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 49,170 complaints - component: SUSPENSION
Incident date: Dec 1, 2023
I was recently driving home from work in rush hour traffic. At a stop light I began to accelerate and my car jerked extremely hard. Once I got to the next stoplight my Ford Edge began to shake violently. I was startled and didn’t know what to do. I was in the middle of traffic and it the shaking was incredibly scary. I got the car onto the mechanic only to be told that it’s the Torque Converte... Read more
Incident date: May 18, 2023
The Vehicle wobbled when at 70 MPH. I have new tires but the wobble won't stop. I have visited a mechanical specialist was refer to this site. Also, the Radio Display touch screen is not working.
MERCEDES-BENZ
C 300
(2018) - SUSPENSION
Jan 11, 2024
Incident date: Dec 26, 2023
Since purchase of my vehicle, the vehicle has had a vibration on the highway from 72-83mph with 2 different sets of wheels AND tires, both Pirelli tires but different models. My local Volvo dealer refused to address the issue due to the issue occurring over the speed limit. So they were no help. There are quite a few other 2019 and up Volvo S60 and XC90 owners that experience this same issue. The ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 11, 2024
Please note that I am not the owner of this vehicle. I am a concerned citizen making this report in the public interest. My correct name and contact details are included with this submission. I have used a dummy USA address because your website does not accept entries from outside USA. There is nothing fraudulent about this despite what Elon Musk claims. This Tesla has just shown up in the junky... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2023
On 11/24/23 Mercedes Benz had replaced my subframe which was part of a safety recall. When I arrived home after picking up my vehicle, there was a loud bang from under the vehicle. I immediately called the service department and told them about what happened and also complained that the steering wheel was cocked to the left and pulling in that direction. My service advisor John advised me to bring... Read more
Crash
1 injured
MERCEDES-BENZ
E350
(2014) - SUSPENSION
Jan 11, 2024
Incident date: Dec 29, 2023
Took the truck to the ram dealership to get the recall for the rear wheel studs replaced they did the job a few days later the wheel almost came off on the freeway. The mechanic didn’t tighten the lug nuts we caught it just in time before something bad happened. That was 12/11/2023. We took it back to the dealership and they supposedly fixed it.exactly a month later and only 1500 miles on the fr... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 5, 2024
While I was trying to pull up my vehicle at about 10mph from the street to my driveway after driving around 35 miles from work, the vehicle suddenly accelerated (Unintended Acceleration) to 40+ mph (based on logs) and hit the property. This put my life and others at home at risk. The vehicle was inspected by insurance representative. No warnings lights prior to incident. However, the message 'Corr... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 10, 2023
While driving on a highway around 70 MPH upon traveling on a bumpy portion of roadway or a transition from an overpass back to roadway the steering starts to Shimmy extremely bad. The only way to get this to stop is pull over and bring the vehicle to a complete stop. I was almost killed when there was no shoulder available In a construction zone on [XXX] in Florida and I had to stop in the la... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2024
Unsafe driving condition. Control arm assembly front passenger. Car in the dealer for a month. GM has no service parts and refuses to give update on availability. Dealer states unsafe to drive and I have seen multiple complaints for this issue.
Incident date: Jul 27, 2023
Bought new, June 2021, both rear shocks leaking. Replaced with same type. Now 12/28/23 63,800 miles, both rear shocks leaking again. Can only replace with same part.
Incident date: Nov 27, 2023
Both my back and front chassis are completely rusted through and it’s a complete screwed car. Looking online there is a recall on something like this but not for my model? All I see online is people talking about how they had to scrap their cars because of this issue. The salt and snow has ruined this car and so many people have complained to no avail.
Crash
Incident date: Jan 9, 2024
The below issue is my 2016’s problem, only thing is my truck has a build date of 5/2016. I’ve replaced this two times already, “it’s very expensive” to which I now have a fractured one yet again. I NEED A PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS ISSUE PLEASE. It’s my daily driver, hwy driven. ********Below recall noted******** ***16V-301 / S32 Recall Summary The front axle half shafts may fracture and ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 10, 2024
Upper control arms and linkage on left and right needed to be replaced. Tesla charging $600 labor.
