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 73,546 complaints - component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident date: Jul 2, 2024
I was taking my 23 versa M/T to the dealer for its 10.000 mile service and upon driving the vehicle while pulling away from a stop sign I stall the vehicle and after that there was a significant loss of power, restarting the engine did not help. When I got to the dealership I did not shut the engine off and told them about the issue and said it was a safety issue and did not have the power to get ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 22, 2024
July 2024 – driving over 40 mph the Rubicon on a busy two-lane highway with my [XXX] and lost all acceleration. Interior warning lights started flashing with the warning, “Service Electric Throttle Control.” As this was up hill, there I nearly started going backwards and two vehicles swerved around me as I was able to pull over. As cars honked that drove by, I turned the vehicle off which... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jul 5, 2024
My truck is doing exactly what the recall on all the others. Check engine light on for input shaft speed sensor. Speed odometer quit working then engine light came on for speed sensor. Now when you drive on highway it will be fine then all of a sudden throw a wrench light and truck goes into limp mode and barely moves. You stop turn it off it resets but still isn’t right it doesn’t seem to shi... Read more
Incident date: Jul 6, 2024
I have put my 2020 ford explorer platinum in the ford shop several times because my cruise control has never worked properly. While using the cruise control it will reset to 85 mph whenever it chooses. This is a dangerous issue. Sames Ford dealership has looked at this issue 4 or so times with no fix. This issue needs to be addressed as my car is not the only one with this same issue.
Incident date: May 27, 2024
2016 Jeep JK 3.6l v6 Symptoms brake warning light,abs warning light, traction control warning light on. Cruise control will not function with the above warning lights. Diagnosis: faulty abs module per obd2. Additional problem is the unavailability from Chrysler for the replacement part which affects many Jeep model years. This is a common complaint with Jeep owners. Chrysler contacted with no r... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
Eyesight pre-collision braking feature and pre-collision throttle management feature malfunctioned and caused the 2020 Forester to accelerate unexpectedly and lurch forward while I was manually braking and slowing to come to a complete stop behind two other vehicles stopped at a steady red light. See class action lawsuit Weston, et al. v. Subaru of America, Inc., et al. In US District Court Cas... Read more
Crash
3 injured
MITSUBISHI
OUTLANDER SPORT
(2021) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jul 5, 2024
Incident date: Jul 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ABS and Brake warning lights remained illuminated. Additionally, there was smoke, and a burning odor coming from the engine compartment. The contact also stated that the ABS fluid had leaked from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that fluid had leaked from the Speed C... Read more
FORD
FUSION HYBRID
(2011) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jul 5, 2024
Incident date: Jul 14, 2023
I have taken the car to 3 mechanics for 4-5 incidents knowing that the mechanics were indeed certified in professionally fixing the issue. I was driving the car and made a proper left turn, yielding to oncoming traffic when suddenly the vehicle was unable to accelerate. The other car was approaching and I pushed on the gas as hard as I could to barely get it to move out of the way, luckily avoid a... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2024
Vehicle was on clear two lane road, no vehicles in sight to front, nor opposing lane, or even in Rear view. Speed between 45 and 50 mph. Vehicle was headed approximately south, and the road was shaded by trees to the west. Miles on odometer 1961.8 . Red warning appeared on dash, indicating to prepare for collision. We note that this is not the first time in the young life of this vehicle this ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 6, 2022
Vehicle will take off like a rocket when accelerating from a stop. I had to restart the vehicle because it had no acceleration before issue started. Took to the dealer was told that this is normal. I was then advised to put the vehicle in sport mode and it should stop. Vehicle has only 3300 miles on it and this is a new issue that just started. Took it to a local shop and it showed a p2422 so we t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
The truck's warning lights indicate ABS module, HCU module, and cruise control failure. The trailer brake controller, ASB system, and cruise control does not function. The truck's warning lights and chime have been going on and off for over 2 years.
