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.

2,245,377 Total Complaints

140,173 Reported Crashes

56,794 Reported Fires

8,580 Reported 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

How to Read NHTSA Consumer Complaints › How NHTSA Investigations Work › Used Car: 7 Recall Checks to Run First › The Takata Airbag Recall: Full Story › OBD-II Codes Explained › All Articles ›

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Showing 117,775 complaints - component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Incident date: Jun 11, 2026

Truck failed to find gear shuddered lost speed in traffic while going up a hill. Limp mode was initiated. This is a known manufacturers defect with a tsb applied against the known issue. Issue is widespread when researched but not made known by the manufacturer of the truck. Dealership refusing repair under goodwill due to truck being out of mileage by 5000miles. Symptoms started prior to exiting ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 6, 2026

Around 68432miles my 2018 Honda CRV EXL AWD has started getting the problem of "Shutter Grill problem, power reduced" warning light. It often happens on highway speeds after about 75-100 miles of driving on long trips. Its very dangerous once I encounter it in the middle of the highway with reduced power to operate the vehicle safely. Have not encountered this issue in city driving at all. Once ... Read more

Incident date: Sep 1, 2025

Sudden Unintended Acceleration

Crash

Incident date: Aug 4, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? During a multipoint inspection that was earlier than advised due to multiple dashboard lights engaging, we were told that our car has an oil leak due from the timing covers and lower pan seal. They removed the oil separator and found value stem seals to be out towards the exhaust side creating an oil... Read more

Incident date: Aug 7, 2026

Each of the last 4 summers I have had air conditioning issues, this vehicle does not blow cold air for roughly 30 minutes into active use of the vehicle. In the Arizona climate this creates a danger to children and elderly adults during the summer months.

Incident date: Aug 25, 2024

While driving, the dashboard lit up with warnings about forward collision, lane departure, lane keeping assistance, breaks, speed etc. that keep cycling through with alarm sounds on the dashboard. I have brought my car to the dealership few times and they reprogram the car but the issue keeps coming back randomly. Seems like a loose connection somewhere. I am afraid of driving when it happens.

Incident date: Jul 30, 2026

At 70,000 miles I was just told my transmission id failing. After much research I am finding that this is a common issue with the Toyota CHR and CVT transmissions. Apparently Toyota is aware of this issue but has not issued a recall. I waited to buy this car for years and thought it would be my last car ever. I'm [XXX] and thought a Toyota would last. I just paid it off. You know and I know a tra... Read more

Incident date: Jun 25, 2026

I believe my car should be in the ac recall for faulty ac motor/wire harness due to my ac is only cooling on passenger side. Blowing hot on driver. I’m afraid it may catch fire as I read this can happen.

Incident date: Aug 6, 2026

Transmission developed severe Shuddering in and out of Lockup. Was told Ford was aware of problem. Check engine light came on intermittently. Took car to dealership. Was diagnosed with Shuddering in and out of lockup. Estimated repair bill totaled $11,321.25.

Incident date: Jul 22, 2026

I am reporting a chronic manufacturing defect on my 2020 BMW X3 that poses an immediate electrical short-circuit and vehicle safety hazard. The passenger-side panoramic sunroof drainage system/roof structure leaks water heavily through the side panel joint of the door frame, directly saturating the front passenger floor carpet. This issue has been ongoing since I received the vehicle in 2020.The v... Read more

Incident date: Dec 1, 2021

All lights comes on. Car shuts down, and electrical misfire

Incident date: Jun 22, 2026

My Honda Accord 2022 has a touchscreen in the center dashboard. Many times it will not register touches, and many times there will be phantom touches wherein the screen clicks randomly without anyone touching it.

Incident date: Jun 3, 2025

Was driving to dinner with my wife and 2 kids and we heard a loud sound like a shot gun went off. After pulling into a parking lot we a hole in the moon roof and the glass push outward like it exploded.

