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
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2014) - SUSPENSION
May 25, 2023
Incident date: May 3, 2023
There is a prominent loud creak/squeak noise when locking the steering wheel all the way to the right, and slowly backing up. It is replicated every time. There is a V15 lower control arm recall on prior years, but this VIN was not covered. I am very concern it may be of similar issue, and makes me worried for the safety of my children.
LES SCHWAB
BACK COUNTRY QS3 TOURING HT
(9999) - SUSPENSION
May 25, 2023
Incident date: May 25, 2023
I bought the car in February, 2021. 11 months later the rear shocks had both failed and were replaced by dealer on 01/13/2022, at 9572 miles. One year later the shocks have again failed! Ford has refused to cover them under warranty, claiming that shock failure in one year is normal wear. This is a severe safety issue that affects vehicle handling and it needs to be addressed.
Incident date: May 25, 2023
track control and abs light on and no cruise control working
Incident date: Sep 1, 2022
I have had this vehicle since 12/1997 and it had always been garaged. The body is in very good condition. I live in northern Wisconsin and road salt is prevalent during the harsh winters. At the first part od April I was driving on Hwy, 47 toward Minocqua and suddenly the steering felt vague. I moved the steering wheel slighlty and the vehicle went out of control, I managed to avoid oncoming traff... Read more
Incident date: May 4, 2023
Left Lower Lateral Control Arm Failure: One of the bolts attaching the control arm to the subframe had loosened and fallen out. The increased stress caused the other attachment point on the control arm to break resulting in complete failure. Luckily, this happened in a parking lot; on the road this would amount to an extreme safety risk. The Vehicle has been inspected by Tesla and the incident o... Read more
Incident date: May 24, 2023
Tie rod end snapped/car will stop out of no where
Incident date: May 24, 2023
Frame beneath driver and passenger doors is rusting through at the welds. Frame is beginning to crack and I suspect it will break in half. I noticed the crack when I changed engine oil yesterday.
Incident date: Jun 6, 2021
Both front steering bearing carriers (knuckles) cracked... this is a well documented defect on the M4 GTS model that BMW has not addressed.
Incident date: May 24, 2023
All four locations on my vehicle have FAILED Maryland State Inspection because the weld point between the axle and the mounting bracket have BROKEN. There is no justification for Dexter Axle to sell products with such potentially serious manufacturing defects.
Incident date: Feb 28, 2023
The vehicle has had rocks get in the suspension 4 times so far which creates loud clunking noises and can cause a noticeable feel in the steering. The most recent time, after the rock entered the front end, the brakes were soft and required excessive pedal force followed by a clunk before the brakes abruptly applied. I like on a paved road with a rock driveway and it seems like the shielding for t... Read more
Incident date: May 13, 2023
I was driving up hill making a curve, suddenly the car went out of control slide all the way to the left. the car ended it up hitting some rocks, I was lucky that nobody got hurt, just my car was damage. I towed my car to a collision center, and I learned that THE REAR STABILIZER BRACKET WAS DAMAGE which was a recall WRD-21. this issue was address and suppostly was fixed by Subaru dealers but O... Read more
Crash
Incident date: May 13, 2023
Rear suspension on 2020 and older model s and x is not adjustable for alignment. Factory camber comes 2 aggressive which burns only the very inner part of the tire at a rapid pace. Upon checking tread depth with gauge you will not see this wear and tires will appear to be good. Tire wear is not visible unless you crawl under vehicle and inspect visually. Many Many reports of blow out tire due to... Read more
Incident date: May 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2008 Honda Element. The contact stated while changing the rear driver’s side tire, the contact became aware that the trailing arm link rail on the rear driver’s side had separated from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that they were aware of the failure but there was no recall for the failure.... Read more
Incident date: Aug 21, 2022
We are repair facility. on or about 5/2/2023 the vehicle was towed into our shop with the right front wheel bearing sheared off - the customer stated he did not have any impact/accident with the vehicle. We noted that the wheel bearing still rotated - no explanation on why the hub would shear off. At the time, we inspected the entire front suspension (with extra emphasis on the left front beari... Read more
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2021) - SUSPENSION
May 24, 2023
Incident date: May 23, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle was driving uncontrollably and was driving from side to side without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the vehicle was aligned, but the failure continued. The vehicle was taken to another dealer and the contact was informed that the shocks needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The ... Read more
Incident date: May 8, 2023
I purchased on March 18, 2023 at HGREG West Palm Beach dealership. The salesperson did not disclosure the previous car incident information, I found it later that car has 2 car incidents. After purchasing a car on April 30, after I parked my car, its started unprovoked alarms. I have no control over my car for about 15 min. I knew that my car has an anti theft device so I contacted MagniShield an... Read more
Fire
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2015) - SUSPENSION
May 24, 2023
Incident date: Nov 20, 2022