Incident date: May 4, 2024
I am driving back to Florida on [XXX] and my engine light comes on and the wrench symbol on my dash, as I am going about 70 mph and accelerate suddenly my truck going from gear/speed 6 down to 5. I take my foot off the accelerate and it goes back to speed /gear 6. If i stay at one speed and do not accelerate its ok, the minute I accelerate it changes speed. I took it into the Ford Dealer in Day... Read more
MITSUBISHI
MIRAGE G4
(2023) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jul 4, 2024
Incident date: Jun 1, 2024
Multiple other issues
CHRYSLER
PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2023) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jul 4, 2024
Incident date: May 31, 2024
Leased this Kia by force from rightway auto here in Indianapolis in. Had for about 1 1/2. First notice after filling up my tank gas was depleted within 3 days on driving 12 miles to and from work in town. Then oil start disappearing a week after oil changes. .around Jan 8,2024. Check engine light start flashing driving the highway to work. Speed jumped down to 45. Engine start shaking if I tried t... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2024
I was driving and came to a red light behind other cars. I was completely stopped with brakes applied and vehicle suddenly lurched forward, RPM’s reved up over 3,000 without me accelerating. I was about two blocks from home and was able to make it by slowly driving and jerking all the way. Mechanic codes were 720 output speed sensor. Very alarming situation! I could have easily hit the car in... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2020
The main and most dangerous issue is first hearing high pitch whining/winding sound while driving as the rpm's start to spike and stay high resulting & causing vehicle to lose power and speed for no apparent reason. Subsequently, as you attempt to depress the gas pedal to increase speed to try to mitigate the issue, the vehicle continues to lose power and speed regardless of how depressed gas peda... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2024
This is the second time that the PTU has failed. Svc 4wd and ACC not available again. Radio is malfunctioning.
Incident date: Jun 24, 2024
car pauses after stopping at lights and stop signs and in stop-n-go traffic and won't go as soon as gas pedal is pressed. It hesitates then jerks forward once the gas is activated. Check engine warning is for stop/start transmission accumulator sensor! Cost to repair over $1300 and seems to be the same issue seen in thousands of 2018 malibu's that have been recalled??? My car does not show an acti... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2024
On July 1st, I had a defect in the electrical system of my Corvette nearly causing a major accident with several cars and trucks due to a immediate and unexpected loss of engine and propulsion. I was driving about 75 mph on highway in busy traffic. Car randomly and without any human input - flashed a false alarms for an open hood, although the hood was actually latched and perfectly closed. Ala... Read more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2024
abs light and traction control light would come on intermittently while driving then stayed on causing cruise control to not work. been happening for over a year
Incident date: Aug 3, 2023
The brake lights illuminate too early and often under [even very] gentle deceleration. My '23 EV6 GT is driven primarily in Level 1 (minimal) regenerative braking mode and the threshold for brake light activation clearly is far too low. The appearance of "riding the brakes" is dangerous because those who follow are not alerted when the driver transitions from [essentially] coasting to actually hi... Read more
Incident date: Jul 12, 2023
Hesitation/Non-linear Acceleration From a Stop. Reprogramming the ECM completely resolved the issue. This needs to be sent out to affected vehicles but I had to investigate and pretty much demand a resolution. I fear what this could later do to our engines, etc.
