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: Mar 11, 2025

Hello there - I am a fairly new owner of a KIA carnival hybrid 2026. I leased the vehicle in March'26. I have about 2200 miles put on the vehicle. On XXX at around 11am I was driving the vehicle on the left lane of freeway at ~65 mph and there was a sudden flash of Engine Maintenance service light and the vehicle cut out power to the accelerator pedal and started to bring the vehicle to a stop. Th... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2025

I was heading to work when suddenly smoke started pouring from the air conditioning vents, and the ABS and traction control warning lights came on. I hit the brakes to pull over, only to realize I had lost braking power. I managed to steer to the side of the road as carefully as possible and bring the car to a stop—despite having no brakes and a fire burning under the hood. I tried downshifting ... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Jul 17, 2026

Electriconic braking moduel with "Check Brake" indication light and"Hybrid System Warning! and vehicle will come to a stop and warning flights will flash until you turn off the vehicle sit for 10-20 minutes. Brakes will not work and vehicle loses power. Battery has been replaced and large 140 fuse in trunk of vehicle and no improvement. KIA states no recall on my vehicle, but my vehicle has had t... Read more

Incident date: Jul 17, 2026

Re: Driver Safety Downgrade Stemming from Recent Software Update Complicating Tire Pressure Display Accessibility I am writing as the owner of a 2025 Kia Niro HEV to express my concerns regarding a recent software update that altered how tire pressure information is accessed on the instrument cluster. Prior to the update, tire pressures were available through the steering wheel page button, allo... Read more

Incident date: Apr 11, 2026

clear coat is coming off of 2025 white kia Telluride

Incident date: Jul 17, 2026

This is my 2nd Volvo xc90. Both models have turbo issues that is costly repairs. Volvo dealership also stated that turbo repairs usually are an issue in Volvo. My first Volvo was 2016 which had a turbo issue. Now my 2022 is now in shop due to turbo and oil spills on inside. There should be a recall.

Incident date: Jul 9, 2026

Latch for the swing gate is locked in the closed position so the swing gate will not latch closed. It swings open while driving

Incident date: Jun 16, 2026

My 2007 Honda CR-V was repaired under NHTSA Recall 23V-228 for corrosion in the rear frame at the trailing arm mount, a condition Honda's own filing says can allow the trailing arm to detach while driving. My vehicle received the support-brace remedy rather than a full structural repair. Since that July 18, 2023 repair, the vehicle has developed Right Rear (RR) tracking instability, whooshing and ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 15, 2026

I am reporting a potential safety issue involving my 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited X. The vehicle developed a condition in which it would not stay running. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Jeep dealership, Valley Motor City in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, for a scheduled service appointment on May 19, 2026. The dealership diagnosed and completed approximately $5,200 in repairs. On June 11, 2026,... Read more

Incident date: May 26, 2026

The instrument cluster continues to fail after repair to Hyundai recall #304 was done. Heads-up display failed, flickered, restarted. Instrument cluster turned off and flashed “signal not found” for approximately 45 minutes before returning. Necessary information to legally and safely drive was inaccessible including speed, fuel readings, status of regenerative breaking, error lights, and crui... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2025

Incident date: Jul 12, 2026

Incident date: Jul 17, 2026

The back up camera recall has been open since 10/2025 . I was backing up using the camera than it just went blank

Incident date: Jul 13, 2026

My 2020 Kia sportage spontaneously caught fire. It started smoking about 1/3 mile from my destination. There were no dash lights on and the temperature gauge was not elevated and was below half so it wasn’t the engine overheating. I pulled into the parking lot and shut off the car and the smoke then increased and turned darker rapidly and the car caught fire and was quickly engulfed and then the... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Jul 10, 2026

I have Autoimmune disorder and extreme inflammation. Simply Google Dissecting Cellulitis of the Scalp to truly understand how much i hate my glass or whatever material roof which after Ceramic Tinting limousine tint the roof my condition has worsen since I got this vehicle last November. I've always had Audis and I need help please!

Incident date: Jul 8, 2026

I also wanted to add the mold.. from the hour test was performed on this car. Ac in high flow. Within 12 hrs growth appears

1 injured

Incident date: Jul 10, 2026

System or component that failed: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) / Climate Control System.Description of Incident: The vehicle's HVAC system emits a severe, persistent chemical odor / Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) smell directly into the passenger cabin.Nail polish remover, burning plastic after DRIVING FORTH 20 MIN, was not addressed. This toxic-smelling odor causes immediat... Read more

Incident date: Jun 18, 2025

"The vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic high-voltage powertrain failure while operating at highway speeds 300 miles away from home. The failure occurred immediately after the vehicle received the manufacturer's Safety Recall 68C / NHTSA Campaign Number 24V-814 software update. The software flash completely 'bricked' the high-voltage battery system, induced an immediate vehicle shutdown, and s... Read more

Incident date: Jul 16, 2026

Piston rings inside the engine failed due to a known oil consumption issue with this model vehicle. The engine failed while the car was driving 85 mph and consequently slowed down to 15mph on the highway, leaving the owner of the car stranded alone on the highway. Volvo has a known fix for this issue and there was a class action lawsuit for it, but since it was settled, there was no recall. This i... Read more

Incident date: Jun 22, 2026

The sunroof exploded spontaneously while I was driving. It sounded like a gunshot. There were no other vehicles around, so it wasn't caused by a stray rock. It was only 73 degrees, so I don't think it was heat related.

