Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 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 2,215,138 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 48,554 complaints — component: SUSPENSION
Incident date: Jan 15, 2021
The contact owns a 2010 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the front driver’s side wheel detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the nuts and bolts were not tightened to specs on the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred 8-months later on the front passenger’s si... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2021
Premature sub-frame corrosion front and rear due to road salt and poor part finishing affecting most underbody components. All exposed stamped structural sub-frame components rusting at weld locations. Critical parts with severe rust and imminent failure: Lower Rear Control Arms (Left & Right), Rear Stabilizer Links (Left & Right). Potentially hazardous corrosion on Front Lower Control Arms. Rear ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2022
RECEIVED LETTER FROM AUDI REGARDING NHTSA:22V034. LETTER INDICATED THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE REAR AXLE SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT WHICH COULD LEAD TO PREMATURE AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND, POTENTIAL TIRE FAILURE. AFTER INSPECTION, DEALER (FLETCHER JONE AUDI, COSTA MESA, CA) SAID THERE WERE NO ISSUES DESPITE PRESENCE OF EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. TIRES ONLY HAD 18,000 MILES ON THEM AND HAD BEEN ROTATED AT 1... Read more
Incident date: Mar 22, 2022
The under body frame and oil container rotted and the frame came apart. Problem was noticed with oil change. I noticed that all of these models years were recalled except 2005 ... why not? They were virtually the same car. I want a repair or a rebate for this manufacturer problem since I have less then 100000 miles on this 15 year old car.
Incident date: Mar 18, 2022
The Sway bar/Control Arm broke up near the engine without cause. It appears metal fatigue or manufacture defect caused same. It's failure led to CV Joint and other damage. This was discovered during a changing of tires. I don't know how long it had been broken as no obvious signs were readily apparent and my wife said it drove normal. There was no accident or other impact that would have cause... Read more
Incident date: Feb 28, 2022
When traveling at about 55 mph I hit a rough patch in the road on Missouri Hwy 30. The truck started shaking, shimming, bouncing, and wobbling severely, and kept on doing so for an extended period of time and distance traveled. I'm guessing another 100 yards or so. I was able to keep control, but had to slow down and pull over to get it stopped and to get my self calmed down too. It has not happ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2022
DEATH WOBBLE. I experienced the death wobble for the first time a few days ago on a road that I drive twice a day. This road has bumps in the road when you are heading west, but I was heading east and have never experienced any kind of steering issue when traveling that direction. The truck started shaking as the front springs and shock absorbers were fighting against each other. The steering whee... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2022
We had previously experienced severe shaking when driving at freeway speeds. We took the pickup to a dealership and the replaced the drag link at no cost and we paid to have tie rod ends replaced which they said would fix the issue. We took our first road trip in the vehicle this weekend and the problem is rven more frequent and severe. We almost had 3 accidents because the truck is very diffic... Read more
Incident date: Nov 7, 2021
Vehicles air suspension freezes in colder weather causing the suspension to lock up. Just purchased this vehicle in August (warm weather) first time it happen was the first below 35° weather and almost bounced us off the road on the highway. Many complaints about this on line for 4th generation 1500's. We talked to dodge and they gaslighted the issue and told me is a recall comes up they will re... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle drove over a bump in the roadway and experienced the death wobble. After slowing down, the shaking stopped and the vehicle drove as designed. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the fail... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2011) — SUSPENSION
Mar 21, 2022
Incident date: Mar 17, 2022
While traveling on the interstate @ 60 MPH, I loud knock was heard in the right rear. When brakes were applied, the vehicle pulled to the left, severely. Vehicle was taken to a mechanic on this date after making an appointment. Photos included show the issue as to why this occurred. The 'cradle' of the rear suspension on both, the left and right sides were completely rusted through. The vehicle is... Read more
Incident date: Mar 21, 2022
My 4 runner only has 147,000 miles and is a great running vehicle but my frame is rotted badly. I have large holes throughout, the front crossmember under radiator with tow hooks has completely rusted off, and now I found where my rear lower drag link bolts to frame is about to come off. I have had to repair rusty brake lines multiple times. My rear axle carrier just sheds large flakes of rust. I ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2022
The component that failed was the front driver's side spring, and the piece that broke off is available for inspection upon request. The part failed while trying to leave my driveway to go to work on the morning of Fri, 3/18/22. Had the part failed while driving on the highway, I could have had an accident and worse. The vehicle was serviced by an independent service station, and verified that ... Read more
OLDSMOBILE
BRAVADA
(2002) — SUSPENSION
Mar 21, 2022
Incident date: Mar 18, 2022
Front Control arm broke at the frame. There is a recall for this control arm issue for a 2002 Bravada but, my vin was not included. 01V126000 is the NHTSA. The control arms fractured causing separation from the frame. Bravada is at service shop and they have confirmed the frame separation from control arm. This is very dangerous and has caused it to be unsafe and deadly.
