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 49,687 complaints - component: STRUCTURE:BODY
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that water was entering the vehicle through the sunroof. There was an abnormal odor of mold inside the vehicle. The carpet was not wet. There was an abnormal swishing sound detected inside the vehicle. After it rained, the contact noticed that the passenger side front floorboard had an accumulation of water a quarter inch deep. The contact not... Read more
Incident date: Aug 22, 2023
The automatic power running board of my vehicle has been coming loose. I took the vehicle to my dealership to get serviced. They said they tightened the bolts, and that the board is still loose. They also say there is nothing else they can do to fix the issue. This seems like a significant risk, as this component of the body of my car is at risk of coming apart further due to rattling while drivi... Read more
TRIUMPH
TIGER 850 SPORT
(2024) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Dec 27, 2024
Incident date: Dec 26, 2024
The vehicle was giving a false alert about my driver's door being opened. The door was infact closed properly. During this time when i was driving when i came to a slowed or complete stop the car put the emgergency/parking brake on. This happened twice in seven days. I took the car to the dealership to look at it and it appears to be a known defect that the door latch can freeze and cause thi... Read more
Incident date: Nov 30, 2024
Our 2018 Honda Odyssey minivan had water leaks intruding and collecting into the power tailgate control module on the driver-side rear compartment causing the tailgate to become nonfunctional and not lock properly or open/close appropriately leading to a major safety issue where the tailgate may open or even not close during movement of the vehicle leading to significant risk to passengers with re... Read more
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2019) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Dec 26, 2024
Incident date: Dec 23, 2024
water was leaking from the forward ceiling near interior light control panel. parked the car outdoor overnight, and next morning I started the car and moved slowly, then constant stream of water leaked from the forward ceiling for few seconds.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2024
My door was on the recall list and needs to be replaced. I had this checked in September 2024 but the doors are on back order. My broken door is a safety hazard it is not shutting properly and has been known to open.
Incident date: Oct 30, 2024
Recall 19V-077 was performed in 2019. On [XXX] The passenger front door was closed and is now unable to open again from the inside or outside. A message is displayed on the dash stating "passenger front door open". Called Lincoln corporate support and spoke with Elaine, she told me the recall has already been performed, and cannot be performed again under any type of warranty or extension as the r... Read more
Incident date: Dec 4, 2024
My ca was parked and the rear glass just shattered. Nothing hit it vehicle was just parked in my driveway and the glass made a popping noise when to check it and it was broken.
Incident date: Oct 18, 2024
The door locks are faulty and do not allow the door to open. This is the second time the vehicle has had issues with the doors not unlocking. The first time it was my front passenger side a few years ago and I paid an auto shop to repair it as this was an immediate safety concern in case of a car accident or fire. A few months later Hyundai issues a recall and sent me an email about the faulty doo... Read more
Incident date: Nov 26, 2024
The right tail lamp on my 2021 Ford Expedition was loose, and the tail lamp completely fell off while I was driving. My safety and the safety of other drivers was put at risk when the tail lamp fell off because my tail lamp was not visible to other drivers. The vehicle was not involved in any accident, and the tail lamp is in perfect condition. My car is at the dealership currently to get it fixed... Read more
Incident date: Dec 25, 2024
Steering torque sensor failed Can not be driven . Subframe rusted out. Unsafe to drive.
Incident date: Dec 25, 2024
Not a safety issue. The clear coat seems to be fading on a lot of the 3rd gen tacomas from the factory. Fades much faster than it should.
Incident date: Dec 3, 2024
The check engine light indicated a "gas cap" code, and the "side airbag off" light was illuminated. Upon diagnosis, the technician identified significant rust and cracked transmission components, resulting in fluid leakage. The service department assessed the vehicle as unsafe for operation, waived the diagnostic fees, and replenished the transmission fluid to prevent the risk of being stranded du... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2024
The rear window shattered on its own!!!. I had it replaced but not all the glass debris could be removed and it is trapped inside the trunk door (lift gate), unreachable, because the way the door was manufactured. The body shop says the entire lift gate needs to be replaced. How is it possible that the customers have the pay for the repairs of this manufacturing defect! Every time I open the lift ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2024
Driving on the highway, the upper grill molding on the leading edge of the hood broke off and came up and hit the windshield and top of the cab. Upon further research online, this seems to be a pretty common occurrence on sierras with the at4 trim package. I was told by the dealership that extended warranty does not cover this and I would have to order an entire new grille, over $1000
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2021) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Dec 23, 2024
Incident date: Dec 23, 2024
We are having issues with the frame flex failing, screws popping out from around the slides and also around the wheel wells. Seams on the exterior are pulling apart, roof is pulling away in several spots. The slides are pulling in crooked, external compartment doors open while traveling down the highway. Sawdust is noted in multiple spots in the interior of camper. We had the springs fall apart ( ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 30, 2021
My vehicle seized up as I was driving it and I wrecked it aside a median. I had to tow it to the ford dealership for them to diagnose it as the recall stated. The recall wasn’t officially out yet, so I had to tow my vehicle back to my house. This happened in February 2024. I have received a new engine, but had to continue to make payments on a car that I was not able to drive and only received a... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 23, 2024
The side wall became separated from the frame. There is a now cracks on the side wall and the interior has came apart. When hooking up the camper to the truck there is flex’s in the frame and potential for water intuition.