Incident date: May 31, 2026

I am writing to report several safety incidents that occurred while using Full Self-Driving (FSD) mode on my 2023 Model 3. Below are the details of the specific behaviors observed: - Right turn on red almost crashed into an oncoming car from the left - Hard emergency brake due to a bird that was in the opposite lane - Additional emergency brake around 10 seconds later for no reason - Run... Read more

Incident date: Aug 11, 2026

Right when I turned the car on, a million different alarms went off saying different systems weren’t available. Then I started driving, and it accelerated normally, but when I took foot off accelerator: it didn’t slow down. This was really noticeable because I had one pedal drive on, which means taking foot off the gas acts as a very light brake. I could slow down with the brake, but then as s... Read more

Incident date: May 29, 2026

I purchased this vehicle in April of 2026, 4 days after bringing it home it began displaying a “Shift To Park” message in the dash, essentially making it so the vehicle will not shut off even when the vehicle is in park. Took it to a shop and they diagnosed it as a common issue across the 2021 Malibus and stated the entire shifter assembly needed replaced. Have not had it replaced yet due to n... Read more

Incident date: Aug 5, 2026

Moonroof had a seal leak. Ford replaced entire moonroof assembly. 3 weeks later the moonroof spontaneously shattered while driving down 40 MPH road, no trees, no rocks, etc. Fortunately, the inner cloth canopy was closed or shattered glass would have fallen down and hit driver and passengers.

Incident date: Jun 1, 2026

The power door-lock system on my 2021 Honda Passport malfunctions while the vehicle is moving. When I make a right turn, the doors unexpectedly unlock, the interior dome light comes on, and I hear the door-unlocking sound. The doors do not physically open, but I must manually lock them again while driving. The problem occurs repeatedly during right turns. This malfunction creates a safety risk be... Read more

Incident date: Jul 29, 2026

*VIN:* [XXX] *Make/Model/Year:* 2023 RAM 1500 LARAM DT *Mileage at failure:* 53,883 *Recall:* 75B - ABS Module Configuration Mismatch (launched 09/12/2024) + 67D Rear Seat Belt Buckle Anchor Bolt (08/06/2026) + A1B Turn Signal Lever Latch (10/08/2024) *Dealer:* Falvey's Motors Inc DBA Falvey's Premium, 300 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360 — RO [XXX] / Control [XXX] — Service Advisor Caitlin Violett... Read more

Incident date: Aug 8, 2026

Faulty air condenser. Condenser had a hole.

Incident date: Aug 10, 2026

My car has very high oil consumption. I regularly take it for oil changes and have never missed an oil change. In between oil changes I need to put anywhere between 2-3 bottles of oil in. I have taken it in to the dealership for a couple of oil consumption tests that both failed step one so they kept it overnight and did some kind of flush or cleanse and then it passed step 2 both times. The car i... Read more

Incident date: Aug 10, 2026

Cylinder head gaskets failure with coolant migrating into the cylinders, available for inspection upon request; Dahl Honda Sheboygan took videos of inspection and liquid in the cylinders. Upon starting the car, the engine sounded strange and sluggish. As I started to drive, engine sounded like it was misfiring. I was able to drive only 10-25 mph (safety issue) from residence to the Dahl dealership... Read more

Incident date: Aug 10, 2026

Took car in May to hemborg ford they replaced my brake bumper it was on recall. Took car back on August 3 of 2026 brake lights staying on. Had them recheck the recall again thought it might be that. I was told it was not the issue. I needed to change out brake switch and had to pay diagnostic fee so a total of just under 300. My brake lights stay on while driving my car and when we park the car. t... Read more

Incident date: Nov 25, 2019

While driving straight ahead in my lane on a wet freeway in an active construction zone, the vehicle abruptly and without warning lost traction and spun out of control. I was traveling in a normal, controlled manner with the flow of traffic and was not turning, braking hard, or making any abrupt maneuver when the loss of control occurred. It was so sudden that I initially believed another vehicle ... Read more

Crash 2 injured

Incident date: Aug 9, 2026

My driver side seat belt will not stay latched. The screen on my dashboard will freeze up and not turn on or off

Incident date: Aug 10, 2026

The vehicle just shut off. There are 23 alerts codes.

