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
MERCEDES-BENZ
E550
(2010) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 14, 2022
Incident date: Mar 1, 2022
Rear control arm attachment to subframe snapped off at the weld during breaking
MERCEDES-BENZ
E350
(2013) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 14, 2022
Incident date: Aug 30, 2022
Upon routine maintenance visit to manufacturer dealer, was told that rear subframe assembly was corroded and could fail. Took vehicle to other local manufacturer dealer and they confirmed the same. Was able to catch the issue before incident, but was told subframe failure was imminent.
MERCEDES-BENZ
E350
(2012) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 14, 2022
Incident date: Jul 11, 2022
Recently, I took my 2012 Mercedes E350 4Matic for an oil change and after inspecting the vehicle, I was informed by my mechanic that the car had a rusted sub-frame, with visible holes near the right rear wheel. I was told this needed to be immediately addressed as it was a safety issue. He explained that if not fixed, the wheel could detach from the vehicle while driving and could result in a cr... Read more
Incident date: Sep 14, 2022
1. The seatbelts in the back seat doesnt not work. It is not strapping and clicking. I am unable to properly strap in my nephew's carseat properly. This not a dealership issue this a manfacturer issue and it needs to be recalled. God forbidden that I get into an accident with my nephew in the car. 2. Recently the car handles on the driver's side both of broken off from the car. I am unable to op... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2011) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 14, 2022
Incident date: Sep 14, 2022
--the rear subframe is severely rusted at 2 spots where the suspension and the body come together. If hit a hard bump or pothole it could break and cause a large safety issue. The rear subframe is $4751.00
Incident date: Jun 9, 2022
Pain is peeling on roof and hood
Incident date: Jul 15, 2022
We have a 2016 Nissan Rogue that is under the Recall ID. 22V-024. We have the water damage and that caused the wiring harness to malfunction. Nissan Dealership fixed the Harness problem but not fix the cause of this happening. We are getting water seeping up from the Drivers side floor. I Shop Vac and use a fan to dry it out but the water returns. On the recall letter from Nissan it states in Bold... Read more
Incident date: Aug 9, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, he heard an abnormally loud sound come from the driver’s side wheel. The contact pulled over and inspected the wheel but did not see an issue. The contact stated that he continued driving and while driving approximately 35 MPH, the driver’s side wheel detached and went into the wheel well. The veh... Read more
TOYOTA
RAV4 PRIME
(2022) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 14, 2022
Incident date: Sep 14, 2022
Day 2 of a road trip. the Moonroof exploded spontaneously. There were three dogs underneath, luckily they were not hurt. Driver felt the pressure in the car go up before the loud pop. there is a round hole in the middle and cracks going to the end.
Incident date: Aug 24, 2022
Rear window area not sealing properly from issues with body causing water to leak into the cabin. This is causing mold growth, electrical shorts and possible fires. There are hundreds of trucks dealing with this issue discussing this via online forums. Many are breaking the rear windows just to have insurance fix it, some are slapping silicone everywhere to stop the leaks.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
Front windshield wiper cowl has disintegrated. Allows water to drip into glove compartment and passenger side flooring.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
Front windshield side trim came off while driving.
Incident date: Jul 23, 2022
Hood - flutters and wobbles significantly at highway speeds. Per recall check, this vehicle is not included. Seat belt - more of a personal thing, but the driver's seat belt cuts into the driver's neck, even when high of shoulder strap is adjusted. When using a device to help control where the shoulder strap lays, it was found that the driver's seat belt is MUCH shorter than all other in the veh... Read more
Incident date: May 23, 2022
In May, returning from VA, we noticed an odd noise coming from the right front side of the car. Then the noise stopped. Driving a week later, at about 40 mph, I again heard the noise and as I approached a yellow light and began to slow to a stop, the vehicle pulled sharply to the right. I was able to regain control, drove slowly home, called our repair shop and brought it in for evaluation. The fr... Read more
Incident date: Sep 12, 2022
Front driver has lifted. Took the car in to have it repaired and they have no resolution. On 9/12/2022 I attempted to exit my vehicle and the panel had lifted such that the door would not open. The only way to exit my car was to climb over the center console to exit the vehicle. Only way to get door open after was to continue to pull up on the panel so I could place the locking mechanism in it's p... Read more
Incident date: Sep 10, 2022
Car was stolen and crash:/ my insurance ain’t able to help me fix it and all air bags popped out since person that stole car crashed it !
Crash
Incident date: Mar 17, 2022
The car had damage because in the carfax they gave me on the left side of the car the shock absorbers fail and I always had that problem also The moldings the first time I cleaned it also fell apart at the time to revere and turn to the right when it is going back it has such an annoying noise
Incident date: Jul 23, 2022
I purchased my 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL Sport S 4 door in May of 2021. During the summer, while riding down the road, I had my soft top convertible top back. Upon closing the top when reaching home, the cover had become detached from tent assembly. I am just wondering if this was a apart of the safety recall for 2018 Jeep Wranglers, and if it was, how can I tell if this problem that was addressed wit... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2017
Frame is starting to rot despite undercoating. Has several soft spots.
