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 72,878 complaints — component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident date: May 1, 2023
Driving on I-5 North from Los Angeles to San Francisco with adaptive cruise control activated. Suddenly and without warning car activates emergency braking as if it sees an obstruction on the road but obviously road was clear of any obstructions. This happened 4 times then I finally decided to no longer use cruise control. This happened on a clear sunny day around noon time 9/8/23.
Incident date: Apr 3, 2023
1. When vehicle is on autopilot mode. Vehicle will all a sudden brake by itself with no reason as to why, no cars in front of me intermitly. Mostly happens when driving at highway speeds and when approaching a overpass. 2. Could be crash from the rear. 3. Have not notified Tesla. 4. No inspections have been performed 5. No warnings and no beeping either just brakes by itself intermitly.
Incident date: Sep 7, 2023
The ABS light, break light and traction. Control due to either a faulty abs modul or tip computer. Dealers unable to replace until MAY 2024. Concern is the abs breaking and traction control for safe driving. From what I have read this is a common problem that needs to been corrected.
Incident date: Apr 3, 2023
I was slowly pulling into a parking space at the beach. Pulling into the space the car accelerated, fast. It crashed in to the two cement barriers at front of parking space. I heard the air hissing out of the right front passenger tire, as it deflated. The front of the car was badly damaged from the crash into the barriers. Luckily no one was injured or killed. This is the second acceleration ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jun 11, 2023
For the 2nd time in about 8-10 months, while braking and having nearly come to a stop, on a slight incline, the car had a sudden acceleration. Driver repeatedly stomped on the brake as the car tried to leap forward. Extremely dangerous. No warning lights. I know the dealer won’t do anything because they won’t be able to reproduce it. Conditions were mild, slight sprinkle. I bought the car fro... Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2023
My car would randomly shut off at red lights, one time I was on a hill & thought I was going to roll back into the car in front of me. After restarting it would turn on. The radio would randomly shut off. We eventually replaced the battery. On a Fri.(Dec 17th) my car would not start, so my Husband drove the kids & I to school, upon my return the car started. He told me the wheel locks & I need to ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
VOLKSWAGEN
EOS
(2009) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 9, 2023
Incident date: Aug 30, 2021
All of my lights on the right side of my dashboard is on..the traction light, brake light,steering wheel light and the speedometer is acting iradical..I put new speed sensors on it and it still haven't fixed the problem..alot of mechanics say it's and electrical problem..I bought the car from flow Mazda dealership a couple years ago it's been sitting since then
Incident date: Sep 7, 2023
C0020-01. Electronic Braking System and stability control system continually go in and out of alarm kicking the truck out of cruise control suddenly. This was repaired once under warranty by replacing the hydraulic control unit at 40,000 miles and it is now doing the same thing again at 90,000 miles. This is a significant safety issue as it prevents the use of cruise control and turns off the s... Read more
Incident date: Jun 25, 2023
Cruise control switch began smoking, disconnected it and took it to Awesome Ford of Chehalis, WA for recall service sometime in June or July. Service tech found that brake fluid had wicked its way up electrical harness into cruise control servo, necessitating replacement in order to complete recall service. FoMoCo has been unable/unwilling to replace cruise control servo and is instead requiring t... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jun 4, 2022
On multiple occasions this vehicle has lost power whilst driving on public roads including but not limited to interstate roadways. The vehicle will be operating normally at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour (depending on the posted speed limit) and will suddenly lose power and speed to such a degree that it is unsafe and the speed cannot be regained. Vehicle has been inspected and "fixed" on mult... Read more
Incident date: Sep 7, 2023
We had two tires put on/rotation at the dealership and the two recalls repaired via a software update on or around the end of August. Once I left, felt the steering was hyper sensitive thought it was the tires. I had two incidents upon acceleration the truck aggressively yanking me into the opposing lane without driver input. Secondly, my wife had it happen to her on a very busy feeder road, the t... Read more
Incident date: Sep 6, 2023
On Wednesday, our 2021 Tesla Y - which we have LOVED driving for the last 3 years - took off on its own while I was sitting in traffic - where traffic was at a standstill, and the max speed was probably 4 MPH. Construction ahead had closed a lane, so there was a massive back-up and cars were creeping along each time the traffic light ahead turned green.) As any Tesla owner will tell you, the be... Read more
Crash
1 injured
KIA
SPORTAGE HYBRID
(2023) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 8, 2023
Incident date: Aug 15, 2023
Unintended acceleration, hesitation, and transmission issues. When accelerating from first gear to second gear, hesitates and then suddenly lurching forward.