Incident date: Aug 10, 2026

First incident. 71 mph, 101 degrees out traveling along a straight highway, I hit the seat cooler button and when I did, my car lost power. I could not get any response when I hit the accelerator. I tried several times. This was on XXX with around 500 miles on the car in the odometer. I had it less than a week. Second incident on XXX 25 mph, 105 degrees outside with 1300 miles in the odometer, I a... Read more

Incident date: Jun 11, 2025

2025 Honda Odyssey with 21.5k miles on it. Pulled up to a stoplight after a 3 hour drive. Auto stop turned the van off. When the light turned green the van failed to restart. Put the vehicle in park, turned it off, waited a few seconds and attempted to re-start it. Van restarted but very sluggish, like the battery was dead. Pulled in and parked. Van started normal the rest of the day. Took... Read more

Incident date: Aug 1, 2026

On 6/27/26 at approximately 12:30pm, I was stopped at a red light for about 10-15 seconds at a major intersection. The vehicle was stopped on a slight incline. My feet were not on the pedals, the car was set with one pedal drive engaged at the "high" setting, cruise control/pilot assist was not active, my seatbelt was on, `Creep Forward was disabled, and the car had been completely stationary for ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 10, 2026

On 8th of June 2026, exiting I35W onto Convery Dr. I notice my dash gauges failed in proving any information. I immediately pulled over turned off the vehicle and turn it on. Gauges did not work, but vehicle did start and was running normal. I utilize the Waze app to monitor my speed and arrived home safely while putting no one at risk. I had to take a different vehicle to Hopps automotive for rep... Read more

Incident date: Jun 8, 2026

I was told by oxmoor dealership I had to talk to toyota corporate before I could get my car touched and that I did not need to talk to a lawyer. I called. Prior to the accident, the vehicle had been exhibiting multiple symptoms: an intermittent airbag warning light had illuminated briefly on the dashboard on a few occasions, and the vehicle had begun requiring noticeably longer physical distance... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: May 28, 2026

My 2017 Ford Explorer is subject to Ford Safety Recall 24S02 / NHTSA Recall 24V031 for exterior A-pillar trim that may detach from the vehicle. I presented the vehicle to an authorized Ford dealer, and the dealer confirmed that my vehicle is covered by the recall. However, the dealer informed me that the required Ford recall replacement part is unavailable and that they have not received these pa... Read more

Incident date: Jul 20, 2026

Windshield wipers turned on by themselves and will not turn off, odometer is flashing, service airbag message on dash and airbag warning light flashing on dash and blinkers do not work. Stellantis cannot fix the problem and refuse to take truck back. Truck only has 3100 miles on it. Truck has been at Charlevoix Auto Ram Dealership Service since June 1, 2026. Multiple cases have been opened wit... Read more

Incident date: Aug 10, 2026

My vehicle was stopped at a busy intersection, idling in the automatic stop mode. When my husband moved his foot from the brake to the accelerator, the car stalled, orange alarm alerts went off, and the car was completely dead and stalled without power. The car needed to be restarted, and it took a few attempts to accomplish that task. I have had the same problem before with this car and have had... Read more

Incident date: Aug 1, 2024

When I drove my car earlier the car audio was maximum because I was listening to something quiet. Later that day I went to start a video that was much much louder. The sound blasted for a couple of seconds and my ears really hurt. I do not believe at this time that I have permanent damage but it is very painful. Cars should not start with the audio at maximum volume, this is a real safety hazard.

Incident date: Aug 4, 2026

I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the rear windshield glass on my Acura MDX. The rear windshield unexpectedly shattered while the vehicle was stationary, with no known impact or contact with an outside object. I was present when the glass shattered and immediately took multiple photographs and videos before the vehicle was moved. Based on what I observed, the glass appeared to br... Read more

Incident date: May 24, 2026

I purchased a brand new Mazda CX5 in 2020 that now has 46,000 miles on it. It is experiencing the known “ghost touch” issue in which the entertainment system and screen displayed in the center of the dashboard turns itself off and on, changes settings, shuts off navigation while driving, changes the radio from FM to AM, changes the time zone, drops hand free phone calls, initiatives hands free... Read more

Incident date: Jul 30, 2026

My car sat overnight and the next afternoon I drove approx. 3 miles and got a warning to at the engine “coolant temperature too high: let engine run while vehicle is stationary”. I took the car to the local dealership who diagnosed it as “coolant migration” and quoted a repair cost of nearly $5200. The vehicle is 2022 with not even 26k miles and well maintained at the same dealership. I ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 24, 2026

My Tesla Model S has a touch-sensitive horn button on the right side of the steering wheel. In urgent situations, I've often had difficulty quickly locating it to get another driver's attention. Tesla quoted me $1800 to replace the steering wheel with a model that has the horn in the center, like most other cars. This is a safety concern because owners shouldn't have to pay to move the horn for sa... Read more

