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: Nov 5, 2023
Anti-lock brake / traction control lights come with audible chime. Message reads service anti-lock brakes and service electronic brakes. Problem is intermittent with light coming on for a duration then going out and clearing message center. At times, the warning lights turn on and off rapidly giving multiple audible tones. Activation of light causes deactivation of cruise control. At highway sp... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2023
1. My car will randomly not accelerate when the gas is being pressed. This has almost got me killed when making a left hand turn on more than 1 occasion now. The car also struggles with random shifting and power issues while going up steep hills at high speeds. 2. The front passenger side door and the rear drivers side passenger door just randomly stopped working with a week of each other. The... Read more
Incident date: Jun 6, 2023
The car shifts super hard into second gear. The inside smells like the car is over heating,driving down the interstate the car losses power,you can push your foot to the floor and nothing,the car will not excelerate at all.It's extremely dangerous. You have to pull over turn the car off and then on again to get it to go. This happens about every 20 minutes or so,the heat only works in the driver ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2023
ABS module and Hydraulic Control Unit have both failed multiple times. Known issue to RAM with no recall issued. Advised not to drive the truck until the parts are available as the brakes may completely fail unexpectedly, leading to loss of stopping ability/accident.
Incident date: Nov 2, 2020
I bought Tesla and tesla insurance which monitors driving of driver to provide safety score to driver. The safety score enables monthly premiums of tesla insurance. My complaint is related to safety score which provides financial incentives to drivers to not apply break. As part of safety score provided to drivers in tesla app(screen shot attached), one of the factors used is hard breaking to pen... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2022
Today is Saturday, November 11, 2023. While driving my check, engine light came on, and I was given a message on the dash that engine power was reduced. I was only able to drive the car 30 to 45 miles an hour to get home. I have not taken the car to the mechanic yet, but will do so when they open on Monday. I was in a heavily congested area with many cars passing me at great speeds. I connec... Read more
Incident date: Oct 17, 2023
This vehicle has less than 24k miles, and just surpassed the warranty period and suddenly with no explanation, it won't start due to a faulty start switch in the brake pedal which must be depressed to start the vehicle or shift into drive. 90% of the time the vehicle will not start. Only after spending 10-20 fidgeting with the break pedal while simultaneously pushing the start button and moving th... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2018) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Nov 11, 2023
Incident date: Nov 11, 2023
We (my wife and I) were driving our vehicle Sunday November 5th 2023 in the morning and experienced a serious issue. While on the highway, the car was stuck with the gas petal in the down position (we did not realize this until after we were able to successfully power down the car) and continued to accelerate in an uncontrolled manner. We were fortunate that our breaks were able to stop the car, a... Read more
Incident date: Oct 25, 2023
When a large object like 18wheeler is in right lane and you are in left lane the car thinks it is in your way and the vehicle brakes hard. Very dangerous. Has happened numerous times.
Incident date: Nov 3, 2023
While using the radar cruise control, the vehicle will aggressively apply braking pressure, without warning and risk losing control of the vehicle. The risk of being rear ended is frightening at highway speeds. This usually happens through turns, and the Mazda mistakes vehicles in opposite lanes as being in the same lane. This has occurred multiple times with different people.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2023
The entire over steering wheel display/cockpit stopped functioning. No ability to view charge level, speed, and other related details normally shown in this display was available. The things I tried to repair were: parking the car, locking the door to simulate a full stop/start cycle, disconnecting everything from the vehicle ports, Etc. eventually after leaving the car for an extended period this... Read more
Incident date: Oct 26, 2023
While using cruise control on a recent road trip, the car braked suddenly for no apparent reason. This happened 7 times over a time frame of 11 days of driving. Each time it occured while traveling on a freeway (2 lanes each direction), large median, very light to no traffic, during the day, the car slammed on the brakes, without warning while traveling the speed limit (up to 75 mph). The first... Read more
Incident date: Sep 4, 2023
Vehicle in Adaptive cruise will unintentionally accelerate when a motorcycle is lane splitting to the right of the vehicle, causing the vehicle to accelerate towards a slowing or stopped vehicle. This puts me and other motorists at risk of a crash.