MERCEDES-BENZ
CLA 250
(2021) — SUSPENSION
Mar 20, 2022
Incident date: Feb 14, 2022
On Monday 02/14/2022, after 2-3 minutes driving towards work, at about 25-30mph speed, the front right ball joint broke on the vehicle putting me in danger of losing my life. Due to this ball joint failure, the right front wheel disassembled from the vehicle and it slid-crashed on the car parked on the right side of the street. If it would happen on the highway I would kill myself and put others... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 21, 2016
Since purchasing the car the power steering has been bad. The dealership where I purchased the car and Mercedes refused to fix the issue. There is electrical issues and the gas tank gauge and gas tank have been replaced 3 times. Please do not purchase a Smart Car thecmakers do not stand behind their product. I took it to Mercedes Hampton VA Auto Mall and they are so rude. I have almost died 4 time... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 23, 2022
Vehicle is visibly lower or has a lean on the rear driver side bed. Was brought to ford and measured to be lower on right rear side by .5”inch from the left, fuel tank was at less than a 1/4 tank.
Incident date: Mar 12, 2022
I took my car to my repair man he was trying to see why my tires had the steel treads showing and the car shaking. Once up on the lift he found the subframe was rusted out. He ordered a new frame which took all my savings. He was surprised I made it off the expressway without an accident.
Incident date: Aug 20, 2020
At about 86,000 miles I began getting a grinding noise from the left front side the wheel seems to lock up associated with a grabbing that I can feel when turning the steering wheel to the left. When this happens the Service Stability Trac and Service Trac Control indicators sometime appear but not always. I took my car to a GM Dealer locally a diagnostic performed said it was wheel hub assembly (... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2022
Received the vehicle less than a week ago, rear right damper/shocks need replacement.
Incident date: Mar 2, 2022
The frame is rusted thru in many places that hold the rearend in the frame and along the side rails of this 4 Runner Toyota 2000, the suspionsion arm rusted and broke free from the frame.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXD
(2007) — SUSPENSION
Mar 19, 2022
Incident date: Aug 12, 2020
I was riding on the highway at 60 mph and all of a sudden the back suspension felt very hard. When I stopped I found both rear shock mounting bolts had sheared off causing my frame to collapse onto the tire. The left shock completely separated from the frame at the top rotating down. The right shock stay somewhat in position because the sheared bolt jammed into the seat. The rear fender liter... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2022
2004 Toyota 4Runner, original owner with roughly 210K miles. We took the vehicle to the mechanic concerning a sway bar issue. He informed us that the frame of the vehicle was nearly rusted into and that it's serious safety issue to continue to drive it. It is my understanding the Toyota recalled several other models with this same issue but did not include the 4Runner in this recall.
Incident date: Mar 18, 2022
After coming to a park after driving, a loud bang noise was heard from the rear of the vehicle. It was not an impact with another vehicle. When I got home I took off the rear right wheel and found that the lower part of the coil spring had sheared and broken. It looks like some corrosion was inside the metal. I called my Audi dealer service and he had not heard of anything like that happening.
