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: Dec 20, 2023
2022 Honda Accord is experiencing a “traction control” light turning on randomly. Following that, multiple indicators turn on which disable the functions of economy, cruise control, and other features. When the traction warning is flashing, the vehicle makes an electrical sound.
CHRYSLER
PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2022) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Feb 11, 2024
Incident date: Feb 10, 2024
Unintentional acceleration
Incident date: Jan 14, 2024
After several years of fighting problems with, after braking to a brief stop, the loss of power/abs grinding when accelerating and turning right, now the ABS is completely dysfunctional. Both TRC lights will turn on and usually the parking brake, and when braking at speeds less than 10mph the abs will activate and prevent bring the truck to a stop without pumping them, on dry pavement. When the AB... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2024
While trying to set cruise control, this vehicle has the option of standard cruise or adaptive. There is a toggle button, however, is is so sensitive I am never able to toggle to standard cruise. Naturally I am driving and the toggle will not go to standard. Poor design and super sensitive feature. This is one of many different features that do this. I have found my eyes moving to this to see if I... Read more
Incident date: Nov 29, 2023
At approximately 13:12 CST on [XXX], I exited the car wash at a gas station in Rochester, MN. I drove around to the front of the gas station to park so I could go inside to replenish the car wash card. At approximately 13:13 CST, as I was turning right, pulling into the parking space near the entrance, the truck accelerated unexpectedly and collided with a cement parking pilon (sp?). I am unsure... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 9, 2024
COMPLAINT/INCIDENT.On February 9th 2024, I was making a right hand turn onto main Street. My speed was under 10mph, closer to 5mph. . Without any warning or MIL, my truck suddenly went from easy steering to unable to move the steering column and jerked/locked the wheel by 90 degrees to the left. In other words, the steering wheel went from the 3:00 position and locked into place at the 12:00 posit... Read more
Incident date: Feb 8, 2024
Shortly after our purchase we started having issues with the vehicle, the backup camera is not functioning, the backup sensors are not functioning, the collision mitigation is braking abruptly while we are driving even when there are no objects in the surrounding area nearly causing us two accidents, our dashboard display has no function and the display flashes off and on. My nephew suffers from... Read more
6 injured
Incident date: Feb 9, 2024
Truck took off with out me touching the gas in a parking lot had to hit the brakes several times then shifted hard and speedometer quit work and the wrench symbol popped up on the dash and it throw code PO720 which is the output shaft speed sensor /lead frame
Incident date: Dec 1, 2023
Jan '22 - Reported check engine light had begun to turn off and back on when gas tank was low. Feb '22 At 19k miles catalytic convertor reported failed for code (P0420), 3 way catalyst, upper and lower gaskets, and manifold all needed to be replaced - took 4 days Aug'23 called to request service for check engine light because it was coming off and on over periods of time. Scheduled for Sep'23 Sep ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 11, 2023
Driving on highway suddenly multiple warnings ⚠️ lights on (about 10) warnings lights like check engine, transmission system, power steering system brake assist ,holding brake system, line departure assistance, hill assistance, emission system, ACC system, VAS system, blind spot assistance and lack of power hitting gas (Accelerate pedal) no response car slow down by itself becomes 20mph on 55m... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
abs lite comes on. service electronic braking system message. cruise will not work when fault is active. second time for this. fixed first time under warranty. truck only has 60k miles.
Incident date: Feb 3, 2024
On 1/24/24, I was pulling into my garage. I pressed the “p” button to park. The vehicle suddenly lurched forward and accelerated through my garage, knocking down my fence which damaged my neighbor’s garage. No one was physically hurt. Audi engineer inspected the car and looked at the “black box” data. He concluded there was no malfunction of the brakes and referred this as an insurance m... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 9, 2024
My radar to let me know i was going to hit something didn't go offer. It has never failed before and has been overactive actually which I appreciated before. I was doing 60 with my paraplegic wife (luckily not our 5 year old as well though) in the right lane because it's safer to go slower and be there. I was distracted by a strange machine being transported on a truck to my left. This was my fau... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2024
The forward collision avoidance system made me have accident. I was driving on the expressway, the forward collision made the car stop abruptly, then accelerate. As I was veering to the right, the car stopped again in the middle of the expressway causing me to have an accident. This is unacceptable and very unsafe. This vehicle is not safe to drive with the collision warnings.
Crash
MERCEDES-BENZ
E550
(2012) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Feb 8, 2024
Incident date: Feb 8, 2024
EXTENED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR PCM REPROGRAMING INTHE EVENT ABS VEHICLE SPEED SIGNAL RELATED COMMUNICATION LOSS THAT DISABLE OBDII SYSTEM MONITORS.
