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 12, 2023
Paint on the entire car is delaminating
Incident date: Dec 31, 2022
The driver side passenger sliding automatic door stopped working. When opening it manually I started hearing a little grinding noise and it was hard to open. I opened the door to put my daughter in and the door fell off to the ground.
Incident date: Dec 28, 2022
Rear subframe rusted completely out
Incident date: Dec 23, 2022
front grill is the Vader chrome and it is peeling off, GM told me there is nothing that can be done and this is a well know issue and is all over the forms. This is due to poor manufacturing quality. A car this expensive should not be having these issues
Incident date: Mar 1, 2022
On 2/16/23 I was driving on the highway when I heard a loud pop/bang like an explosion or loud crash on the top of my car. There were barely any cars around, no trucks spewing debris, I wasn’t going under an overpass, and I didn’t see anything fly up from the road. I had a passenger in the car who was looking out the windows at the road and didn’t see anything either. I opened the covering f... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2023
When helping my child into the car, she pressed the door close button and the sliding door closed on my body and did not stop. The door sensors on this vehicle do not work and it will close on anything in its path, including tiny fingers. I have not personally called the dealership regarding this issue but I will have them reproduce this issue at the dealership at my next service appointment. The ... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
E350
(2011) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Feb 17, 2023
Incident date: Feb 16, 2023
Power steering is makes winding noise and very wobbly Wood grain interior is turning white Emissions problems
Incident date: Feb 14, 2023
Driver door of vehicle will unexpectedly and randomly unlatch and open whenever the vehicle is unlocked. While moving, as well as parked and when vehicle is unattended.
Incident date: Feb 16, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal snap and saw the trim panel of the front windshield detach from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an auto glass shop and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty and that there was no recall ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2017
Power Door (passenger side) closed on me when other door was opened. As I was putting a child into the passenger side middle row seat the passenger side sliding door closed on its own. (The door on the other side of van was opened at the same time the one began to close.) It did not stop when it it my body and kept closing. I tried pushing on the door to stop it from continuing to close but it d... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
Vehicle doors are uneven. Crooked. Headlights/taillights get foggy to the point where you cannot see the lights. Doors wont shut properly. Powertrain issues. Vibration after certain speeds. Transmission delays gear switching. Transmission kicking and banging. Exhaust has a hole in it. I can provide more videos details via the email if possible.
Incident date: Feb 4, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, she heard a popping sound on the driver’s side of the vehicle. The contact stated that when she arrived at her residence, she became aware that the windshield trim panel had detached from the rear windshield and cut the rubber seal around the window. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the driver’s side windshi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2022
The paint on this blue Honda Civic 2010 has been wearing away for years. There’s chips of paint missing on the hood. There is paint wear on the roof in two wide strips, on the trunk all over and the fenders. Also, the roof, when washed by auto carwash, buckles in when being dried so you can tell metal is thin. There’s definitely a defect in these civics I see them all over the place and every ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2023
Subframe of the car rusted and rotted from inside out. to the point of rear suspension completely detached from subframe. it caused my car to fish tail and lose control under even slow breaking conditions. once we discovered the problem we were told the car was a death trap and was absolutely unsafe to operate. we found out this is a common problem for this MB model type. the problem was already... Read more
Incident date: Feb 16, 2023
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The whole frame, the chassis, it is rusty specially in the front How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? when the rusty becomes worse, it will compromise the entire vehicle estructure, even the suspension and wheel parts. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or i... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2023
Windshield trim pieces flying off while driving down the highway.
GMC
SIERRA 2500
(2019) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Feb 16, 2023
Incident date: Feb 6, 2023
Back glass has crack in frame around sliding glass window. Water is leaking into the truck from crack and causing back seat, carpet, ceiling liner and airbags in the ceiling liner to get wet.
Incident date: Feb 11, 2023
1. Serious frame rust found (holes punched on the inside frame rails, middle of truck). We have yet to check the rest of the truck. The truck was originally coated by ziebart ~3 times, coated with rust protective paint for maintenance (myself). The rust could not be slowed. 2. Myself including passengers could be hurt if this frame fails. Could cause accident if the failure occurs in traffi... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
EQS450
(2023) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Feb 15, 2023
Incident date: Oct 25, 2022
My drivers side door began to have a few small bubbles around the handle. I took it in and found out the door was rusting from the inside. Rain was getting in and rusting the sound bar. I paid $350 only to find out that the bubbles began to reappear in a few days. When the Buick Dealer took it back it, they discovered the problem. They said it was rusting inside the the door and that I needed a ne... Read more
Incident date: Feb 15, 2023
Windshield post molding flew off and damaged our mirror at 70MPH. I took it to the Ford dealer and they have had a number of these incidents, but they still charged me $335.
