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: Aug 11, 2023
Once again, my vehicle exhibited immediate and sudden power loss while at highway speeds. Ironically, I was in transit to my dealer for the third time for this issue within my vehicle's 3,000 miles. This is incredibly unsafe at any speed, especially at highway speeds without warning. An uncommanded slowdown without any response from the accelerator pedal, and a warning on the gauge cluster statin... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
I was pulling into parking lot at REI car suddenly accelerated and jumped pavement and hit a wall.
Incident date: Aug 5, 2023
Error message that AWD, and associated sponsors are not functioning. This is failure of AWD Module LX6Z 7P238 AANP. Ford has issued a minimum recall/service warning (but not all 2020 Escape models). All warnings and assistance related to AWD are incapacitated/not functioning, including auto parking brake.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2023
While driving down the road my vehicles ABS and Traction control light go on and off, most of the time the lights are stuck on. Causing the vehicle to not have ABS and traction control during the rain and snow months of the year an further more the cruise control does not work. At this point the truck is unsafe to drive in all conditions as it does not retain its safety braking systems, I will no... Read more
Incident date: Aug 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while his sister was driving the vehicle, while at a stop light, the engine continued to rev with the RPMs increasing. The brake pedal was being pressed during the failure. The vehicle then experienced unintended acceleration and drove into the intersection. The contact stated that the failure had occurred later the same day for a secon... Read more
Incident date: Jul 16, 2023
First got an Service Antilock Brake System and Stability Control light. A couple days later, lost speedometer and park sense lights came on along with "Service Trailer Brakes", but I haven't had a trailer hooked up to this truck ever.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2023
CONCERN: This is the second time the engine does not shut off. All warning lights go off, unsteady steering wheel and odometer/odograph failed. This is not just a malfunction issue it is a severe safety concern. Back in January of 2023 it happen for the first time and was told Control Unit IPDM, Engine Room needed to be replaced and it was. But once again while driving the steering wheel went u... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle independently accelerated at high speeds and the contact lost control of vehicle and drove off the road. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact drove over metal fragments on the roadway causing damages to the front driver’s and passenger’s side tires before the vehicle came to a compl... Read more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the the passengers side tail light failed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the tail light needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however the failure reoccurred and was taken back to the independent mechanic where they sta... Read more
Incident date: Jun 10, 2023
While using adaptive cruise control on 2023 Tesla Model Y we experienced multiple instances of emergency braking (rapid deceleration w/o touching brakes, accelerator steering column, etc.) without any warning during multiple scenarios - dusk, daylight, sunny and cloudy weather. Occurred on both straight and curved sections of highway with no other vehicles in front of vehicle.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2023
While traveling on a busy interstate highway, my Tesla 3 presented four errors on the control screen: Automatic Emergency Braking disabled, Power reduced, Vehicle shutting down and Unable to drive. The left hand side of the screen flashed red and instructed me to pull over safely. The car was immediately slowing down, and as I was in heavy traffic, I was unable to pull over to the shoulder safely.... Read more
Incident date: Jul 27, 2023
Unknown- Check TPMS System, Check Parking Brake System, Check Brake System, Park light, all came on and stays on. While driving car shut off multiple times, speed will reduce, car will hesitate and jerk when trying to pull off from stop light.
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2018) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Aug 9, 2023
Incident date: Jul 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 BMW iX. The contact stated while parking in a parking spot, the vehicle suddenly increased in speed without any warning. As a result, the contact crashed into the corner of a building. The front end of the vehicle was damaged as well as minor visible damage to the building. The contact and passenger suffered whiplash and neck pain but did not seek medical attention. A poli... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Aug 9, 2023
When traveling on the highway at cruising speeds of 65mph or higher while in "cruise control" the car will suddenly slam the brakes on. Luckily there has not been any one close to me to cause a rear end collision. It seems to be random but there are times when it happens more often. On a two lane highway or if a car in front of me is slowing down to make a turn. One time a car entered the high... Read more
Incident date: Aug 8, 2023
While accelerating from a complete stop, the transmission does not seem to fully engage and the car shudders while taking off.
