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 16, 2023
The Quadra-Lift Air Suspension has failed twice while being driven and once during repairs. I have less than 1000 miles on the vehicle and it has spent more time in the shop than on the road. The system has been inspected and worked on by Covert Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Caliber Collision in Austin, TX. USAA Insurance inspected photos only. There was no prior warning light, only a warning notice lig... Read more
FALKEN
ZIEX ZE001A A/S
(9999) - SUSPENSION
Feb 16, 2023
Incident date: Feb 16, 2023
UNKNOWN I was on the highway during dry conditions, and very suddenly fishtailed and swerved into another lane. Caused an accident. Could have been much worse. Rear driver's side wheel is not facing forward - tow driver says looks like a broken toe link. Insurance company has possession of the vehicle and will likely total the car, with no inspection by a repair shop.
Crash
Incident date: Feb 14, 2023
This is the second time that a wheel becomes "lopsided" and no longer perpendicular to the axle. On 4/13/22 I was driving to work and suddenly I heard noises coming from the back wheel and I felt the car dragging. I found that the passenger rear tire was lopsided and almost falling out of the car. Then this year on 2/4/23 as I was going to work I found the driver rear tire also lopsided. Both t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2023
When the car turns or goes over bumps, there is a creaking and squeaking sound. TONS of Tesla owners have reported this and it has to do with faulty control arms and boots/ball joints. A good amount of people are experiencing this AFTER their warranties have expired causing us all to have to pay for something that should be covered by a warranty. Engineers have apparently determined that "After nu... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2023
The vehicle was inspected during an alignment at a dealership. The sub-frame has rotted out. The car was swaying to the side. I believe this car is dangerous to drive. The repairs are around $5000.00 dollars. There should be a recall on this Mercedes Benz E-Class 350 SUB-FRAMES. It is not safe to be on the road. The dealer is no longer around. The manufacture of this car and so many other Mercedes... Read more
Incident date: Feb 15, 2023
2005 Sequoia class action, court ordered frame inspection & either repair or frame replacement. Never received notice of class action. Received letter stating vehicle needed to be inspected. Took to Victory Toyota, Canton, MI on Jan 5, 2018. Was told passed inspection & frame needed seal coating, did not have product. Vehicle was taken in multiple times, never completed the process. On May 6, 2019... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2023
JEEP WOBBLE When driving at normal highway speeds the jeep starts shaking uncontrollably if there is a bump in the road. It is difficult to steer and to make it quit shaking I have to slow way down or come to a complete stop. This is very dangerous on the interstate during rush hour. Almost got me rear ended. Jeep is currently at the dealer who tried to tell me at first that it is because I don... Read more
Incident date: Jan 31, 2023
I'd it's a 2018 Chevrolet Grad LT for almost two years. My engine light been cutting off and on since 5 months since I'd the vehicle. Now my stabilitrak light come off and on with showing the hazard light on the dashboard. I just want to be safe if the vehicle has problems with suspension issues to check out.