Incident date: Dec 29, 2022
3 months prior to my car going into limp mode I had an incident where I was on the highway and had to come to a stop of major traffic and suddenly my car cut off out of nowhere. I got it to crank after putting it in park, but it was very scary being on the highway thank God it was traffic to where cars wasn't going so fast. Fast-forward to my recent incident to now my car's now in limp mode (MIL) ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2024
While in motion, the wrench on the dash lights up and the truck downshifts. It matches the description that goes with the recall for the speed sensor and the truck being reprogrammed. The symptoms, the truck info, the assembly plant and date all fit the recall but it's not on the recall list.
Incident date: Jan 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration almost causing the driver to lose control of the steering wheel before stopping the vehicle. The vehicle was later towed back to the dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. T... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2020) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Feb 8, 2024
Incident date: Dec 28, 2023
No warning light presented to warn of transmission issues. While driving is hesitating sluggish when accelerating and stalling around 60mph then shifts . Putt Putt then pick up a bit then back down.
Incident date: Feb 5, 2024
My dashboard screen has turned off completely 3 different times in the 14 months I have had the vehicle. It is normally off for several days at a time. When it is off, I have no access to my speed, gas, or any other controls shown on that display. When I run the KIa diagnostic tool, it tells me there is an issue with my airbags. Kia has a recall for this issue but refuses to apply the recall (sof... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2023
When starting car you can smell gasoline the smell stays while driving
Incident date: Feb 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle in a driveway, it failed to turn over and start. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the start-stop button again, but it failed to start. After another attempt, the vehicle restarted, inadvertently accelerated, and crashed into a wooden fence. There were no reported injuries. There was no air ba... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 8, 2024
*To be honest, I'm unsure of what systems are failing, but there are multiple. The dash shows Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA problem), Hill Start Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control Problem, Collision Mitigation System Problem, Road Departure Mitigation System Problem, Power Steering (EPS) Problem, Electric Parking Brake Problem, Emissions System Problem, Brake System Problem. *These systems are inte... Read more
Incident date: Feb 5, 2024
My vehicle transmission valve body shift solenoid D has malfunctioning causing my engine overheat and nearly explode
Crash
Incident date: Feb 5, 2024
Abs/traction control lights keep pooping up on the dash. The dealer has changed the abs module and it didn’t last long. The truck has 28k miles. It definitely can cause an accident because I haul heavy loads a lot. If the abs brakes doesn’t work correctly I will crash into another vehicle. And it dings/ beeps every time I push the brakes or every time I hit a bump or something. I hope Ram can ... Read more
TOYOTA
GRAND HIGHLANDER
(2024) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Feb 8, 2024
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while accelerating, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the knock sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The mechanic completed a road test and indicated tha... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2016
The anti lock brake system has failed on my 2018 Ram 2500. This has been confirmed by the dealer as well as an independent shop. First case was hauling a trailer full of wood, a car pulled out in front of me, I slammed the brake and the anti skid failed, brakes locked up. The only reason I didn’t completely lose control is my trailer brakes worked and stopped the swerve. Since that day the ABS ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2024
A warning popped up "Check electric vehicle system", then a few minutes later an error popup appeared "stop vehicle and check power supply" and the car would no longer go above 27 mph.
Incident date: Feb 7, 2024
The vehicle was purchased brand new on Feb 1st 2024. While driving on the highway on Feb 5th 2024, with only 105 miles on the odometer, and no prior warning messages/lights, many warning messages were suddenly displayed on the dashboard, repeating one after the other, instructing that various safety features were disabled, displaying: "Parking brake not available", "Brake system problem", "Brake p... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
In the past two years, my car has had 3 wheel sensors fail. When a wheel sensor fails while driving, things can get dangerous. When this happens, the following systems immediately fail in a chain reaction of events: ABS system, ESC Control, tire pressure monitoring, and loss of power. It’s dangerous when it happens on the road because the brakes are not working and the accelerator won’t accele... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2024
The contact owned a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH there would be a loud noise emitting from the rear-end of the vehicle that seemed as if the vehicle was running rough. The contact stated that while being idle at a red light the vehicle suddenly surged forward crashing into the vehicle in front. The air bags in the front and rear of the vehicle de... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Dec 3, 2023
I have had the ABS checked by Hyundai dealership per recall and they told me there was no issues, but I’m having a lot of problems with accelerating, and it shifting gears, I don’t think the system is really diagnosing, whenever I turn my car on sometimes it will do a diagnostic read, but it can’t send data, and it will take a while for the system to reset itself. It does smell like my car i... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 14, 2023
I was driving to work this morning, February 7th, 2024 driving at freeway speeds. My Tesla touchscreen dropped out and went completely dark. The reset process is to press and hold for about 30 seconds and another 30 seconds for the full restart. I attempted this twice and proceeded to pull off the highway. During this period, I could not see how fast I was driving, whether my brake lights, turn si... Read more
Incident date: Feb 3, 2024
The engine died while I was driving with my fiance, and the steering gave out. There was a loss of power to both the engine and brakes. The timing of shifting was inconsistent and I couldn't keep up with speed of traffic. Ford has confirmed that there is a problem with my vehicle and that the engine could explode. This is from their recall live on their site: "The engine oil pump drive belt tens... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2024
While attempting to merge into 70mph traffic on the interstate, the vehicle suddenly lost all acceleration capabilities. I could have been in an accident due to the sudden loss of acceleration and eventual power to the engine. When I pressed on the gas pedal, there was no resistance and the pedal went all the way to the floor. The vehicle slowly accelerated on it's own from 20MPH to 55MPH witho... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2024
Vehicle accelerates at low speeds when applying brake. It has happened 3 times in the past 6 months. Dealer was contacted and said no reports of this issue were on file. Most recent incident resulted in a minor collision.
