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 8, 2023
We have had two major issues with this new Vehicle. It has less 1,872 miles on it and it is only about 2 months old. Within a week of owning it, the stabilizer bar went out and render the vehicle un drive able. We have a second issue that is even larger safety issue. The Vehicle is now dying and leaving you stranded on the side of the road. We have now had this happened to us three times on ... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2023
Frame rot all the way thru from front to back. I am able to poke holes in spots all around it.
Incident date: May 5, 2023
Rear upper control arm failure. A crack develops along a casting line, which then allows the upper bushing to move within the control arm. This bushing is pressed into the control arm, and is not supposed to move. Because the hub was allowed to tilt forward due to the bushing not being held firmly by the control arm, the outer CV boot was allowed to contact the lower spring perch, which then bur... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2023
Right rear suspension lower control arm part # 1021416-00-D broke on bushing mount with no warning while driving the car at 40 mph,… this part is available for your inspection and looks like corrosion may have played a part in this failure. This failure could have caused an accident as the car became uncontrollable especially if it failed while driving on a freeway. The dealer manufacturer/Tesla... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2023
2nd ram tradesman 2500 2022. Front end shakes and goes all over. Shimmer is normal at 65 but it's actually doing it at 35. Brakes are to the floor
Incident date: May 4, 2023
Death wobble over speeds of 55mph when hitting a bump. Parts not available to be fixed. Waited over 4 months with no word from dealer. Called every month still say on back order. Occurs every time hitting a bump or uneven surface o er 55mph.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLTRXS
(2016) - SUSPENSION
May 5, 2023
Incident date: Apr 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the tachometer went down to 0. Additionally, the check engine warning light and the ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the catalytic convertor, ABS module, and the suspension needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufa... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that upon reversing out of a parking lot, an abnormal clunking sound was coming from the vehicle while turning to the right. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact continued driving and the steering wheel became loose, and an unknown object detached from the vehicle upon entering her driveway. Due to the failure, the contact de... Read more
Incident date: May 4, 2023
Rusted detached rear trailing arm. This is the same part involved in the Honda CR-V recall. This recall should be extended to the Honda Element which is on the same platform.
Incident date: Apr 29, 2023
On my 2019-Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the ball joint in the front upper control arm broke and caused the wheel to separate from the truck while driving. The truck is available for inspection where I had to have it towed to the dealership repair center. Fortunately, no other vehicles were on the same road as me when it happened, and I was on a local road not going very fast, but it could have kille... Read more
Incident date: Aug 12, 2022
The contact owns a 1997 Infiniti QX4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering, Suspension). The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH and other various speeds over bumps in the roadway, the vehicle was shaking abnormally with the steering wheel becoming difficult to turn to the left or to the right. Additionally, the contact heard abnormal metal on metal gr... Read more
Incident date: Jan 31, 2022
Brought to dealer for routine maintenance and was told both rear springs are broken and need to be replaced. Last time it was in the shop was for a safety inspection in March with no reported issues with springs. the springs are a critical suspension component and put me and others on the road at risk every time I drove it due to rollover, loss of control and bottom out potential while driving. Ye... Read more
Incident date: Apr 6, 2023
Since I purchased this vehicle in 10-2012 I have had major suspension tracking issues. When driving at normal highway speeds (50-70MPH), the slightest bump in the road makes the rear of the vehicle sway and "dog walk" . This has been an issue within the first few months of ownership, but the dealership found no issues. The situation started shortly after purchase and continues the same as of today... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2023
The vehicle's right front lower control arm is no longer secured to it's inner rear mounting location at the front crossmember. This condition allows for unintended movement of the right front wheel and was caused by structural failure of the front crossmember at the control arm to chassis attachment point due to corrosion exactly as described in SR-20-003REV_2. SR-20-003REV_2 only applies to ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2023
The Rear suspension lower control arms were rusted and cracked to the point they were close to breaking into pieces. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms that alerted us to this problem - we happened to look under the car one day and noticed this. This problem was inspected, confirmed, and repaired by a local mechanic and reported to Jeep via their customer service. I am aware that t... Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2023
During a road trip, autopilot started pulling to the left and right because the autopilot was struggling to center the car in the lane. Driving without autopilot showed that the car was pulling to one side. A wheel alignment by Firestone showed alignment specs consistent with a strike, however the car was not actually struck during the trip. The rims and wheel look intact and brand new, without cr... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2023
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING, TORQUE SUSPENSION STOPPED WORKING AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO MANUAL MODE, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AND UNDRIVABLE AND UNCONTROLABLE FOR ADULT SENIOR WOMAN THAT WAS DRIVING IT.
Incident date: May 4, 2023
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE POWER STEERING, TORQUE SUSPENSION STOPPED WORKING AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO MANUAL MODE, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AND UNDRIVABLE AND UNCONTROLABLE FOR ADULT SENIOR WOMAN THAT WAS DRIVING IT.