FORD
F-150 HYBRID
(2021) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 8, 2023
Incident date: Jul 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated while pulling into a parking space, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly, drove over the curb, and crashed into bushes. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries. There was no police report filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where she infor... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Sep 1, 2023
The adaptive cruise on the Mercedes has a habit of harsh braking during stop and go traffic. It's not a natural braking manev8, instead it's jarring and I feel like it could cause a rear end with how jarring it is. Many other users are experiencing the same.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2023
Similar to the 2019 & newer Ram HD recall for the ABS electronic control module, my 2018 Ram 2500 has the same issue. It was recently diagnosed at the dealer in August 2023, but due to the abundance of impacted trucks, the dealer estimates that replacement parts will not be available until at least February 2024. While I wait for the repair I have no ABS, traction control, stability control, or cr... Read more
Incident date: Sep 7, 2023
Over the last 3 years we have had ongoing issues with our truck going into limp mode. We have spent thousands of dollars at dealerships and mechanics trying to troubleshoot the issue. Several occasions while trying to merge onto the freeway the truck would slip into limp mode causing us to have other drivers slam on their breaks almost hitting us. We had 2 cars in January of 2023 veer off the ... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2023) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 7, 2023
Incident date: Mar 1, 2023
Adaptive cruise control on at 70mph, speeding car pulls into my lane with no gap (completely cut me off), hard brake by computer, I did not tap the brake to take it off of cruise, car that had cut me off zigs into another lane while adaptive cruise control has car at about 40 mph due to hard brake. As car in front pulls out of the lane, adaptive cruise control guns the engine to 3500-4000 rpm si... Read more
Incident date: Jul 17, 2023
Phone charging cord is prone to getting pulled into the steering column and extremely difficult to remove. When I was able to remove the cord, I discovered a wire or spring the steering wheel assembly must have come undone, because the airbag light is on, and my cruise control no longer works, and neither do the steering wheel controls for the radio
Incident date: Dec 18, 2022
When using one pedal drive modes going down an incline as a slow rate of speed say 2 - 3 mph. If you release your foot from the pedal the truck will come to a spot, then reverse 3 - 6" on that incline. This has cause on more then one occasion almost back into a vehicle that was behind me.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2019
- my car started releasing white smoke - i took it to repair shop, stated it was fixed, white smoke continued -car started overheating -Took it to KIA dealership and was told i was responsible for fuel leaking into engine, was told my car was not covered under warranty, I also have an extended warranty at the dealership which they wouldn't honor stating it was not covered -Recently while driving t... Read more
Incident date: Sep 7, 2023
Power train light came on a busy highway, Transmission disengage from engine ,vehicle stops In the middle of traffic. Towed truck to the dealership on the on the 08/21/23. Reset PCM and TCM module.On the 09/07/23 same problem vehicle stop in traffic.Truck would not move in drive or reverse when engine running ,towed to the dealership today .
Incident date: Aug 31, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle shuddered and stalled while accelerating. The transmission also shifted hard, and the vehicle shook abnormally. The vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The vehicle was overheating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was d... Read more
Incident date: May 31, 2023
I was driving no warnings lights to shutting down on the road to black smoke came out of the back luckily a guy was going by and helped me move my car
Incident date: Aug 30, 2023
I was driving and suddenly 13 flashing lights and codes from check engine to loss of cruise control and RAB -dealer says it needs a new thermo control valve (thermostat). This failed part has been common on Subarus for 3 years-reported on internet and even to the point where a guy sitting next to me today with same car and year and same $1800 bill and diagnosis. Should be a recall. Part was redes... Read more
Incident date: Aug 28, 2023
I have a 2013 Ford Edge. Mileage approx 55,000 miles. All scheduled maintenance was up to date. In July 2023, while driving, car started to decelerate. No noises, smells or loss of steering. It was as if my gas pedal just stopped working. My dash had a warning to refer to owners manual. I Thank the Lord there was a break in traffic and I could "coast" to the emergency lane. I shut off the car, res... Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2023
Transmission downshifts during normal driving conditions on highway. There is a recall for this defect. Recall #1901(transmission). Called Ford on 9.6.23 and spoke to employee #219738 and Ford refused to correct known defects.
