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.

2,245,377 Total Complaints

140,173 Reported Crashes

56,794 Reported Fires

8,580 Reported 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

How to Read NHTSA Consumer Complaints › How NHTSA Investigations Work › Used Car: 7 Recall Checks to Run First › The Takata Airbag Recall: Full Story › OBD-II Codes Explained › All Articles ›

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Showing 49,170 complaints - component: SUSPENSION

Incident date: Jun 17, 2022

I started hearing a roaring noise coming from the tires of my 2019 Honda CRV, so I made an appointment and returned the car to the auto dealership, who pretended like they didn't hear anything or see anything. I went for a second opinion at another Honda dealer, who then stated my tires are cupping. This is the second set of tires to replace in less than 3 years! The first set that cam with the... Read more

Incident date: Jun 29, 2022

The rear sub frame has rusted out and broken causing the car to veer suddenly to the left during braking. A quick search of the internet reveals that this is a common problem with this car. The dealership has quoted me $4,000 for the repairs.

Incident date: Jul 4, 2022

Please note that I have used the VIN of a random Tesla Model 3 to submit this complaint since the number of the actual car is unavailable. There has been an incident on a motorway in Germany and a full video is available here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKcvLeMWp3c This is a single vehicle incident. The front RH wheel has simply fallen off. There is no other car involved. There are no air-... Read more

Incident date: Jun 25, 2021

With only 1,400 miles on RV, it was noticed that both the driver and passenger side rear tires had worn down to the belts on the inside. The axles have been replaced so they are likely no longer available for inspection, although I do have pictures. The safety risk is that had the faulty suspension parts completely failed, the axles could have become disengaged from the RV causing a major acci... Read more

Incident date: Jul 6, 2022

Vehicle is 9 years old with 69825 miles and the Rear drivers side Subframe rusted out and broke off the vehicle. This is a common problem and is a recall in both Europe and Canada and needs to be recalled in America, this is very dangerous and life threatening as I googled and there are hundred similar stories.

Incident date: Mar 30, 2021

Have purchased a 2014 mercedes E350 59k miles. This vehicle has an issue as so do many Mercedes with their rear subframes rotted out at the control arm bracket which causes the rear link/thrust arm to detach from the subframe/axle carrier and posses a danger when breaking due to the rear spindle assembly flexing throwing the wheels out of alignment and could be at risk for a car crack. This vehicl... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Jul 2, 2022

During the past two weeks while pulling a 5th wheel trailer I have experienced multiple incidents of violent front end shaking; a feeling that the front of my truck is almost floating from side-to-side and a rapid jerking of the steering wheel back and forth. The only way to regain control of the vehicle is a hard breaking to slow the truck from my normal towing speed of 65 mph to around 40 mph. ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 5, 2022

BROKEN WELDS IN THE FRAME IN 5 DIFFERENT PLACES. The dealership in Grand Junction Colorado has told us the rig is to unsafe to tow it off their lot. The dealership in Grand Junction Colorado are the ones that diagnosed the broken welds in the frame. The RV has not been inspected by the manufacturer. Manufacturer has only asked more questions and asked for additional photos. We walked into the RV a... Read more

Incident date: Mar 21, 2022

Unknown

Incident date: May 5, 2022

Immediately Upon picking my 2011 Cadillac SRX up from Don Thornton Cadillac for Recall on the Rear Toe Link, I had more problems with my car than when I dropped it off.I immediately called and let them know my car would not accelerate,I still had something wrong with my battery, I had warning lights on my display that were safety issues,such as SERVICE AIRBAG,SEATBELT,service stabilitrak,service r... Read more

Incident date: Mar 21, 2022

Vehicle has been in for repair on (4) separate occasions for the same issue. Without warning, several error messages will pop up indicating problems with power steering, suspension, air bags, etc. In all there are 7 or 8 different error messages that all appear at once, but as soon as they do appear the power steering stops working. This has happened both from a cold start and while driving. I... Read more

