023
Hard top rear section delaminating due to unfinished edges allowing moisture to enter ford offered to cover all but $1200.00 being the vehicle now has over 40000 miles believe it's a manufacturer defect should cover all cost
Incident date: Nov 30, 2023
The driver side front door is making a popping sound when opening and closing. Rusty Eck for says this is a known issue but are refusing to repair without us paying for it. I see that 346000 autos are potentially affected, why is there not a recall?
Incident date: Dec 2, 2023
Moon roof spontaneously shattered while driving. No impact from any object caused this, no other vehicles around and vehicle was only at 5 MPH at time of shattering. It’s as if the glass just shattered outwards from inside the cabin of the vehicle. Showered driver with glass and could have caused injury especially if glass fell into eyes.
Incident date: Jan 29, 2024
Shortly following delivery of the motorhome, there appeared a catastrophic crack in the fiberglass on the leading side of the overhead bunk (driver's side). Left unresolved, the primary safety concern is that the crack will expand and, while traveling (especially at higher speed), the top portion of the overhead bunk will separate from the motorhome - putting motorists traveling behind, and anyon... Read more
Incident date: Nov 10, 2023
Driver door hinge is not welded properly and when driving door opens
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
I was driving at 35 MPH on a nicely paved road and my sunroof exploded. It sounded like a gun shot. There was a big whole in the roof mostly over the passenger seat. There was some glass on the seat and on the console and in the back seat. Most of the glass landed outside the car because the sun roof exploded from the inside out. The remaining glass was shattered upward. Because it was tem... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2021) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Jan 30, 2024
Incident date: Jan 12, 2024
My trim for my front windshield flew off while driving.
Incident date: Jan 15, 2024
Paint on my vehicle is changing on the roof and trunk is like the paint coating has worn off and the vehicle roof and trunk are peeling off.
Incident date: Jan 29, 2024
this is before an accident will occur.Around the windshield[apillar,on top] the paint is falling off so if I get in a rollover accident or a front end accident is the windshield just going to pop off with any pressure. if the paint under the urethane which holds the windshield in doesn't adhere properly.whats holding it on?
Incident date: Dec 5, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was a loud popping sound coming from the driver's side window trim panel detaching from the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000.
Incident date: Nov 21, 2023
I was t boned while driving aprox 25 30 non of my air bags deployed and to bolts holding the door had the head shear off while bolts were still stuck in door frame
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 21, 2024
Rear window glass broke out of nothing without any collision or otherwise impact. I parked the car in a covered, safe garage and then the other day the rear window glass was completely shattered and broken.
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2023) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Jan 30, 2024
Incident date: Jan 30, 2024
The tailgate latch is not waterproof, and opens on its own sometimes. this can allow things to fall out of your truck.
GMC
SIERRA 2500
(2021) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Jan 30, 2024
Incident date: Jan 28, 2024
The body and frame are rusted so bad they wouldn't inspect it unless the y would weld on the frame only has 73000 miles
Incident date: Sep 22, 2023
My roof has started leaking recently in the back part of cab.
Incident date: Jan 27, 2024
There are KNOWN areas around the A pillar, windshield, and sunroof that leak and allow water to enter the vehicle and pool up in the wiring channels next to the doors, the water causes shorts and corrosion in the wiring which causes faults (Check engine, etc) that the owner is forced to attempt to correct on their own. There are numerous videos made by Land Rover owners over the last 15 years show... Read more
FORD
F-150 LIGHTNING BEV
(2023) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Jan 29, 2024
Incident date: Jan 9, 2024
Initially driver side door began sluggishly opening proceeding to a grinding open which and finally incomplete opening. Power window has also become inoperable. Dealer charged $400 to look at what is obviously a known problem and said needed a brand new door and quoted $3,000+ (10% of a new car!) Refused service and a mechanic explained the situation regarding the welding failure and said he "opt... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2023
Rear sunroof shattered spontaneously
Incident date: Sep 25, 2023
The floor inside of the bed is sagging everywhere it is bolted down to the frame. It has never had a bedliner. It has a crunchy sound when you step on these areas. I do not know how much damage is under the flooring at this time. There has been nothing heavy hauled in the bed. The rest of the bed is solid. If not repaired the bed will separate from the truck and soon
Incident date: Jan 26, 2024
Lift gate is malfunctioning. The lift gate opens but not all the way. It then bounces down and up attempting to open or close itself.
