Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 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 2,215,138 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 114,844 complaints — component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
Trunk is flooding when it rains.
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2009) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 6, 2026
Incident date: Oct 21, 2024
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: Mar 26, 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: Apr 6, 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: Jan 31, 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: Apr 1, 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.
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2018) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 5, 2026
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
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: Apr 4, 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
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2014) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 5, 2026
Incident date: Mar 17, 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: Dec 11, 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
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
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: Mar 15, 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
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2024) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 5, 2026
Incident date: Apr 5, 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: Mar 29, 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 2, 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.
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2023) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 5, 2026
Incident date: Sep 15, 2025
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: Feb 1, 2026
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 3, 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
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
Part came off while on my way to church at some point and was unable to locate the piece that came off
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2021) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 5, 2026
Incident date: Apr 1, 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
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Having issues with transmission at 68000 miles. Shuddering and cutting out. Shift to park comes on and also replaced alternator twice already. Replaced 1st alternator at less than 20,000 miles at 2 years old.
Incident date: Mar 28, 2026
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Two components have failed: the infotainment/Apple CarPlay system, including the USB-C connectivity port, and the front collision detection/crash sensor system. The entire A/V unit was replaced on August 1, 2025, yet the infotainment defect persisted. Both systems are currently installed in my vehicl... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
The sunroof shattered while I was driving. There were no other vehicles around me or on the street. I heard a loud bang and glass rained down on me. The glass is pitched upward like it exploded from the inside. There is no other damage to my car. I had no warning other than the loud bang. When I am not out, my car is in a garage it never sits outside.
Incident date: Mar 27, 2026
Recall issued on September of 2025 citing second row seat belt malfunctions. Attempted to have repaired twice now but Hyundai repair shop states the part is on national back order and therefore unable to have recall remedied.
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
Entered vehicle through driver’s side door. Put car in reverse and backed out of parking space. As the driver put the car into drive, we advanced approximately 25 yards, the rear tailgate opened and lifted without alerting the driver. No warnings, alarms or dash board notifications. Since we were in a parking garage, as the door lifted, it hit a concrete ceiling support, smashing the tailgate wi... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
My backup camera stoped working out of no where. They have a recall for it that was put out in october and it is now April. That is 6 months ago. I called ford for a update and they refuse to help me. They said they are only servicing mustangs right now. That’s ridiculous.
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
My 2017 Acura MDX unexpectedly shifts into neutral while I am driving, specifically when slowing down approaching stop signs. When this happens, the vehicle loses power and will not accelerate, creating a dangerous situation in traffic. I have to manually press the Drive button to put the vehicle back into gear while still on the road. This has happened multiple times without warning and no recall... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
I have repeatedly received an error on my vehicle dashboard stating " 1 pedal drive fault: Press break pedal to reduce speed". I have taken my vehicle to the dealer twice for this and was told both times that it was not reproducible and therefore nothing that could be fixed. I was told there was an active recall and that it has been repaired. Today after coming to a complete stop I let go of the b... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
While backing out of a parking place my husband noticed he couldn't stop the 2025 Acadia and almost hit restraunt behind us, while pusing on the break. He then started to go forward and kept saying "I can't stop it, it won't stop, I'm pushing on the break." The vehicle then went forward and couldn't stop even pushing on the break. I tried pusing the button to turn off the 2025 Acadia a couple ti... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
I am submitting this complaint to report serious safety, usability, and infrastructure-related issues concerning my Hyundai NEXO hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The vehicle has become unsafe and practically unusable due to multiple technical problems, lack of service support, and the widespread unavailability of hydrogen fueling infrastructure in the Bay Area of California. These issues collectively p... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
Shift arm gear stuck- unable to shift from park to drive to neutral, reverse, etc.