Incident date: Mar 5, 2022
I have a 2002 lincoln LS v8 the passenger ball joint came loose and broke had it fixed driver side has now came loose and rattling
Incident date: Mar 16, 2022
Truck randomly has the notorious death wobble when going over bumps. It shakes violently and i have to slow down or stop. Tried to have it diagnosed by mechanic several times with no outcome, this is when I researched and found out a lot of ford trucks have this issue. Is it a severe safety issue and with the outrageous price of trucks, I can not buy a new one. Ford should have recalled this a lon... Read more
Incident date: Mar 3, 2022
While driving approx 50 mph, steering wheel began shaking violently. This continued until I came to a complete stop. Approx two weeks later vehicle did it a second time. Also noticed that when turning vehicle into my garage at low speed steering had a popping sound when turned about 3/4 of turn.
Incident date: Feb 23, 2022
On the 24th February, 2022, I was driving my 2014 Ford Taurus taxi cab on the highway to go pick up a client. I saw a dash light indicating slippery road and suddenly, I could not control the steering of the car. All attempts to control the steering proved futile, and the car kept swerving on both sides, till it hit the divider between the roads. This is the second time that this incident is happe... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 17, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Forest River RV built on a 2020 Ford F53 chassis. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V202000 (Suspension, Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact was unsure wheth... Read more
MITSUBISHI
LANCER
(2006) — SUSPENSION
Mar 17, 2022
Incident date: Mar 1, 2022
When doing routine repair on the control arms, it was noted that there is a ginormous rust hole in the subframe where the control arm connects to aforementioned subframe
Incident date: Mar 15, 2022
On 03/15/2022 if just had my first experience with the "Ford Death Wobble" at 70mph on interstate 64 in Virginia, I was able to control this with out damage to other cars on the interstate and was able to pull the truck onto the shoulder and stop. After researching last night online I was able to find this has been an on going problem for Ford. I purchased this vehicle new in November 2019 and acc... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2022
Death wobble. Vehicle is very dangerous to drive at speeds above 60 MPH on highway specially when going over a uneven area. I have taken my vehicle to a Ford dealership in the past and it was ok for a few months and now it is worst.
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2012) — SUSPENSION
Mar 16, 2022
Incident date: Mar 15, 2022
I took my vehicle in for a state inspection and was informed the rear subframe was rusted/rotting and on the verge of detaching. Had this happened while driving, the results could have been catastrophic. The vehicle cannot be driven until this $4K dollar repair is completed. Upon speaking with the mechanic, this is a well known issue within Mercedes. Had I not asked for an alignment, this woul... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2021
The computer isn't allowing me to check off the other issues. The brakes were the other thing that couldn't be checked off. The vehicle went off the road and the brakes locked and now the vehicle is totaled. Had I been notified about these recalls this would not have happened.
Crash
1 injured
FORD
FUSION HYBRID
(2017) — SUSPENSION
Mar 16, 2022
Incident date: Feb 25, 2022
When I turn right my vehicle made this ugly noise kind of like metal grinding and then it started kind of jerking my gear started switching and buying themselves it turned into neutral and then a warning sign came on and said transmission not in part stop vehicle safely now as I kept driving I stopped the vehicle turn it back on road home and kind of let the car just roll home I turned right again... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2022
While traveling on a paved roadway at approximately 55 miles per hour, I hit a small bump in the roadway and the steering wheel began shaking violently. This continued until I slowed and came to a near stop.
Incident date: Mar 5, 2022
Front end suspension started making creaking noises, rattles when driving over bumps and holes, steering wheel makes popping sound when turning. Had estimate from Tesla for repair totaling almost $7,000. After doing some research myself this is a common issue with these vehicles from 2012-2018 and some have been repaired at no cost to keep consumers quiet about the issues.