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2013) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 12, 2022
Incident date: Sep 12, 2022
Fuel door actuator intermittently jams prevents access to the fuel nozzle. Yes, the car was off and locks disengaged. I had to spend $304.00 have the part replaced so that I can fuel my car. I researched this issue online VW drivers across models have experienced this issue.
Incident date: Sep 9, 2022
I was driving on the freeway, going about 65 mph at 7:30 am. I heard a loud BANG sound and my sunroof glass exploded into pieces. I had the inside cover closed so the glass did not get in the car. The sound was frightening, loud and caused me to pull to the side of the highway. The vehicle has been inspected by insurance representatives and I had used the sunroof the day before - it worked fine.
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2012) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 12, 2022
Incident date: Aug 4, 2022
- Right Rear Subframe; Yes, available for inspection. - My mechanic told me that driving the car more than 2 miles or at a high rate of speed was very dangerous. He told me there that if the car braked quickly or was driven at a high rate of speed that there was a very good chance of an accident. There is a risk of the right control arm detaching from the frame; this could cause the car to be un... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2021
The sun visor both driver and passenger are defective. When driving any sudden bump in the road causes it to fall and impairs vision of the road. The sun visor is broken from the bracket which causes it to detach and fall from original place. When I spoke to dealer they informed me it was a common problem with Dodge Ram and Jeep models . However, they said since there has been no recall they re... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2022
My frame has rotted through, causing the rear bump stops to fall off, putting excessive wear on both frame and suspension components. In parts of the frame, it has rotted all the way around and caused a loss in structural integrity. Worst of all, there is a hole near the rear most strap holding the gas tank to the chassis, which is a risk to not only me and my pregnant wife but others driving on t... Read more
ALFA ROMEO
STELVIO
(2018) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 11, 2022
Incident date: Mar 6, 2021
Water discharge on the passenger side whenever the AC is switched on and the car is driving. The water leak led to electrical malfunction with electrical lights switching on even when the car is switched off or the lights switching off when the car is in motion. The water on the passenger side was a nuisance for a long time but when the electrical system went haywire, it became a safety risk espec... Read more
Incident date: Jul 20, 2022
Vehicle started making a metal rub noise. Took to mechanic. K frame front drivers side is completely broken in two. Engine could have broken thru and caused a crash. No warning lights
Incident date: Sep 9, 2022
I taken vehicle 3 times to dealer for the sunroof. When driving over ruff pavement sunroof makes clicking noises. Went this week to the dealer again and dealer stated they know about it but there is no fix. I looked in genesis forums and ggry are many complaints on the same issue.
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2012) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 10, 2022
Incident date: Sep 10, 2022
I’m filing a complaint due to a concern regarding the rear subframe of my vehicle becoming rotted/rusted out and falling apart at any time. This is due to a Mercedes Benz manufacturing issue where they tried cost cutting which turned out very poor quality materials for this very important assembly. I have researched online about this problem, and turns out, it is very common with this body styl... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2022
The driver and front passenger door passenger won't latch. It doesn't catch properly and the warning light comes on for the door. There shouldn't be any problems for a car with only 22509 miles.
WINNEBAGO
MINNIE WINNIE
(2018) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 10, 2022
Incident date: Sep 8, 2022
Component is the RV door latch manufactured by TriMark model no. t507. The failure of this lock was that when inside the vehicle the plunger does not fully retract allowing the door to open. If you go on YouTube and search TriMark RV lock repair you will see the multiple failures of not being able to enter/exit the vehicle. In case of a vehicle fire I would not have the physical ability to find a ... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2013) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 10, 2022
Incident date: Aug 6, 2022
rear subframe premature rust for a 2013 car I've been reading a lot many people have same problem it is a very expensive fix and I'm sure Mercedes knows about it. Also engine makes very bad rattling noise at startup which is also a very expensive fix and Mercedes issued a tsb bulletin thank you
Incident date: Jan 8, 2020
Car is available. I have a 2013 Kia Optima SXL that has paint that is randomly chipping. Took it to service department and this is a common problem for this car and paint color. I have repair estimate totaling 2501.55 not including windshield that he says would need to replaced if it cracks during repair due to it having to be removed.
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2014) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 9, 2022
Incident date: Sep 1, 2022
Rear subframe of vehicle is starting to become rotted/rusted out and may fall apart at any time. My Mother has the same body style car as me (2011 c300) & she was recently driving at around 60mph and all of the sudden, went to step on the brakes and the car swerved across the highway uncontrollably. She took it to a mechanic who said the car is not drivable and showed me how badly the subframe was... Read more
TOYOTA
FJ CRUISER
(2007) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 9, 2022
Incident date: Sep 9, 2022
Frame rust has become a major safety issue even though we do rust prevention twice a year.