Incident date: Dec 9, 2021
ABS LIGHT CODE C002-01 AT 16582 MILES .REPLACED HCU .19710 MILES ABS LIGHT BACK ON CODE C002-01REPAIR LASTED 3128 MILES.TOOK VEHICLEBACK TO DEALER WITH SAME PROBLEM 3/29/23DEALER SAYS NO PARTS AVALABLE SO NO TRUCK TILL PARTS COME IN .AUGUST IS BEST GUESS AS TO PARTS .CALLED DEALER IN AUGUST NOW NO PARTS TILL DECEMBER AND MAYBE NOT THEN.BOUGHT TRUCK NEW FEB 2019 TRUCK BEEN DOWN MORE THAN DRIVEN.DEA... Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2023
The vehicle has stalled as trying to continue after a stop at a light or stop sign. It will not travel except at 10 miles per hour or less while trying to cross the intersection. Other drivers are impatient and start honking. This has also happened while going down a busy street . It jerks when you start to go after stopping. Happened in July 2023 -- 2X August 2023 --... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2023
I turned on Cruise Control at 60 mph and it immediately set itself to 20 mph, braking fast to slow down quickly. This caused the car behind me to slam on his brakes so he would not rear end me. I tried increasing cruise control speed to no avail. I had to turn it off. Once I did not have any cars behind me, I tried once again so I could take a video and of course, it worked as it should. Not ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 25, 2023
On 6/27/22 we were driving roughly 35 mph and all of the sudden the warning light Engine Malfunction Power reduced Service now warning light came on and the car immediately slowed to 20 mph with no warning. It was a Sunday so we couldn’t take it to the dealership that day. We turned the car off and in about 20 minutes turned it back on and the warning light had cleared. We took it to the dealers... Read more
LAND ROVER
DISCOVERY SPORT
(2018) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 5, 2023
Incident date: Jul 1, 2020
The vehicle has a terrible delay when accelerating from a rolling stop between 8-11 mph. If you try to accelerate and the vehicle is at this speed, the delay is about 2-3 seconds before the transmission gets it into gear.
Incident date: Sep 4, 2023
On 9/3/23, driver was waiting at a stop sign to turn left. When driver accelerated into the highway, there was no power and the vehicle would only go 5-10 mph. Warning lights came on to check the hybrid system with the HEV indicator light. Driver pulled over. Restarted car and engine was stuttering. Was able to drive a few miles to a safer location. Started car on 9/4/23, again it had a rough star... Read more
FORD
THUNDERBIRD
(2002) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 5, 2023
Incident date: Sep 3, 2023
I ordered the car in July and it arrived on 8/3/23. On 8/31/23, I got in the car while in my garage, attempted to start it as usual, and a loud sound occurred when I shifted from park to reverse. Lights began flashing. I turned off the car, got out and walked around to make sure I hadn’t hit anything. After verifying clearance all around, I checked my phone. The Toyota Corolla Cross XLE had ... Read more
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2016) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 5, 2023
Incident date: Sep 5, 2023
The contact stated that while renting a 2022 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the steering wheel suddenly turned left while accelerating. The contact attempted to gain control however the steering wheel seized. The vehicle ended up crashing in the middle of the highway on the left side of the vehicle and front-end mostly. The air bags deployed. The vehicle... Read more
Crash
1 injured
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2023) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 5, 2023
Incident date: Sep 5, 2023
I was parking my car in a driveway on clear and sunny day. As I put the car into reverse, the engine suddenly accelerated. The car then spun around and moved sideways causing me to crash into the garage along the length of the car on passenger side. The garage was heavily damaged as were two other cars in the garage. I was not injured except for mild bruising and stiffness in neck and shoulders. A... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Aug 20, 2023
Coming home from grocery shopping the night of Sept 3, 2023 the radio kept turning off then coming back on. I was on the highway about 20miles from home radio still turning on and off about every 5mins (go black/blank then light back up) and I had felt when i would accelerate it would as I would slightly go up hill. Once I jad got about 4miles from my house the radio went off once again and dash w... Read more
Incident date: Jul 18, 2023
Easily repeatable issue. When at highway speeds adaptive cruise control detects a slower vehicle in my lane. My Frontier slows as expected. When the necessary lane change is made, my engine will suddenly accelerate rapidly until it reaches about 6000 rpms. This also will occur when climbing a moderately steep hill in either cruise mode. This is a safety hazard in that it is extremely distrac... Read more
Incident date: Sep 4, 2023
Spontaneous downshifting of transmission to first gear has occurred more than once resulting in sudden change in speed, tires screeching, and unsafe driving or difficulty controlling automobile. Fortunately no one was behind me as I would likely have been rear ended. Each time this has happened the motor has been subjected to heavy strain.