Crash
Incident date: Jan 30, 2024
My car doesn’t accelerate. I was driving and a car behind me almost hit me because I pressed on the gas but it didn’t go
MERCEDES-BENZ
EQE500
(2023) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Feb 6, 2024
Incident date: Jan 12, 2024
One pedal speed control was used to slow down and stop the car approaching a busy intersection. The car came to a complete stop and was idle at the intersection. While stopped at the red light, the car suddenly accelerated into oncoming traffic and was directly heading towards a head-on collision. The driver turned the car to the left, avoiding injury, however, a party in the other vehicle was in... Read more
Crash
2 injured
MERCEDES-BENZ
GLB 250
(2020) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Feb 6, 2024
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
This complaint is about difficulties with the horn sensor on the steering yoke under emergency situations. After 14 months of driving the car, I have these safety issues: 1) The horn sensor is difficult to find in emergency situations. It is a single, small area located farthest away from the right-hand rest position and touching it requires a long stretch with the thumb. When turning, it is easy... Read more
Incident date: Feb 3, 2024
The transmission went out, when going out it causes the vehicle to jerk while at a high speed of 60mph and then after the jerking it stops in the highest gear almost causing a wreck and this all suddenly happens on an interstate.
Incident date: Aug 2, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the low oil pressure message was displayed. The oil and engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to accelerate and coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the drive belt had fractured, causing the engine to seize. The vehicle was ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2024
Cruise control will apply brakes when lane ahead is clear. This happens multiple times per trip, every trip. Automatic emergency braking way too aggressive. Has nearly caused me to be rear ended twice. I try to remember to disable it every drive. I wish I could permanently disable it.
Incident date: Jan 12, 2024
ABS and traction control lights intermittent flashing. Service ABS warning flashes and chiming occur. Very distracting and makes me unsure of failure of system .Codes and stored messages clear and repeat. Cannot go to dealer every day to have codes read that don’t exist. Parts not available at dealer. How is this fixed?
Incident date: Jan 28, 2024
I was sitting at a red light with my foot resting lightly on the accelerator. I was completely stopped waiting for the light to turn and suddenly my car began to accelerate quite fast. I had to slam on the brakes which seemed to be malfunctioning. I managed to stop before I hit the car in front of me. I took it to the Teslas service station and was told by their engineer that nothing was wrong wit... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2023
Sunday 2/42004 the car just shut off on me brakes stop working could turn could stop
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2022) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Feb 5, 2024
Incident date: Feb 4, 2024
ABS, electronic stability control and speed control not working. Code C0020-01 ABS Pump Motor Control.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2019
The car continues to have serious engine issues. I keep getting a service Stability track and Engine Power Reduced warning. It has happened to me on the expressway and the car will not accelerate past 20 miles per hour. I had the car repaired on October of last year (3 months ago) and the issue persists. I decided to research online and this seems to be a major issue going on with Buicks. It sound... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2024
The ABS/HCU module has experienced a premature failure which is a huge safety risk as it controls my vehicles' Anti-lock Braking System, Traction Control & Cruise Control systems. Since experiencing this failure, my vehicle has had numerous safety incidents where Braking would lockup, traction with the roadway is lost etc. Please initiate a recall for this issue for these generation of trucks so t... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2018) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Feb 5, 2024
Incident date: Feb 5, 2024
The vacuum pump recall was replaced in 2016 and it’s bad again. I have the emissions warranty with ford I am 6 owner the other 5 owners were resale so I get the one time lifetime emission warranty. the truck is doing all kinds of crazy stuff
Incident date: Sep 19, 2023
While driving in snow mode the vehicle loses acceleration after coming to a stop and demanding acceleration again. The vehicle will roll using idle power however there is no increase to the RPM's. The vehicle has to be stopped and moved to ECO mode for the vehicle to go back to working. KIA Dealership has been notified however stated if there is no Check Engine Light and no snow on the ground the... Read more