Incident date: Jan 23, 2023
Suspension and or steering goes into a violent shaking and vibrating motion that will stop only when hitting the brakes and or significantly slowing down. Safety of the driver, passengers, and others around may be significantly injured if loss of control should occur. There are numerous complaints to the NHTSA, and lawsuits regarding this exact issue, known as the "death wobble". There are ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 10, 2023
HI I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND STARTING FEELING THE CAR SWAYING. I GOT REALLY SCARED AND TOOK SIDE BLOCKS HOME. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS AIR IN THE TIRES OR A FLAT. WHEN I GOT OUT TO LOOK NO FLAT TIRES WERE FINE. THEN I STARTED HEARING LIKE A CRACKING SOUND THE NEXT DAY AND STARTED SMELLING GAS. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID BAD NEWS THE SUBFRAME IS ROTTED OUT AND DO NO DRIVE... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who discovered that the rear suspension cross member was fractured due to severe rust. The vehicle was later taken to the local dealer who confirmed the failure, but no repair was performed.... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2023
experiencing intermittent violent wobble of front suspension/steering. 2 significant events since October 2022. Traveling at highway speed and incurring rough road steering wheel wobbles severally. Only way to stop it is to slow down below approximately 50 mph, however latest event (02/14/23), had to go below 20 mph to get it to stop. very dangerous on the highway. Tractor trailer had to change la... Read more
Incident date: Feb 21, 2022
Multiple issues. First the ESS system has malfunctioned twice since purchase in 2019, required maintenance and aux battery replacement twice within 1 year. The major issue is the breaks/rotors/suspension. For the last year and a half I have been taking the van in for inspections... initially stated I did not need brakes/rotors at the dealership even though I was having slight squeaking and grindin... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA CRUZ
(2022) - SUSPENSION
Feb 14, 2023
Incident date: Oct 15, 2022
My car has 10K miles and rear wheels started to layer off. This is the same issue as many other reporting on the web. I tired to reach out to Tesla but they deny any responsibilities. Something needs to be done ASAP before people will get hurt. I am lucky that I noticed this issue.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2020
The car shakes when going at speeds as low as 48 mph and as high as 68 mph that I know of. Typically, it shakes heaviest from the mid-50 mph range to the mid-60 mph range. I rarely Drive the full speed limit for energy conservation reasons, so I cannot tell you how much higher it goes on the range. The car has had the wheels rebalanced three times (installation, upon purchase from the dealer and... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2020
Just purchased this vehicle has about 64500 miles on it. When accelerating between 40-55 (hard acceleration) my vehicle wobbles really bad, seems like a tire issue. Have had the front end looked at, and tires all balanced and inspected. Noting out of the ordinary. Then all of a sudden my rear view back up camera works, but my back up assist symbols are not showing/working. I checked the settings a... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2023
At speeds above 50 mph when you go over uneven road surfaces there is tremendous shaking with the steering to the point that almost leads to uncontrollable steering. The only way to control is to brake to reduce speed. Internet searches for this condition describe it as F series wobble.
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2018) - SUSPENSION
Feb 14, 2023
Incident date: Feb 2, 2023
I experienced the ford "death wobble" I had $1200 worth of repairs done on steering and suspension parts. 10,000 miles and 7 months later I am experiencing the same problems again. This is a real safety concern because you loose all control of the vehicle at speeds over 50 miles per hour. How long before this problem kills someone? The first time I experienced this problem the vehicle dragged me a... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2021) - SUSPENSION
Feb 13, 2023
Incident date: Dec 27, 2022
HELLO THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD SET OF TIRES THAT ARE WORN IN A WAVEY PATERN. THE STEARING STICKS WHEN TURNING AT AROUND 40MPH AND THE WHEELE DOESNT RETURN ON ITS OWN ALSO AT LOW PARKING LOT SPEEDS IT SLIPS. I WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE IN THE 2018 BUT I AM TOULD THIS DOESNT AFFECT THE 2017 BUT I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THANK YOU
Incident date: Feb 6, 2023
A FRAME THAT HOLDS ENGINE IN VEHICLE IS ROTTED LOOKS LIKE SWISS CHEEZE IT SHOULD BE MADE OUT OF CAST IRON THATS A SAFETY ISSUE
Incident date: Feb 13, 2023
Suspension aft link assembly is faulty and broke down so quickly. Causing car noise and shaking and it’s clearly a safety issue. Lot of other drivers have complained about same problem
Incident date: Jan 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Air Stream Base Camp. The contact stated that while hauling the trailer, the trailer was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the three-foot cord loosened and melted the plug and cord. The contact stated that as a result of the failure, the hot water heater and furnace combo experienced an electrical short. The cord lost voltage and melted a hole in the receptacle. T... Read more
Incident date: Feb 13, 2023
Front subframe rotted out where my control arm connects. Cannot safetly drive. There should be a recall on this part. There isnt one so now im stuck paying to fix it. Rear coil spring cracked, cannot fix due to recall of all gm coil spring. Cannot buy new part to fix it.