Incident date: May 15, 2022

The contact purchased a 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated that two days before taking possession of the vehicle, he was notified by the dealer that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V131000 (Suspension). The contact was informed that the part to do the recall repair was unavailable and he could not take possession of the vehicle. The contact stated that the ma... Read more

Incident date: Jun 25, 2022

I purchased this used car and while driving the VSA (Vehicle Stability Assis) light comes on with the accompanying trianlge with exclamation point. When the light comes on while driving the car will tug you to the right. Once you stop the vehicle and turn off and re-start the light will turn off. As you drive again, the light comes on and tugs the vehicle to the right. When we purchased the vehicl... Read more

Incident date: May 15, 2022

When driving at highway speed encountering a rough stretch of road or a crack, bridge interface or substantial crack in the road surface the truck will begin an extreme vibration and the steering wheel will shudder violently. The only way to gain control is to slow down to at least 30 or 35 miles per hour which is dangerous to do in busy traffic. This has occurred 7 times within the last 6 weeks.

Incident date: Jul 3, 2022

Electronic sway bar failed to reconnect after taking out of four wheel drive. Push button in cab to engage /disengage does nothing. The indicator light in the instrument panel just flashes but there is nothing in the owner’s manual that says what the flashing light means. The vehicle is available for inspection this week but I have to fix it this weekend because it is my daily driver. It has no... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2022

rear suspension making cluncking noise over bumps off brakes at any speed

Incident date: Jun 15, 2022

The trailer is supplied with a axle that is under sized for the GVWR of the trailer. To keep from overloading the Trailer the tongue weight increase beyond to normal 10% and has would have to be at 15.3% by math to stay in limits. The trailer as configured from factory with just water added increases tongue weight to over 20%. After loading more items the trailer stays tongue heavy. Jayco has adve... Read more

Incident date: Jul 5, 2022

Less than one month old, not even 200 miles,had a VSS fault. Took to dealer they said it was a steering issue and fixed, so they said. Less than a month again same issue VSS fault steering Yaw sensor. Rook to dealer again they had bike about a month to fix and replaced many parts and no issue since, however this issue happens when making hard/deep left turns, now I have learned that. So when I ri... Read more

Incident date: Jun 27, 2022

I went to GM to have my recall fixed and they denied me service as they said they didn’t have the tool and it looked okay visually and to not worry about it. My ball joint is now separated from the control arm and I cannot drive the car

Incident date: Jun 15, 2022

Oh June 15th, in the middle of the afternoon around 2-3 pm, I was traveling NW on SH114, in the toll express lane, from Dallas towards Grapevine after a minor medical procedure, when my truck apparently hit a small hole or bump, which caused it to vibrate violently simultaneously from both front wheels, as if they weren't even in contact with the pavement. It took a lot of effort to keep the vehi... Read more

1 injured

Incident date: Jul 1, 2022

Driving and hit rough road and front end wobbles tell I slow down. Once pulling a camper and another time I was not pulling a trailer. Speed was 65mph, had to slow down pull over and restart. Others call this the Ford death wobble and I agree!

Incident date: Jun 23, 2022

My transmission has start to work weirdly. My car started vibrating when I am driving slow. When move to second gear suddenly the car make stop and move again.

Incident date: May 28, 2022

This May, I started hearing a rattling noise under the right front corner of my car. After several hours of looking, I discovered that the right front coil spring was broken! Because of that I couldn't drive my car until it was fixed. On June 3, I bought a used strut assembly from Economy Auto Parts in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Well since struts have to be replaced in pairs, on June 8th, I bought anoth... Read more

Incident date: Jun 4, 2022

While traveling on the highway at 70~75 mph the vehicle went over a small highway joint. This caused the truck to shake violently with little to no control. Only after dropping speeds less than 45mph did the violent shaking stop. The sudden slow down in the middle of the highway, the violent shaking and the lack of steering control was extremely dangerous and caused an immediate life safety issu... Read more