Incident date: Jan 2, 2024
I took my 2014 GMC Acadia into the dealership I purchased it at because my airbag light was on. This was before the recall. I was told at that time that nothing was wrong and and I probably hit a bump and juggled something loose. I paid $190 for that. Now my vehicle is in the shop and I can no longer operate it or sell it because it is deemed unsafe due to this recall. I contacted GMC and there ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2023
The front upper control arms on the vehicle failed at around 50,000 miles. The control arms failed with the same symptoms described in Tesla's service bulletin [XXX] ). However, despite the service bulletin stating that the correction was to reseal the area around the ball joints, Tesla's service team told me that they no longer do that because they found out that the problem would reappear if t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. Additionally, the steering wheel was loose while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the front axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the transfer case had previously been repla... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2006 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for an inspection, the dealer determined that the suspension and sub-frame were severely corroded. The contact was informed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V430000 (Structure) however, the dealer declined to perform the recall repair due to the suspension and sub-frame corrosi... Read more
TOYOTA
COROLLA CROSS
(2023) - SUSPENSION
Jan 9, 2024
Incident date: Jan 9, 2024
From the service report: " SCANNED FOUND NO TROUBLE CODES IN SYSTEM PUT VEHICLE ON LIFT AND INSPECTED FOUND LEFT REAR AXLE FAILED INTERNALLY NEEDS NEW AXLE TECH REMOVED AND REPLACED AXLE. My experience: I pulled out of our driveway and after ~100 yards I heard a clunk. I thought maybe I hit a pothole. After driving another ~300 yard I accelerated on a freeway onramp... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2024
The vehicle experiences a sudden and dramatic steering wheel shacking with intense vibration and loss of steering control. Seems to mostly happen at speeds above 40 miles per hour when making a turn or after hitting a road imperfection. The dealership has informed that his is related to the “Customer Satisfaction Notification V41 Steering Damper” [XXX] ) and that it should be brought in for... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2024
Vehicle has severe death wobble that began around teh 90K mile mark. Have spent several thousand dollars replacing front suspension components, shocks, etc...and nothing will correct the issue. When talking to the local dealership, they indicated that they had a fix, but would not guarantee that if I spent XYZ dollars on said fix that the problem would be corrected. There are zero modifications to... Read more
Incident date: Aug 8, 2023
The suspension system on the vehicle failed. The Tesla Roadside Service said I was able to drive it until I could get it fixed. However, that was incorrect information and I, or someone else could have been injured. The vehicle was repaired at the Telsa Service Center in Norwell MA. The warning that came on was something to the effect of auto suspension has been disabled. That was do to the f... Read more
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2008) - SUSPENSION
Jan 8, 2024
Incident date: Nov 19, 2023
Excessive frame rust causing safety issue with suspension and crash danger. Yes my vehicle is available for inspection. My safety as well as other drivers safety are put at risk if the suspension fails causing my vehicle to veer into on-coming traffic. The problem is on going and can be confirmed by a dealer or independent service. My vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, but is avai... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2024
•Between my wife and I driving approximately 65-75 mph on 5-6 different occasions, with an initial complaint to Ford on [XXX], on I-17 in AZ and other AZ highways the steering wheel and the whole truck shook violently during a stretch of bumpy road or after hitting a pothole. Slowing down has been the only way to stop the wobbling and shaking which creates a precarious situation with semi-trucks... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2023