Incident date: Jan 27, 2023
The contact owns a 2005 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to respond to the steering wheel turning. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle decelerated but the front passenger's side of the vehicle was sliding. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was ... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2015) - SUSPENSION
May 4, 2023
Incident date: Apr 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Fleetwood Bounder constructed on a 2020 Ford F59 Chassis. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V731000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the nearest dealers were located nearly 200 to 300 miles away, which would require the contact to drive the RV over mountains to reach dealers. Addition... Read more
Incident date: May 4, 2023
Had an alternator problem , had vehicle towed to garage for repair. When I picked the owner of the garage there is significant rust to the suspension. I inspected the damage my self and found the "suspension part" that holds the strut was just about rusted through. I researched the web and found out that there were plenty of others who have the same
Incident date: Mar 24, 2023
The front driver side upper ball joint broke. I was going down the highway at 70 miles an hour, pulling a trailer when it broke, I was lucky to keep it on the road. It ruined the rim,tire,brake lines and CV boot. Just fortunate there wasn’t a car next to me or we would’ve hit it and nobody died, especially with my young son in the car. Also when I got it towed the tow truck driver said he pick... Read more
Incident date: May 3, 2023
Steering, front wheels and suspension violently shakes and becomes almost uncontrollable hitting a bump or pot hole at over fifty to seventy miles an hour. Commonly known as the ford death wobbl
Incident date: May 1, 2023
I have a 2006 Nissan Murano and the rear subframe is having premature heavy rust causing the rear wheels to camber inwards. I noticed that 90% or the Murano around this year are concerned and it creates a extremely dangerous road safety issue Nissan should recall these car equipped with this subframe and save lives !
Incident date: May 1, 2023
This is an addition to my earlier complaint, NHTSA tracking number # 11520382. To reiterate, in this issue the suspension components failed even though the rim and wheel were pristine, and the sidewall did NOT have bubbles even a week after steering issues were observed. I will submit pictures of the failed suspension components following my service center visit next week.
Incident date: Jan 18, 2023
VIN : [XXX] Phone number : [XXX] Name: [XXX] EMAIL ADDRESS: [XXX] Incident: I have made a report earlier regarding my Nissan Rogue 2016 , the VIN is mentioned earlier. It’s been a safety issue driving the car as it becomes very hard to control ( LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL) , Loss of electrical features such as USB PORT , bad noise from the speakers when playing songs as there is a water draina... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 15, 2023
Car started to excessively shake at 60,000 miles. The control arm bushings wore out. After doing some research, there was a technical service bulletin issued by Subaru on this issue which changed the design of the bushings. However, they did not notify owners.
Incident date: May 3, 2022
There was a problem with the steering, so thought may be my wife hit a pothole found out the sub frame was severely corroded rusted and falling apart. My family could seriously got hurt. There was no accident, But there very well could have if she continued to drive ,there has to some form of responsibility of Hyundai add vehicle since it was brand new only 67,000 miles
Incident date: Mar 3, 2023
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the independent mechanic for servicing, and he was informed that the sub frame was severely corroded. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not re... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2023
1)2 weeks into owning the car had a powertrain error message which was fixed by replacing the front drive unit oil pump. 2)Static noise behind the display unit was due to the harness of the circuit not being tightened properly. 3)Left hand drive side LatheralLink bolt was loose and dropped off while making a turn. Right hand LatheralLink bolt was not tightened to the recommended torque. Lefthand d... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2019) - SUSPENSION
May 2, 2023
Incident date: Mar 22, 2023
The frame has rusted out on this vehicle. The passenger side frame above the rear axle is completely rusted out. I can put my thumb through the rear frame on the driver's side. The exhaust system on this vehicle is still intact - ironic that the frame would rust out before the exhaust system.
Incident date: Nov 27, 2022
CAMPAIGN NUMBER 22V311000 Unsecured Steering Column: Have not received the owner notification letter.
TOYOTA
COROLLA CROSS
(2023) - SUSPENSION
May 2, 2023
Incident date: Apr 28, 2023
My jeep has started experiencing rough driving and the gears slipping. I took it for service and they told me all the issues wrong were under a recall. (NHTSA 23-E-019) equipment safety recall 21A. He indicated: uplift timing, torque converter engagement, shift points, calibration issues, downshifts and other things. I called my local dealer and gave them my vin but they stated my vehicle has not ... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2023
On our 2014 Nissan Altima, the left rear lower control arm broke apart and the right rear lower control arm was badly cracked; both are integral parts of the suspension. This happened on a 350 mile trip to visit my father, driving at top speeds of 70 mph, 80 miles of which were on a two-lane highway. I was fortunate to be driving only 15 mph and just a few blocks from my destination when the ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2011 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that the brake warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for routine maintenance and was informed about NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V473000 (Suspension). The dealer informed the contact there was an excessive amount of rust and that the recall repair could not be performed. The manufacturer... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 2500
(2013) - SUSPENSION
May 2, 2023
Incident date: Oct 30, 2022
The contact owns a 2002 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced at a local dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering, Suspension); however, the mechanic diagnosed that there was no rust in the strut housing assembly. The contact then stated that when he replaced the front struts, excessive rust was seen in the strut housing assembly. The contact... Read more
Incident date: Oct 6, 2022
While driving at any speed above 30mph the front end wobbles violently whenever the truck hits potholes or big bumps in the road!
