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: Apr 30, 2023
My vehicle was recalled because corrosion can form on the rear frame due to accumulation of road de-icing agents mixed with mud and dirt. The fuel tank, which is mounted to the rear frame, can become unsecured as the rear frame deteriorates from corrosion. An unsecured fuel tank may result in a fuel leak and an increased risk of fire in the presence of an ignition source. Loud noises from the r... Read more
Incident date: Aug 6, 2023
Both A-pillar pieces have blown off while driving. The first time this happened I had them replaced at a local windshield repair. And now they have both blown off again.
Incident date: Aug 5, 2023
Driver side door is making a clanking noise when opening and closing. I also had difficulty closing and keeping the door closed. The window will not open more than 6 inches. Door hinge or door stop on the interior of the door has some welding part that my mechanic says has broken within the door's frame. He identifies this as a manufacturing problem, not something my mechanic will attempt to fi... Read more
Incident date: Jul 18, 2023
Passenger side frame on windshield flew off my car while I was driving on the highway.
Incident date: Aug 8, 2023
My driver door hinge has come apart from door due to welding, which has impacted my window from going down and although i lock the doors they are still able to come unlock by pulling door handle which leaves my car vunerable to vandelism or theft. i made an appointment and got the first date available. My vehicle is a lease and out of warranty although I paid for extra miles and after showing them... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 2500
(2024) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 8, 2023
Incident date: Jul 21, 2023
Like most other Honda Rebel CMX 1100 motorcycles, my engine leaks oil. It is coming out where the stator wire goes in. This is fixed by replacing the stator since the wires do not separate. Honda warranty refuses to cover the cost of their failure. There is also a small rubber plug at the bottom of the frame that connects to the motor. This holds the entire motorcycle together. Like most others o... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
C250
(2014) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 7, 2023
Incident date: Jul 24, 2023
The Heat Shield on Exhaust becomes loose, rattles and comes off while driving. Danger to to other drives behind me. See the number of complaints over here - https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-3rd-gen-2010-2015/863952-exhaust-heat-shield-loose-and-rattling.html
Incident date: Aug 1, 2023
The trim surrounding the windshield on the passenger side detached and flew off at high way speeds. While no vehicles were close enough to be impacted by this part of the vehicle detaching, it could create a hazard had there been a vehicle close by. I have seen evidence that this is prevalent on this year, make, and model and it should be remedied. There was no evidence that this would happen and ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 7, 2023
I went to get my 02 tacoma tires balanced and was called and told that where the frame was cracked. Upon inspecting it myself the crack is where the manufacturer welded the frame together. I'm the 3rd owner of this vehicle and there original owner didn't get frame warranty recall done. Which led to it running out. Now Toyota corporate has a frame case number ([XXX]) and was told that there's nothi... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2023
1.6 Turbo engine failure while on freeway. Towed to mechanic, then informed needs new engine. This vehicle seized on the freeway
Incident date: Mar 19, 2023
Driving down interstate, mid-morning, and my front sunroof imploded. VERY loud, like a bomb or gunshot. Shattered glass everywhere, all over myself and my car. I jerked, almost hitting a vehicle to my left. Correcting, and almost got hit by an 18 wheeler. Made it over, got off Interstate, was disoriented, ran a stop sign I think. Was the absolute worst sound.
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2008) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 7, 2023
Incident date: Jul 12, 2023
The door limiter is ripped free of its mounting [inside the door] and makes keeping the door closed and/or opening it impossible at times. In addition, the broken pieces in the door damaged the window regulator, making egress through the window equally impossible. Our safety is put at risk due to the possibility of the door opening while driving as well as the safety of oncoming traffic. Both F... Read more
Incident date: Aug 4, 2023
I was driving at night and my rear windshield shattered out of nowhere. I had two passengers in the back seat, and the glass went everywhere. There was no foreign object or extreme temperature that would have caused this.
VOLKSWAGEN
GOLF
(2017) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 7, 2023
Incident date: Jul 24, 2023
Was informed during inspection the subframe is rusted very badly and could fail. In doing research the 2009 Ford escape has had these recalled for this specific reason that the subframe components were not properly coated causing rust and failure. My VIN isn't on the list after speaking to Ford. My next step is to address you to see if it needed to get added as it is exact nature of the original ... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
SPRINTER 2500
(2020) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 7, 2023
Incident date: Aug 4, 2023
Took my car in due to the paint being damaged by normal sunlight just on my hood, roof and trunk lid was told that it looked like it was just scratched, if that was the case wouldn't my whole car looked like that. Heard back from the dealership auto body manager admitting that gm had messed up the clear coat when it came to the dark color vehicles. Said nothing could be done due to it being out o... Read more
FORD
FUSION HYBRID
(2017) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 7, 2023
Incident date: Aug 7, 2023
Today the moonroof lining just fell off. It is hanging from both sides but one of the sides has a thin metal strip bunched up. I am unable to close the moonroof lining and because it hangs it blocks my vision to the back rear from the view mirror. Please keep in mind my BMW has low miles so how is this possible? I am trying to upload a picture but unable on the form.