the service engine light continues to turn on. the timing belt continues to fail and has already been replaced once. the camshaft on both sides have been replaced. the solenoids have also been replaced and the diagnostics codes still pop up (p0022) (p0021) are just some that i can remember. the engine does not have enough power on the driver side and throws the timing belt off which causes the lou... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2023
Very loud Popping/clicking noises when turning/accelerating from a stop. Only had 2,162 miles on the vehicle when this happened. While driving, it also felt like my front driver side wheel was wobbling-very unsafe. Called Toyota roadside assistance and had car towed to dealership. Lead service technician was able to reproduce the popping and clicking noise. Dealership opened a case with Toyota, an... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2024
Driving at 50 mph+, I have experienced a violent wobble in the truck that can only be stopped by coming to a complete stop with my truck. this has happened multiple times. I have read up on this and it seems to be called the “death wobble” and can not be fixed. I have had a baby and another small child in the truck with me at one of the occurrences. This wobble causes me to almost lose control... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2022) - SUSPENSION
Jan 7, 2024
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
Frame on passenger and drive side by transmission, fuel tank, and rear leaf springs are rusted and have no integrity left. No structure integrity if in an accident. If fractures completely, will loose control of vehicle as the bed will contact cab, driveshaft will jamb into transmission, lock up brakes from pinched brake lines, loss of brakes from severed brake lines, lose control and go into on c... Read more
Incident date: Sep 20, 2023
After dealer inspection of my 2018 Ford Explorer, I was informed that the rear knuckles needed replacement due to cracked bushing. I was informed that this is a safety issue that needs to be addressed immediately, at a cost of $2400.00. After some cursory research I found that there was a recall for 2011-2017 Ford Explorers with the same issue, but not for 2018. This is obviously a known proble... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2024
I have had a multitude of problems with this vehicle since driving it off the lot. The most recent “the jeep death wobble”
Incident date: Mar 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 International CV515. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front end of the truck was bouncing excessively. The contact stated that there was a failure with the front end that was causing damage to the front tires. The contact stated that the front tires appeared worn and patchy with only 17,000 miles of driving. The vehicle was taken to Firesto... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2023
Since 2021 I have been complaining odd a smell (Burning/ Rotten) upon 1st starting up the vehicle. It was on the faint side when 1st discovered. Taken into dealership I bought it from when 1 first noticed. Dealership said no authorized Jeep mechanics on site and recommended to take it to a authorized Jeep dealer. Taken to Jeep dealership 2022 with same complaint. Replaced inside air filters. No re... Read more
Incident date: Nov 4, 2023
I bought my vehicle on Jan 2019 brand new from the dealer, after one year, I noticed slight clicking or clinking sound coming from back when I remove my foot from gas paddle. The sound become worst over time, and I had to take the car to the dealer on 2022, after inspection the technician told me that both rear toe links were bad and need a replacement. He told me this is very serious safety issue... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2023
Rear lower control arm failed while driving. Luckily I was able to maintain control. Not sure if I would have been so lucky had I been on the highway. Car rear end was unstable and hard to control. Had vehicle towed to private repair shop then researched warranty campaign. Currently having it towed for the second time to a Nissan dealership.
Incident date: Dec 21, 2023
Driver side coil spring broke near the lower part of the spring, spring was still seated and operating but rubbing on strut. There was no way to tell that the spring was broken other than the fact that I found the broken piece laying on the ground - so we immediately took it to Nissan to be repaired. This is the second coil spring to break - the passenger spring broke at the same location at aro... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2023
Death wobble at higher rate of speed. Has happened multiple times
Incident date: Dec 1, 2023
Increase of speed on a rough tar highway road caused a violent Death Wobble.