Incident date: Nov 10, 2023
My 2019 Honda Pilot is repeatedly having problems, when the vehicle is started and running, first thing in the morning. There is hard jerking when the vehicle is shifting on low speed (ex: from first to second to third gear). This happens repeatedly in the morning start, then doesn't occur again on that day. It reoccurs again, the next day. Have taken the vehicle to the Dealer Service, they notice... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
GLK350
(2010) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Nov 10, 2023
Incident date: Nov 10, 2023
When driving on a highway with cruise control on. If you are in an outside lane and the is a tractor-trailer in the inside lane maybe 100-200 feet ahead of you. If the highway veers to the left even though the truck remains in the inside lane the system seems to think the truck is right in front of the car. Cruise shuts down and it starts to brake. I have almost gotten hit by cars behind me twice.... Read more
CONTINENTAL
PROCONTACT GX SSR MOE
(9999) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Nov 10, 2023
Incident date: Oct 11, 2023
On a hybrid mode, drive gear at less than 10mph to park the vehicle. No engine warning lights, and no unusual signs. The car suddenly accelerated as I hit the brakes. At the time of the acceleration, the gasoline engine immediately came on and vehicle only came to stop as I stomped on the brakes for the second time, causing property damage.
Crash
Incident date: Apr 8, 2023
When operating the radar cruise control, if a large truck (semi, box truck) is next to you when going around a curve, the vehicle is seeing that truck in your lane and applies the brakes very suddenly. This is an issue, because if someone is following behind you, it is almost as if you are brake checking them. Clearly that is not safe at highway speeds. This has happened to me several times since ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 3, 2023
Using the adaptive cruise control in I-64, the car will dangerously slow down/brake in the turns. If someone was following m, this slow down would have been unexpected, and could have rear ended us or lost control trying to avoid us. Unexpected slowdowns are dangerous. Not sure if this happens at lower speeds on side triads since I don’t use the cruise control on those roads.
Incident date: Nov 10, 2023
While driving on freeway with Adaptive cruise control set, vehicle automatically brakes when passing large vehicles, like semi trucks. ACC set at 75, I'm in left lane to pass truck going around curve and brakes come on and slow vehicle down to 60. I am clearly in the left lane to pass and truck in right lane. My safety and those behind are at a HUGE risk. This will cause an accident if not addre... Read more
Incident date: Oct 19, 2023
When Accelerating from a stop, or increasing speed from a turn, the car sputters, power fluctuates, and sometimes it vibrates and feels like I am driving over a grid. The car sometimes feels like it's going to stall. I have owned this car for 10 years and this problem has been ongoing. It has been happening alot more recently. I have not been in an accident but I feel very unsafe when this happens... Read more
Incident date: Nov 3, 2023
Steering wheel went unsteady. All warning lights went off. Speedometer failed. Unable to shut off the engine and unable to detect key while having the key in place. My safety and others are at risk each time this happens due to not been able to have control of the vehicle speed while having unsteady steering wheel and not knowing of the possibility of breaks failing while trying to drive to a sa... Read more
Incident date: Jun 8, 2023
vehicle auto stopped in the middle of the parkway
Crash
Incident date: Nov 9, 2023
The car accelerates itself randomly. It’s happened with a lot of Genesis’s of this generation. Almost crashed due to it. Very unsafe. Gave the vehicle to a friend and the problem reoccurred and he captured a video that I have
Incident date: Oct 26, 2023
My 2016 Chevy Malibu that does not have many miles on it is shifting into, Reduced Engine Power Mode. When this comes on I cannot accelerate up to speeds and can only go about 25 MPH. It is dangerous that my car can go from highway speeds to this slow. I have had 0 issues before this started happening and other Malibus have been recalled for this same issue.
