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: Apr 9, 2024
During the WV state inspection at my VW dealer for my 2017 Golf Sportswagen, it was determined I had a broken rear spring. Researching the issue, I find VW issued a recall for some 2017 Golf Sportswagens for this very issue, but apparently my car was not included. The broken spring prevents me from having a valid inspection sticker and should not drive it. Per information on the past recall, c... Read more
Incident date: May 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle accelerated rapidly and was shifting rapidly. Additionally, the contact stated that the turbo charger was engaging independently, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the activ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2025
While undergoing an annual vehicle inspection it was detected that ball joints have failed and are in need of replacement. This is a 2021 Ram 1500 with 77,500 miles. This seems to be a pre-mature failure of a critical component.
Incident date: May 3, 2025
Rear springs are broken. Safety concern car is unstable when driving. Shakes and difficulty controlling at higher speeds.
Incident date: Jun 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Acura TLX. The contact stated that while driving over a bump in the roadway, there was a squeaky metallic sound coming from the front passenger’s side suspension. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure and advised the contact to have the vehicle diagnosed. The fa... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
When 4h on transfer case is on,the front tire wobble when turning even in a slow driving speed. Also suspension is very horrible when the vehicle is running on an uneven pavement driver and passenger were like being shaken inside left to right vise versa .
Incident date: Mar 30, 2025
I bought a this car and the car started giving me issues, Engine wasn’t working properly, brakes were not working well, they gave me problem even I thought maybe the need to be changed, the suspension was off in a way that I feel uncomfortable driving the car and besides that, has electrical problems sometimes the radio and the panel went off out of nowhere and the car just have 40,000 miles.
FORD
F-150 LIGHTNING BEV
(2022) - SUSPENSION
May 8, 2025
Incident date: May 1, 2025
On acceleration from a stand still or in motion, the vehicle will start to shake/wobble pretty violently. It will go away when letting go of the gas. Seems to be coming from the front end wheels. Going under the car and checking all connecting points, the CV axle has a lot of play. You can move it around.
Incident date: Apr 8, 2025
I am writing to formally express my frustration and concern regarding an ongoing issue with my 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. For several years, I have experienced severe shaking in my vehicle when driving at speeds between 50-70 mph after hitting a minor bump. The vibrations are so severe that it feels like the vehicle is going to shred itself in half. The issue has gotten worse over the years. On... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
After routine service at South Coast Toyota in Costa Mesa, CA, I unknowingly drove my 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid for over a week with two missing lug nuts and one extremely loose lug nut on the front passenger wheel. The service performed on April 5, 2025, included an oil change, tire rotation, and full inspection. No issues were reported to me at pickup. Over the next several days, I heard increasin... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2025
Vehicle purchased in NC in April, 2025. Registered the vehicle in VA (where I live) a week later once I received the NC title. On [XXX], I took the vehicle to get it inspected. It failed the Virginia State Safety Inspection for the suspension - rust on the rear subframe near right rear wheel well. I found the following information online with regards to this issue: These recalls were issued f... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started pulling to the left, and the vehicle ended up in the next lane. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The veh... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the shocks located at the rear of the vehicle were leaking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the shock absorbers had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2012) - SUSPENSION
May 8, 2025
Incident date: May 8, 2025
I have the L87 6.2 liter V8 engine from General Motors. I had sudden engine failure. Apparently the rods and bearings are bad. It is the same problem as the recall issued for 2021-2024 vehicles, exept for my truck is a year 2020. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Incident date: Jan 30, 2020
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? While driving over railroad tracks, the lower ball joint separated from its socket, which caused the CV axle shaft to break apart and led to the separation of the upper ball joint. As a result, the front driver's side tire folded under the fender, causing the truck to abruptly veer off the road and i... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2025
While driving at approximately [XXX] on [XXX] heading northbound, the driver experienced sudden failure of the suspension/drivability of the vehicle. Immediately the driver was forced to veer over to the shoulder in front of [XXX] to inspect the vehicle. Driver noticed under the rear driver side tire, what appears to be a lower control arm/portion of the air suspension that had failed. This plac... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2025
I am writing to express my concern regarding a series of significant issues I’ve experienced with my vehicle, all occurring within a span of less than six months and well within the 3-year/36,000-mile warranty period. 1.Battery Failure in Cold Weather: After the first exposure to below-freezing temperatures, the vehicle would not start on multiple occasions. This ultimately led to a full battery... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2025
Magneride defect - struts leaking !!! 85,000 miles This is unacceptable- car is dangerous- bouncing - rough ride- shaky- jerking Should be a recalll! Look it up online- many many complaints!