Incident date: Jun 22, 2026

I was driving my 2024 Ford Escape approximately at 20-25 mph on the street when the hood flew open, hit, and shattered my windshield. The hood remained against the windshield and I immediately stopped the car and removed the hood from the windshield. I was not injured as a result of this incident. There was no warning or alert that the hood might have been open. Most cars have a hood ajar ale... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Jul 11, 2026

Rear hatch glass shattered on April 16th while parked in carport after my wife opened the right rear passenger door, had it replaced by Safelite on April 29th, on July 9th while driving it shattered again, Safelite says that this is a Subaru issue, Subaru says they will not warranty a replacement even if they do the replacement since the car does have a rebuilt title. So we can neither use the car... Read more

Incident date: Jul 16, 2026

My 2020 Subaru Forester Sport suffered catastrophic engine failure on 6/19/2026 at 156,322 miles, 15 days and 1,031 miles after a thermo control valve (TCV) repair performed at an authorized Subaru dealer on 6/4/2026. The TCV is a known defect covered under Subaru TSB 09-119-24 (extended coverage to 150,000 miles/15 years). I never received mailed notification of this TSB and therefore did not see... Read more

Incident date: Jul 17, 2026

Hondal recall S/B 26-031 subframe This vehicle is 10 years old and was purchased / driven entirely in the northeast / NY - where the vehicle is most susceptible to underlying rust and corrosion issues and potential failure of suspension components. Vehicle was delivered to authorized Honda dealer / service center for scheduled inspection and required repairs on July 17. However, Honda service co... Read more

Incident date: Jun 19, 2026

My rear backup camera stopped working this year it's either a black screen or blinking screen no video will play. When I first started the video was foggy like moisture was in the camera and now it shows nothing. Other Kia sorento's my same model year have had a recall for the backup camera but mine is not on the recall list for some reason.

Incident date: Jul 17, 2026

This vehicle lacks an engine immobilizer, a defect that has made 2011-2022 Hyundai and Kia vehicles unusually susceptible to theft via a method widely publicized on social media as the "Kia Challenge." My vehicle was stolen using this method, driven approximately 30-40 miles, and abandoned. It was found stripped of parts, including the catalytic converter. This defect is already the subject of a n... Read more

Incident date: Jul 9, 2026

There are often times that there is a strong exhaust odor inside the vehicle, especially when idling

Incident date: Feb 12, 2025

I am reporting American Honda’s ongoing failure to safely remedy critical safety defects and recalls on my 2018 Honda Odyssey (purchased new), resulting in severe vehicle degradation and a life-threatening traffic hazard. The vehicle has been to an authorized dealer over 21 times.SAFETY RECALL NEGLIGENCE & POWERTAIN DAMAGE: At 95k miles, the vehicle displayed active check engine codes P0087 (Low... Read more

Incident date: Jul 17, 2026

Formal complaint against Hyundai Motor America for failure to provide safety recall remedies on a U.S.-conforming vehicle. Vehicle History: This 2016 Hyundai Veloster was purchased in the U.S. territory of [XXX], manufactured to meet U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Years later, it was legally relocated to the U.S. mainland and is currently registered and driven in [XXX]. The... Read more

Incident date: Jul 17, 2026

I don’t see any problem

Incident date: Jul 13, 2026

Following a period of heavy rainfall, I entered my vehicle and began to drive off when an excessive amount of water suddenly poured into the cabin from the overhead console (where the light and sunroof switches are located). To investigate the source of the leak, I opened the sunshade but found no residual water or permanent staining inside. Moving to the exterior, I verified that the sunroof ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 15, 2026

My vehicle starts displaying traction control on the dash then says reduced engine power and looses power starting until u stop turn it off and crank it back up. Sometimes it runs really rough and you have to crank it back up. The ac goes in and out on it, sometimes it jerks while driving, after having a new transmission put in, 3 starters, 2 batteries! Everyone keeps telling me it’s something e... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 2026

I had the recall number 05s28 repaired at high desert ford on July sixth as a part of a California safety inspection to register my vehicle. Per ford they are done however they refuse to update the system which holds my vehicle unable to be registered even after the services were rendered and complete. Multiple attempts to trendy have failed any results thus ford is holding my vehicle hostage from... Read more

Incident date: Jul 16, 2026

I have a 2019 Sorento my car was loud when I start it so I took it into my KIA dealership. They found that my muffler had come apart at the seam, but that it is not under warrenty. My concern is that if anyone is sitting in a parked car with the windows up they could be overcome by the exhault fumes.