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
Spark plug cylinder 1 gets stuck trying to replace which causes vehicle to misfire
Incident date: Dec 16, 2025
Incident 1 (Loss of Propulsion in Traffic) - 12/16/25 The vehicle failed to restart immediately after the auto start-stop system attempted to re-engage the engine. Upon attempting to accelerate, the engine did not restart, resulting in a complete loss of propulsion while in active traffic. The vehicle became temporarily inoperable and unresponsive, creating a hazardous condition with elevated risk... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
The 12V battery in my 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 failed under normal use, causing repeated loss of vehicle function. Voltage measured ~12.3V at rest, dropping to ~12.0V when opening the door, and collapsing to ~11V then ~9V under light load (headlights), resulting in system shutdown. After a failed start attempt, the vehicle experienced a brownout followed by a complete loss of 12V power for approximat... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
I recently bought a 2019 Nissan Altima SR and when I got it home I noticed the door locks weren't locking or unlocking on 3 doors! The salesman didn't mention any problems with the car and I inspected it and didn't notice this until I got it home. This is a safety issue and everything should work on a vehicle when one buys it. There were no warnings and I have a family with two teen kids and one ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
Plastic oil filter housing part cracked and leaked all my anti freeze out on I 95. This incident caused me to have my car towed 3 times to various dealer and shops for repair. Total cost of this repair was approximately 2K with parts and labor + 300. for towing. No warning from BMW - this could have caused myself and others great harm out there on 95 and if I had to drive farther to find a saf... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
I was driving northbound on US 31 near Peru, IN. I stopped at a red light and my car auto shut off initiated. However when the light turned green, I beganto drive again and the car died/stalled on the highway. The emergency parking break engaged. Oncoming traffic, who saw a green light were not slowing down and I was afraid I would be rear ended while my car was stalled at a previously red, but no... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
EQB 300 4MATIC
(2023) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 4, 2026
Incident date: Feb 9, 2026
I am reporting a safety concern regarding my 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 300 (VIN: [XXX] ), currently subject to NHTSA Recall 26V073 involving the high-voltage battery. According to NHTSA records and the manufacturer’s recall notice, this vehicle has an urgent safety recall due to a risk of fire caused by a potential internal short circuit in the high-voltage battery. The defect may result in a vehi... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
The factory audio/head unit system produces extremely loud, random static/white noise (described as explosive TV snow or screeching) that blasts through all speakers even when the stereo is completely turned off, muted, or not in use. The volume controls and power button have no effect. The only ways to stop it are to pull the audio fuse or turn the entire vehicle off. This occurs intermittently a... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
Extensive embrittlement, cracking, and partial collapse of the plastic dash into the space underneath the dash. This cracking extends to to the boundry for the passenger side airbag cover potentially creating a dangerous situation(flying debris) during airbag deployment.
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
Ford manufacturer and local Gurley Leep Ford Dealership failed to provide a remedy to safety recall : Manufacturer Recall Number25S76 NHTSA Recall Number25V467 in a reasonable timeframe. The local Ford dealership refused to provide a remedy, free of charge, in accordance with the NHTSA guidelines .
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
I was driving my 2025 X7 and the sunroof unexpectedly and spontaneously exploded above my head. I had left my house about 2 minutes prior, driving 40 mph on street near my home. I was in the middle lane of a 6-lane wide street, no car ahead of me and no cars to the side or behind me. Nothing hit my car at all. The glass from the sunroof shattered leaving a large hole, and glass was caught in the s... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
I was notified of a recall on my from vehicle by Hyundai via email some time in March of 2026. The message said mentioned my vehicle may have a defective/worn purge control check valve that would cause the fuel tank to deform. Potentially leading to a release of fuel over time, which then could ignite. NHTSA Recall #25V796000 My car showed now signs of problems, but I brought it into a Hyundai d... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
The driver side door lock actuator makes a long click noise. Also when I unlock my car it makes the same sound
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
When I put my car on park. The driver side (left door) lock actuator makes a long click noise. Also when I press on unlock it makes that sound as well
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
The issue appears to involve the vehicle’s electrical control system responsible for power management and system activation while the vehicle is off, possibly including the Smart Power Control Module and related components. It may be arranged for the vehicle to be inspected. The vehicle behaved as though it had been remote started, initiating engine cranking without any user input while turned... Read more
FORD
TRANSIT CONNECT
(2021) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 3, 2026
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
Rear window in hatch door spontaneously shattered while I was driving to work this morning.
Incident date: Mar 11, 2026
It seems when the truck has been driven more than an a half hour to an hour and you shut the truck off the truck won't start back up. I believe the starter gets what they call heat soaked, then you have to wait until the truck cools down then I will start normal
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
Dealer non-Compliance with Recall N192273600 I am reporting Anderson Chevrolet for failure to identify and perform a mandatory federal emission recall while the vehicle was in their possession for service. Because the dealer neglected their statutory duty to perform the free recall repair, I was forced to spend $584.83 at independent shops to diagnose and fix a defect that is a direct mechanical m... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
MY 2019 HONDA PASSPORT WITH JUST OVER 100K MILES JUST HAD COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND HAS REGULARLY HAD RANDOM HARD SHIFTS SINCE THE DAY I GOT IT AND IVE BROUGHT THE ISSUE UP TO THE DEALER EVERY TIME IT IS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. THEY ALWAYS TELL ME THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. AFTER JUST DRIVING TO GET MY CHILD FROM SCHOOL AND COMING HOME PARKING MY CAR A... Read more