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 117,775 complaints - component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
Coolant leaking into cylinders. Repair shops said it was a known Ford issue with the 1.5 ecoboost engine. Causes the coolant to leak out and the engine to overheat and the overflow tank to leak.
Incident date: Mar 22, 2026
The defect has left the driver stranded several times and required multiple tows due to the vehicle becoming unsafe and inoperable. On one occasion, the vehicle broke down after a 2.5-hour drive away from home and had to be towed because the overheating and coolant leak issue made it unsafe to continue driving. The vehicle is operated in a region where summer temperatures frequently exceed 115°... Read more
Incident date: Nov 7, 2025
I am reporting a failure in the integrity of Federal Safety Recall completion and documentation at Kia of Daphne. On 2/6/26, I was issued official paperwork stating a recall part was 'Special Ordered.' On 4/3, I attempted to call for FU in part progress. Informed “recall was done and replaced 2/6, and no part was ordered.” Advisor requested I speak to manager, I declined, request they speak t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
The TCM went out with zero warning and I know that this is a huge problem known with many of the Chevy equinox and traverse. Recalls on my equinox have not been updated since August of 2021....that's a very long time with no updates
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
The telematics module aka OnStar, doesn’t not work.
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
Complaint Summary: I am filing a complaint regarding a potentially defective A/C compressor that is producing abnormal noise and may indicate premature failure. Description of Issue: My vehicle’s A/C compressor produces a loud, rhythmic “chugging” or knocking noise at idle when the A/C system is off. The noise is excessive and not consistent with normal operation. When the A/C is turned on,... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
I was gifted my vehicle around October 2024 by my parents. It had less than 70k miles and was in great condition. The rear view camera only works intermittently with no recognizable reason or incident in time. I still look behind me but worry about pedestrians who are not readily visible. I have had no one attempt to diagnose the problem as I generally park away from most others if feesible and li... Read more
Incident date: Mar 25, 2026
The emergency door release handle is cracked and has the potential to fail during an emergency. Tesla refuses to replace or repair under warranty.
Incident date: Apr 8, 2025
While driving down the highway late at night, with no other cars around, the panoramic sunroof exploded, throwing shattered glass everywhere. The window was not hit by an object and had no previous damage. Shattered flying glass while moving at highway speeds caused a momentary loss of control.
Incident date: Mar 19, 2026
Car shifts out of gear and when trying to accelerate the car won’t go any faster. Feels like it slips out of gear. Happened out of the blue, NO check engine light and no warning
Incident date: Jun 1, 2024
While driving, the moonroof on my 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD suddenly exploded with a loud bang and the glass blew outward. There was no impact, debris, or external cause. The sound was similar to a gunshot. The remaining glass appeared to be pushed upward/outward, not inward. This created a safety hazard due to potential driver distraction and risk of injury from falling glass. This appears consist... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
SPRINTER 2500
(2021) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 6, 2026
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
Four separate incidents but related incidents. Primary concern: vehicle turns off and puts itself in park without notice and cannot be restarted. Two incidents were in traffic at a stop light, and the vehicle could not be started for 12-15 minutes. Two times it occurred while the vehicle had been parked for a short period of time but could not be restarted. March 4, 2026 driver was stopped at a... Read more
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
While pulling up to a curb to park in residential community, my car suddenly accelerated. It came to a stop after 15’ when I hit the brakes. Fortunately nothing or no one was in front of me. No more incidents have occurred. No warning msgs or lights. No other symptoms. Having dealer diagnose this week.
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
Multiple dash lights are on and vehicle is running poorly. Was told it was the differential dual pump fluid it was replaced. Dashboard lights are still on. Battery is not that old removed any corrosion on it but still getting dashboard lights.
Incident date: Mar 11, 2026
I brought my vehicle to a Honda dealership for a safety recall repair (airbag/SRS related). After the repair, the SRS warning light appeared on my dashboard, indicating a potential safety issue with the airbag system. This issue was not present before the recall repair. It appeared shortly after the dealership completed the service. I contacted the dealership multiple times, but they have not resp... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2019) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 6, 2026
Incident date: Jun 14, 2024
My 2024 Subaru Outback has twice become inoperable while stopped at a traffic signal. In both incidents, the engine was off while stopped, but the vehicle remained powered on and would not restart. The vehicle also would not properly power down. The car could not be safely driven or moved and required towing both times. This created a serious safety hazard because the vehicle became disabled in ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2026
This RV is a Manufactured defect Nightmare through Estimates and Insurance Estimate and inspection have 15 defects from [XXX] with over 50 pictures showing Manufacturing defects and inspection from Progressive Insurance found over 53 itemize report with what was wrong with the trailer with over 100 pictures. We had to voluntary surrender this RV to Huntington National bank because no one would he... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
I have 2 issues going on with my vehicle. The trim on the outside of my doors is coming off which I know was a recall for some telluride vehicles about this old. Also ive been having some electrical issues/hot smell like something is burning if the heated seats get turned on.