Incident date: Feb 12, 2023
Driver's seat windshield panel flew off while driving. Part number BB5Z-7803145-AA
Incident date: Feb 13, 2023
The A pillars, which are the moldings on the left and right side of the windshield, began to come detached from the vehicle while driving down the Interstate at 70 mph. Only one clip was left to hold it on. I had to reduce speed to 40 mph on a very busy interstate until I could exit the interstate. These clips are similar to those used on the roof rails of this vehicle which was part of two previo... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
My car was in a wreck due to a recall I thought was fixed with my airbags and safety
Crash
Incident date: Jan 20, 2023
Rear window and 3rd brake light leaking multiple times. Rear window replaced multiple times. rear window leaked this time causing an electrical short draining my battery and cause certain electronic parts of the truck not to work properly. Cracks it rear window are extremely prevalent on this vehicle and it is a known issue yet there hasn't been permanent adequate fix by the manufacturer and is... Read more
Incident date: Oct 22, 2022
I was on I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson southbound. I heard a thumping noise but could not see anything wrong. Then there was a loud bang and I thought a semi had kicked up something though I saw nothing in the air. I was doing 75mph the posted speed but there was a cross wind. When I arrived home in Oro Valley i noticed the right, front passenger windshield entire trim was gone! Upon looking... Read more
Incident date: Jan 28, 2023
Noticed that my floor is getting soaked for no reason. After looking online and reading about others that are experiencing the same issues I found out that is was the cabin pressure vent that was leaking. The cabin pressure vent is found between the truck bed and cab. They are plastic and since the plastic clips lose tightness over the years I did not notice a slow leak in the back. Now when pulli... Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2023
I purchased my 2015 Hyundai Sonata new in Hawaii while stationed there with the military. A few years later the paint on the hood and roof started to peel as seen in the picture with the hand. I took the car back to the dealership I purchased it from and inquired about the peeling paint (the car was barely driven as Hawaii is small and i was deployed most of the year). The attendant said it was no... Read more
MITSUBISHI
OUTLANDER SPORT
(2016) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Feb 15, 2023
Incident date: Feb 14, 2023
piller moldings between the front and rear windows became loose and one came off. this creates a hazard to other vehicles on the road. we had them replaced by Earnhardt ford in Chandler AZ on 2/10 2023. .
Incident date: Feb 14, 2023
The liftgate just stops opening. No emergency bypass will release it. It raises risk on entrapment. The repair shops are unsure why it is happening.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2018) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Feb 15, 2023
Incident date: Feb 6, 2023
I was at a traffic light (stopped) and all of a sudden my sunroof exploded with no rhyme or reason behind it and glass shattered everywhere on top of me. Nothing was thrown at it and no other vehicles were around me to have any debris thrown up onto it. I got out and inspected the sunroof and found that there was no object imbedded on, in, or near the sunroof that would lead me to believe anything... Read more
Incident date: Feb 15, 2023
Repeated Panoramic Sunroof failure: sun roof rails are have been reported by the dealer to fail / crack and allow panoramic sun roof to dislodge from tracks securing this structure to the vehicle. NOTE THIS IS NOT RELATED TO/ADDRESSED BY THE PREVIOUS RECALL Loud cracking noises heard and the sunroof stuck in an open position and appeared at risk of departing the vehicle on initial occurrence 2... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2023
Metal corrosion on the back liftgate is allowing water to leech into the electrical connections to the back camera, causing it to intermittently not work leading to complete failure eventually. The service techs at the ford dealership have described this common problem with this year model expeditions and is due to a chemical problem either with the metal or factory paint or both. Corrosion is no... Read more
Incident date: Feb 13, 2023
The passenger door opened while the vehicle was moving on the highway. This has happened twice in the last 2 months. The dash warning illuminated to let me know.