Incident date: Aug 8, 2026

My camera failed and I backed into a very pole causing over $5,000 worth of damage and time I didn’t have to have it fixed. I had this fixed at the dealership I purchased the vehicle from. My exhaust always had a nasty smell to it which I addressed when I received the customer satisfaction program 17N03 notice about it and I have had it addressed many times throughout the years when I go to the ... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Aug 1, 2026

I purchase this car December 5, 2022 within 1 year I started having problems with the infotainment system glitching, muting my calls, the radio station jumping from station to station all kinds on things going on ghost touches as people describe them. The Honda dealership has replaced the screen itself and something else within the system while under warranty . This did not fix the problem it cont... Read more

Incident date: Aug 7, 2026

My 2021 Kia Soul has stalled unexpectedly while being driven on multiple occasions. When the vehicle stalls, the engine shuts off and the vehicle loses propulsion, creating a risk of a collision, particularly if it occurs in moving traffic. There have been no warning lights or messages before the vehicle stalls or when the stalling occurs. The vehicle has severe engine oil consumption. After appr... Read more

Incident date: Jul 27, 2026

Subject: Request for Safety Defect Investigation and Recall – 2018 INFINITI QX80 Infotainment/Navigation Screen To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to formally request an investigation into a serious and recurring problem with the infotainment/navigation screen in my 2018 INFINITI QX80 and to request that INFINITI consider a safety recall or other appropriate remedy. The screen is malfunctionin... Read more

Incident date: Aug 8, 2026

While driving with apple carplay and maps displayed for directions, Toyota's Experience Drive Connect screen appears on display. The only way to get back to navigation is to pull over shut the car off, or reboot the display by holding the volume button in. It's a safety issue— a driver distraction The owner is held captive with the advertising until they buy a subscription, over and over again

Incident date: Jul 22, 2026

Twice within 3 days the car drove when was in electronic park. FIRST August 1 2026 instance got in car parked in a lot. Started it (foot on brake, push start). Spent ≈ 15 min checking iPad. When car in front of me backed out of parking space, car dinged, lit up that car in front is leaving like it we were at a stop sign. Then started to move forward. I quickly braked. I may have touched the br... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Aug 7, 2026

I own a 2016 Ford Escape with an open safety recall involving the rear-view/backup camera. I contacted Ford and have an existing Ford customer service case regarding the recall (Case CXH-08846683-H2S6Z8 ) Ford/dealer has informed me that the required replacement part is currently unavailable, leaving the safety recall unrepaired. The backup camera is a safety feature that is important when revers... Read more

Incident date: Oct 20, 2025

This complaint concerns a serious, unresolved powertrain/propulsion safety defect in my 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. While traveling approximately 70 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost propulsion and would not accelerate normally while surrounded by highway traffic.MOST IMPORTANTLY, THERE WAS NO WARNING OR ADVANCE INDICATION. No warning lights, messages, or symptoms appeared before the loss of propulsion. I... Read more

Incident date: Aug 8, 2026

1. My backup camera is malfunctioning. 2. I use it for visual safety when I put my car in reverse. 3. The back up camera either does not work or it shows the image upside down. It has not been confirmed by a dealership because it is easy to identify by me. 4. No, it has not been inspected by anyone else. On line, the 2014 Ford Escape Titanium has been identified with these issues however, for some... Read more

Incident date: Nov 1, 2025

I own a 2016 Ford Taurus Limited that is covered under Ford Safety Recall 25SA9 / NHTSA Recall 25V-695 for the rearview camera. I received the recall notification in October 2025 stating that a remedy was not yet available and that I would receive another notification once parts became available. Nearly 10 months later, I contacted my local Ford dealership to schedule the recall repair. I was in... Read more

Incident date: Jul 15, 2026

I have a 2016 Jeep Patriot, and I am having intermittent stalling and the RPM gauge dropping to zero. It is a safety risk because you do not know when it is going to happen, and no warning lights come on the dashboard. Yes, I have taken it to a mechanic, and they were able to drive it, and it happened to them while driving. I found that there is a recall, but my vehicle was made just months a... Read more

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Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

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Consumer Safety Complaints

What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?

How to interpret what you read

If you've experienced a defect

Read more from our blog