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear tow link fractured. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V633000 (Suspension) and the contact was informed that the lug nuts were swollen. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mile... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2013) - SUSPENSION
Jan 4, 2024
Incident date: Mar 1, 2022
Inner and outer tie rod ends, tie rod end adjusting sleeve, and sway bar link replaced after inner tie rod end pulled out of the adjusting sleeve that’s on the sway bar link there’s still constant pulling in the steering and is either to touchy when trying to correct vehicle back into lane or has to be turned excessively far before it even starts to correct then tries to jerk the vehicle reall... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2023
While driving my vehicle the rear toe link broke leaving me stranded on the side of the road. With no dealers close I replaced the passenger rear toe link to get the car mobile again. Once that was done I called the dealer to setup an appointment to do the recall repair. After dropping the car off at the dealer I received a call back stating that I would need to replace my OEM lug nuts at an infla... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 18, 2023
Front suspension components need to be replaced due to loud creaking noise, vehicle is out of warranty and has only 42687 miles. There are several bulletins on related suspension issues, [XXX] Testa did replace the controls arms in this car on 09/09/2021 but it seems like the same defective parts were used. They replaced defective parts under warranty with the same type of defective parts but ar... Read more
FORD
ESCAPE HYBRID
(2020) - SUSPENSION
Jan 4, 2024
Incident date: Dec 25, 2023
Hi [XXX] My Kia Rio 2023 S vin number is [XXX] . Bought a couple months back new at Summit Place Kia Auburn Hills michigan. Once I drive off I realised the steering wheel alignment is off. The car does not drive straight when steering wheel is straight. I called my salesman and he asked me to bring it in for servicing at Summit Place. They did a wheel alignment there and found misalignment at f... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2023
UPPER ARM CONTROL SCREW LOOSENED UP. Drilled hole on axle.
Incident date: Jul 15, 2023
1.At 63263 miles ADAS front Parking sensor and at 96000 miles Active park assist modules are failing with a pop up message asking for a service. The parts are working intermly but, I believe it could potentially mislead the driver when parking using Active Park assist and can cause and injury or damage if the safety system fails. It was inspected by a dealer before but exact diagonisis was not pro... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2024
Good afternoon, I'll try to keep this as brief as possible; I'm sure you can recontact me if you need additional information. This is not an incident, rather an issue related to the current recall 23V-228 for my 2010 Honda CRV. In 1/2023, the garage advised my Honda would not pass Maine State Safety Inspection due to the severe rust on the frame and where the left rear lower control arm (LCA) att... Read more
TRUMA
WATER HEATER
(9999) - SUSPENSION
Jan 4, 2024
Incident date: Jan 3, 2024
Both front control arm outer bushings failed. At 21,000 miles, both bushings were found to be almost completely torn. They were torn around both the inner and outer portions of their respective sleeves. Rubber was found to be heavily worn and appear to be possibly dry rotted as well, with many surface cracks. The rubber was found to be no longer fully adhered to the outer portion of the sleeve. T... Read more
Incident date: Nov 27, 2023
There is a know defect with the chassis used for several Volvo car models. My car is a Volvo C70, year 2012. My car is affected by this defect. The defect wasn't disclosed to me at time of sale. I only learned about it literally 10 years later when Volvo of Gilbert (dealership) advised me to install a costly part on the rear suspension of my car because of "excessive negative camber". According... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2023
I am writing a complaint in reference to Safety Code Recall : 42J5 April 10, 2019. I bought my vehicle at Shearer VW in South Burlington VT on June 1, 2019. When I bought my vehicle I wasn't informed of any Recalls. I took my vehicle to Montpelier Volkswagen to get an oil change on Dec. 22, 2023 and was informed that I had a broken rear axle coil spring and bushings that needed to be replaced ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 26, 2023
Lost control of steering which pushed vehicle to left and hit a retaining wall then to the right of the interstate. There were no warning lights. After vehicle stopped found front end had fallen off and left front tire was sitting on it's side.
Crash
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2014) - SUSPENSION
Jan 3, 2024
Incident date: Jan 3, 2024
Rear differential failed @ 44,600 miles. Dealer said car was unsafe to drive. Dealer unable to obtain replacement after 30 days. Internet search shows this to be a known issue.
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2022) - SUSPENSION
Jan 3, 2024
Incident date: Apr 16, 2023
"Jeep Death Wobble" - Onset Dec 2022/Jan 2023 Dealership services: - Jan 13 2023 - July 7 2023 - October 26 2023 - December 6 2023 Presented to the dealership with the same wobble for all 4 of these visits to my recollection multiple times a stabilizer bar has been replaced, shocks been replaced, alignment fixed. Issue has again recurred starting January 2, 2024.