Incident date: Jun 12, 2024
[XXX]. Location : somewhere in rural Pennsylvania. Incident ahead of me in heavy traffic. Applied brakes, more forcefully than usual. Immediately warning lights and audible alarm appeared on dash. “Service ABS system” . Was located in very rural area , no safe place to exit highway. At next exit , pulled off , brakes appeared to be functioning as normal. But dash warning lights proclaimed no A... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2024
While driving on the highway with FSD on, the car severely amalfunctioned with sudden deceleration at 4 separate ocassions. At 68 mph when changing lanes, the car suddenly decelerated. There were several cars behind us and it could have been a major multi car collision. At all 4 ocassions, I immediately took over control on steering and acceleration, thus avoiding any accident. This problem has ... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 3500
(2020) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jul 2, 2024
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
My 2018 expedition has been repaired by Ford dealership three times. The vehicle started with a hesitancy to shift into reverse then eventually a hard jerk into gear. following that, it began to hesitate to accelerate and rattle and shake hard enough to shake the steering wheel. The powertrain loss warning came on ford pass. Ford dealership said it was transmission and rebuilt it. Three weeks foll... Read more
Incident date: Jun 26, 2024
On [XXX] approximately [XXX], I was in the drive-up line for Starbucks. The drive-up line was very slow so we waited for about 1/2 hour and I ended turning off my engine. I had plenty of room at least between 2-3 feet between myself and the car in the front. Then the line moved so, I put the car in Drive and covered the brake. I tapped the Gas/electric pedal and the car accelerated from 0 to 30 an... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
While I was driving, my new 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe suddenly experienced issues with the digital dashboard panel and a loss of speed. The dashboard went haywire, and my speed dropped from 60 mph to approximately 25 mph on the highway. The vehicle also struggled to accelerate from a standstill. After shutting off the vehicle and waiting a few minutes, the dashboard appeared to reset, and everything r... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2024) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jul 2, 2024
Incident date: Sep 29, 2023
I took my Buick enclave into the gmc dealership two years ago for an service airbag light that kept coming on. They sent me home twice saying it was just a computer issue. Now this recall is out and I asked for my car to be serviced as I’m a mother of 4 and can’t stop driving my vehicle. They said that the part isnt out yet and nothing they can do. I’m having to drive a dangerous vehicle aro... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle then failed to accelerate above 10 MPH. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the intake m... Read more
Incident date: Oct 19, 2002
Code p2128 Code p2122 Have replaced TPS, THROTTLE BODY, ACCELERATOR PEDAL (×3) AND bypassed connectors WITH DIRECT WIRING from ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO ECM Continue to get codes with CHECK ENGINE LIGHT with DECREASED ENGINE POWER, CHECK STABILITRAK, and STABILITRAK DISABLED. HAVE TO CLEAR CODES WITH BLUEDRIVER MULTIPLE TIMES EVEN WHILE DRIVING SHORT DISTANCES AND SOMETIMES ON START UP.
Incident date: Jun 20, 2024
The 2015 F150 shifted itself from drive at 60mph to 1st gear. I as leading traffic when this occurred. The rest of traffic went around me as, I went to shoulder of rd. The F150 shuttered and was unable to be steered safely off the road. Warning lights flashed but as a driver I was unable to watch as traffic behind me was more important then watching F150. As a Simi was also close to me. This was a... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2024
My 2019 BMW 330i experienced a serious malfunction. The car intermittently blacked out upon pressing the start engine button, and then it began accelerating on its own without pressing the accelerator pedal. This occurred multiple times, and the issue has not been resolved or explained by the service center, which has resulted in a significant safety concern. What component or system failed or ma... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2024
The instrument panel intermittently blacks out during vehicle startup or while driving. I haven't had my vehicle for 30 days and it's happened many many times, almost caused an accident due to the distraction it has caused. No warning signs prior to the screen blacking out. Service calibrated/reprogrammed the radio but issues have continued. I have several photos and videos of the numerous times t... Read more
Incident date: Jun 23, 2024
I was backing up into my parking place in an alley way. I was turning slightly to the right to fit in and the car started to accelerate. I hit the back wall with the rear of my car. I put the car into drive not realizing it was still accelerating. I had my right foot on the brake. When I put the car into drive it accelerate very quickly even with my foot on the brake and I crashed into a door gara... Read more
Crash
GRAND DESIGN
SOLITUDE
(2023) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jul 2, 2024
Incident date: Jul 8, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate and then stalled. The driver was able to pull over safely. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failure was due to the thermal control valve and produced DTC codes: P2682 and P26A. The mechanic replaced the... Read more
Incident date: Jan 31, 2024
My wife was driving down the road, traction control light came on & one of the brakes locked up and she nearly avoided an accident. I took the vehicle to a local shop & they pulled a C1283 code. I was told it was part of a recall & take it to the dealership. I took it Hanania Hyundai & they told me it's not part of the recall. I have the TSB and will attach it. If my car is not part of it, I... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2024
So on 7/1/24 our vehicle started overheating some. And then we had the check engine light to come on along with another light that looks like a lightning bolt inside an inside out parenthesis. So I research the symbol and it came back as an issue with the Electric Throttle Control which is also means there is a problem with the electric parking brake. And then a mesage came on that said OIL TEMP H... Read more
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2023) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jul 2, 2024
Incident date: Jan 10, 2024
Gauge cluster completely dark. Cluster is a screen type when dark no speed visible. No warning lights available for safety feedback. Driving without speed is very dangerous mileage u known as display shows mileage.