Incident date: Jul 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Honda HR-V. The contact stated that while his mother-in-law was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently to over 100 MPH. Additionally, the contact's mother-in-law depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle failed to stop. The brake warning light was flashing. The contact's mother-in-law started pumping the brake pedal and was able to stop the vehicle. The... Read more
Incident date: Jul 4, 2023
I was driving on a rural, two-lane highway with no other cars around and with cruise control engaged. Without warning, the car decelerated suddenly and rapidly from about 60 MPH and continued to decelerate until I pressed on the accelerator pedal (at about 40 to 45 MPH) to stop the deceleration. It happened at least 5 times during a drive from Spring Grove, IL to Champaign, IL on July 7, 2023, b... Read more
Incident date: Aug 8, 2023
When the 8-speed automatic transmission attempts to shift from 3rd to 4th gear it will slip into neutral causing the engine to redline at maximum RPM. The accelerator pedal does not function and poses a serious safety issue. The vehicle will unexpectedly stall when the auto start stop is used and intermittently requires you to shift into park and restart the engine. The transmission also has diffi... Read more
Incident date: Jul 28, 2023
I was attempting to park my car at parking spaces inside a garage. The car was about half way into the spot, and I released the accelerator to slow down. Suddenly, while my foot was off the gas, the car accelerated on its own, lurching forward and hitting a barrier, which protected against falling off the side of the garage into the floor below. The car sustained minor damage to the hood, but it c... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Aug 1, 2023
I was pulling out from my street that connects to a two lane highway. From my street you can see if cars are coming from quite a distance away. There was a semi truck in the distance going east bound in the direction I needed to torn into. There was absolutely enough room for me to merge out into the east bound lane without the semi truck even being affected. I was now about a 1/4 mile down the ro... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2023
While driving my 2001 Sequoia SR5 with only 74,750 miles on freeways at speeds between 55 and 65 mph, the SUV's braking system activates unexpectedly and without cause. The VSC check engine lighting and warning sound illuminate. My SUV veered to the right, the steering wheel vibrated, and it went into a skid when the brakes were abruptly engaged, causing it to skid. My SUV abruptly decelerated as ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2023
I have a 2018 Dodge 3500 with 9800 miles on it.. The ABS light has come on reflecting a braking and control problem. This also shuts down the safety system within the brakes, shuts down the 4 wheel drive and cruise controls also. It is my understanding from the dealership, there is a problem with the parts within this system, and they can not get any parts released to them for repair. They also d... Read more
Incident date: Aug 8, 2023
2000 Ford Excursion recall was never done. Allan Vigil Ford in Clayton County GA disconnected my airbag, horn, and cruise control. They stated that a part was on order to complete the recall. We checked up on this over and over and over, the part was always "on order". This part was never installed/replaced on my car and the three things that were disconnected were never re-connected. Yet, they re... Read more
Incident date: Aug 7, 2023
I was driving my 2017 rogué sport on the freeway and suddenly it began to jerk up and down speed and I tried to brake and the brake did not respond suddenly it accelerated and went off I could not brake and I could not control it and the weather did not help me it had rained And as you will understand, the car turns off and the brake doesn't work, we ended up in the retaining wall, we hit the fro... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Apr 29, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated that during acceleration and takeoff, the vehicle shuddered and jumped forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that a reset was needed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 80,00... Read more
Incident date: Aug 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact parked and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was slow to accelerate. After refueling, the fuel dissipated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the throttle body and valve needed to be ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 5, 2023
Faults for the ABS (anti-lock brake system) and EBS (electronic braking system) have been coming on intermittently for a couple months. Now the faults are permanently on indicating the ABS and EBS needs serviced. The fault code is c0020-01which indicates the known malfunction involving the anti lock brake system module and anti lock brake system control. While these faults are present the cruise c... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2021
I was turning left into a parking spot at work with my foot slightly on the break when my engine revvved and my car accelerated at face pace and my brakes were unresponsive causing me to hit a parked truck in front of me. Upon impact my vehicle kept trying to accelerate causing me to keep pushing the truck until my front right side of my car broke off. My car STILL kept accelerating and went acros... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Aug 3, 2023
When coming to a stop and electric power is depleted, the vehicle will engage the gas engine and accelerate through a brake. I have to fight the vehicle to come to a complete stop because the engine is pulling me forward through the brake. Due to the unpredictability of the braking system, I must leave a greater stopping distance than required and have almost been in accidents. CAUSE UNKNOWN. I be... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2023) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Aug 7, 2023
Incident date: Aug 4, 2023
On 30th July 2023 while driving on interstate 8 freeway while using the FULL self driving our vehicle applied auto brake without anyone around. This air rake was so strong that it slowed the vehicle from 75 mph to less than 50 mph in seconds. It scared everybody in the car. We took off the autopilot and applied the regular autopilot and it happened again two more times. Each time there was no vehi... Read more
Incident date: May 10, 2023
Collision avoidance light on, cruise control unavailable, ESC error active safety features inoperative. Dealer states out of warranty. 37,600 miles and dealer wants $140.00 just to diagnose. Average layman cannot diagnose vehicle because of dealer system lockouts. Was intermittent, now on permanently.