Incident date: Dec 23, 2024
Reflectors are critical for visibility especially when it is foggy outside. My reflectors made my vehicle less visible to other driver because he backed his trailer into my car not seeing my lights or me and directly caused or perhaps contributed to the accident. I seek compensation due to the Product liability. Manufactures must be held responsible for defective vehicles parts, which caused it a ... Read more
Crash
FORD
F-150 LIGHTNING BEV
(2024) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Dec 23, 2024
Incident date: Dec 22, 2024
Car got broken into, back window smashed. Ignition ripped out, someone tried stealing it, even though I got the recall fixed. try to steal vehicle with USB cord.
LAND ROVER
RANGE ROVER EVOQUE
(2018) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Dec 23, 2024
Incident date: May 26, 2024
Head on collison. Air bags did not deploy. Car was totaled.
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Dec 6, 2024
I was stopped at a car wash, pressing on the brake pedal when all of a sudden it felt like someone rear-ended me. My car accelerated without me stepping on the gas pedal and I turned the wheel quickly to avoid hitting the car in front of me head on. I clipped his right back bumper, flew over a large shrub and landed smashing into a parked vehicle. The total front end of my vehicle was damaged... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jun 6, 2024
Brakes line rapture on front left line in driveway with foot on pedal had had feel of having brakes put van in drive started out of car port got on the down grade of the driveway pushed brake pedal and had no brakes to stop the vehicle I sideswiped a tree to keep from rolling In to to neighbors house
Crash
Incident date: Jun 3, 2024
The hood of my vehicle is raised on the upper right side. It was a small opening but now it has gotten bigger. I'm afraid that the entire hood may come off at a high speed. I also have rust spots on the top of my car close to the sunroof. I use Infiniti of the Palm Beaches for all of my services and have reported both concerns and was told it was normal wear and tear. I have owned many cars and ne... Read more
Incident date: Nov 5, 2024
BACK WINDSHIELD SHATTERED OUT OF NO WHERE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS specific MODEL
HIGHLAND RIDGE TT
RANGE LITE AIR
(2023) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Dec 22, 2024
Incident date: Nov 1, 2024
Rear window leaking. There is mold inside vehicle.
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
Reference NHTSA Safety Recall 24V031. I was notified in February 2024 about the recall and was told the parts would be in at the end of the year. I contacted two dealers and neither has the parts available so they put me on their list to call when they get the parts in. The problem is that the exterior A-pillar trim clip attachments came loose last year on the bottom left side of my windshield... Read more
Incident date: Oct 27, 2024
There are multiple spots on a 2024 4-door Outer Banks Bronco (purchased in 03/2024) that are melted. Most of the plastic components of the exterior body of the Bronco are bubbled, warped, or the paint is peeling away from the plastic. See affected areas listed below (see also photos attached). Areas Affected: -entire rear side of hard top, including 3rd brake light mount -passenger front mirror ... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2021) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Dec 21, 2024
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
The dashboard of the car melted that causes a very bright glare.
KIA
SORENTO PHEV
(2023) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Dec 21, 2024
Incident date: Dec 21, 2024
When driving on any kind of roads the brake pedal has a vibration. I recently changed the tires and it helped a little but the vibration is still there. I want to get this resolved bc I’m afraid of driving sometimes. The vibration isn’t crazy but I don’t know what is causing it. I feel unsafe driving sometimes.
Incident date: Nov 2, 2023
Paint is peeling above the windshield.