Incident date: Nov 15, 2023
Spot welds on the door check arm bracket have broken on the driver's side front door. The arm is still attached to the pillar, but is no longer attached to the door itself. This is also preventing the window from rolling down fully.
Incident date: Jan 29, 2024
Upon purchasing my vehicle the frame bolt had rattled loose and the motor mounts were broke because of how hard the engine rattles.
Incident date: Jan 29, 2024
I drove my 2023 TOYOTA BZ4X home from work after a heavy rainfall in Galveston, Texas in January 2024, had about 2-3 inches of rain on the road, driving about 15-20 miles per hour on my way home. Both front wheel wells/mud guard liners came off. I drove over one of the liner, stopped and picked it up. Also a liner in the back of the car's undercarriage was hanging out. Took the car to the dealers... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
Shortly after purchasing my 2020 Ford Escape my driver side window stopped working. Soon after my door hinges began to fail. I took this to several dealerships who said that the hinge was sagging leading to the electric within my door to have weight on it. My car is available for inspection, I am concerned my door will stop opening or not close all the way at some point putting my safety at risk. ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 16, 2023
All 3 welds that hold the drivers front door check arm failed over the course of a day. When travelling with the car I observed some strange creaking/cracking sounds when opening or closing the door, and within a day I found that the door was difficult to close and latch. I looked at the hinges, and notices 3 holes where the welds were, and the check arm moving inside the door. The safety iss... Read more
Incident date: Sep 22, 2023
February 2023 the Fiat breaks and transmission locked up and all of the lights on the dashboard started flashing in the middle of the road. filed claim with geico. turned out to be a leak somewhere in the body frame of the car which leaked water into the RF module of the car causing water damage inside the RF module causing the car transmission to lock up emergency brake lockup and all lights flas... Read more
Incident date: Jan 28, 2024
To whom it may concern, I am writing to file a complaint about a serious defect in my Land Rover Discovery vehicle. The defect is a roof leakage near the windshield where it attaches to the body. This causes water to seep into the interior of the car and damage the electrical components. The service technician at the dealership informed me that they need to break the windshield in order to fix th... Read more
LAND ROVER
DISCOVERY
(2018) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Jan 29, 2024
Incident date: Jan 22, 2024
In June 2023 I was doing some minor work and inspection on my 2013 Silverado, while under the truck looking for possible issues before taking a trip to Colorado I noticed the frame had a hole in it, after further inspection of the complete frame and undercarriage I found holes all throughout the frame and also cracks in 2 locations. The truck had 85k, the body is solid, and in great condition, kep... Read more
Incident date: Oct 2, 2023
Vehicle was taken to dealer with frame rust, crack and holes. Toyota refused to fix , repair or offer parts to repair.
JEEP
WRANGLER 4XE
(2024) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Jan 28, 2024
Incident date: Jan 27, 2024
The inside hatch panel leaks water through it. It is available for inspection if requested. The problem has not been reproduced by dealership or independent service center.
Incident date: Nov 22, 2022
The paint on the hood of my 2019 Hyundai Tucson started peeling in August 2023. I took it to a Hyundai dealership in October to see if they could fix it. The dealership said it was a manufacturer's problem and my paint insurance was not going to cover it. The employee told me that he would submit a claim to Hyundai, asking if corporate would cover part of the cost. I have yet to receive a response... Read more
Incident date: Oct 2, 2023
Power tailgate problem. Middle both passenger side door did not latch. Power tailgate cannot open automatically. It happened recently, and happened every year as far as I remember, when raining season, or winter time. It just happened few days ago. Passenger side door did not latch. I was driving with baby in car seat, on freeway, when door latch did not lock properly. My wife had this incident ... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2018) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Jan 28, 2024
Incident date: Jan 1, 2021
The T shaped frame mount where the fuel tank strap hooks to rusted out and the strap pulled through the frame letting the fuel tank drop.
