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
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2018) - SUSPENSION
Apr 1, 2025
Incident date: Jul 13, 2024
Recently my Mercedes has been pulling and swaying to the side while breaking even at low speeds.Yesterday I got my 2 front tires replaced and asked them to take a look at what could be causing my rear end to pull.When I returned to pick up my car they informed me my rear subframe was completely decayed/rusted through and not safe to continue driving.
Incident date: Feb 26, 2025
3/31/25 date of incident while traveling on the interstate the right rear coil spring came out and jammed into the tire causing the car to drop abruptly and almost making me lose control of the vehicle the right rear tire was damaged but I got the car stopped before major damage was done
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
The vehicle is a 2022 Ford Bronco Badlands 2 door. It is under NHTSA recall 25V025, with no fix expected until later this year. The ride quality is bouncy, with some wobbling when going over bumps. Ford claims the vehicle is still okay to drive; however i am not comfortable with having to deal with the ride quality for the next several months
Incident date: Jun 25, 2024
The suspension has failed despite changing engine mounts. It is available for inspection if needed. I also believe there is Premature wear of the front struts and rear shock absorbers. This can affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash. There were no warning lamps and it has been inspected by various mechanics including Mercedes
Incident date: Apr 30, 2024
The front subframe on my 2015 subaru 3.6r has rapidly rusted in a few years to the point of a safety concern. The vehicle is lightly driven, with 91,000 miles on it after almost 10 years. We live in the Northeast. I take this car in for regular inspections and service every six months and the service center I work with has not alerted me of any issues until this past march when they found the sub... Read more
CADILLAC
ESCALADE ESV
(2022) - SUSPENSION
Apr 1, 2025
Incident date: Mar 29, 2025
n 2019, I bought a used car from a well-known dealer in Puerto Rico. I recently took it to a mechanic for some repairs, and the mechanic informed me that the vehicle's internal odometer didn't match the odometer on the car's dashboard. There was a difference of 48,971 miles. I was deceived by this dealer.
Incident date: Feb 28, 2025
My cam phasers are always burning and consuming a lot of oil it also has a ticking sound coming from the engine which Ford says is normal but I don't think it's normal because it gets louder and it happens as I drive all the time. My transmission will automatically slam into a higher gear while trying to accelerate on the highway. Oil is constantly getting into the spark plug chamber even after re... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2025
Suspension failure. Unsafe to drive, goes out in the middle driving.
Incident date: Mar 17, 2025
Became aware of a rattle/clunk from right rear area of truck. Tried to find loose item like trailer hitch or item in cargo area but even with everything taken out noise continued. Finally got under the truck’s rear area and started pushing/pulling on things. Immediately found completely missing bolt and rubber cush on right-hand sway bar mount clamp. Sway bar was unanchored and moved freely, ban... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2025
When I turn left or right from a complete stop it makes a clicking noise. I believe it is the CV joints. I brought it into Honda for them to look at. They know about the issue but don't have a fix for it and will not do anything for it. When backing you the car randomly puts on the break with nothing around the rear of the vehicle.
Incident date: Mar 29, 2025
Severe death wobble with speeds over 50. Steering to left at that speed and vehicle shakes severely. Going interstate speed, vehicle almost comes off pavement and shakes all over. Brought in numerous times for issue and never rectified.
Incident date: Mar 31, 2025
I purchased my BMW 2016 in October of 2024. The BMW had 109,000 when I purchased it. It now has 112,000, I drove it twice to Dallas, Texas and only occasionally on the weekends, but has been garage kept most of the time since I purchased it from Dodge Bluebonnet Motors, 547 S. Sequin Ave, New Braunfels, Texas 78130, 830-606-8500, Soon after I purchased it, i started to hear a knocking underneath ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 25, 2025
I noticed a clicking sound whenever I made a turn, whether it was left or right. I reported the issue to Honda’s service department, and they were able to reproduce the problem. Initially, I was informed that the required parts were on back order. However, I recently received a call informing me that the parts were now available. I brought the vehicle in for the replacement, but when I picked i... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2023
Dealer sold us a brand new vehicle with an active recall. Recall# 25S01/25V025 which was released January 21st, 2025. We bought the vehicle [XXX]. There was ample time for the dealer to pull these vehicles from the lot and prevent them from being sold. I spoke with a Ford customer service representative (case# [XXX]) and was told this dealer sold several vehicles with this recall. INFORMATION R... Read more
Incident date: Mar 29, 2025
The 2025 Honda CRV, while driving on the highway, gets stuck, the steering wheel does not maintain a centered position in the lane, and also has strange noises coming from the steering wheel.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2023
Front driver wheel had a hub bolt back out rendering the vehicle unable to drive. The car made a loud grinding noise and was unsteady. I had to pull over and was unable to drive any further. It required replacement of the hub bolt and axel. This is a known problem for rivian's and has not been addressed or checked. I reported a grinding sound when I turn 2 months ago and was told that the soo... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2025
Front and middle crossmember rusted out to the point they have no more structural effects issues discovered while fixing a know issue to these models : rusted out and leaking engine and transmission oils pans I had confirmation from the dealership and other independent repair shop that leaking oils pans are common for those models and can cause engine and transmission failure. For the crossmembers... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2025
rear axle shaft/hub broken. Rear differential leaking
Incident date: Aug 15, 2023
Excessive abnormal corrosion of rear subframe.
