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
MASERATI
QUATTROPORTE
(2009) - SUSPENSION
May 3, 2022
Incident date: Apr 11, 2022
Rattles very bad under the car likes if it’s going to fall apart the steering would just go lose and not steer in the direction you are trying to steer in where I had to throw my emergency brakes to avoid collision something is not right under this vehicle it say my year make and model had a tie rod recall in the rear but when they put my vin number to my car it shows there’s no recall on it w... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F53. 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 dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distributio... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2014) - SUSPENSION
May 3, 2022
Incident date: Apr 22, 2022
Cross frame member ahead of rear wheels has rotted and failed. It is located behind the cab and is the cross frame that holds up gas tank and forms the anchor point for the rear shock absorbers. I have been told by dealer that truck is not safe to drive. It is now at a body shop. The suspension is compromised, gas tank could fall, and drivability safety is affected. Truck is only 8 years old, th... Read more
PRIME TIME
TRACER
(2022) - SUSPENSION
May 3, 2022
Incident date: Apr 24, 2022
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The axels on our brand new 2022 Prime Time Tracer is completely bent. We have taken the TT to 2 locations within 2-3 hours of our home. When we got home from the last (2nd) trip, we noticed that the tires were shot- the wires were showing on both back tires. The dealership (TOPPERS, Waller, TX)- want... Read more
Incident date: Mar 3, 2022
Air suspension system fails in cold weather. Thousands of confirmed cases. https://www.facebook.com/groups/292298311479202 A class action in Canada. A whole business is taking advantage of removing these parts. airdelete.com My air suspension leaked out during a trip, warning lights, vehicle's air suspension dropped to the frame. No suspension resulted in a very bumpy, dangerous immed... Read more
2 injured
Incident date: Mar 21, 2021
Recall for turbo internals, but nothing done to remedy problem . Second issue in leaking suspension parts, which the dealership let problem continue, until warranty up.
Incident date: Oct 25, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V633000 (Suspension) 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 manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not exp... Read more
Incident date: May 13, 2020
May 13,2020. 11:32am Driving north, my drive side tire violently shook & suddenly gave way pulling me hard left. I struggling to keep truck in my lane but lost control of steering , the airbags also deployed. Blocking my view. The rode was a blind spot . I thought it was a tire failure. Be of the drop & hard pull to left. While the rode was curving right . I could not get truck to fallow cu... Read more
Crash
1 injured
1 deaths
Incident date: Apr 29, 2022
The front sub frame where it bolts to the frame was completely rusted loose on the right side. The left side was barely holding on. This is what holds the motor up and control arms. My mechanics are telling me this is a common problem with Chevy Equinoxes. If it's common why aren't there recalls. My car only has 80,000 miles on it and my mechanic told me to scrap it. I'm a fabricator and welder. I... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2022
Sometimes the truck will start violently shaking when reaching speeds over 50 mph. Vehicle becomes impossible to control and the only way to eliminate the shaking is to slow down or stop the vehicle.
Incident date: May 2, 2022
My 2004 Tundra has a rusted frame and is presently not drivable. No recall notice was send to me by Toyota, nor were any subsequent calls or mail sent. I have 75k on this truck and want Toyota to honor their safety recall
Incident date: Sep 25, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Journey. The contact stated while driving at various speeds over a bump or an uneven road surface, the front end of the vehicle would make loud abnormal popping sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the struts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that that the failure had ... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2022
Hitting certain bumps or transitions at higher speeds, the truck goes into the death wobble and is close to uncontrollable with bouncing and shuddering until you pull over and come to a stop.
Incident date: Apr 2, 2022
Drivers side rear bushing/suspension issue which causes creaking and abnormal noise. This was believed to by a defective bushing by an independent automotive repair shop. When shown video evidence of the issue, they agreed it was abnormal, but “couldn’t recreate the issue on their own. FCA has been made aware of this ongoing issue and offered no solution. A failed/failing bushing can lead to ... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2012) - SUSPENSION
May 2, 2022
Incident date: Apr 25, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving approximately 65-70 MPH, he heard abnormal clicking sounds coming from the rear of the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving and depressing the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, the vehicle swerved while stopping. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2021
Wife and I were towing our 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk behind our 28,000 LB Motorhome and it began to shake and wobble so bad we had to pull over. We got 35 miles from our Home base in Ohio. Sat on the side of the road about 20 min and took off again toward an exit about a mile ahead. It did not wobble so we drove on. About 30 miles later it did it again. After it did it 5 times in 80 miles we d... Read more
Incident date: Mar 23, 2022
My vehicle had a recall on the lower control arms that would rust and and break. That is exactly what happened while I was driving with my family. Control arm broke causing other parts to get destroyed. The fender breaks and other parts. The recall was performed before hand but it obviously wasn’t repaired correctly because it caused me to crash. Dave wright auto Subaru retailer in Iowa is refus... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Oct 4, 2020
The contact owns a 2005 Lexus LS430. The contact stated while driving various speeds, the rear suspension was bouncing excessively causing the vehicle to be difficult to control and maintain in the lane. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had driven the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear shock absorbers and rear suspension n... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2022
Power flickering and multiple errors lit up on dashboard including loss of stability control. Radio kept flashing on and off. Would show back up when pressed brake or regular car in motion. -- Looked up online and appears to be known negative battery cable --- which doesn't show on NHTSA recalls or errors to look out for.