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the transmission was shifted into reverse, and the rear end of the vehicle vibrated abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2025
There is a recall for the rear lower control arms for the 2006 Hyundai sonata getting rusty and not performing. My car was taken in for an alignment and the mechanic said he isn’t able to make the toe match up to be in good driving standards. I tried reaching out to a Hyundai dealership and they checked the VIN and said they couldn’t do anything about it because my car isn’t in a certain par... Read more
Incident date: May 4, 2025
[XXX] Please call me to discuss this matter on my GMC Vehicle. [XXX] Yukon GMC This might not be your department but lead me to the right area local, federally or NHTSA so I can discuss these issues in detail Issues I have had that are not normal and maybe need to be on a recall or on consumer alert list for major defects on major components Brakes losing total traction had to be fixed u... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2022
Driving on highway 70 mph. Drove a rough spot on highway. Pot hole patch. Death wobble started. Had to preform emergency stop to end death wooble. This is the 10th time this has happened.
Incident date: Mar 3, 2025
I am reporting a potential safety-related defect involving the front suspension of my 2023 Subaru WRX. After installing aftermarket lowering springs, I began noticing loud popping, clicking, and cracking noises from the front struts during low-speed turns and uneven road surfaces. To isolate the issue, the springs were completely removed from the strut assemblies. The noise persisted when manuall... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2025
OEM shocks are clunky and noisy. Exhibit a rattling sound at lower speeds namely at rear right. Noise is progressive and noticeable at higher speeds as time goes on.
Incident date: Feb 17, 2025
During VA state safety inspection, inspector found “Rear upper rear control arm knuckle joints have play.” And rejected inspection stating serious safety issue. I checked online that tesla model Y 2022 has recall for this suspension issue but my VIN is not in it. 21V-912 / SB-21-31-004 Recall Why is my vehicle excluded from recall? It has the same issue as other Tesla.
Incident date: Apr 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V025000 (Suspension); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving at various speeds over a bumpy road surface, the rear end of the vehicle was bouncing significantly. The contact was concerned that the failure could cause a loss of control of the ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2024
Have had rear shocks replace twice by the dealer with less than once at 35,000 miles again at 60,000 mile on the SUV. now with around 70,000 miles on the SUV the shocks need replaced again. It is unacceptable for a manufacture to know how bad the shocks are on a vehicle and not come up with a better design. This is a border line safety concern suspension plays a vital role in a vehicles road manne... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2025
I have been shopping for a truck for a little over a year now specifically a 2012 Chevy Silverado. To date everyone I found has frame and body rust but the frame rust is so bad that most aren’t safe to drive.
Incident date: May 2, 2025
My 2018 Tesla model X front suspension is making cranking noise and seems like it’s unsafe to drive. This is a known issue to Tesla and NHTSA but recall was never announced so Tesla service center is not fixing this issue. Could you please look into this.
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2025) - SUSPENSION
May 6, 2025
Incident date: May 5, 2025
The vehicle was repaired under a recall for the link stabilizer in 2021. The vehicle is now making the same rattling sound that it made prior to being "fixed" by the recall. I would contend that the "fix" that was implemented did NOT correct the original problem.
Incident date: May 6, 2025
My car was leaking gas from the fuel pump and I guess my car from the backseat almost caught fire cause I seen smoke coming from the back seat behind the driver. I went to two Dodge dealerships to let them know about this incident that reason why my fuel pump caught on fire because Dodge put the negative and the positive wire close to each other on the fuel pump, which could cause a fire or your c... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2025
The airbags deployed on their own on 7-4-2023 in my daughter’s 2013 VW Beetle. My daughter and her friend were both injured (physically/mentally) as a result of both front airbags (steering wheel and dashboard airbags) deploying on their own causing over $10,000 USD damage to the beetle and injury to my daughter and her friend who was a passenger in the front seat. Volkswagen never sent out a... Read more
Crash
2 injured
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2023) - SUSPENSION
May 6, 2025
Incident date: Mar 13, 2025
When shifting into drive from reverse it will shift very hard into drive. This happens about 4 times a month and it is very forceful. Suspension is very ruff. Very different from other Ford trucks I driven. Rear suspension makes a noise going over bumps and dips.
Incident date: May 2, 2025
I am unable to control my vehicle. Something in front end of vehicle pushes and pulls the vehicle from left to right without being able to regain control. Loud popping and clunking while turning..Braking has also been a majoir issue along with suspension/steering issues. I would greatly appreciate these things to be fixed immediately beings there has been a recall years ago and I was never notif... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Aug 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the contact rolled over a bump and the vehicle started to shudder and sway to the left and right violently. The contact slowed down to 20 MPH and regained control of the vehicle. The contact stated there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred two years prior. ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2025
This vehicle has random bursts and loss of power due to the transmission not shifting properly. There is a noise coming from the passenger front that may be tied to transmission failure. Pre collision assist isn’t working due to ECM problem.