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2018) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 7, 2023
Incident date: Jul 1, 2023
Severely rusted out and corroded front subframe, only noticed it on accident very recently, and my car is the last year of a generation that was recalled for this very issue within the Salt Belt- I live right at the bottom outskirts of the Salt Belt in NKY, and my car is the only year not recalled for subframe corrosion. It's bad and I'm freaked out and can't afford it unless I figure out how to ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2023
My vehicle was receiving a PA state required annual mechanical safety inspection by an ASE certified mechanic. I was informed that the "sway bar" which stabilizes the steering system had failed, and as a critical part of the steering operation, the vehicle could not pass a PA state mechanical safety inspection. I had the "sway bar" replaced with the GM re-designed part at considerable expense to p... Read more
PIRELLI
P ZERO ALL SEASON
(9999) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 6, 2023
Incident date: Aug 5, 2023
Driver's door hinge limit opening check-arm mechanism failure. First awareness when popping noise occurred when opening and closing the door. Internet search found this and related hinge failure experiences by many other Escape owners. The factory welds attaching the mechanism housing to the interior of the door body are failing. Ford has not made a recall. While this is a primary vehicle fu... Read more
Incident date: Aug 6, 2023
Paint is peeling off of my Kia
Incident date: Jun 1, 2021
On August 5, 2023, my car charge got too low for me to make it to a charging station in Lafayette Louisiana. I had the vehicle towed on a flat bed. I put the car in Tow Transportation mode. While we were towing the car, I opened the car to check the battery level and somehow the frunk was activated (perhaps I accidentally hit it, I'm not sure). The frunk opened while we were going about 60 mph... Read more
Incident date: Aug 2, 2023
I noticed that the driver's door was making an odd clicking sound when the door was closing. Upon further investigation, I found the silver door bolt holding the door to the frame was loose. I have since then had the bolt tightened.
Incident date: Jun 16, 2023
Issue 1--Open recall since 2/23/2023 with no remedy available (over 5 months) From manufacturer: In some circumstances, the clutch pressure plate may become overheated through friction, which may lead the pressure plate to rapidly fracture. When a pressure plate fractures, it may result in cracks or holes in the transmission case, allowing heated debris to be expelled from the transmission case. ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2023
Issue 1--Recall 19A/NHTSA 23V-116 n some circumstances, the clutch pressure plate may become overheated through friction, which may lead the pressure plate to rapidly fracture. When a pressure plate fractures, it may result in cracks or holes in the transmission case, allowing heated debris to be expelled from the transmission case. Safety Risk Heated debris expelled from the transmission bellhou... Read more
Incident date: Aug 2, 2023
I was driving my 2015 Kia Sedona and the airbags imploded out of nowhere, I was not hurt thank god. But my front of my car got damaged and so did the air bags and my steering wheel and all that got broken. I am writing to see if I can be reimbursed as I have fix these issues but I believe they hav to do with a recall Kia has. I spent a lot of money fixing it so I would like to get reimbured as I p... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
C 300
(2018) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 5, 2023
Incident date: Jul 26, 2023
The left front drivers door is difficult to open and close due to broken factory spot welds on the door where it attaches to a factory mechanism. This causes the door to make a popping sound and makes it periodically difficult to both open and securely close the door.
Incident date: Jul 10, 2023
The paint is peeling on the hood of the car between the moon roof and the windshield. There may be more minor paint peeling on the rear hood closer to the hatchback.
Incident date: Jun 28, 2020
Incomplete weld(s) in frame/body at drivers side rear passenger seat floor area. Dealer has vehicle and is unable to repair frame/body weld(s) without removing body from frame. Frame/body flexing in the area of hybrid batteries are will continue to worsen over time causing possible short in wiring and or batteries causing fire. Dealer has confirmed issue. Manufacturer is buying back above vehi... Read more
Incident date: Aug 2, 2023
This week was the SECOND time our van lost both low beam headlights at the same time while driving at night. Both times the dealership wanted over $500 to replace them. Our drive train will catch while driving. We took our van in for this problem and were told by the dealership that "its just the way the transmission is made" When we bought the vehicle it was two years old and had rust spots on... Read more
Incident date: Jul 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing, the backup camera was slow to respond. The screen displayed an image of the vehicle. Additionally, there was an extreme amount of air entering the vehicle from the door seals. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure, but the vehicle wa... Read more
Incident date: May 31, 2023
Truck was being driven down the highway about 75mph. And the driver was surprised by a load bang .Glass came into the cab from sunroof. Sunroof exploded.Happened on 7/31/2023 at 9:15am near Angola Indiana on I-69 south. Glass ended up on driver.
Incident date: Jul 4, 2023
I was driving on the highway at about 70 mph when the passenger side window trim flew off of the vehicle, causing a loud noise that startled me as I drove. I do not believe the trim piece hit another vehicle as it was nighttime and the road was not crowded, but it easily could have in other circumstances.