Incident date: Apr 29, 2022
Frame is rotted out. Mechanic lifted it on hoist and frame is rusted terribly and said not drivable.
Incident date: Apr 28, 2022
The steering is all loose and the alignment is repeatedly moving out of line on its own. The lower ball joints are wearing wrong and may fail at any point.
Incident date: Oct 28, 2021
Suspension is air ride and is defected. It stops working and makes the truck bounce with any disturbance/bump on the road. Truck sways from side to side. Have had to replace the front axles/joints and the front end alignment. The mechanic stated that something was welded (that shouldn't have been) probably was caused because of the suspension. Every now and again the warning message "service suspe... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 -75 MPH, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. The contact would aggressively apply the brakes to reduce the speed to 25 MPH. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who replaced the drag linkage, track bar, tie rod ends, stabilizer, and bushings. The failure had progressed since the repairs. The manu... Read more
Incident date: Apr 19, 2022
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated when the vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be inspected for a vibration and unknown noises, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was repaired for the check engine fault. The contact also stated while driving approximately 25 MPH and making a left turn and occasionally while reversing the vehicle, the vehicle would ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2022
The lower A pillar on the driver side front wheel just shattered. I was driving 1 mph and hit nothing. Had this of happened anywhere else the car would have flipped. Tesla is also “forcing” me to replace the other side since these old parts are dangerous. This was the recall done in China. Part is the Fore Link Assembly
GRAND DESIGN
SOLITUDE
(2018) - SUSPENSION
Apr 28, 2022
Incident date: Apr 20, 2022
One of the passenger side leaf springs on our Dexter axle snapped near the shackle point. Since we have read that this is a common issue, we are reporting as this could have potentially resulted in a serious safety issue. When our leaf spring snapped, it severed the propane line that runs underneath our 5th wheel in two places. It also caused the two tires to rub together. Fortunately, for us, ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2018
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving and exceeding 55 MPH, the vehicle would shake abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with an unstated linkage failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure had reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the fai... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2020
My front lower Control Arm was replaced for corrosian in June 2019, broke in August 2020, and is being replaced again due to corrosion April 2022! This car is a danger to my family as well as other on the road!
Incident date: Apr 22, 2022
The contact's daughter owns a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would bounce up and down without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer where she was informed that her vehicle was not covered under warranty or recall. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a fractured fron... Read more
Incident date: Apr 28, 2022
This Vehicle has been to the dealer 3 times for the Ford wobble where the vehicle shacks violently after hitting un-level pavement. 4/23/2019 - Replaced the Linkage Damper 4/8/2021 - Replaced the linkage Damper 4/9/2021 - Took it back because I still felt shacky when hitting bumps in the road. Mike Bass stated there is nothing wrong with the truck. 4/28/2022 - Damper is bad ag... Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2022
Vehicle has experienced "death wobble," a common and well documented occurrence in Ford F250 and F350 model trucks. This has occurred on multiple occasions since 2006, and most recently on 4/26/2022. The incident occurred while traveling approximately 45 MPH, and hitting a small bump in the road. When the "death wobble" occurs, the vehicle shakes violently and is difficult to control. This cre... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2022
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE HAD 4 INCIDENTS OF SHAKING OF THIS VEHICLE AFTER TURNING SLIGHTLY WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHETHER TRAVELING 45 OR 65 MILES PER HOUR. INITIALLY WHEN LEASED HAD SOME STEERING ISSUES WHICH WE ATTRIBUTED TO TIRE PRESSURE. 1ST INCIDENT OCCURRED 11/20 SENT TO GARAGE AND HAD A STEERING ADJUSTMENT DUE TO RECALL. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR TWO OTHER INCIDENTS. COMPLAINTS HAV... Read more
Incident date: Apr 28, 2022
Front air suspension failed. This is a problem with these trucks and ram won't do anything....
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
The rear leaf spring shackle rust causing the leaf spring to go through the bed. When going highway speeds the vehicle shakes and not safe to drive over 60.