Incident date: Jul 16, 2026

Rear cross member broke due to corrosion breaking off lateral arm from driver side of cross member, I may add the front crossmember was repaired due to recall for extreme corrosion not too long ago, as I research this problem I uncover many owners of this vehicle having the same issue in the northeast,even with much lower mileage.mazda should be held accountable.$3,926.62 for part alone on Mazda p... Read more

Incident date: Jul 16, 2026

Blind spot forward collision detection lane departure warning rear cross traffic warning

Incident date: Dec 18, 2023

Mercedes-Benz E350 Mild Hybrid was purchased new on XXX. Vehicle had approximately 291 miles and had been owned 25 days, when incident occurred on XXX at approximately 9:30am. Incident occurred during normal interstate driving (I-10 between [XXX] and [XXX]) at approximately the posted speed limit of 60mph. Weather was partly cloudy, not raining. A sudden loud explosive sound occurred, similar to ... Read more

Incident date: Apr 20, 2026

The vehicle experienced intermittent transmission-related drivability issues before the recall remedy was available. The vehicle had delayed/hard shifting, an intermittent wrench warning light, and a reduced power/limp mode condition where the transmission would not shift normally. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Ford dealer on multiple occasions, including diagnostic visits on 10/09/20... Read more

Incident date: Jun 10, 2026

There is some type of mechanical or electrical malfunction with the door locking system. I can not unlock or enter the car using the fan or by any mechanism from outside the car. This has left my fiance & infant trapped in the car. My fiance has to reach over and manually open the driver side door from inside the vehicle. However, I can no longer drive with only my infant in the car for fear she w... Read more

Incident date: Jan 19, 2025

In July 16, 2026, at 4:34 pm I was driving my Nissan Rogue at 45 mph with my elderly mother in law sitting next to the window it exploded for no apparent reason. There was no other traffic next to us and in looking at the shattered glass that rained into the car there was no rock, bullet, or any foreign matter that would have caused the glass to explode. The weather outside was partly cloudy and... Read more

Incident date: Jul 10, 2026

On [XXX], I purchased a brand-new vehicle 2026 Toyota Camry hybrid from Post Oak Toyota (located at 5800 Tinker Diagonal, Midwest City, OK 73110). The dealership delivered this vehicle to me with an open, active safety recall that had not been fixed. We discovered the recall June 20 2026 after setting up the new Toyota app. The dealership violated federal safety regulations by finalizing the sale ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 3, 2026

This vin waa not included in a recall however had recall issues it obtained water in the footwell which mini has a recall issue for this and the car was caught on fire it is at the dealership in [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident date: Jul 1, 2026

I have had issues with my door locks one by one for the last year until now all of them have failed and no longer work. I have mentioned this issue multiple times at Bob Tomes Ford in McKinney Texas the last few times and got prices for the repair but it is a bit pricey. Recently I have just found out that Ford had campaign 20M04 to address these bad door lock actuator latches but the car has to b... Read more

Incident date: Jul 10, 2026

The left passenger door will not open manually nor with key fob. It has caused me to not allow back seat passengers including grand children for fear if necessary to get out in an emergency and I am left to wonder if the driver door will go into lock position during a collision and that would be life threatening. I tried holding the lock and unlock at the same time for 3sec and that didn’t work.... Read more

Incident date: Jun 29, 2026

The backup camera is in black and white and very washed out. It is very difficult to make out details and has caused several near misses. The issue is especially bad at night. The camera is essentially non-functional and represents a safety issue. This has been the case since purchasing the vehicle in 2024. The Honda CRV 2024 was not included in the recent recall for backup camera issues on other ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 11, 2026

My Chevy Silverado has a transmission defect that is under recall shift to park and my vin number is not included. I am disappointed because it’s exactly the same problem as the other ones.

Incident date: Dec 31, 1969

Intermittent Auto Start/Stop failure: When stopped at a red light or stop sign, the car sometimes completely dies. Fails to restart: Releasing the brake pedal does not automatically restart the engine. Manual restart required: I have to manually restart the vehicle and shift back into Drive to proceed. Traffic concern: This process takes 10 to 15 seconds, holding up the traffic behind me.

Incident date: Jun 26, 2026

I'm not sure what's going on. It's telling me to start stop the car when it's running and then it will turn off and go into accessory mode even when I'm driving that's dangerous. I took it to Kia a month ago for the same thing but they said they couldn't find anything, but it has to be something if I'm not the only one saying this is happening to their car. my car doesn't even have 8000 miles on m... Read more

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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