Incident date: Feb 13, 2023
Driven on freeway hit 65 speed start shaking every time. I have to slow down
Incident date: Feb 13, 2023
I had a VSS Fault and engine power cut off while coming in a left turn. Rear tire became wobbly and almost threw me off. Bike went to limp mode and slowed down. Had engine codes C006C and C0063 which are common problems with the steering and engine going to limp mode
Incident date: Feb 4, 2023
On August 3,2022. I was driving on the city street crossing the railroad track on 40 speed zone. As soon as it passed, the jeep starts shaking for a minute or so then it stopped. So I thought it was weird but I though it might have been just the railroad on October 22, My sis and are on the freeway, about to merge to the left lane to a different freeway, I felt the jeep was hitting a pump. Then i... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2015) - SUSPENSION
Feb 12, 2023
Incident date: Feb 12, 2023
This is a Braun Side Entry Rampvan Conversion. In 2008 there was a safety bulleting 34238 in which I took the vehicle in for inspection and any corrections. On January 19,2023 the rear axle mount broke off while driving. The vehicle was inspected by my insurance company, who denied my claim saying it was a result of wear and tear. The car fax report states it is a total loss due to flooding, whic... Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2023
Rust under the hood just where the front suspension mounted.
HYUNDAI
SANTA CRUZ
(2022) - SUSPENSION
Feb 12, 2023
Incident date: Nov 25, 2022
Death wobble. It's been doing this for a few months now. Does it at any speed. Dealership claims there is nothing wrong. Blames it on uneven worn tires but I just bought these winter tires last winter. They look fine to me and there is no way they are bad already. I have a different set I use in the summer. Jeep just hit 30,000 miles.
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2016) - SUSPENSION
Feb 11, 2023
Incident date: Feb 11, 2023
My 2016 gmc Sierra transmission going out again first time locked up and researched everyone I know that owns gmc says they have same issue replaced front drive train busted also and noticed the weld on the frame around steering box and frame has one weld pass very thin rusting away already I've done replaced engine front diff fuel pump now airbag warning keeps going off and my radio has securit... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2023
The subframe on a 2014 Mitsubishi Lancer with 57,000 miles on it has rusted and cracked. This seems identical to NHTSA campaign number: 20V-279 but this year/make is not covered under recall. I have pictures and a video taken by Conrad's as they are doing the replacement. I attached the photos but the video is to large, so here is a link https://photos.app.goo.gl/akY1TzhF6SXRSJFs7
Incident date: Sep 20, 2022
My Tesla Model 3 was delivered on 14 December 2022. I first drove it on 16 December 2022 and that day I had an accident. I was about to park my car and I was already on the designated parking slot when the car made a sudden Un- commanded acceleration. I first hit the handicap sign, but the car did not stop and apparently the collision avoidance safety feature did not work. The continue to accel... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 26, 2023
I have experienced on a number of occasions, when traveling on the highway at speeds greater than 60 MPH and the vehicle his a bump in the road (expansion joint, pothole, etc), the vehicle begins to bounce uncontrollably. The steering wheel vibrates uncontrollably and it feels like the front end of the vehicle is bouncing on the highway. Its doesn't stop until you slow the vehicle down below 60 ... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ARTEON
(2021) - SUSPENSION
Feb 10, 2023
Incident date: Jan 10, 2023
3 different occasions where my trucks front wheels and steering wheel shakes uncontrollably after hitting a pothole or bridge transition. Twice pulling a fifth wheel camper and once by itself. Very scary. Twice I had to come to a near stop before I could continue. Death wobble they call it. Took to Ford dealership who said the fix is a steering damper which is on national back order with no releas... Read more
Incident date: Jan 28, 2023
The rear subframe has prematurely rusted. It had a shear failure at speed on the highway when I applied the brakes. The rear end of the car swerved, almost causing me to crash. I did manage to decelerate the car in a controlled fashion. I did not know the rear subframe failed at the time. This was confirmed by an independent mechanic several days later. After research, it looks as though a recall ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 25, 2022
While pulling out of a parking space at less than 5 mph the front left suspension fore link broke, resulting in damage to the wheel liner. The left front wheel could be described as loose or wobbly and resting at less than 1 cm from the rear side of the wheel liner, making turning nearly impossible. If this had happened at a higher speed it could have been catastrophic. There was no warning measur... Read more
Incident date: Feb 10, 2023
Frame rusted through on left rear of vehicle were suspension parts are attached.
