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: Feb 1, 2023
At 40/50 mph if you hit a bump the front end shakes violently and is hard to control the vehicle
DODGE
CHALLENGER
(2023) - SUSPENSION
Dec 26, 2023
Incident date: Nov 29, 2023
Vehicle had been driving off center even after alignment was completed. Took for another one after wife almost lost control of vehicle in highway. Been at dealer since Nov 24,2023 and estimated time for completion is not until April 2024.
Incident date: Dec 21, 2023
After an oil change, my jeep starting ticking. I've read of several recalls. My jeep is having all 10 of the recall issues.
Incident date: Dec 25, 2023
The mid frame is completely rusted out due to possible missing frame corrosion protection, needs replaced
Incident date: Dec 16, 2023
I am writing to you once again to emphasize and provide additional details regarding the critical safety issue I previously addressed concerning the Tesla Model X vehicles, which is similarly affecting Tesla Model S models. My personal experience underscores the severity of this problem: I have had to replace five tires due to accelerated inner wall wear. This specific wear pattern is a direct res... Read more
Incident date: Dec 24, 2023
My vehicle was pulling in the rear when braking. My mechanic informed me that it was a rotted undercarriage. When I called Mercedes they informed me that there is a problem with many models of Mercedes with this. They told me there is a warranty to cover it. This is a very dangerous condition. There should be a recall on all impacted vehicles. This safety failure and lack of transparency by the co... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 15, 2023
I have 2015 Audi Q3 is very unsafe suspension. The rear lower arm worn out & unsafe to drive & very dangerous, risk to Accident. Under 98,000 miles & the lower control get Rusty & almost to split in half. The Audi Dealership should have a Recall to this Vehicle & is Unsafe to drive it to all Consumers like me. I keep the Rear Suspension & incase u Guy's like to see it.
Incident date: Dec 22, 2023
The steering of the vehicle is very tight and it doesn't spring back when turning the wheel on its own like most vehicles do . you have to manually bring your steering wheel back for the wheels to turn straight again..and this isn't normal by any means ... Also, The turbocharger in my vehicle isnt working correctly and is causing my check engine light to be on even after engine codes have issues... Read more
Incident date: Dec 14, 2023
I just bought this vehicle July 28 of 23. It was supposed to have been inspected to be sold. It’s completely rusted out the whole bottom of the car it’s unsafe to drive. I’ve been told by three people the people that did the inspection and said it was OK, and then Belle tire, which I tried to get a Alignment for him because it’s so bad and separating. I can’t get an alignment it hydropla... Read more
Incident date: Aug 22, 2023
Rear half of Frame Crossmembers rotted away between the Frame rails. Took vehicle in for routine safety inspection, and the mechanic determined that the cross members to which the rear shocks and the Gas tank were attached had both broken free from the frame rails due to rust. The entire back end of the vehicle is suspended from the frame with only the leaf spring mounts. This rust is excessiv... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2023
Failure of driver side front axle CV assembly. Part #166-330-33-00 with 36,000 miles on the vehicle Noise was heard when driving, pulled over heard noise as moved car forward and made left turn. Car was towed to Highway Tire and Auto near our house on a Saturday morning. Car test driven on their lot and immediately identified as CV axle. Part was only available from Mercedes dealership, ye... Read more
Incident date: Oct 27, 2023
Steering assist disabled comes on while driving and Steering locks up and shuts everything off,and then starts back. Very Very dangerous on the road not knowing where or when you're not in control of the vehicle. When this occurs engine stops,no brakes.
Incident date: Sep 21, 2023
I sometimes hear a creaking noise from under my car when driving and steering at low speed and believe there is a potential defect that poses a risk to motor vehicle safety. I took my car into Tesla but they said they would not look at the car unless they could first hear a noise which is I told them is intermittent. They could nto hear a noise at the time, so did nto look at it. I have on occa... Read more
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2021) - SUSPENSION
Dec 21, 2023
Incident date: Jun 8, 2023
Front air suspension failed while driving on the highway at 70 MPH while traveling from El P Paso, Texas to Albuquerque, New Mexico in July on 2023. front end of the car hit the ground and could not steer without tire grinding into the wheel well. Upon getting the car inspected for the problem, it was found that the front left air suspension had malfunctioned and because of the way the air suspens... Read more
Incident date: Dec 13, 2023
I was driving the vehicle and stopped at a Sonic drive thru. I shifted the car into park and I began to hear a very loud creaking noise. When I shifted the car into drive, the car wouldn’t move. I called a Firestone mechanic and he concluded that it was the CV belt that is connected to the transmission. Regardless, only a transmission shop could handle this issue. I called CARMAX AUTO, and spoke... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2005 Jeep Liberty. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle swerved to the left across three lanes of traffic and the contact turned the steering wheel to the right to prevent the vehicle from veering to the left. The contact then stopped on the shoulder of the highway. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that t... Read more
FORD
ESCAPE HYBRID
(2020) - SUSPENSION
Dec 20, 2023
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH and making a left turn at an intersection the steering wheel was vibrating and the vehicle began to sway to the left and crashed into a vehicle on the opposite lane. The contact stated that her vehicle had almost made a U-turn due to the uncontrolled swaying. The contact stated that her vehicle crashed the ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 20, 2023
If I am driving at any rate of speed over 50mph-- and drive over almost any road imperfection-- literally not even a pothole but a change from one section of road to another-- the car/ steering wheel starts shaking violently-- I have to drop down to about 30-35mph for it to resolve-- sometimes I have to come to a complete stop and start up again. Currently in shop.