DODGE
CHALLENGER
(2019) - SUSPENSION
Apr 27, 2022
Incident date: Apr 3, 2022
the lower control arm and lower ball joint broke causing me to hit another vehicle ,plus had to be towed due to damage , highway patrol called and took a report, was inspected my insurance adjuster after the accident this part would have broke while driving and caused more damage or injuries to me or my wife, the rack and pinion still needs to be replaced and is on back order until further noti... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 27, 2022
NO INCIDENTS YET. I HAVE HAD A POWER STEERING FAULT WARNING CAME ON. IT IS OFF NOW I HAVE CONTACTED FORD IN DETROIT, RECALL EXPIRED EVENTHOUGH MY CAR HAS ONLY 124,100 MILES ON IT.IT WILL COST ME $2300. TO FIX IT WHICH I DO NOT HAVE. I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT A RECALL ON THIS. I PURCHASED THIS USED CAR IN DEC,2021 AT KEARNEY MOTORSPORTS IN LOUISVILLE KY. NOW I HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THE SUSP... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2022
I had taken my 2020 Tesla Model Y to have the rear tires replaced. The mechanic at the tire shop noticed a nut missing and a bolt about ready to fall out of one of the suspension rods on the driver side rear of the vehicle. The mechanic took a picture before fixing and then checked the rest of the nuts and bolts on the rear suspionsion on both sides of the vehicle. I had begun to notice a consi... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2022
I have had two incidents of the "death wobble" violent shaking of the from end. Thought a wheel was coming off. Pulled off the road and checked wheels. All seemed OK and I continued to drive home without incident. The first incident occurred in summer of 2021 and ford dealer said they installed a damper. Cost was $315. Now in April of 2022 I experienced another, more violent death wobble. I... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2012) - SUSPENSION
Apr 27, 2022
Incident date: Apr 19, 2022
The rear K frame on Mercedes Benz C300 totaly rusted through and broke apart causing the entire rear of vehicle to rest upon the fuel tank. The failure also caused stress on rear brake lines. The vehicle is 10 years old with 90,000 miles purchased brand new and garaged. Mercedes has performed a recall on Canada vehicles but no USA vehicles. This is total negligence. This is going to cause a fatali... Read more
Incident date: Apr 22, 2022
Vehicle failed inspection due to rust on the frame. Bought vehicle because it is supposedly ruggedly built and for the frame to rust out when the vehicle has 103k miles and not driven off-road for more than a few times since we owned it is ridiculous. Dealer quoted $11k for the frame alone, not including labor. The fact this vehicle shares the platform with the Tacoma which was recalled for fra... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2022
I purchased my 2003 Toyota Tundra limited V8 about 7 months ago. Unbeknownst to me there had once been a recall because of the frame rusting out prematurely. So after further investigation I found my frame is dangerously rusted to the point of extreme safety concerns. I have been in contact with Toyotas head corders and was told there's nothing they can do because apparently I missed the recall ti... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2022
I was driving onto an exit ramp around 50 to 60 mph on Rt 50 yo 495 south and VSA light appeared on dash. Also steering felt extremely loose. No control to steer and could not accelerate either.
Incident date: Apr 26, 2020
The contact owns a 2013 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that the vehicle was running rough. Additionally, while the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle was slow to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the caliper had seized, and that the ball joint and K-bar needed to be replaced. The local dealer was... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
SPRINTER 3500
(2021) - SUSPENSION
Apr 26, 2022
Incident date: Apr 5, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes Benz Sprinter. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V131000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2022
Rear subframe is badly rusted making the vehicle unsafe to drive. Don’t know how long it been like this, just noticed it while doing brake work. I’ve owned the car since 2008 and was never notified of the extended warranty.
Incident date: Mar 15, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-250. The contact stated that since purchasing of the vehicle, the vehicle experienced the death wobble on two separate occasions. The contact stated that the failures occurred while driving at undisclosed speeds. The contact stated that after driving over bumps on the road the vehicle experienced a violent and uncontrollable shaking without warning. The contact state... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2018
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at high speeds, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. The VIN was unavailable.
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2021) - SUSPENSION
Apr 25, 2022
Incident date: Apr 17, 2022
2021 Grand Cheroke L: while driving at 30 mph on an off ramp, Right Rear lower A frame broke causing damage to rear right suspension air bag spring and wheel & axle cocked approx 30-40degrees. Almost lost control of vehicle but was able to pull off onto grass median. My wife and 5 year old son were in car with me. Could have been a catastrophe lucky traveling at slow speed(just came off highway).... Read more
Incident date: Mar 30, 2022
The exact cause on my vehicle is currently unknown, but this is definitely a suspension & steering related issue. There are numerous previous reports of what I have had occur to me "death wobble" multiple times now in Jeep Wrangler forums and YouTube online. We can reproduce with video of the issue. The Jeep forums indicate that it is usually suspension/trackbar/control bar/bushing/or improperl... Read more