Incident date: Jun 30, 2024
The engine failed flashing a warning sign of rpm max 4000 from day 1 of me having the car. It is available for inspection. During the multiple times this has happened the car will come to a hault while driving on busy expressways of at least 70 mph. The dealer has not found a solution to the problem after at least 4 attempts.
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2019) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jul 1, 2024
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
In the first month of owning my Honda Ridgeline (bought new with 5 miles on the odometer), I received TWO check engine light warnings for the same thing: "Emission system problem. Power may be reduced. See your dealer." Dealer says the problem is a part that does not shut and seal the fuel filler part, after refueling with regular gas. I brought it in after the 1st warning, and the check engine li... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2024
Cruise control does not hold speed during transition from downhill coast to uphill acceleration. If set at 70mph on an interstate and car goes down a hill, coasting may slow to 68. When uphill is immediately encountered, speed drops to 64-65mph before finally accelerating to 70. Many trucks get very close and some honk because of the slowdown. Some road rage has been received. Also, throt... Read more
Incident date: Jun 27, 2024
In 2022, while behind the wheel of my 2015 F150, I would be driving down the highway (70+ mph) and the transmission would suddenly downshift to 1st gear, then jump to 3rd, and then back down to first gear, all over the place. This happened on several occasions. It was erratic, I experienced sudden changes in speed, sudden and frightening revving of the engine (especially on the highway) and on sev... Read more
Incident date: Jun 26, 2024
ABS AND LSC WARNING LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL KICKS OFF. WARNING BELL DINGS OFF AND ON. CHECKED AND MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE SYSTEM
Incident date: Jun 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while stopped, the engine was idling rough. The contact stated that while accelerating, the vehicle was slow to respond and then jolted forward. While driving, reversing, or at a stop, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failu... Read more
Incident date: Apr 12, 2023
I am writing to formally notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of a significant concern regarding Fisker Automotive’s failure to meet the deadline for a mandated recall and their neglect in providing me with a recall notice. As an owner of a Fisker Ocen One, I was made aware through Facebook that my vehicle was subject to a recall due to Incorrectly Displayed Warning Lights/... Read more
Incident date: Jun 29, 2024
Three times in the last year while driving north on interstate 91 coming down a long steep hill entering the town of Springfield, Vermont while my f-150 was in cruise control traveling at 70 mph the transmission has down shifted all by itself to fifth gear without me touching anything. I have not taken it to my local dealer as they want to charge me 135.00 dollars per hour just to look at it. Also... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2024
This incident just happened around 9:50pm. I have a 2024 ioniq 6 SEL with 2900 miles. I lost power to my motor while going below 45 mph. The gage that shows acceleration and recharge, zeroed out, showing absolutely nothing. Once I came to a complete stop, I had to restart the car for the accelerator to work. I am on 37% charge. This is not a low charge. There were no warning lights or sounds. I ha... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2024
After starting the vehicle at a motel in the morning, and backing out of the parking spot, I put the vehicle in drive and gave it a little bit of gas (wheel cranked to the left to finish turning out of the spot), and the vehicle rapidly accelerated across the parking lot. I hit the brakes and the vehicle stopped accelerating. I looked down to see the cruise control set to 15 Mph and crossed out ... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2019) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jun 29, 2024
Incident date: Jun 29, 2024
On [XXX] @ 8:45 pm my vehicle was at a stop light. I started to go forward and hill assist start notification came up as vehicle turned back on from sitting idle due to the ecosport design. As slowly accelerating the wrench icon came on, check engine light came on. Vehicle lost power and speed dropped to less than 5 miles an hour. I had to floor the gas pedal to get enough speed to switch lanes an... Read more
Incident date: Jun 29, 2024
Second time reporting for the third instance Dealer says nothing is wrong but I have a video when car speeds up and doesn’t stop when removing my foot for acceleration Car keeps moving and it’s hard to stop unless I slam on brake This is occasionally instance but when it happens it’s highly risk for havug accident With kids I don’t feel safe