Incident date: Mar 23, 2026
Rear Backup Camera keeps malfunctioning. The display screen from camera glitches or goes black and eventually it will state that rear camera is not available.
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2018) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 6, 2026
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
The glass between windshield and panoramic sunroof has 2 cracks starting on the drivers side and continuing all the way across to the passenger side. we dont recall an objects hitting the glass.
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
On 4/4/2026, my child sustained a serious finger injury involving the power sliding door. The child activated the power sliding door using the interior door button. While the door was closing, the child’s hand remained on the front (leading) edge of the sliding door where it meets the door frame (B-pillar). The child’s finger became caught between the closing door and the frame. The power sl... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 25, 2026
My car caught on fire while I was driving in 3/30/26. The far started somewhere in/near the front driver’s side, initial observed flames were coming from just above the front driver’s side tire. There were no warning lights on at the time the fire started. The car was a total loss by the time firefighters arrived.
Fire
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
My son's car was hit by this Buick while he was making a right turn. The driver of the Buick was not paying attention and thought he had already turned. She accelerated into him and AEB did not prevent it. We are not sure why this Buick's ADAS failed. It is not our car, but that of the person who hit us. I don't know the answers to the above question as we were not the driver and it is not our car... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
I have a Kia Seltos 2021 AWD EX 24,700 mi. that was recalled and new engine put in on April 12th 2025 to fix grinding noise that occurred 4 times the end of March starting on the 17th 2025. On Dec. 12th 2025 Grinding noise started again. Couldn't find anything wrong and told them to try harder. Said needed software update back to what it was before engine put in. My problem: I don't have the 5 yea... Read more
DODGE
CHALLENGER
(2018) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 6, 2026
Incident date: Feb 1, 2024
I don't have any problem with my car but the dealer is taking to long to fix the recall i need to register my vehicle 4/22/2026
TOYOTA
CAMRY HYBRID
(2026) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 6, 2026
Incident date: Dec 16, 2025
All alarms are on. Breaks adaptive cruise control hill assist and all other alarms. Taken in to 2 Honda deals and serval mechanics they cannot figure out what’s wrong with it. About once a month all the alarms will clear while driving and the car sensors will start making the car drive odd. Have to fight the steering wheel to keep it straight and wheels will independently break, thinking it’s... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2025
While driving at high way speeds the radio volume went to maximum high. I was unable to turn the volume down by any inputs. Mute was inoperative. Volume controls were overridden by the glitch. My hearing has been affected as well as the infant that was in the back seat. This is a serious condition that has now happened 4 times. No assistance from General Motors. My ears have been ringing for... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
The air conditioning system on my 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid has failed due to a refrigerant leak. The symptoms began with a complete loss of cooling on the driver’s side while the passenger side remained cool. Eventually, the system failed to provide cool air to the entire cabin. This is a significant safety concern as the failure of the A/C system prevents the climate control from effectively de... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
Basically normal driving the car stalled. It slowed to a stall. I had to restart the car. This has happened a couple to times.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
Took dealer 3/26 for Sam issue Engine Power reduced after already cause me hit curb. Got it out 4/1/26 Now 4/5/26 it happened again same codes after they claimed they fixed it. Also keep having Emergency services come on a caused my dashboard out. My issues is car keeps stalling losing power. Same codes as week ago after dealer fix. Also 4 time took for noises in my car from passenger side. They k... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
Trunk is flooding when it rains.
Incident date: Mar 26, 2026
The vehicle experienced a complete loss of communication with the ABS control module, resulting in multiple warning lights and loss of ABS and related safety systems. The failure is consistent with Volkswagen Recall 45F2, which describes internal ground and solder failures in the ABS module. Prior to total failure, the vehicle exhibited intermittent warning lights and an ABS fault code (01130 –... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Vehicle: Ford EcoSport Issue: Overheating / Unsafe to Drive After Recall Repairs Dealership: Bolton Ford Dates: Vehicle at dealership since December 31, 2025 Complaint Text: My Ford EcoSport has been at the dealership since December 31 for multiple recall repairs. After the recall work was completed, the dealership informed me that the vehicle now has an overheating issue and another non‑recal... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
Backup camera image intermittently goes out and just shows a mostly black image. It appears to match a previous recall that does not yet cover our model year (2023): 24V071000. The image can sometimes be restored by slamming the hatchback shut, but it is not a permanent fix.