Incident date: Jul 2, 2022

Violent steering wheel shaking. Death wobble. Almost hit concrete wall

Incident date: Jun 21, 2022

Upon pulling out of my driveway in the middle of June 2022, I noticed a piece of metal on the driveway, located near where the front passenger side tire would have been. Upon inspection, it appeared to be a piece of a suspension spring that had somehow broken off and was later confirmed to be true. I have retained the broken piece, which was about 1/2 the circle of the lowest rung of the spring,... Read more

Incident date: Jul 2, 2022

My truck regular experiences violent shakes when I hit bumps in the road when traveling over 45MPH. I was on a bridge today and had to slow traffic to less than 30mph to control the shakes. The last 4 times I have entered the freeway at a specific entrance I have experienced the violent shakes, requiring me to enter the emergency lane to gain control.

Incident date: Jun 28, 2022

Truck stop without any warning for no reason oil is leaking from the truck for no reason just got it not long ago

Incident date: Jun 1, 2022

During normal highway driving 50 mph and over the front wheels start to hop uncontrollably causing loss of control and steering until you slow way down or stop on the highway to get them back under control. dealer installed a new steering stabilizer over a year ago and problem has returned dealer checked on front end alignment showed all parameters in factory spec. offered to put in another stabil... Read more

Incident date: May 20, 2022

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes Benz C300. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed abruptly and the vehicle fishtailed off the road. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the brake calipers needed to be replaced. T... Read more

Incident date: Apr 20, 2022

I have control issues due to inadequte suspension. The problem I'm (and others) having is due to the suspension on these trailers. When pulling the trailer on the roads there is exessive bouncing to the point where one could lose control. Personally I have checked my trailer wieght, vehicle weight, tounge weight, etc. and found everything to be set up correctly but I cant solve the bouncing. I... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2022

The dealer noticed that the rear suspension subframe had rusted and corroded with a hole. They rejected the passage of the state safety check. A review of online forums shows this is a common problem in these years and Canadian and German counterparts of MBUSA have issued recalls because a third party supplier provided the parts without sufficient corrosion protection. See eg. https://mbworld... Read more

Incident date: Jun 29, 2022

I was traveling at roughly 55mph when I had to make a sudden deceleration due to another vehicle pulling out in front of me. When I applied the brakes, the car unexpectedly pulled violently to the left nearly causing a head-on collision with an on coming vehicle. After Googling the symptoms/scenario, I found that this can be caused by a rusted and failed rear suspension subframe. The control ar... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2022

there is a hood flutter , weather stripping is cheaply made which is letting in water , leather is coming up seat belt doesn’t retract back in place knocking noise by left driver side wheel seat pockets are poorly made

Incident date: Jun 28, 2022

We own a 2017 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving at 55 MPH, he heard a loud Bang noise and experienced difficulty steering the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. We pull over to inspect the vehicle, We did not see any problems with the tires and they looked ok. But there was smoke coming up from the front passenger side. We were able to drive the vehicle another mile before more smoke w... Read more

Incident date: Jan 11, 2022

All four shocks leaking at 29000 miles. Replaced under warranty. Now at 35000 rear shocks starting to leak.

Incident date: Jun 17, 2022

Several occurrences of violent sustained steering oscillation at high speeds, also known as death wobble. Front end steering components failing/worn out at 55k miles. Violent shaking of front end on interstate, little to no control of vehicle. The only way to get this frightening death wobble event to stop is to slow down to nearly a stop on the interstate which put driver and passenger at rick or... Read more

Incident date: Jun 8, 2022

Please include with our complaint: ODI 11469244 On June 8, 2022 one of our rear lower suspension links broke and left my husband on the side of the road two weeks ago. After having it towed home we learned about service campaign P9324. Sevice campaign P9324 states “certain Nissan Altima vehicles currently or previously registered in specific U.S. states with high road salt usage for mod... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2017

Abnormal rust all over underside of vehicle including frame, structural components, brake lines, steering components … etc. FRAME and steering/suspension components rusting out. Rear differential rusting out. Cab mounts rusting out. Spare tire hardware rusting out. Transmission cooler lines about to burst from corrosion. Rear tow assembly rusting out. Entire underside is rotting out. Known issue... Read more

Incident date: Feb 1, 2022

I went over a pot hole and my rear suspension cracked - the frame of the car. This should not happen.