Incident date: Nov 11, 2021
Abrupt, rapid, unannounced deceleration with no apparent cause. Has happened multiple times.
Incident date: Sep 4, 2023
Engine stalled in the middle of the highway. Could not get speed over 30mph to get out of the way of oncoming traffic even with the gas peddle pushed to the floor. Engine light flashing. Finally was able to get over to the side of the road with care bucking and jerking the whole way and stuttered to a stop.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2023
i have reported this before with no resolution. the vehicle that financed (2019 Nissan Sentra SV) ALWAYS slows down during acceleration causing the car to jerk myself and passenger(s) forward and the car to make grinding sounds and would only allow continued driving after the car decelerated when there was NO vehicle in the front vicinity of the car. The transmission is at present in need of rep... Read more
Incident date: Aug 10, 2023
My ABS keeps locking up and Ive almost wrecked multiple times. I changed brakes and rotors and still the problem is on-going. Its dangerous and Ive read others saying the same thing online.
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2021) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 3, 2023
Incident date: Sep 2, 2023
When traveling the car does not accelerate properly sometimes losing power. Feels like engine might turn off. But removing foot from accelerator (gas pedal), then reapply, gets engine to respond, but very slowly. No warning messages.
Incident date: Aug 24, 2023
As I was starting to make a right hand turn into a parking space in a parking garage, the car suddenly accelerated. I slammed on the brakes, but the stopping distance was not long enough. The car crashed into the steel cabling and concrete pole. The airbags deployed and the damage was significant enough to total the car. I sustained bruising and back muscle pain from the force of the impact. I onl... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Sep 3, 2023
How is there not a recall yet? I'm still making payments on my 2018 Ford F-150 which I purchased in 2020. The first problem I experienced happened when accelerating to pass a slower moving vehicle (into oncoming traffic). Instead, my truck slowed substantially (70 mph down to 40 mph) preventing me and all the other drivers behind me from passing. Fortunately, there wasn't a vehicle traveling in th... Read more
Incident date: Aug 19, 2023
The car was going at the speed limit or maybe 5-9 miles over speed limit when brakes were pumped to stop car as there was stop and go traffic on a bridge in bay area (CA). The car had quite a distance from the car in front of it. Despite brakes being applied, the car seemed to accelerate and brakes had to be applied hard. However, the car did not stop until it hit the honda in front of it. As ... Read more
Crash
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2019) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 2, 2023
Incident date: Jul 1, 2023
While parking my car, with my foot on the brake, the accelerator engaged and went to the floor. This caused me to jump a medium and pull on to the road before I was able to stop the car. I was ale to stop with the engine still racing. I put the car into park and the accelerator disengaged. The dealer determined the accelerator was defective.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2023
I was driving when the vehicle engine randomly shut down with out warning I was on the freeway at the time and could have been hit by a car. I took thr car to an auto repair shop, had the problem inspected snddiagnosed and was told the engine was faulty. I had the engine replaced and the same issue occurred. There were no warning lamps, messages, or alerts prior to the problem occurring. The drive... Read more
FORD
MUSTANG MACH E
(2023) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 2, 2023
Incident date: Jul 6, 2023
This has happened multiple times on Interstate 20. I will merge onto the interstate and my Rogue will lose power completely. I can have the gas pedal almost at the ground and there is no acceleration. The RPM will go up to 4 but literally no acceleration is happening. I can feel the car get to 60 and then it won’t go any faster. At times when idle at a red light or in a parking spot so many war... Read more