On two different occasions while driving on the highway ( approximately 60 to 65) when I passed over an expansion joint the steering wheel and entire truck started to shake violently and out of control - it was like it hit some harmonic balance and would not stop until I got hard on the brakes and slowed down to approximately 35 mph. ( not fun to do in the fast lane of a highway) this happened ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 23, 2022
All of a sudden my vehicle has started making loud creaking/squeaking noises from the front passenger side suspension. It seems to occur with any movement of shift in the vehicle weight. Occurs when stopping or starting to move from a stopped position. It makes me very concerned that the suspension will fail as I’m driving. Using google I have discovered this a very common occurrence with Tesla... Read more
Incident date: May 21, 2023
While driving on the highway the car started to shake violently as if one of the wheels was about to fall off. Pulled over to call jeep service and they said it was most likely a faulty steering dampner and that this has been a major issue for many new wranglers. So much so that parts were on back order at most dealerships. Only way to get expediated was to call Jeep Cares and plead my case. A... Read more
Incident date: May 23, 2023
The contact owns a 2004 Honda Element. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the rear trailing arm detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 201,000. The VIN was not avai... Read more
TOYOTA
COROLLA MATRIX
(2007) - SUSPENSION
May 23, 2023
Incident date: May 17, 2023
Differential keeps going out
Incident date: May 23, 2023
The contact owns a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that prior to purchasing the vehicle, he researched online and became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 98V006000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that ... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2017) - SUSPENSION
May 23, 2023
Incident date: May 23, 2023
The contact owns a 2005 Honda Element. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and making a right turn, the rear driver’s side wheel assembly separated from the vehicle. The contact was able to park the vehicle in a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the rear driver’s side wheel assembly separated from the hub and needed to be replaced. The dea... Read more
Incident date: May 23, 2023
When i brought car in for an oil change. cam carrier leak, was reported to me that there was a cam carrier leak. When i look online there are countless reports of this. Seems like there could be something faulty with the engine. Subaru offered to cover the repair as a 1 time curtesy. But if there is an issue with the design of an engine then this should be looked at further. The rear brushings ar... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2023
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while turning around in a parking lot at approximately 5 MPH, he heard an abnormal, scraping sound coming from the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the rear passenger’s side tire was inverted into the wheel well. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to his residence. The contact called an independe... Read more
ROYAL ENFIELD
CLASSIC 350
(2022) - SUSPENSION
May 22, 2023
Incident date: May 8, 2023
My air conditioner went out and I was going to put car in reverse to see if the fans were working. When I put the key in I didn't start the car because my key wouldn't go forward or backwards it was just stuck and the steering column locked up. When I first purchased the vehicle in October 2022 I had to have to front end suspension joints replaced the bar in the middle was cracked. It sounded and ... Read more
Incident date: May 18, 2023
excessive play/slop in steering and death wobble at highway speeds
Incident date: May 22, 2023
The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes Benz S550. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, it was discovered that the rear passenger’s side and front driver’s side air suspension had failed, and the vehicle was leaning and was unstable. Additionally, the message "Parking Brake - Check Manual" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted an... Read more
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2013) - SUSPENSION
May 22, 2023
Incident date: Apr 22, 2023
The 2017 Volvo xc90 hybrid regularly experiences these two issues when it is below freezing in Montana: 1) doors do not catch in the latch so they do not close and/or will fly open when turning. This occurs every time the temperature is below zero. 2) when below zero temperature occurs,
Incident date: May 22, 2023
I purchased the brand new 2023 Dynamax Europa 31SS on May 20 for the dealership. When driving it home on the highway I experienced loose steering controls, pulling to the right and the steering rod clunking inside the steering column. It was difficult to maintain my lane of travel especially when going over small bumps or negotiating bends in the road. The highway was a flat, paved two-lane divi... Read more
Incident date: Apr 28, 2023
Warning appeared on my vehicle a few months ago stating something was wrong with the restraint system. While driving out of nowhere my vehicle on it's own accord will begin rocking really hard and it has become dangerous for passengers, myself or my animals in my car. Looking further into the issue, this is a common problem with X5's and people are made to believe its a sensor issue with a hefty p... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2023
2015 Chevy Equinox DTC Error code P0411.SAI ports should be cleaned or replaced. Front sway bars malfunctioned and needs replaced.Please see if this is covered under warranty vehicle is only 8 years old only had it for 3 years.