MERCEDES-BENZ
AMG S63
(2018) - SUSPENSION
Feb 10, 2023
Incident date: Apr 26, 2021
Vehicle Check Engine Light turned on a Vehicle Lost power. Vehicle often hesitates upon acceleration. Convertible Top does not close as well intermittently.
Crash
Fire
1 injured
Incident date: Feb 9, 2023
Shaking of front suspension - steering wheel and front tires
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
My 2020 jeep wrangler becomes hard to control when I'm driving on the highway, it seems when I hit a small.bump in the road my steering wheel shakes to the point its hard to keep my jeep under control and remain safely in the lane I'm driving in. I bought my jeep to the dealer on 02/08/23. The results indicated I need a new stabilizer. The dealer stated no current steering parts are available at ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2023
The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving and making a turn at various speeds, there was an abnormal popping noise detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the spark plugs, cam shaft sensor, and coils were replaced. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the CV axle boots were torn. The vehicle was re... Read more
Incident date: Jan 12, 2023
This is the either 5th or 6th complaint for this vehicle. I am making after almost 6 months, most of which my car has been in the dealership. The brakes locked up in the parking lot at my bank, I noticed the signs that it was about to lock up and pulled into the parking lot before it threw a code. I was in fact on the phone with the dealership when it happened. They sent their tow truck and as of ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 8, 2023
Rear axle cracked in multiple locations causes car to sway and tires to turn inward and bald
Incident date: Feb 9, 2023
Rear sub frame rusted through on passenger side. Allows irregular motion of wheel and bumping of detached parts. Causes vehicle float when brake is applied. Unsafe to drive confirmed by independent and dealership technicians. Braking at medium or high speed could cause severe float, loss of control, accident, further damage. I am not driving the vehicle. Ii is a low-miles, well-maintained vehicle.... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2019
I have had 2 problems with the springs breaking on my car which seems like a very odd thing, especially for a 2014 model that is not abused. This seems like a manufacturing defect and can easily cause an accident due to tire blowout and/or unpredictable handling. 1) The most recent problem occurred on February 8, 2023 with the front springs. The spring on the driver side broke and shifted o... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2021
I took the car in for a service and mentioned that there is a slight vibration at highway speeds. The dealer performed wheel balancing and found that the issue was still there. Following this, a software update was performed and the issue was still prevalent. The final cause was identified to be the control arm bushings. The problem I see is that a number of bushings/rubber parts are failing in th... Read more
Incident date: Feb 3, 2023
Vehicle steering vibrates uncontrollably at speeds generally over 50 mph. This only subsides if you slow the vehicle down and or bring the vehicle to a stop on the side of the road. This has done this since approximately 5,000 miles. I was told that there was no problem found. After contacting “Jeep Customer Care Service” to get them involved as we will NOT continue to put our young son and ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 5, 2023
My 2012 Mercedes E350 has rear sub-frame is starting to rust/corrode and I need to replace it within 3 months. This could cause the rear end to break free and forcing the back of the vehicle to swerve while braking. My Mercedes authorized repair shop stated that similar problems have been identified in other models using same rear subframe and they have replaced them. I have 143K miles and the ... Read more