Incident date: Feb 1, 2022
I am experiencing sudden paint delamination on the A pillar. Paint color is snow white pearl. I have not yet contacted the dealer but am seeing many similar online reports for this paint color on Kia vehicles. The area is not otherwise damaged. I noticed the problem on 1/21/24 when the car was stationary. The bad area is now increasing in size. The vehicle has 79,269 miles, is kept outdoors and go... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2023
The driver door is trying to fall off. When I open it, it makes a loud creaking noise and then comes loose. When I try to shut it, it’s not lined up and won’t shut correctly and completely. This issue started almost immediately after purchasing it in July 2023. I brought it to the Ford dealership and it sat there for over a month before they looked at it. They never did give me an official dia... Read more
Incident date: Jan 28, 2024
While driving on the highway, the trim piece that contours the front of the hood of the vehicle, broke off in two pieces and went flying into the air and nearly caused an accident.
Incident date: Jan 28, 2024
The child safety lock is not engaged. The door latches on the rear right passenger door in my car has failed. It fails to unlock when from the inside. In an emergency situation. Passengers won't be able to exit the vehicle quickly. The Problem can be reproduced and there are current door latch recalls in other models but it needs to extend out these models too. It has not been inspected by p... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
Our 2020 Acura RDX windshield spontaneously shattered. After reading a bulletin that this is a common issue we contacted our local dealer. We were told it was not a recall and was not covered. We contacted Acura to speak about the issue and were told we could take it to a dealer to determine if a small portion would be covered but even that was not a guarantee. This is an obvious issue with this... Read more
Incident date: Sep 14, 2023
The frame is completely rusted out. Parts are falling off of it, it rusted under the factory wax rust preventive coating. the abs system will brake the truck on its own without any warning lights.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2014) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Jan 27, 2024
Incident date: Dec 14, 2022
On the way home, the rear door controller was damaged and the rear door opened by itself. So I pull the car to the side of the high way and tried to close the rear but couldn't. I drove my car to my home with the rear door open. It was a crazy experience to me.
Incident date: Dec 28, 2023
The vehicle was sitting in my driveway during a lower than normal temperature (18 defrees f). The car ha d ot moved at all due to snow fall around the area. The car was warmed up with the automatic function and a U shaped crack appeared in the windshield almost fully closing on itself and there was a crack along the bottom of the windshield. There were no prior chips or issues. The window was ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2024
The A-pillar passenger side flank flew off while driving.
Incident date: Jan 24, 2024
I left my car outside in a light rainstorm while at work. When I arrived back at my car I noticed something off about my paint, I soon discovered it was a water bubble in my paint, this caused my paint to fall off leaving my vehicle with a large chunk of missing paint.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2023
The actuators in the air vents are faulty and I've had to have them repla ed multiple times now. They still continue to make clicking noise sounds and blow cold air in winter/hot air in summer. The trunk deck lid paint is bad. The clear coat has been coming off. Paint all over the car's clear coat has been coming off. There is also some spots where it's down to the metal showing rust/corrosion. Fi... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2024
I have a 2018 Explorer that may be involved in the Ford recall for the windshield trimpieces that may come loose. I may not have that issue but I have an issue with trim pieces separating from both the drivers and front passenger doors.
FIRESTONE
DESTINATION LE2
(9999) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Jan 27, 2024
Incident date: Feb 20, 2021
The doors on my new Honda Pilot have an extremely sharp, hazardous, protruding edge on the lower outer corner at the bottom of the doors. The edge is so sharp, that while exiting the passenger door, it punctured my left leg in my calf on the left side of my shin bone. This required me to have 12 stitches in my leg. The laceration was very deep and exposed my then swollen bleeding inner tissue. ... Read more
1 injured