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: Dec 30, 2025
the light came on that says cannot move vehicle, it just stopped. The Power Transfer Unit went out--I cannot get a part since it is backordered over 1200 people right now are having issues with the part of the vehicle
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2024) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jan 28, 2026
Incident date: Jan 28, 2026
My rear passenger door flys open while driving. It happens during very cold weather. It also will not latch when trying to shut it after getting off the road and trying to shut it. My daughter has been in the seat next to the door each time and it has happened multiple times. Betten Chevrolet has tried to fix it twice and it is currently in their shop. This is totally unsafe!
Incident date: Dec 2, 2025
Rusted out fuel tank shield that protects against objects piercing fuel tank and catching fire
Incident date: Dec 30, 2025
When charging my Silverado EV at Level 3 DC Fast chargers it is not charging at the same Voltage / Power as it has been in the past at the same stations (roughly half the power). I have taken it to the service center for diagnostics but they were unable to isolate the component that caused this problem, only reproduce the problem. Further details below. What component or system failed or malfunc... Read more
Incident date: Jan 18, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that the white paint was peeling off the vehicle. Large white pieces from the rear hood started to peel off first. Then, the white paint from the rear and later both rear sides, the paint was peeling off, stemming from manufacturing defects in the application of its three-stage finish, leading to peeling and flaking that can impact resale val... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2026
As reported. while driving the vehicle at night the driver noticed smoke externally behind the truck, upon pulling over smoke started to enter the cab through the dash vents. The driver immediately exited the vehicle went to the front of the vehicle and opened the hood and smoke came from the engine compartment. A flame/fire could be seen in the engine compartment. 911 emergency services were call... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Dec 29, 2025
Rear window EXPLODED sending glass 10' out and then 4 to 5 feet inside the vehicle. Defroster had been turned off about 15 minutes prior. Was starting to backout of parking spot when an explosion of glass flew in/out of vehicle then hissing sounds, ending with sound of glass falling.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
On Jan 5, 2026 I was driving locally at about 40-45 mph. All of a sudden 3 indicator lights came on ABS, Brake, and Brake System Warning Light. There were no noises, but the brakes felt different. They did stop when needed. I left space between myself and others just in case, did not want an accident. Called my regular mechanic. They advised to not drive the car, but to bring it into the shop at 8... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2025
Rear windshield shattered into pieces when the vehicle was started.
Incident date: Jul 22, 2025
I heard a popping sound from behind driver seat when I started the car. A few minutes later a dash warning showed up "stop vehicle and check battery state" followed by a complete loss of power on the road within 3 miles of reduced power driving (I was trying to find a safe spot to turn out of 6 lane road). Vehicle had to be towed to dealer who states the Integrated Charge Control Unit ICCU is not ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2025
Horn fuse has blown 4 times in 5000 miles leaving the vehicle unsafe to operate. Problem is reproduced and confirmed. First started in November 2025 and 4th fuse was placed January 2026.
Incident date: Jan 28, 2026
My husband was shoveling snow off of our vehicles and seen smoke coming from under the hood of his truck. When he opened the hood the truck was on fire on the right side. The truck was turned off when this happened. He threw snow on top of it to put the fire out and unplugged the battery to prevent further fire damage.
Fire
Incident date: Jan 10, 2026
Sun roof fabric/covering came off tracks and is now sagging. Many forums on this issue. When driving if windows are down, the fabric flaps in the wind and sounds like it will fly off. I no longer drive with the windows down. If it continues to sag, could obstruct rear view.
Incident date: Dec 9, 2025
The tailgate randomly opens and closes during driving causing contents to fall out of the tailgate and creating a hazard for other motorists and damaging personal property. The tailgate now will not open and there is no manual override to open the tailgate. Certainly a design flaw and now not allowing access to the tailgate. I've contacted 5 local gm/chevrolet dealer service departments and they c... Read more
Incident date: Jan 28, 2019
Two issues: 1. The paint on my rooftop in front of the sunroof began peeling off three months ago. I’ve read and MANY owners of the same model within a two year timeframe have had the exact same issue and we realized it’s a manufacturer’s problem. The manufacturer however, is saying it’s out of warranty and that’s absurd because now we all have to pay $2000+ to have our entire roof repai... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2024
I got an oil change 12/20/2025 and was told I have an oil leak coming from under the timing cover. An estimated expense of $4000 to repair. My vehicle is newer, 2019 and only has 77,000 miles on it. This issue shouldn’t be happening to a newer car.
MERCEDES-BENZ
ML350
(2014) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jan 28, 2026
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
Napleton Alfa Romeo of Indianapolis is refusing to perform the recall work on my car.