Incident date: Feb 10, 2023
Both situations have happened numerous times. The sliding doors do not stop or back off unless an adult size person pushes body force against them to open. My daughter got stuck in the door and she is 2.5. I have to push my entire body against the door to make it open back up. The second thing is the emergency braking system will automatically slam on the brakes after forcing for a long period o... Read more
Incident date: Dec 16, 2022
Windshield trim broke off on right side at highway speed on interstate 78 in PA. I'm not aware of it had hit another vehicle or not, heard the noise when it flew off but didn't know what it was until I got home and seen the missing piece.
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2009) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Feb 14, 2023
Incident date: Jan 30, 2023
The doors on both passenger and drivers side keep unlatching while driving. it happens quite often, 4 times this week on one 200 miles trip. I took it to the dealer who said the locking mechanisms were faulty. The dealer replaced both of them $1200.00. My question is: there was a recall on this problem involving several years including 2015. But my car was not included even though it obviously has... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2016) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Feb 13, 2023
Incident date: Aug 16, 2022
So my car has big patches of bare metal were the paint has peeled completely up bubbled up. Also my engine just started a knocking noise with no warning symbols or anything now I'm going to have to replace the motor. My car doesn't specifically have any recalls but I beg to differ that damn near every one of these cars that they have made has the same problems regardless of the vin
Incident date: Jan 3, 2023
Driver’s side windshield molding detached while driving 70 miles per hour on highway, unknown if object hit another car. Was unaware what happened, heard loud noise. I have a picture, unable to upload below.
Incident date: Jan 5, 2022
Drivers door will not open from exterior and occasionally interior. Parts on back order. Serious safety issue. VW America will not give me a loaner therefore making me crawl through my car to get in. Key fob is supposed to open all windows simultaneously however that is also faulty. I feel this car is an absolute death trap. When I’m reverse, if your body slightly lifts off seat, car come... Read more
Incident date: Feb 11, 2023
The frame on my truck has rusted to the point that my mechanic cannot put it on the lift to inspect the vehicle. Wherever he tries to put the jack points the frame crumbles. He has declared that it is unsafe to operate, and cannot be inspected. The truck would most likely break into pieces in any type of collision. There is also a risk of the frame collapsing during normal operation, and possibly ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 13, 2023
two things....my back passenger side door just stopped opening...you cannot open from inside nor can you open from outside... won't open at all and now I notice the window 'sticks' I have to put it down and then it will go up slowly. 2nd this car burns through oil and I have seen other complaints regarding this from others online as well. I have to have an extra container of oil to use once ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 11, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 70 MPH, the windshield trim panel detached from the windshield. The contact’s husband veered to the side of the road momentarily. The contact’s husband was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the windshield trim panel was replaced; however, the failure reo... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2023
The body seam is leaking causing floor board in front and rear to have puddles of water in the floor, and mold. I'm on oxygen. This is not safe at all. Also the rear Mopar had to be replaced cause of park brake failure. This needs to be recalled asap. It's happening on a lot of your jeep cheerokees. Thank you
Incident date: Feb 8, 2023
Hood flew up while driving and smashes into my windshield
Incident date: Feb 10, 2023
My transportation business invested in a Commercial Sprinter Van 2500 4x4 2022, that was purchase on November 19th, 2022. We use these cargo van to transport LTL throughout United States and Canada. On December 23rd, 2022 the vehicle was involved in an incident that almost resulted to death of the driver due to a faulty manufactured vehicle recently purchased through Mercedes Benz. After complet... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2023
Left side front windshield garnish / trim piece detached at highway speed and went airborne. Impacted following vehicle’s front windshield.
Incident date: Dec 13, 2022
The fuel door will not open, even with the emergency latch located within the trunk. A cursory search of reddit and other forums has revealed the problem to be widespread among other Hyundai owners, with no solutions offered by Hyundai or Genesis. The safety issue is obvious in that drivers will be stranded in unexpected places.
Incident date: Jan 16, 2023
Front subframe rotted out where my control arm connects. Cannot safetly drive. There should be a recall on this part. There isnt one so now im stuck paying to fix it. Rear coil spring cracked, cannot fix due to recall of all gm coil spring. Cannot buy new part to fix it.
Incident date: Feb 11, 2023
I have a 2003 Toyota Sequoia 167k miles that has major frame rust. This is now becoming a safety issue and Toyota needs to be held accountable!