Incident date: Jun 6, 2022

While stopping for traffic I heard a loud bang and my vehicle began to violently shudder to a stop. At the same time my check engine light came on. When traffic began to move, my vehicle would not move. I got out of my vehicle and found the drive shaft sheared in two pieces and laying on the ground. My truck was completely immobile in a busy highway. I believe the transmission was fighting against... Read more

Incident date: Nov 2, 2021

Vibration at highway speeds aprox. 15,000 miles that continues to worsen to a slight vibration at idle and vibration/bounce/hop at aprox. 30,000 miles, to a violent shake at aprox. 45,000 miles, making it very hard to maintain the control needed to stay in your lane and extremely hard to come to a stop in an emergency braking sitiation. When towing or hauling the defect seems to worsen. The v... Read more

Incident date: Jun 16, 2022

Pulling 5th wheel going down hill at 60 mph pump brakes to maintain speed and steering wheel began to vibrate. Did not stop until speed was reduced to around 45 mph.

Incident date: Jun 28, 2022

My Mercedes C300, 2013, 46,123 miles has 2 holes in rear sun frame, rendering it unsafe to drive. Dealership and MB will not acknowledge this is a common problem with this make/model. Recall for very same problem in Canada & other nations has been issued but not in USA. Dangerous situation!!! $5,200 to repair! On a premium brand auto with less than 50,000 miles. Please help!

Incident date: Jun 18, 2022

I was driving down the road, the truck began to shake and bounce real bad. I took to the dealership we purchased the vehicle from and they said $3500 for a new front end to replace all the parts. This truck has never been wrecked or hit anything. This vehicle has 85000 miles on it and its supposed to be a diesel farm truck. It appears the front end was made with parts and material that is not in c... Read more

Incident date: May 1, 2020

The contact owns a 2015 Chrysler 200. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a rattling and creaking noise was present coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the front passenger’s and driver’s side struts had fractured and needed to be replaced. The struts were replaced and the failure was remedied. The manufa... Read more

Incident date: Mar 29, 2022

We have been sold a new 2022 Forest River Forester 2401BSD that has a safety recall. Part 573 - Safety Recall Report 22 V - 131 from NHTSA: "torsion bar on certain Sprinter vehicles was not bolted to the torsion bar linkage by the component supplier during front axle assembly in accordance with design specifications. The shim on the torsion bar was incorrectly installed between the nut and the t... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2011 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that upon taking her vehicle to an independent mechanic to have the wheels aligned, she was informed that the work could not be performed due to severe subframe corrosion. The vehicle was then taken to a second independent mechanic who provided the same diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The ve... Read more

Incident date: Sep 12, 2020

I purchased a new P4 through my employers Lease Purchase program, and when I ordered my new truck, I ordered it with the Hendrickson Air-Ride Suspension Package for the front axle, disc brakes front and rear, and a few other options. My truck required 14 all axle alignment’s before it was driving correctly, after destroying both left & right steer tires. One Freightliner dealer set the right fro... Read more

Incident date: Jun 25, 2022

On 6/25/2022 I experienced violent shaking at freeway speed in southern California. The vehicle was difficult to control - the steering wheel shook violently, and it could be felt throughout the vehicle. The ride was completely smooth when I began the freeway drive; the problem came on all of a sudden, then continued at all speeds, but was particularly violent over 50 MPH. I have not had it insp... Read more

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Consumer Safety Complaints

What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?

How to interpret what you read

If you've experienced a defect

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