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
Today at 1/27/25 630 pm my vehicle caught fire.i was told that the vehicle was subject to the Active Curve System (Recall 18V272) and Fuel Pump (Recall 23V010).
Fire
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2019) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jan 27, 2026
Incident date: Jan 20, 2026
Driver seat belt gets stuck sometimes or sometimes does not want to click not often but pretty randomly. The driver window control panel also started to smoke for 5 minutes the smoke started coming out the whole driver panel door and caused excessive heat. Seems that something burnt it was smelling like burnt plastic .
Incident date: Apr 9, 2003
I had recall 162 - engine replacement completed in 2024 , now I have fuel leak at high pressure fuel pump, the pump that is a component of the engine has now failed which was installed during the engine replacement which can cause a major fire
Incident date: Jan 9, 2026
2nd time rear window shattered for no reason 1/27/26 1st time 11/7/2023 Fortunately no one is car when happened PARKED CAR
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
On returning to my locked vehicle that had been in the parking ramp for 3 days, I started the car and the display message indicated that my vehicle was completely out of gas and the oil was very low. The vehicle had nearly a full tank of gas when it was parked. The vehicle was towed to the dealership who assessed the vehicle. The service department indicated that the vehicle likely did not soun... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2025
My 2019 Toyota Camry has 75,000 miles and is experiencing a premature and progressive transmission failure that creates serious safety risks. Symptoms include hesitation and loss of power during acceleration, harsh and delayed shifting, RPMs increasing without vehicle movement, failure to properly engage gears (including reverse), and loud whining/grinding noises. These issues make the vehicle un... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
Battery is constantly in battery saving mode. It use to do it only when I was on vacation for a week or so. Now it has been doing this every single day for about the last two month.
Incident date: Jun 15, 2025
Battery went dead when car was less than 4 years old!
Incident date: Jan 26, 2026
The AC charging for this car stopped working around [XXX]. After 3 trips to the dealership for repair I brought it back a 4th time and because the dealership was unable to repair it they gave me a loaner to use while they tried to figure out the problem. During this time they removed the entire battery from the car, dropped the suspension, experienced the car not being able to go into gear (rever... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2024) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jan 27, 2026
Incident date: Sep 17, 2025
The sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving on the freeway. The sun shade was closed but had it been open, the glass would have entered the cabin and potential for harm. In addition, the loud bang was a distraction and had there been more heavy traffic there was potential for accident. There was no identified object that hit the sunroof. The car was taken to the dealership for repair and in... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
The vehicle is subject to an open federal safety recall involving a fuel injector that may crack and leak fuel onto the top of the engine. According to NHTSA, liquid fuel or fuel vapor may accumulate near hot engine or exhaust components, creating a risk of an under-hood fire and injury. I purchased this vehicle after the recall had already been issued. The recall was not disclosed to me at the t... Read more
Incident date: Nov 11, 2025
On [XXX], our 2016 Kia Sorento (VIN: [XXX] ) caught fire while being driven on a public highway in Houston, Texas. The vehicle had been operating normally and displayed no warning lights, alerts, or diagnostic trouble codes prior to the incident. The driver was forced to pull over immediately for safety. The fire caused catastrophic damage and resulted in a total loss of the vehicle. Law enforcem... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jan 25, 2026
The dealer refused to perform the required FRM recall inspection and denied the recall without providing any of the federally required documentation. I was forced to pay out‑of‑pocket for the FRM module replacement even though my VIN is listed under the safety recall. MINI of Murray stated my FRM “failed,” but admitted they never opened the module, which is required to determine internal m... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2025
I'm seeing frequency emergency braking when trying to back into a clear parking space. This occurs about 8-10 times a year. The sensors are clean. There are no doors or lift gates ajar.
Incident date: Dec 18, 2025
Air bags did not deploy during accident Black box did not record any incident occurred and vehicle was totaled vehicle black box data was downloaded by manufacturer representative accident report was submitted On October 28 2025 a deer ran in front of us and we hit it at approximately 55mph vehicle was determined to be totaled after insurance adjuster reviewed Sheriff deputy and tow truck driver b... Read more
Incident date: Jun 18, 2025
The roadway on [XXX] is severely destroyed with extensive erosion, deep potholes, and complete surface failure. The previous resurfacing was a cheap top-layer only job (few inches deep), which eroded quickly and left massive depressions that damaged my car's suspension (requiring repairs) and create ongoing risks of vehicle damage, loss of control, hydroplaning, and accidents for all drivers. Th... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2026
My key fob doesn’t register even while in car, my battery drains daily has to recieve jump off every Otha day if not daily, door open indicator shows open on all doors even when closed, car locks won’t disengage automatically but your system shows no recalls something’s wrong with it
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2017) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jan 27, 2026
Incident date: Apr 18, 2024
Component Failure: This vehicle has suffered a recurring "Loss of Motive Power" (LMP) while in motion. On [XXX], for the third time, the internal combustion engine shut off completely while the vehicle was being driven in traffic. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: This incident occurred on a public road in New York during a severe winter storm with over a foot of ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 14, 2026
There is a loud sound coming from behind the glove box when the heater is going. This issue was recalled in 2023 but it has returned.