Incident date: Aug 7, 2023
We own a driving school. My husband was giving a road skills test for a student in our 2018 Hyundai Elantra. For unknown reasons the car rapidly accelerated. He told the driver to get off the accelerator. She said she was not on the accelerator. He looked over and her foot was on the brake. We have an instructor's brake and by pressing it my husband was able to overpower the Elantra accelera... Read more
Incident date: Jul 20, 2023
First the brakes went out, then the AC, now the transmission. It has only 60,000 miles.
Incident date: Aug 6, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle came to a complete stop at the traffic light; however, the contact stated that the vehicle then unintendedly accelerated and rear-ended the vehicle ahead. A Police report was filed. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechan... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 27, 2022
Warning lights go crazy. Power steering goes out for several seconds. Rpms and speedometer go nuts or lay on zero. Sometimes I can’t shift into drive for several minutes. sometimes it sounds and feels like (under the pedal, in acceleration) it’s losing power for a few seconds, almost like a slipping feeling but in power. The clock and profiles have reset overnight before where I had to reset c... Read more
Incident date: Aug 2, 2023
As you are driving the vehicle will randomly down shift into first gear, causing the vehicle to potentially slam into first while in mid drive almost as if you hit a wall, this causes the vehicle to lose any information on the dash including speedometer. There are no warning lamps on prior to incident. Took it to a dealer to have it diagnosed and diagnosis was recorded as Transmission speed sensor... Read more
HONDA
CR-V HYBRID
(2022) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Aug 6, 2023
Incident date: Aug 1, 2023
The dash instrument cluster failed and went dark leaving no information for the driver. Speedometer, fuel gauge, odometer and all warning lights are out. The vehicle went to Walnut Creek Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram on 6/15/23. They confirmed that the cluster was out. They also mentioned that this is a common problem and would take 2 weeks. The vehicle could not be used, because of the fear of no speed... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2023) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Aug 6, 2023
Incident date: Aug 4, 2023
The rear motor (drive unit) has gone out on this car twice in the last four years. I purchased it after it was last repaired. It most recently went out on 08/04/2023. When it went out two days ago it had less than 30,000 miles on it. This car has a motor on both the front and rear axles, so while the vehichle was still moving forward, if it slowed down at all that would engage the regenerative bra... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2019) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Aug 6, 2023
Incident date: Aug 5, 2023
Hi, I was on cruise control (not autosteer) on highway and I just applied turn signal and my Model Y suddenly applied brakes and speed was reduced to around 50MPh from 70MPh. We might get into some serious accident if there was a car behind us. Need someone to look into issue please.