Incident date: Apr 24, 2023
While driving down the road, the car began to shake, and I noticed my passenger tire looked weird and thought maybe I had a flat tire. I pulled over to change the tire out. Upon further inspection, I saw that the trailing arm had rusted and broken off of the chassis. Luckily, I was driving slowly and on a rural road, but at higher speeds I believe it would have caused me to lose control of the veh... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2022
While barely moving, (about 2 mph), in a parking lot & preparing to make a sharp left turn, knuckle of driver's side wheel assembly suddenly broke, causing the wheel assembly to collapse, wheel top tilted inward and bottom tilted outward, causing major damage to upper and lower control arms, tie rod and significant body damage to two body parts at the wheel opening. Mechanic reported that there h... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
Driving vehicle and it started to sway. Loud bang and car stopped. I got out and the rear trailing arm had broken free from the frame due to rust. Car was no longer drive able. I had it towed to Darling's Honda in Bangor, Maine. They were not able to look at the vehicle because Honda has not finalized the recall. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER:23V-228 I am without a car and need a solution. I was told by th... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 3, 2023
Purchased said vehicle from Rahal Mercedes Benz (Wexford PA 15090) in 9/2021. Used. Took in for PA inspection in 10/2022 (to Rahal service dept). Mechanic noticed rear subframe was rusting (I was not aware of this until this point; was never disclosed to me by Rahal in their printed pre inspection vehicle repost; I have this document). Told me would need re-placed sometime in 2023. Never mentioned... Read more
Incident date: Apr 30, 2023
Yes vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Steering wheel/steering column/wheels tires/suspension/differential/drive shaft/: steering wheel shimmies, shakes, vibrates, wobbles and usually occurs at 55-68 MPH typically closer to the 62-64 MPH range and "pulls"/steers very hard to the right during this time. No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failur... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2023
There is a technical service bulletin published (15-NA-082) that is the result of insufficient welds between the bracket and frame rail that hold the sway bar on the models listed in the TSB. Recently while on a road trip we experienced heavy (almost uncontrollable) truck swaying while on the high way. I now have to find someone with welding experience in order to fix this problem because I am c... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2023
I received a message on the cars screen Steering alignment service recommended On the drivers side 2 bolts fell out at low speed which we picked up behind the vehicle. Using a jack one of the bolts was reinstalled to allow it to be driven onto a tow truck. I researched and found you had a recall on 2018 model 3 for bolts coming loose. It appears my vin was not part of this recall . I feel it sho... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2022
On April 29th 2023 while washing my Volvo XC90 I opened the trunk to clean out the crevasses around the car. As I continued to wipe down/dry the vehicle I placed my hand at the top of the trunk opening and moved my way downwards to wipe the bumper and side of car. Unfortunately, the handsfree tailgate feature activated and the trunk began to close on my hand. Due to my hand being so close to the ... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Apr 29, 2023
Car started getting warning that says service AdvanceTrac. Hill assistance not available. It started around March 15th. The lights of the ABS and 2 others come on and then off. I would come into my car and the floor mat on the driver side would be wet no rain or anything outside. Yesterday, brake fluid light came on and breaks went completely out. I have a recall on my vehicle that I’m pretty su... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2022
Was driving in middle lane eastbound I-84 with cruise control set at 65 mph. Upon a lane bump from paving construction, the truck began a violent shaking, which is consistent with a problem know as "death wobble". slowed down immediately and stopped at side of interstate. Inspected tires, and there was no flat tire. No outward signs of tire damage . Drove at 20-25 mph to next exit. Was able to dri... Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2023
At 34, 716 right front strut needed to be replaced. At 40,719 both rear air shocks needed to be replaced. Suspension was loose and made steering difficult on surfaces that were not flat and smooth.
MERCEDES-MAYBACH
S 580
(2023) - SUSPENSION
Apr 29, 2023
Incident date: Apr 7, 2023
The rear trailing arm on the driver side of the vehicle broke away from the frame causing the wheel assembly to jam under the vehicle, bringing it to an abrupt stop. My daughter was driving the car at the time. The failure occurred while she was pulling into the entrance of the hospital where she works, blocking the entrance to the hospital. Fortunately the failure did not occur minutes earlier w... Read more