LAND ROVER
DISCOVERY
(2017) — SUSPENSION
Mar 16, 2022
Incident date: Mar 14, 2022
Our 2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE TDi6 has been to the dealer multiple times since purchased new in 2018. This vehicle has several safety issues. First is the random and repeatable shut down of the ABS, Stability, Automatic Braking, Electric steering, windshield leak causing considerable water penetration. The primary concern is the vehicle will lose communication with the ABS, Airbag, Stability, ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2022
Unknown- I was driving and felt the car wobble but didn’t know what it was, when I got home noticed my back wheels ware sticking out,and I was scare,I had a mechanic look at it in my driveway because I’am afraid to drive it,and the mechanic said that it was rusted and I shouldn’t drive it cause I could cause a accident,I pick up my kids every day from school and I been asking for help pickin... Read more
LAND ROVER
RANGE ROVER EVOQUE
(2012) — SUSPENSION
Mar 15, 2022
Incident date: Mar 11, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. The contact stated while driving at 30-40 MPH, the suspension of the vehicle emitted abnormal metallic sounds intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who lifted the vehicle and diagnosed that an unknown vehicle clamp was lose. The vehicle was repaired; however, the independent mechanic informed the contact that the fue... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2021
Model X 100D makes noise during driving whenever I turned the steering wheel. Took it at Tesla service center for service and concurred the my concern and replaced front upper Arm. The suspension contributed to brand new tires to wear out quickly in less than a year. Driver and passengers windows fails to close after opening regularly, Map navigation and live traffic data does not work properl... Read more
Incident date: Nov 3, 2021
While driving my model X on highway, making quick turns on the power steering wheel felt too stiff in order to avoid car or objects. I took it to Tesla service center for inspection and confirmed the issue with the suspension. The replaced Front suspension, lower -Aft-LH/RH. Parts they replaced, Washer cam, Bolt H cam, Washer, Nordlock, Front suspension AFT link, Nut CLN HEX, NUT HF & adjusted ca... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2022
I was experiencing very loud noises from the suspension and/or steering while driving and turning. The tires were also wearing excessive and very unevenly. Within 500 miles, the tires went from 2/32nds to completely bald with no signs of tread at all and very chopped. I took the vehicle to Tesla for inspection. They came back with a repair order for $6,171 for suspension parts such as fore link as... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2022
Rear subframe rusted to failure. Vehicle has 143,000 miles. Dealer service manager says the vehicle is unsafe to drive due to the posibility of the rear wheels detaching from the vehicle. This is the third vehicle with the same condition the service department has seen in the last two weeks
Incident date: Feb 15, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving over a bump in the road at an undisclosed speed, the front suspension was shaking violently. The vehicle experienced the death wobble. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while the vehicle was being inspected by an independent mechanic, she was informed the vehicle was pulling to the left and the transmission fluid needed to be replaced. The contact was informed to contact the Toyota dealer where she bought the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle back to the Toyota dealer, to have the maintenance work comp... Read more
Crash
Fire
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2013) — SUSPENSION
Mar 14, 2022
Incident date: Feb 15, 2022
I bought my c300 Mercedes-Benz in 2013 from the Euro Motorcars dealership in Germantown, MD. On about February 15, I heard some clanking/banging in the rear of my car. I thought it was the rear driver side break. I took the car to my local mechanic and he indicated the rear sub-frame had rusted though and it was banging on the gas tank (see attachments). Very dangerous, I should not drive.
Incident date: Jan 31, 2022
The chassis of my truck is rusting through. I took it to the dealership and was told that the recall for the vehicle chassis expired in 2019. I told them I was not aware of the recall. They then told me the recall was extended until 2021. I told them I brought the vehicle in for a recall repair in 2020 and asked that they check for all recalled repairs. They said they couldn't help me and directed... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2022
On February 3, 2022, the right front lower control arm bushing was observed to be leaking fluid. This condition was confirmed by a Honda dealer toward the end of the same month. The failed bushing is a defective design that has existed on Pilot vehicles since at least 2009 and persisted in successive models. The fluid-filled elastomeric bushing failure is manifested by loss of fluid which leaves a... Read more
Incident date: Mar 9, 2022
Mileage 64000: Vehicle went in for oil change and the mechanic noticed an issue with the differential mounts. The right bolt was corroded and broken leaving that side unsecured. The other bolt was heavily corroded also but still "intact". I had the support bolts, nuts and washers replaced on both sides for safety. These bolts were in a bad condition in relationship to a everything else under the v... Read more