Incident date: Jan 26, 2026
The roadway near [XXX] has progressive subsidence over more than 2 years, resulting in a reversed/inadequate gradient. Severe stormwater ponding after rain forms a river-like pool of standing water contaminated with toxic waste, raw sewage, industrial pollution, chemicals, ankle-biter mosquito larvae (breeding vector for diseases like West Nile), dirt, mud, animal droppings, litter, and dead plan... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
Rear windshield shattered spontaneously.
Incident date: Dec 27, 2025
Rear windshield of 2019 Acura RDX shattered while driving approximately 35 mph and the rear defroster was on. Nothing hit my car. It was extremely loud and startling. Luckily, I was on a surface street driving fairly slowly and nobody was next to me when I quickly exited the lane. Lucky no one was hurt. Despite there being a service bulletin, Acura refused to assist in the repair.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
I'm having problems with my paint. It is very fragile. If a mosquito hits it it chips. I took it to the dealership Flagstaff Findlay Toyota in Arizona. They completed an assessment. They said that someone did not put a clearcoat on the car. That is why the paint is defective. The only accident that the car has ever been in was by Findlay Flagstaff Toyota. They dropped my vehicle off the lift when ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2025
During normal winter operation with the heater in use, the center console area becomes excessively hot. I have measured surface temperatures exceeding approximately 130°F using an infrared thermometer. The affected area includes interior touch surfaces, cup holders, and a factory-installed wireless phone charging pad. The heat appears to originate from HVAC ducting routed through the center cons... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
The automatic locking of the vehicle doors when the speed reaches approximately 15 mph will not occur. This is supposed to prevent inadvertent door opening while at speed. Local dealer has verified the conditions as other vehicles were also deficient.
Incident date: Dec 10, 2025
The navigation system does not work. It places the vehicle in places where it is not and shows erroneous speed limit displays and erroneous messages about traffic conditions which do not exist where the vehicle is actually located. The Volkswagen dealer says they have no fix for this and that many of their models have this problem.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
2016 FORD Explorer EXTERIOR A-PILLAR & B-PILLAR APPLIQUE TRIM CLIP THIS MAY RESULT IN THE B-PILLAR TRIM APPLIQUES DETACHING WHILE DRIVING. A B-PILLAR TRIM APPLIQUE THAT DETACHES WHILE DRIVING CAN CREATE A ROAD HAZARD FOR OTHER VEHICLES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. The problem been confirmed by a Ford dealer The vehicle has been inspected by the Ford Dealership with no resolutions availabl... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2026
Back glass was shattered with no visible impact. Back glass was replaced by Safelite.
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
September 19, 2024: NHSTA Recall 24V-700 due to lithium battery fire risk. I was advised: Do not quick charge. Two interim letters were sent in October and November 2024 saying no remedy was available; do not quick charge. A third interim letter was in June 2025 sent saying do not quick charge but remedy would be available in third quarter 2025. All of the above is verified in NHSTA Safety Recall... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
Automatic Idle Stop function fails. The car idles down while at a stop and then the entire car will shut off and fail to restart. This occurs frequently at stoplights, stop signs, in traffic or any time the vehicle idles down. The car fails to restart right away resulting in multiple attempts to start the engine and poses a danger to occupants in traffic.
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
Our Kia Telluride caught fire after sitting for about 3 hours. My husband had driven it that day with no issue. After it sat in our driveway for 3 hours, we noticed that it was on fire. The fire started in the back/underneath part of the vehicle. It was a complete loss.
Fire
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2025) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jan 27, 2026
Incident date: Aug 18, 2025
The rear view camera on my vehicle has not worked for months. 99% of the time I reverse, camera is blacked out and says to visit dealership. The 1% that it works, half the time it'll show an inverted view. This is related to recall 25SA9/25V695. Parts have been unavailable since October 2025. I explained this to Ford Customer Service and they advised me to take it to a dealership to get it repaire... Read more