Incident date: Feb 23, 2023
Car shut down while driving due to the electrical system malfunction; had to get the car towed; ended up being a known issue by Audi with no recall related to the alternator; replaced with new alternator
Incident date: Oct 6, 2023
Poor throttle respond when doing lane change, really really poor throttle respond, especially when doing lane change the throttle supper slow respond can causing a rear end from the safe on incoming lane changed distance to unsafe distance after the lane changed, this seriously can causing the crash by the rear end from the vehicle on the back. It also happened when merge into freeway when throttl... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while his wife was parking the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle collided with a wall and was stopped by a curb. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was diagnosed by the manufacturer and the contact was informed that the accelerator had been depress... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2023
Car will, without warning brake aggressively while in cruise control, without pressure applied to brake. No other factors on road, except cars behind. This occurs frequently when car is driven in autopilot. Car will, without warning accelerate to a high speed without pressure applied to the accelerator. This acceleration is stopped with pressure being immediately applied to brake.
Incident date: May 9, 2023
There is a software problem which was introduced in a previous OTA which causes drive modes to change. These drive modes are Whisper, Engage, and Unbridle. Each has their own acceleration/throttle response characteristics, as well as steering and suspension feel. You also have the ability to enable one-pedal drive in the drive mode menu. The software bug will randomly throw an error on the main s... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2019) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Nov 9, 2023
Incident date: Nov 11, 2022
I do not know what caused this to happen. There were no warning lights or messages. Prior to this incident the transmission would rev/speed up on its own for a few seconds (I don't know if this is relevant). Salesperson told me about this and said it was nothing to worry about. The vehicle is equipped with a sensor that brakes if you come to close to an object. This sensor has definitely wor... Read more
Crash
FORD
MUSTANG MACH E
(2023) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Nov 9, 2023
Incident date: Sep 29, 2023
I read this news today and something very similar has happened to me on autopilot. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/tesla-crash-santa-clara-18365723.php The car suddenly speeds swerves to the right. Since I was alert I was able to pull it out of autopilot and assume control.
Incident date: Jun 23, 2023
The vehicle regularly, and at random times, will drop out of the chosen drive setting and go to the default "Engage" mid-level setting. This changes the driving dynamics, such as pedal pressure required to move the car, and the sensitivity of the steering. If the driver was in "Unbridle", for example, the car will immediately lose speed and steering sensitivity, while if the driver was in "Whisper... Read more
Incident date: Nov 8, 2023
When trying to accelerate at a light turning left while on coming traffic is coming tries to accelerate and car didn’t want to move. Took foot off the gas and didn’t again. The car finally moved if not there is a potential accident. Also went up a street on hill. Turned right and stop sign right away. Pressed gas to accelerate on my turn at the four stop and couldn’t go. Released the gas p... Read more
Incident date: Nov 7, 2023
My wife was involved in an accident with her Audi Q4 E-Tron on Monday, August 7, 2023 at approximately noon. She was driving into Boulder to pick up our granddaughter from an art camp in Table Mesa. On her way to Boulder, she noticed that the lane departure warning indicator light was not working which was odd because she had been using that since she purchased the car. She was also in Drive B (re... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 20, 2020
Random phantom breaking when using cruise control at high speeds. Goes from 70-40 mph and always worried someone is going to rear end me when my car automatically rapidly slows down for no reason. Huge hazard and risk!
Incident date: Aug 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked. The contact stated that upon shifting to drive (D) and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lurched, accelerated unintendedly, and crashed into the base of a lamp pole; however, the engine continued to rev loudly. The air bags did not deploy. The contact depressed the brake pedal and while attempting to r... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 3, 2023
ABS Control Module causing ABS light to come on, consistent audio warning, and disengages Cruise Control function. Currently being diagnosed by Dodge dealer the ABS Module and Hydraulic Control Units failing internally. Initially it was very seldom, and now is constant.