Incident date: Dec 11, 2023
In 2016, approximately 18 months after purchasing my Tesla Model S, I was driving to work and brushed a curb on a tight city street. Upon arriving at my office parking garage, as I was parking and turning the steering wheel sharply to park in a space, my front right wheel fell off and the axle completely sheared off. Tesla blamed the incident on my curbing the wheel, which only caused light damage... Read more
MERCEDES-MAYBACH
S 560
(2018) - SUSPENSION
Dec 20, 2023
Incident date: Dec 2, 2023
While traveling down C470 Eastbound my truck experienced some type of mechanical failure. While on the corner above the bridge for Wadsworth Avenue I felt a sudden loss of control with the truck pulling to the right side of the highway. I immediately took action to pull the truck off the highway while also wrestling for control of the steering to keep the truck from running into the barrier and of... Read more
Incident date: Dec 19, 2023
Driver side mirror fails to function properly at speeds above 50 mph Shaking and vibration effect visibility in the mirror making highway driving dangerous
Incident date: Sep 26, 2022
This Vehicle was sold to me July 28,2023. It was said to be safe to sell to me by H&I, Auto Repair Shop in Sterling Hts , they let Grimaldi's Auto Sales, in Warren, Mi , on Mound sell me the vehicle I am an [XXX] woman. The repair man there said it was SAFE to drive. I took it for an alignment. Which at Belle Tire they could not be due to the fact how bad it is! now I have a vehicle that is not ... Read more
VALEO
HEATER CORE
(9999) - SUSPENSION
Dec 19, 2023
Incident date: Sep 12, 2023
I JUST BAUGHT A 2013 MAZDA6 THE REAR CRADEL AND CROSS MEMBER WAS COMPLETY RUSTED AWAY ONE MOUNT WAS COMPLETY RUSTED OFF .THE SPRINGS WAS ALMOST READY TO FALL OUT THE BOTTEM OF THE SPRING PURCH .IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS PULLED OUT OF THE OCEAN WHERE IT HAD STAYED FOR YEARS .I TRIED TO FIND A USED REPLACEMENT OUT OF SEVERAL WE FOUND FROM 10-13 AND GOING THRU NATIONAL SALVAGE PARTS WE CAN NOT FIND ONE T... Read more
Incident date: Dec 19, 2023
Our jeep is a leased vehicle with approx 5,200 miles. While riding on the highway going approx 65 mph the vehicle began to death wobble causing the driver to nearly lose control of the car. We were on a 4 lane interstate that could have resulted in a severe accident had the driver actually lost control. With so few miles on the vehicle there is no reason other than a manufacturing defect that woul... Read more
Incident date: Dec 17, 2023
My car's engine cradle, cross member or subframe is rusted out and the OEM replacement for my VIN number won't fit it correctly I'm getting really upset because this could be dangerous for me and my two young kids. I've already paid the mechanic $600 for the replacement part when it really only costs $450 at the most and the two he has ordered before have both been either too big and it says that ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 11, 2023
I just had new breaks and rotors, shocks and some small front end parts replaced. Alignment also completed. While driving south on I-17 down from sunset point at 75 mph the speed limit, I went over a small bump or hole on the road and the death wobble started and violently began to wobnble from passenger side to driver side, or jumping or boucing 6" to 12". items in the door storage and on the d... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2023
This vehicle has around 8000 miles on it. While driving at highways speeds, several times the steering would start to wobble violently. Normally after hitting a small bump in the road. After researching this was called a death wobble. The vehicle is stock and has not been modified. Has jeep issued a remedy?
Incident date: Dec 15, 2023
I continue to experience violent shaking of vehicle when traveling around 70MPH. I almost lost control before I could safely pull over on the highway. I purchased truck with 55,000 miles on it and I replaced all the tires after it happened the first few times. New tires did not help.