CONTINENTAL
CROSSCONTACT
(9999) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 4, 2023
Incident date: Aug 4, 2023
right rear passenger door handle. It is made of plastic and crumbled in my hand as i attempted to open the door to remove my 3 yr old great grandson. I had the child safety lock engaged, so when I tried to crawl across back seat to open that door from the inside I was unable to. I undid car seat buckles and pulled him across back seat, out opposite door. This occurred Mid June 2023. I ordered new ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2021
The panoramic sunroof wind deflector is off I seen online there was a recall about that. I call hyundai customer service about it they said it's been fix already in 2016. I'm a new owner and not sure where the work was done before I got it, but it came unglued again. I purchased the car from John amato hyundai dealership and get the services done there because I'm under a forever warranty and can... Read more
Incident date: Oct 13, 2022
The liftgate opened while the car was being driven down the road.
Incident date: Jul 31, 2023
The bumper is cracked on both sides
LAND ROVER
RANGE ROVER EVOQUE
(2018) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 3, 2023
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
Door welds have broken and door arm is not attached to door any longer. Door has been inspected by Ford and are unwilling to fix due to it being weeks out of warranty.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2015) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 3, 2023
Incident date: May 10, 2023
catalytic converter is easily accessible and there should be a recall to have a safety operation and stop all these cars from being sold in the market because there is a rise in many thefts of the catalytic converter due to it being very easily accusable without any guard in place to prevent thieves from getting to it to remove and sell for parts. Spray paint can be cleaned off and vin numbers can... Read more
Fire
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2020) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 2, 2023
Incident date: Jul 31, 2023
Noticed when the vehicle was already in motion and accelerating to get up to the street speed the truck all of a sudden starts shaking in the back. The shaking was not only in the back but in the front also. I called Ford and they stated there was nothing wrong with it. If that’s the case the explain why the back end and front end of the truck started shaking.
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2021) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Aug 2, 2023
Incident date: Sep 1, 2021
I was driving on interstate 95 when the trim that covers the driver's side A pillar began to flap for a few seconds before flying off the car. It smashed the B pillar and cracked it before ultimately flying directly at the car behind me narrowly missing it. It was difficult to maintain control of the vehicle due to the sudden noise, it felt like the car was suddenly under attack.
Incident date: Jul 21, 2023
Driver’s door started to make a loud popping sound. Found that weld spots on the door had failed. Local dealer removed the door check so now the sound is gone but need to be careful opening door in the wind. They have quoted $2,235 to replace the door! Already charged me $52 to remove the door check. I don’t feel safe driving this car being unsure if the door will stay latched. I ho... Read more
Incident date: Aug 2, 2023
The passenger doors have an issue where the door CANNOT be opened from the inside (or outside). This seems to be a common problem with this car since it can be found very easily on the internet. I was traveling with visitors from overseas and sometimes I was unable to open the door from the outside for them. I was lucky that only one door was affected. I think this matter should be considered a ve... Read more
Incident date: Aug 2, 2023
On many occasions, rain pours through overhead lights and buttons when driving or sitting in a rain storm. Safety at risk to drive when raining inside car—very distracting also risk of shock because pouring through lights. A dealer has seen the car after incident. Not inspected by police or others. No warning.
Incident date: Jul 26, 2023
My door latches fail to secure door and it went open while the vehicle was being driven. It happened in a long distance trip around 6-8 times. Both driver and passenger doors were opening while driving on the high speed.
Incident date: Apr 2, 2023
After owning this car for 38 months we were out running errands and the driver's door began making a cracking noise when opened or closed. We visually inspected the door and found that it was related to the bracket that keeps the door from opening too far,. The bracket did not appear to be broken on the outside of the door but upon further further review, we noticed that 3 spot welds that secured ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 30, 2023
My front drivers door started squeaking and yesterday it started making this crunching noise. I noticed that I have three holes on the inside front door panel where the hinges are. I was told by a mechanic that the door check arm on the interior of the door the weld did not hold and that was the noise I was hearing it braking. I can not open my door all the way and it gets stuck open sometimes.... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2023
In 2021, the driver's side door began to be difficult to open and close. It make a loud cracking or popping sound each time it was opened and closed. Eventually, I was unable to open or close the door at all, and had to enter and exit the vehicle through the passenger door. Ford repaired the door under warranty. In 2023, the passenger's side door began to make the same noise and exhibit resist... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2023
it is a case of sudden acceleration when parking the car in battery , goin forward very slowly, the subaru impreza accelerate , jump the curve and crash agaings a tree 5 ft away from the curve, the results extensive damage in the left front , airbags did not deploy
Crash
Incident date: Jul 29, 2023
The rear drivers side slider door has locked shut and no amount of tries to release the lock will work. This is a major safety concern being that we cannot open the door manually or otherwise in case of emergency