Incident date: Apr 8, 2025
My Jeep's steering is excessively loose. There is a good amount of dead space in the steering wheel that the vehicle does not respond. The vehicle wonders left to right constantly and have to continue to correct for it's action. It becomes more of a safety hazard when there is a slight wind or passing or being passed by a larger vehicle like a truck for instance. The vehicle also shifts let and ri... Read more
Incident date: Apr 30, 2025
The front and rear crossmembers have significant rust. The front has holes and chunks of metal missing due to rust corrosion. The rear has flaking and is deeply pockmarked with rust. These are structural components. Failure can lead to a crash.
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2020) - SUSPENSION
May 3, 2025
Incident date: Apr 30, 2025
As I was driving home from work last week 04/22/25, I noticed a drop in the rear passenger side and an odd noise I had never heard before. I only live 3 blocks from work and I immediately pulled it in the garage and put it up on the jack. Once I removed my drivers side rear tire and got a closer look, I found that my drivers side rear trailing arm and the frame have rusted through and completely b... Read more
Incident date: Jun 19, 2023
I was feeling a shaking throughout while driving. I took it into the dealership to have it looked at as it is a fairly new vehicle with less than 25k miles on it. They informed me that both of the CV Axles had gone out and were replaced. I was so shocked as those are supposed to last a fairly long time on a vehicle. I researched and it appears several Maverick owners have experienced the same thin... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 2500
(2016) - SUSPENSION
May 3, 2025
Incident date: Feb 27, 2025
The engine just stopped working mid traffics shifted to neutral automatically- almost causing a serious accident on a busy interstate . Brought to the mechanic, readings stated misfiring cylinders as engine seized and slipped. Tried fixing issue for $8300.00. Then after trying to fix it with no luck, cylinder 5 and seven were stuck and could not be repaired. Cost of labor to out engine back toge... Read more
Incident date: May 3, 2025
I was almost killed when my Jeep did the death wobble at 70 mph on the freeway. It violently shook out of control while I was in the fast lane of the freeway without warning. I had no control over the steering wheel, and it was pulling me towards the freeway wall. Slowing the car down was very difficult because it was jerking around so violently. I got off the freeway very slowly with my hazards o... Read more
FOREST RIVER
WILDWOOD
(2022) - SUSPENSION
May 3, 2025
Incident date: Apr 18, 2025
Lower control bushings and Main battery Bushings wearing causing noise Yes took vehicle to Jeep Dealership Jeep Dealership did a diagnostic and checks the lower bushings Warning for Stop/Start Service and started this Month
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
Engine is stalling as if its choking and whole car is shaking. Vehicle has been up to date in maintenance with 26000. Miles. Now Check engine light is on along with traction control light .
Incident date: Apr 30, 2025
When making a left or right turn in this vehicle, there is a distinct knocking or clicking sound coming from under the drivers foot area. Dealer reviewed CV axel and suspension and says everything looks fine. However, I have driven enough cars to know that a persistent knocking sound while turning is not normal. This appears to be an issue with multiple 2024 Grand Highlander owners.
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2018) - SUSPENSION
May 2, 2025
Incident date: Apr 26, 2025
The contact owns a 2011 Hyundai Equus. The contact stated that the front shocks were previously replaced under an unknown recall. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced rear suspension failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the rear springs were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, where the rear sp... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2025
Passenger side Upper control arm broke in two about to re-enter I75. Had been on I 75 and was going back on it when handling went wonky on Service road. You can see from the rust in the break this stamped part was cracked a while. Vehicle has not hit or run over anything since I have owned it. Had I been on I75 at highway speed it would have been deadly.
Incident date: Jan 2, 2025
Took my vehicle in for its first service. During the multi point inspection I was informed that my right front cv axle was defective and slinging grease everywhere. Covering the front brake caliper, rotor and pad in axel grease. I find it odd that this happened as I just had to have both front cv axels replaced 400 miles ago as the too were defective. This is a known issue with the Prologue and Ho... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2025
Left rear sub frame cracked in half while driving car . 2017 they did work to the under belly in reference to corrosion of the car . Has therr been any other complaints about this vehicle type ?
Incident date: Apr 4, 2025
I am writing to formally express my concern regarding an alignment issue with my 2022 Dodge Charger Hellcat Widebody, which remains unresolved despite multiple visits to an authorized Dodge dealership. I have been meticulous about maintaining this vehicle, including performing regular 4-wheel alignments and rotating the tires at every oil change trying to remedy this issue. Despite this, the d... Read more