Incident date: Sep 22, 2023
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2013 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while she was driving, there was an abnormal grinding sound. There was a vibration coming from the steering wheel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the vibration was from the front lower control arm. The contact was informed that the ball joint... Read more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2023
At speeds about 35-45 MPH and again between 55-60 MPH vehicle steering will shake uncontrollably, with tire bounce. Requires sudden slowdowns in order to regain control. Dealership has replaced tie rods and steering stabilizer with no resolution. The shake has been present since purchasing from the dealership and has become progressively worse. Those driving behind report the appearance that "tire... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2023
I'm including a picture to go with a complaint I entered a few weeks ago. I took the vehicle to a repair shop that removed a broken bolt that Tesla said sheared off. more than 50% of the bolt was still in the cradle. The bolt snapped in a place where Tesla had a notch circling the bolt which made it weak at that point. I had the repair shop replace both of them with Tesla-approved bolts that are i... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
My car fail to start or move after a charge, have to get it tow to dealer, My rear strut making a popping noise dying the summer n winter the noise limited There a puddle of water on my passenger rear left side floor
Incident date: Nov 6, 2023
Rear brake pads and rotors went out twice Noise coming front wheel at low speed Window goes down when you press up
Incident date: Dec 14, 2023
Death Wobble on a 2021 My Mechanic is trying to fix it, and i was told that this is the first year of power assisted suspension (which he believes is causing the issues) The Death Wobble continues replaced tires and suspension parts and still has death wobble This is a KNOWN issue on Chrysler history, hence the settlement, but it didn't include my vehicle as it is a newer vehicle
Incident date: Jun 17, 2023
My Jeep started shaking violently and was uncontrollable. I have to carefully decelerate and stop to resolve the issue. This seems to happen @ 45 mph & higher. This happens in traffic which is unsafe for myself & other drivers.
Incident date: Dec 16, 2023
The suspension is very stiff and to the point when the smallest of pot holes, road bumps, or going over the road divider marker sends the shock to the body of the passenger. My family complaints of neck pain after a short ride. I live in San Jose, CA. I drive with the comfort mode with the soft ride setting for the suspension. This deep discomfort, pronounced for rear passengers is also increasing... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2019
Approximately 1 year ago, the factory air suspension system on my 2014 Ram 1500 Limited would cease to function, displaying an alert saying "Air Suspension Immediate Service Required", and the suspension system would drop down to the point that the truck suspension was riding on the bump-stops. I took the vehicle to a Dodge/Ram Dealership service center, where the suspension compressor and air dis... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2023
The star shaking while driving in height speed or bump is called wobble.
Crash
Incident date: Apr 8, 2023
Rear passenger side coil spring broke with no reason during normal driving at about 80,000 mi. Audi said it is aware of issues with coil springs, but since there is no recall, I would have to pay $1997.04. I think it is unacceptable and there is manufacturing defect and they should correct it for free
Incident date: Dec 14, 2023
Abs lights keep going off.
Incident date: Dec 14, 2023
Both front IWE’s are in question. When it’s cold out like below 32 degrees, I driving and hear a grinding noise. Sounds like a bearing type noise when they are stuck engage and one free spinning. The dealer told me if I hear noise again to engage/press 4high. The noise went away but not fixed.
Incident date: Jun 26, 2023
The power steering went out on us several times, but this last time, I was almost in a accident. Also, it has a rubbing/ grinding sound in the front with a shimmy and no matter what,it won't quit.
Incident date: Dec 6, 2023
I’ve had my struts repaired and they still squeak and the truck bounced all over the road. There is a defect with the struts
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2016) - SUSPENSION
Dec 15, 2023
Incident date: Dec 13, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel to the left or the right, there was an abnormal creaking sound. The failure occurred at various speeds and occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed and determined that the creaking sound was coming from the front upper control arm while turning the vehicle and the front... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the dealer for tire rotation services, the dealer informed his wife that the rear passenger's side axle bolt was fractured and was stuck inside the hub of the wheel. The dealer determined that the rear passenger's side axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the fa... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2023
The rear subframe is rusted through in several areas. The rear sway bar connection point on the rear driver side control arm is no longer connected due to rust. The rear tires are slanted inward causing uneven tire wear. The vehicle sways from side to side while driving on any surface that is even slightly slick. The problem was discovered while replacing the rear brakes on the vehicle.
FORD
FUSION ENERGI
(2020) - SUSPENSION
Dec 15, 2023
Incident date: Dec 13, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Haul Master Utility 3000 Trailer. The contact stated that while hauling the trailer with an unstated vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed, while the trailer was empty, and the suspension was jumping and bouncing. The wheels and axle were grabbing, seizing, and unlocking the brakes. The vehicle lunged forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken... Read more
Incident date: Sep 14, 2023
2016 BMW X1 - 16,500 miles. When the car is in idle and the wheel is turned left or right it makes a groaning sound. The dealer says the strut mounts failed, and they need to take out the spring shocks, replace the mounts, and realign the vehicle. The vehicle is out of warranty (warranty was 4 yrs or 50,000 miles). When I look on BMW forums I see numerous other X1 owners had this issue at lo... Read more
Incident date: Dec 4, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55–73 MPH, the vehicle was shaking violently. While driving over a bump in the road, the vehicle was uncontrollable. The contact pulled over several times to regain control of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired... Read more
Incident date: Oct 9, 2022
when i hit a bump or pot hole the truck front end goes out of control at speeds of about 50 to 70 mostly making it shimmy out of control.i have replaced most everything on the front end at my cost and it still does it.what is scary is that you dont know when it is going to happen.this truck is a 350 ford super duty ford with 92464 miles.i understand there is a Defect on the front end of these truc... Read more