Incident date: Feb 9, 2026
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Horn began sounding unexpectedly and intermittently while driving and parked. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The uncontrollable horn startled surrounding motorists and pedestrians, causing confusion and defensive reactions. While removing the fuse temporarily stopped the n... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
The panoramic sunroof, shade, plastic brackets become brittle annd fail very fast and becomes hanging down while you are driving and blocks your complete vision very dangerous . It is not safe at all. It totally blocks your vision.
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
Recall on the hydraulic control unit/anti-lock brake system A brake light incorrectly resulting other drivers not receiving proper indication to stop or slow down which can cause a vehicle crash without prior warning. Call my local dealership and MOPAR and informed me that they still do not have the part to fix this recall. It has been more an an year and half without resolution. They have not i... Read more
Incident date: Feb 21, 2026
I've never had a problem staying awake driving. I don't have this problem in my vehicles or other vehicles. Every time I drove the car. I could not stay awake. I ve driven the car about 5xs. I would fall asleep and not even realize it. Now fell asleep driving the car two nights ago. No warnings went off and I drove over one lane and off into the center medium. No lane change warnings went off. B... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
While driving west across [XXX] , towing a 5x8 enclosed trailer, there was a smell of burnt rubber and I pulled over to inspect for a busted tire. At no time were there indicator lights on the dash. Upon bringing the vehicle to a stop on the side of the road the cabin began to fill with smoke. I popped the hood of the car with the intention of looking to see what was occurring. Exiting the vehicle... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
The axle on the vehicle clicks when turning. Honda offered to replace the part and I took the vehicle in, only to be told that Honda is not fixing this part because it is a known defect with no fix. This was in December 2025. As of this date, no fix has been found. Additionally, the driver’s side window makes a ton of wind noise when driving over 30mph. Honda failed to find the cause for the i... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2024) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 5, 2026
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
Component: VISIBILITY / SUN VISOR Vehicle: 2023 Toyota Corolla Both the driver-side and passenger-side sun visors in my 2023 Toyota Corolla have failed within approximately two years of normal use. The visors no longer remain in their intended position and instead fall downward unexpectedly. When this occurs, the visor drops directly into the driver’s field of vision, creating a significant safe... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding a defect in my 2020 BMW X3 that has resulted in the failure of a critical emergency safety system. The vehicle displayed an error message indicating an “Emergency Call System Malfunction.” I brought the vehicle to BMW of Murrieta on March 30, 2026, for diagnosis and repair. Upon inspection, the service center determined that the Telematic C... Read more
Incident date: Mar 23, 2026
I am reporting an unresolved safety recall (NHTSA 26V030, Volkswagen recall 93EA) involving a high-voltage battery defect with potential risk of fire. My vehicle (VIN: [XXX] ) was purchased in the United States but is currently located in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The authorized Volkswagen distributor in the Dominican Republic has confirmed they are unable to perform the recall repair, ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
The sunroof mechanism in the vehicle jammed and broke out of the track. When my wife drove the vehicle in the interstate the sunroof began to vibrate and move around. She was afraid the glass was about to fly out and possibly hit a vehicle behind her. She had to reduce her speed excessively and my daughter had to hold on to the sunroof all the way home. The vehicle is well maintained with approx ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
Two safety recalls are on the vehicle including defective seatbelts and inadequate safety from bodily injury in a rollover with no available fixes or repairs making the vehicle unsuitable and unusable for a family. I can no longer drive this car.
Incident date: Mar 27, 2026
I am submitting this complaint as a follow-up to three prior NHTSA complaints regarding this same vehicle: Complaint #11714848 (submitted 2/1/2026) Complaint #11714852 (submitted 2/1/2026) Complaint #11716040 (submitted 2/5/2026) These prior complaints document a progression of serious electrical, charging, and vehicle control issues that have worsened over time. Initially, the vehicle experien... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2024
In the 2026 Yukons, almost all physical buttons have been replaced by the giant center touchscreen. When starting my vehicle, about a third of the time the screen will not come on, and can’t be turned back on by any means. It will randomly come back on after a few more trips/restarts. This renders several critical systems inoperable. All HVAC does not work, defrosters aren’t available, back ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
While driving in slow, heavy highway traffic, the vehicle suffered a structural failure of the rear crossmember / rear subframe due to severe rust. This is a safety-critical structural component and part of the rear suspension mounting system. When braking, the vehicle swerved hard to the right and crossed into the shoulder. Fortunately, the vehicle was already in the right lane, which likely prev... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2023) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 5, 2026
Incident date: Mar 24, 2026
Part came off while on my way to church at some point and was unable to locate the piece that came off
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2022) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 5, 2026
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
In cold weather the doors will become unlatched and open. This has happened to all 4 doors, driver side, passenger side, rear driver and rear passenger. We will be driving and the doors will randomly become unlatched and fly open. We have small children and they could have been killed due to this incident. It is extremely unsafe and problematic. We are unbelievably fortunate that our children ha... Read more