Incident date: Apr 3, 2023
On Tuesday, May 16, I was driving on a city road at about 45mph when I began to hear metal noises coming from the front of my car. I slowed down and entered a shopping center driveway to inspect the noise. Upon pulling into the driveway of that center, I heard a metal snapping sound, my steering wheel jerked to the right, and grinding sounds started at the front axle of the car. I stopped immediat... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2023
Front axle begins popping and making metal to metal noises when hitting bumps and or turning. We took it to the shop and they found the nuts to the U-bolts that hold the leaf springs to the front axle had begun backing off and were out of torque spec. Upon receiving the truck back the front end no longer made this noise. Approximately 8 months later we are hearing the same metal on metal and poppi... Read more
Incident date: May 13, 2023
My 2012 chevy equinox lt had had nothing but issues with the timing chain the oil consumption where it hardly wants to start I have only had this used vehicle for 6 months or less I shouldn’t be having all these problems with it! The tailpipe isn’t smoking out white clouds but when you put your hand over it it leaves black oil gas smelling grunge on your hand! This is the second equinox I have... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 15, 2021
The contact owns a 2019 Maserati Ghibli. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle drove over a dip in the roadway and the rear end swayed from left to right. The contact stated that at higher speeds the swaying made the vehicle more unstable. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer however, the failure could... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2023
Mercedes has acknowledged and agreed to repair at their cost the defect in the subframe connections to the wheel control arms. This structural weakness, once snapped, results in the loss of control, wheels falling off and suspension components dropping to the ground. MBZ agreed to fix this issue on all R107 and C107 cars (US Models 450SL/SLC) from 1973 thru 1980- Mercedes Recall#191185120001, SIL ... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2017
The spring hanger are bent as is the frame of our Grand Design Imagine 2022 travel trailer. Axles could have fallen off at speeds of 70 mph on I 95 in Sould Carolina. Our lives were in danger. Problem has been confirmed by dealer. Components would not pass NYS Indpection by insurance and Wilkins RV Victor NY. First appeared after driving home from Florida 1250 miles. Many lawsuits about this probl... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2023
I recently had my father pass away and my mom gave me his car , the air conditioning stopped working then the serpentine belt broke so I had a mobile mechanic come out and replace serpentine belt and tensioner. Then the power steering wheel fell off on freeway luckily no one was hurt I had to have the power steering pump replaced and another new serpentine belt installed. Then I went to get tire... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2022
Have owned this truck for a couple of years and have been enduring the "Death Wobble" over the local train tracks, but I am always able to control my speed. But the other day while traveling down the interstate, I hit a pothole and truck was shaking until brought the truck to a stop. Luckily I was able to get off the road, but this event could have been much worse. Apparently this is a known pro... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2023
Shocks rear are showing licking with in one year. Of ownership.
Incident date: May 12, 2023
My Jeep Wrangler has the famous "Death Wobble" and they cant seem to pinpoint what is causing it. Steering dampener fixed it for 3 days and it came back. It literally feels like I am about to be ejected out of my vehicle when I drive on any highway. FCA is throwing band aids at a known issue instead of bringing permanent fixed to the market.
Incident date: May 11, 2023
Took vehicle in for yearly inspection. Vehicle had 39950 miles on it. Vehicle would not pass inspection because of rear suspension adjustment link which could lead to accident. This problem is well known to service techs who inform owners this is a recurring issue at 40000 miles.
Incident date: May 1, 2023
Front subframe rusted out due to salt corrosion and as Kentucky is not listed as a Salt belt state the recall notice went unsent and the consumer was not advised nor were service locations.
Incident date: May 18, 2023
horn on car this is second time it stopped working along with drivers seat won't adjust front and backwards and third time dealing with ball joints on both sides several dates 07/06/2020,12/03/2019,and now today 05/18/2023
Incident date: May 6, 2022
1. Lower control arm failed, February 2022. Part is not available for inspection, repair shop disposed of it. 2. The car vibrated at highway speed, steering was compromised as steering wheel was shaking. 3. Yes, shop confirmed part had failed. 4. No manufacturer representatives have inspected the part or vehicle. 5. No car built-in diagnostic measures were triggered, no indication of a failed com... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while making a turn, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic on two occasions to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the rear knuckles needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired twice; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then ... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2020
Hello! The front fore links have failed in my vehicle which are a known issue in Tesla Model X's manufactured in 2016. I want to report this to add to the number of complaints
Incident date: May 17, 2023
I was driving the vehicle heard a loud thumping sound got out to look and the driver side tire was nearly off the vehicle! Had I been driving on the highway I could've been killed/seriously injured by loss of control by way of steering. It looks like the upper control arm completely seperated from the tire at the ball joint causing the tire to fall away from the vehicle. There is a current recall ... Read more