TOYOTA
FJ CRUISER
(2007) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 9, 2022
Incident date: Sep 7, 2022
Toyota used interior metal to make the frame and it has rusted to the point the whole frame needs to replaced.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2008) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 8, 2022
Incident date: Apr 15, 2022
Premature frame rust. This vehicle was professionally undercoated 4 times using premium products (fluid film, NH OIL undercoating), and the frame has rotted prematurely. 132,000 miles and it will not pass inspection . Chevrolet should make this right, as I have not finished paying off the vehicle. There needs to be an investigation into the manufacturing and the lack of rust protection. The r... Read more
FORD
MUSTANG MACH E
(2022) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 8, 2022
Incident date: Sep 6, 2022
While driving a warning message in red was displayed on the driver display indicating that the frunk(front trunk) hood was open and that the emergency frunk release had been activated. I pulled over and stopped and got out and closed the frunk hood. I continued driving and upon braking, the messages appeared again. This time I opened the hood and discovered that a folded hard-sided bag that was... Read more
Incident date: Aug 28, 2022
While driving at 35mph on a city road the car hood flew up open & smashed into the windshield despite their supposed fix of hood latch spring being replaced & assembly lubricated by the Nissan dealership in Aug 2021 due to a Nissan hood latch recall (NHTSA recall 16V-029) in response to a class action lawsuit. At highway speeds, this would have seriously compromised human lives. In this case, neit... Read more
Incident date: Sep 2, 2022
The driver door latching mechanism failed this past week. For days, I was unable to latch the door closed -- all attempts to close the door would result in the door simply bouncing off the body of the car. I spent hours unsuccessfully trying to get the latching mechanism to work again, e.g. by repeatedly attempting to close the door, holding the door closed and trying to lock all doors. To drive t... Read more
Incident date: Sep 8, 2022
I almost died, I escaped my car moments before it completely exploded into flames. I was driving down the interstate and it said it was overheating for a couple seconds and then the car went completely dead going 70 miles per hour. My steering wheel locked up so I fought to pull it off the road and stop it, I had a bad feeling so I checked the front of the car but it was inflamed once I got out an... Read more
Fire
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2011) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 8, 2022
Incident date: Aug 15, 2022
Rear subframe of vehicle completely rotted/rusted out and destroyed. Was driving at around 60mph and all of the sudden, went to step on the brakes and the car swerved across the highway uncontrollably. Initially thought this was my brakes, but turns out, it is the rear subframe. Took it to a mechanic who said the car is not drivable and showed me how badly the subframe is destroyed. This is due to... Read more
Incident date: Sep 6, 2022
The rear passenger door on my 2017 Hyundai Tuscon will not open from either inside or outside of the vehicle despite the door being confirmed as unlocked. This is a huge safety issue as my rear passenger, currently, my 6-year-old would effectively be trapped in the vehicle during an emergency. This also requires my son to climb up to the front seat to exit the vehicle at school as I am required to... Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2022
I was attempting to open the rear door to help my child exit the car when the exterior door handle broke off in my hand leaving me unable to open the door. Luckily there was no emergency and I was able to use another door. I was told this is a common problem with these door handles and feel it could create an entrapment issue under the worst circumstances.
MERCEDES-BENZ
E550
(2013) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 7, 2022
Incident date: Aug 31, 2022
Rear frame and brake line damage due to rust and corrosion Problems identified by euro Motorcars Devon (car dealer) Car will not pass safety inspection Outside manufacturer warranty considerations Outside extended warranty considerations
Incident date: Aug 1, 2022
Financed a 2004 Toyota Tacoma and found that frame of truck is rusted out and not sure what to do, can't afford new frame and still owe a little over 9 grand for it....please advise what to do next. Thank u
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2011) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Sep 7, 2022
Incident date: Aug 31, 2022
when braking the back of the car all of a sudden tried to break out to the right. After towing it to the dealer I was told that the subframe was broken due to corrosion. The car is otherwise in good condition without any visible sign of corrosion. When searching the internet for the problem I learned that a lot of these cars have the same issue and that there are recalls for it in Canada and Europ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2020
Paint from factory failed. Peels off in sheets. Items falling off a moving car is safety reason enough. Poor paint adhesion was confirmed by local paint/ body repair business. Honda has agreed by extending paint warranty for 7 years from build date but doesn't offer a recall # record to help with the steps of them handling the cost.
Incident date: Sep 7, 2022
Passenger door unlocked and opened by itself while driving 75mph with no one in the passenger seat. Appears to be the same issues as the 2011 - 2017 mustang recall.
Incident date: Apr 7, 2022
This car literally has sheets of painting peeling off of it while driving down the interstate blowing onto others cars .
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
I was driving in the highway, and suddenly my hood flew open. I could not see I had to slow then and pull over to the side. Because of the hood coming up it cracked my windshield and the hinges damaged both sides of the front fenders. I have been trying to get an appointment for the recall at multiple Nissan service centers since January of 2022. This incident happened in December , it is now ... Read more