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
Failed water pump, blown head gasket, major coolant leak, and warped head causing the vehicle to overheat and die when coming to a stop. Vehicle died when stopped in construction on a highway and we were nearly rear-ended. Vehicle never showed check engine light and temperature gauge never showed that vehicle was overheating but significant damage was caused to the engine from “excessive tempera... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
Death wobble in front end. Violent shaking when you hit a bump.
Incident date: Mar 27, 2025
I was parking my car at home when all of a sudden there was a violent/sudden drop in the front of my car. I initially thought I got a flat tire, but when I took a look the entire front suspension was shot and dropped as low as possible. The Model X feels and is very unsafe to drive and has a grainding sound like the car is about to fall a part.
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
vehicle is 2019 year, 2500 series, crew cab, 4wd, cummins 6.7 turbo diesel. Steering systems wanders and will not steer straight at all speeds. vehicle was bought used with 127,000 miles and was to be used just to pull a 9,000lb travel trailer. as of 03/27/2025 vehicle has been in repair shop over 4 weeks now. upper and lower ball joints replaced, steering gear box replaced, entire suspension sy... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2020) - SUSPENSION
Mar 27, 2025
Incident date: Jul 31, 2023
When driving slow and on turning radius, suspension clicking noise
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHX
(2024) - SUSPENSION
Mar 26, 2025
Incident date: Mar 22, 2025
Operating around New York City there’s a lot of potholes. Attempting to avoid potholes, I have hit a few and every time I may have hit one my bike feels as the tires are going to bust. The bike hits very hard.
Incident date: Mar 4, 2025
As I was operating in Virginia speed limits was 70 and above my 2024 Harley Street Glide began to wobble at high speeds.
Incident date: Mar 24, 2025
Toyota Corporate is refusing to acknowledge my Tundra's eligibility for remedy under a safety recall and campaign. My Tundra is experiencing the failure mode outlined in the safety recall 90M and extended safety campaign Tundra BXD. The spare tire crossmember of the frame is almost entirely rotted through with rust and is barely connected at this point. My Tundra's VIN number falls within the VIN... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2021) - SUSPENSION
Mar 26, 2025
Incident date: Mar 24, 2025
Multiple problems. Suspension/axles grinding and popping when go around corners, multiple messages to service high voltage system, complete loss of power while driving, loss of awd system, extremely loud thunking under hard acceleration (merging onto freeway etc), that shakes the whole car and can cause it to go off track a bit. deathtrap on wheels, dealer's no help, corporate is no help.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 2500
(2024) - SUSPENSION
Mar 26, 2025
Incident date: Mar 26, 2025
“Gearbox Fault” error popped on dash. Vehicle stopped changing gears while driving. Went into limp mode. Toward to Land Rover dealership. Technician states that there is a fault inside the TCM module within the transmission. Which caused the transmission to fail.
Incident date: Mar 21, 2025
the rear axle bolt fractured while driving causing damage to the differential, axles, and mounting bushing. the problem has been confirmed by Baytown Ford Dealership service dept. located at 4110 I-10, Baytown, TX 77521. it has been inspected by the Service Dept at Baytown Ford. located at 4110 I-10, Baytown, TX 77521 no prior symptoms or warnings.