HYUNDAI
IONIQ HYBRID
(2021) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Aug 6, 2023
Incident date: Jul 24, 2023
ABS warning light came on, this also shuts down the cruise control system. ABS traction control is inoperable, my understanding the problem is the ABS/HCU pump/Module.. I only have 9087 miles on this truck. It’s a Dodge 3500 Dully. I garage keep and baby this truck, as I paid a lot of money for it. It is my understanding, based on all the internet feedback, that this is a major safety issue a... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2023
I’m driving with cruise control on the highway at 65 and all of a sudden it shuts off. The check cruise system light comes on along with a triangle with an exclamation point in the middle of it in the lower left side of dashboard and the letters EPB lights up on the lower right side of dashboard.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2021) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Aug 5, 2023
Incident date: Jul 18, 2022
Driving down a multi-lane highway at 70 mph, a 48V battery malfunction warning goes off as well as the yellow check engine light. A few seconds later a ‘coolant’ error alert pops up. SUV loses acceleration with power dropping from 70 mph to 55 mph to 35 mph. Another message displayed on screen warning me to “Pull over and turn the engine off.” Narrowly missing being hit from the back, I ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 5, 2023
Just completed a 2week trip and the car attempted to stop on its own over 37 times (stopped counting) on the highway. 2times I had a semi within a block of my rear of the car. Since this occurrence is not anticipated it worries me that it's going to cause an accident. Reported to Tesla and it's days the feature is beta, I don't believe that for a second . This my 3td car with adaptive cruise ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2023
On 19 July 2023 at approximately 4am in the morning, while with my wife traveling north on I-95, I was driving approximately 77 mph and my 2022 Tesla Model 3 SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. I had several cars directly behind me that had to slam on brakes and perform other evasive driving maneuvers as well. Luckily my reaction time was quick enough for me to SLAM ON THE ACCELERTOR to avoid a very serious w... Read more
Incident date: Jun 6, 2023
Purchased a new Hyundai 2023 Sonata from McGovern Hyundai Rt 2 May 22, 2023. After two weeks of driving the vehicle, I noticed it hesitates when I push down on the gas pedal. I had planned to have the dealership take a look but have a very busy schedule, the issue continued each time I drove the car to the point it was hesitating, basically pausing as I cross intersections. On the 26th of July I w... Read more
CONTINENTAL
CROSSCONTACT
(9999) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Aug 4, 2023
Incident date: Aug 4, 2023
This RAV4 is having acceleration issues. While driving it randomly has issues at the time of acceleration. It has happened from a stop to a go, and gaining speed. This issue has put me into an incredibly vulnerable situation as I was very close to being hit by a semi while trying to merge onto the high way twice. When I pressed down on the accelerator, the engine hesitated to start gaining speed s... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2022
GPS/ RADIO FAILING,UNDER WARRANTY FORD TRIED TO FIX, NEEDS A NEW RADIO BUT DOESN'T KNOW WHEN THEY CAN GET ONE. ALSO CRUSE CONTROL NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY- FORD DEALER REPLACED STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS BUT ON ONE OCCASION WHEN PUSHING THE REDUCE SPEED BUTTON THE TRUCK KEPT ACCELERATING TO 10 MILES ABOVE SPEED LIMIT BEFORE IT DISENGAGED. FORD GARAGE SAID IF THEY CAN'T GET IT TO REPEAT THIS PROBLEM, T... Read more
Incident date: Aug 4, 2019
Since inception of purchasing the vehicle in January 2019, I have experienced a sudden jolt, banging sound/feeling. In the beginning the issue was subtle. In addition, I have felt a sudden loss of speed. It should be noted I did not seek any service at this time. As a side note, sometime in 2020/2021 i received a letter of a recall for fault PTU however this was for another jeep i owned no longer ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
I was driving down the interstate and the entirety of the electronic screens froze up. The data presented on the screens was frozen and all the touch buttons froze. With no access to any controls, in a downpour, I was unable to adjust the climate control, turn on the defrosters or have any idea how fast I was going. I proceeded to stop on the interstate, thinking I could shut the car off and re... Read more
TOWMAX STR
ST
(9999) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Aug 4, 2023
Incident date: Jul 28, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while in park, the vehicle accelerated independently. While driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle accelerated without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The driver was unable to control the vehicle. The check engine warning and power train warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated t... Read more