Incident date: Dec 12, 2024
I purchased the vehicle and in May 2023 I noticed a small bubble on the paint on the roof of the car near the windshield on the left, above the driver's side. I went to the closest Honda Dealer and the gentleman at the shop dismissed me saying the car's warranty was expired. A few months later, the bubble popped and a part of the paint peeled off. I called the dealer Arlington Honda and was told ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
I paid for A pillar repair on my own and they have not sent out reimbursement remedies. See below. Jan 19,2024 Manufacturer Recall Number24S02 NHTSA Recall Number24V031 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available Summary IN SOME OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF THE EXTERIOR A-PILLAR APPLIQUE TRIM CLIP ATTACHMENTS ARE NOT PROPERLY ENGAGED DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBL... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
tailgate latch does not work all the time . sometimes just drops open when driving.
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
My 2019 BMW X3 posted this error on the instrument display "Emergency call system malfunction". BMW service informed me that the shark fin roof mounted antenna is leaking. It causes issues with the SOS feature, navigation (reporting wrong location). There are numerous complaints on BMW owners message boards with the same problem. There is at least one BMW Service Information Bulletin (SIB) that ap... Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2024
The Rear Hatch started to get stuck. It is automatic so you would normally press a button to open and close and it would slowly move up or down and close shut on its own. When the issue started, it would "pop open" but stay stuck to a point where I would need to manually lift it open. (hitting my head on it often) Right before I took it to the dealership service, it would not close properly. ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
Power wheelchair door only works sporadically. It has been in the shop multiple times and they can’t seem to fix it. I have been locked in multiple times. Winnebago is aware that there is a manufacturing flaw but can’t seem to remedy it.
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
I HAVE THE SNOW WHITE PAINT, AND IT IS PEELING IN SEVERAL AREAS. HOOD, ROOF, AND SECTION THAT GOES FROM FENDER TO ROOF.
Incident date: Dec 5, 2024
Front driver side door started clicking when open/closed about a month ago. Yesterday it started a loud thumping sound when opening. Upon closer investigation, four points where the door was welded to the arm mechanism have broken. The loud thumping sound is the internal brace hitting the door.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2024
The accident happened in a parking lot. There was a tap of the bumpers going really slow. The passenger in the Tesla is claiming whiplash. The car is not safe if it cannot take a slight bump on the fender in a parking lot.
Crash
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2021) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Dec 19, 2024
Incident date: Nov 4, 2021
Paint and finish bubbling and peeling on hood, roof, some on trunk. In the worst spots paint is worn away down to the metal, creating rusting hazard. On hood, peeled paint can blow onto the windshield, interfering with vision and distracting the driver. Vehicle has been inspected by a USAA insurance adjuster and by Rudolf Body and Paint in El Paso, TX.
Incident date: Dec 19, 2024
The rear window spontaneously exploded while parked in our garage this is the second time this has happened in two years
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2018) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Dec 19, 2024
Incident date: Dec 12, 2024
Automated lift gate opened fully, and then immediately closed without warning upon a person who was trying to access the back, nearly causing injury. It is unknown what precisely is failing within the lift gate and it is available for review. The automated lift gate can close on a person unexpectedly potentially causing injury. This has been reproduced as was "fixed" by the dealer but then reapp... Read more
Incident date: Aug 12, 2024
Moof roof popped up from the center ripping at all edges, causing loud boom sound. Glass shattered. No drastic change in temperature. No impact of object. Newly purchased. Dropped off at dealership to investigate.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO EV
(2024) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Dec 19, 2024
Incident date: Dec 18, 2024
My dash screen where is shows the mileage and the speed went black, which is very dangerous The horn isn’t working It always shows that the back brake light isn’t working this happen multiple times
Incident date: Dec 10, 2024
Wheel arch on the front passenger side flew off on the highway. There was no visible issues that the piece was loose as it’s been on the car securely for 45k miles.
Incident date: Dec 18, 2024
Water leaking in the drivers side frame that goes down the inner column by the dash onto the floor board, leaks above the driver visor, and in the back frame in the trunk of driver side. I have had it checked over by a Ford dealer twice and they claim it was my sun roof-which it is not. When I tried to have it checked again with a non Ford mechanic, it’s been too cold and rainy so the problem ca... Read more
Incident date: May 31, 2024
Trim piece of chromed plastic on the front of the hood broke off and flew over the truck while traveling at 65mph. Fortunately no vehicles were close behind, but it could have damaged a following vehicle and/or caused them to swerve to avoid. This part is obviously a defective assembly. Photo available
MERCEDES-BENZ
E350
(2013) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Dec 18, 2024
Incident date: Dec 13, 2024
Two recalls for this make year and model car had been recalled previously but not for my VIN specifically and the issues are appearing. The first is “doors may open driving” recall on your website and the second is “engine cylinder head may leaks oil” which is also on ur website. Both were recalled for this make and year of the ford fusion but not for my VIN so ford is stating they cannot ... Read more