Incident date: Nov 5, 2023
I was at a stoplight at a busy intersection (car previously running well) & when I went to accelerate as the light turned green, my car leaped/jerked forward & would only accelerate to 5-8 mph. All of the warning lights on the dash lit up at the same time. I SLOWLY got out of the traffic & onto the side of the road. I turned the car off & back on. All the warning lights were still on. The car... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2021
Emergency brake assist, distance sensing and adaptive cruise control randomly and intermittently deactivate while driving. In a recent 8-hour highway trip this deactivation occurred 7 times, sometimes correcting itself with no driver intervention, and other times remaining disabled for hours and hundreds of driving miles. Durning motor off and restarting occasionally reset the issue, but many tim... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2023
For over a year, when ever I press on the gas to accelarate the car stalls and this is very dangerous as it could cause an accident. It is not related to being low on gas as it happens even the the tank if full. The most recent issue happened yesterday. I was on a stop sign, and when I pressed the gas to go, the car moved forward a bit and then it stalled, leaving me on the middle of the intersect... Read more
Incident date: Nov 7, 2023
ON OCTOBER 15 2023 AT AROUND 5.30 PM ME AND MY WIFE ARE COMING BACK FROM MY DAUGHTER"S HOUSE IN BASKING RIDGE NJ ,TO MY HOUSE IN WARREN NJ WHICH IS ONLY about 7 MILES. ITS LOCAL AREA WITH SPEED LIMIT AROUND 35 MILES/HR Z0NE .I WAS DRIVING ON MOUNT AIRY ROAD , SAW A RED LIGHT AT A DISTANCE, AND ALSO SAW A COUPLE OF CARS STOPPED AT LIGHT, AND SLOWLY APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. TO MY SUR... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Aug 18, 2023
UNKNOWN ON several occasions the vehicle would just shut off. Another occasion while getting on the freeway I pressed the accelerator pedal and the car pumped the brakes,there was no one in front of me or on side of me upon entering the freeway. Another incident I was in the fast lane on the freeway and the vehicle just shut off Thank goodness the fast lane had a place where I could pull over a... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2023
Service ABS light comes off and on sporadically. This is a known problem through out the country and needs to be addressed by a recall.
Incident date: Oct 18, 2023
I was driving I pressed the cruise control to set it but the vehicle kept accelerating and as I was pressing on the brake it wouldn’t disengage it kept accelerating I kept pressing the brake frantically and THANK GOD it disengaged.. I never touched the cruise control again
Incident date: Nov 4, 2023
When driving my new Hyundai ionic 5, the dashboard display is set up such that when I am in my preferred seating position, and my hands at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel, I cannot see the spedometer reading. I basically don't know how fast I'm going and less I change my hand position or move my head. This requires a fair more amount of time for me to take my attention off the road. This is not a... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2023
While in cruise control, car will randomly suddenly brake without warning or visible obstacle. This has been an ongoing problem ever since buying the vehicle in 2021. Very dangerous as it has happened on the highway. Is startling and causes seat belt locking. I have reported the issue to Tesla and it's apparently a "limitation of software". We usually do not use cruise control in the Tesla because... Read more
Incident date: Nov 7, 2023
Too long for this space, I have attached a PDF with all the information Also attached "work order" picture of vehicle being towed, then pictures of the alerts these were from Sunday but were the same from Saturday through Monday. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS I BELIEVE IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT A BRAND NEW CAR HAS 2 ENGINE FAILURES IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAYS! I AM HIGHLY CONCERNED IT MAY BE ANOTHER... Read more
Incident date: Jul 12, 2023
My 2018 Toyota Prius Supreme was parked too far away from the curb in front of a house where we were invited, in a residential area in Naperville IL. I entered the car to park it properly. I had my foot on the brakes and pressed the starting button for the engine to turn on. I then put the car on reverse and suddently the car accelerated uncontollably. Went on the grass, hit the neighbor's ma... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
I was driving November 6, 2023 at about 10:30 in the morning at approximately 25 to 30 mph on a neighborhood road when my car accelerated on me without me applying extra pressure. I was caught off guard and thought it must’ve been an anomaly. We have owned the car since August. But then on my way home, about 1 o’clock, I was again on the neighborhood street doing 25 to 30 mph and the car obvio... Read more
Incident date: Nov 4, 2023
The tcm in my 5 cobalt is not working properly I've tested and replaced everything els and had the tcm reprogrammed still getting problems aiming back to the tcm it wasn't looked at by a business