Incident date: Nov 2, 2024
Undercarriage is susceptible to, and has excessive rust including steering and suspension components, braking systems, frame and body mounting components, as well as the spare rim and mount. Rust increases in severity from front to rear. It has completely eaten through both of the rear shock absorber mounts, which is a very common problem for this model due to a faulty design where mud and debris ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2025
I am writing to formally complain about significant issues I am experiencing with my 2022 Polestar 2, vin: [XXX] . Specifically, I am experiencing the following problems: Front Knocking/Rattle Sound: A distinct knocking or rattling sound is emanating from the front tire area, particularly noticeable during low-speed maneuvers and over uneven surfaces. This noise is concerning and suggests a pote... Read more
MICHELIN
DEFENDER LTX M/S
(9999) - SUSPENSION
Mar 24, 2025
Incident date: Mar 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V451000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mile... Read more
Incident date: Oct 24, 2024
Heat shield over drive train not installed properly. While driving since purchased I’d hear a metal reverberation / clunking sound that seemed to be under the truck. I even had it in for oil change service w/ dealer and no mention of finding anything. On Sat 3/15/2025 I took it back to dealer with the heat shield that was torn from the undercarriage over the drive train, the service person sai... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
Factory Aluminum Steering Box presents a severe safety hazard and should be immediately recalled due to its dangerous failure in cold and probably all temperatures. In low temperatures, the steering sticks and does not move freely, making normal driving extremely hazardous for both the driver and others on the road. While straight roads may not reveal the issue, attempting to turn on a curve becom... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2025
The rear frame has failed due to corrosion on the right side. The rear passenger tire is canted in on the topside worn severely worn. This was noted when I drove home from my job. This is a critical part of the vehicle and should've never failed. I'm hopeful to hear from the NHTSB for a repair to be done properly by Mazda;
Incident date: Mar 15, 2025
The vehicle’s front suspension system failed, specifically the driver’s side and passenger’s side front strut assemblies and the driver’s side inner and outer tie rods. These components have been identified by the dealership as needing immediate replacement. The defective components should be available for inspection upon request, pending completion of repairs. The vehicle exhibited wobbli... Read more
Incident date: Jan 23, 2025
Engine oil is burning with out discharging from the engine. Can find no leak anywhere in the engine compartment. Constantly adding oil to the car as the oil indicator isn’t working either. The engine compression is spot on to manufacturers specifications. If the engine runs out of oil it could lead to a crash. Suspension: Loud popping in the rear drivers side when first moving. Don’t know ... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
GLC 300
(2022) - SUSPENSION
Mar 24, 2025
Incident date: Mar 24, 2025
I just purchased this vehicle from Hertz authorized dealer in December 2024, January 2025 the Electrical system, infotainment became non functioning. This caused my vehicle to stall, on star safety charge, etc to fail and not function. No communication within the vehicle that is an electric vehicle that requires this system for all components to function and provide a safe car to drive. Power to v... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2025
While driving on [XXX] N in Jacksonville, FL on [XXX]. Driving below the recommended speed limit my Jeep Cherokee Sport started to rattle and shake so violently I almost lost control of the vehicle. I hit a small bump in the road, was forced off to the right side and the front drivers wheel broke off from the drum. It was a frightening experience and could have lost my life as the highway was bus... Read more
Incident date: Mar 23, 2025
Rear leaf spring failure at the front mounting point. This happened while the bed was empty and under normal driving conditions. The dealer would not say if this part would be replaced due to a defect because the vehicle was past the manufacture warranty. I will replace the part myself due to how long the dealer said it would take to schedule me for an appointment as I can not go without a vehicle... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2021) - SUSPENSION
Mar 24, 2025
Incident date: Jul 17, 2024
Had my truck in for service and they found a cracked right front CV axle and carrier joint. I was told that this is a safety issue and could lead to uncontrolled steering, but then was told by two different dealers that the part is on national backorder with no time frame for availability. I was also told that this is a common issue and other RAM1500 models have had warranty repair or recalls, b... Read more
Incident date: Jun 4, 2024
Every time this car comes to a stop, it rocks back and forth significantly on its suspension. Even at low speeds, it is noticeable when breaking, with about a second and a half of five to six rebounds back and forth. It is highly prominent with stronger braking or stop-and-go traffic, resulting in about two seconds of hard rocking back and forth. This problem happens more when the car is being dr... Read more
Incident date: Jun 4, 2024
We purchased a Tesla Model X 2 years ago and have driven a little over 10,000 miles on it. The car has had continuous suspension problems which resulted in replacing the half shaft twice, control arms and now suspension pins. We drive solely on city roads and highways, it does not seem safe that a car used for regular commute to/from work and school would have such serious mechanical problems so e... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2025
Rear left axle snapped in half. Heard hissing noise which turned out to be fluids spraying. Purchased vehicle from Anderson Ford dealership in Kingman in 2022 with 95995 miles on it. I've only put 12,000 miles on it in 3 years. I'm [XXX] and do not drive aggressively. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Incident date: Mar 21, 2025
Oil consumption causing hesitation and near-stalling. Hard shifting as well. These issues led to dangerous situations where I was afraid to drive the vehicle and feared for my family's safety. Also had a failed A/C compressor which i had to replace out of pocket. These things shouldn't be happening on a 4 year old vehicle.
Incident date: Mar 20, 2025
The suspension on this vehicle is out of control. The vehicle jumps, and It moves from one side to another over any road bump. The car only has 60,000 miles and it shouldn't be doing that, it's unsafe and it can cause an accident.
Incident date: Mar 20, 2025
Vehicle suspension fault detected light turned on. Vehicle keeps adjusting on its own while on the freeway in traffic. Feels like it stalls. Hear popping noise. Vehicle only had 14k miles and was never used for off roading.
Incident date: Jun 1, 2024
The Bluetooth system consistently malfunctions with detaching from the Internet while listening to music When making hard left after washing car there’s a loud rubbing sound emitting from the undercarriage on the left side
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 2500
(2024) - SUSPENSION
Mar 21, 2025
Incident date: Mar 21, 2025
Loud popping noise when steering started at about 2000 miles. The entire steering rack was replaced. At 7000 miles the noise is back along with a clicking in the steering wheel. Took it to the dealership again and they adjusted the clock spring, but it is still there. I am worried because I am afraid my steering will fail. The dealer did reproduce the problem both times. No independent inspection.... Read more