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: Feb 17, 2023
I was driving at 70 MPH on the freeway when off a sudden my car haulted back and said engine power reduced. I had my kids in the car and traffic behind me when my car went into an auto decline in MPH reaching 30 MPH before I could quickly pull over. I called the company I bought my car at the next day. They told me I needed an inspection but my check engine light only stayed on overnight and was o... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2022
abs trailer brakes traction control works on and off
Incident date: Mar 15, 2023
My airbag light is on and I have no power to my steering wheel controls including my horn.
Incident date: Mar 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly unintendedly accelerated. The contact depressed the brake pedal to regain control of the vehicle. The contact stated that approximately 10 minutes after the first failure, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware o... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2023
I have had this 2011 Rogue in a repair shop 6 times for the same issue and each time the technician replaced the air flow sensor because of “ code reading “ the rogue lost power without warning and stalls at red lights. My most recent repair the technician stated the cruise control spring needed replaced and could be the issues with sudden power loss . I have had the O2 sensor replaced, cataly... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2023
It's like the transmission has hesitation before it decides to go. I step on the gas and it doesn't go right away, it takes a couple seconds and then the rpms go up really high. There has been no accident but this has happened many times.
Incident date: Jan 28, 2021
While driving our minivan it stalls or it seems like the gas isn’t getting to the engine. It has happened when I’ve been accelerating from a side road across a very busy road on more thank e occasion. We thought it was the gas we were using. Now we’ve been advised it is due to a “crank shaft sensor”. (?) We may not be eligible to get it fixed because we got our 2017 Pacifica in Oct 2016... Read more
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2019) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Mar 14, 2023
Incident date: Feb 2, 2022
ABS traction control warning comes on intermittently. This causes cruse control to disengage intermittently, and causes braking and traction to be compromised at times
Incident date: Jan 18, 2023
There seems to be a huge ongoing problem with ABS pumps and control modules for this model vehicle. I can find pages and pages of issues online for the same truck. The 'service brakes' warning comes on and off intermittently and I managed to replicate the fault after several months long enough to get it diagnosed. I am told the following parts are the issue: 68347098 - AB MODULE AN 08035030 68143... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated. Additionally, the RPM was fluctuating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4... Read more
Incident date: Sep 7, 2022
Catalytic converter is going out. Although apparently there was no recall for MY car in particular but there has been a recall for the converter overheating and damaging the engine. Car no longer goes over 40 mph; meaning I can no longer use the freeway. Oil light comes on at least twice a month. Even after a oil change It comes right back on. Check engine light never goes off. Piston Rod is dama... Read more
CHRYSLER
PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2022) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Mar 13, 2023
Incident date: Feb 23, 2023
February 23rd: car shut off while getting off the freeway. Would not restart for 5 minutes. Had no acceleration but could still steer. February 23rd: brought car to the dealership, they scanned the car and there was no code. February 26th: car shut off 3 times on the freeway going 70mph. Had to pull over and restart car to be able to accelerate. I had my 2 kids in the car at this time and fear f... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2022
On multiple occasions, my 2022 Venza does not accelerate when hitting the gas pedal after coming to a complete stop. I can press the pedal all the way to the ground but it is delayed by 3-5 seconds and just idles slowly into the intersection. This is happening when turning onto streets where you need to accelerate quickly to avoid oncoming traffic on left turns, and to not get rear ended when ma... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2023
When I was parking my Honda Pilot 2019, the car suddenly accelerated on its own without pushing the gas pedal and hit the wall of a building. This accident caused head, neck and back injury for myself. FYI, there was not any warning lamps or messages or other symptoms. I have also reported this incident to American Honda Motor but no one has inspected my car yet.
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 11, 2023
The engine lost power taking off crossing a major roadway, resulting in a stall, vehicle had to be restarted in a panic. The knocking and loss of power put me and my passenger in danger of a side impact from cross traffic. The issue was reproduced by a dealer upon further inspection. The vehicle will be inspected by a service department at certified dealership. No warnings lights or fault warnings... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2023
Sudden acceleration accident
Crash
Incident date: Mar 12, 2023
Rode the motorcycle on the Interstate using cruise control at 70 MPH and suddenly the cruise control cut-off with no warning. Vehicle directly behind me nearly rear-ended me. This happened twice so I no longer can use cruise control. VERY DANGEROUS. After further troubleshooting it appears the Motorcycle Gear position sensor is flakey and will cause the computer to see the wrong gear selected ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 24, 2023
Car randomly slams on the brakes while cruise control is active. Happen most frequently mid-day while the sun is out. Most frequent when coming over and overpass or small hill on the interstate. ~5 time in a day and of travel. Brake are apply and vehicle slows from 80 to sometime as slow as 60 in a couple seconds. No visible hazards or vehicle on the road at the time. Very scary and dangerou... Read more
Incident date: Mar 11, 2015
On freeway in traffic, autopilot is enabled. Vehicle is running perfectly fine in start stop traffic slowing down and speeding up as needed. Traffic starts to clear up, and as vehicle speeds up, there is a sudden slowdown again. Instead of braking/slowing down, autopilot turns off without an additional audible alarm (just the standard sound for turning off autopilot), instead the forward collision... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2023
I have a 2018 Honda odyssey 9 speed and I am well aware of the many issues people have been complaining of and I am experiencing many of those same issues. My number one issue is my acceleration. I need to step down all the way on the gas pedal to make the car move and once it does my rear tires spin because of the acceleration. I have also had many instances where my car will not accelerate fast ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2023
On March 10, 2023 I exit Hwy 35 at the City of Cottula Texas, as I took the exit lane and arrived at the stop sign, the vehicle came to a complete stop the engine stop idling and the transmission switch to neutral, this created a safety issue for me and my family because I was unable to restart vehicle and I created traffic congestion at the intersection, I am worried that this can happen again an... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2020
While driving acceleration pedal got loose and fell on the floor or the car.
Incident date: Nov 30, 2022
I used Autopilot on my Model 3 for the first and only time a few weeks ago, and had a terrifying experience with "phantom braking" that could have killed my entire family while going ~75mph on the I-5 near Bakersfield, CA. The I-5 here is split with 2 lanes in each direction, and is straight with no bends. I was driving in the right northbound lane, with Autopilot engaged (adaptive speed control o... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2023
1. There is some sort of severe throttle lag/takeoff issue that happens intermittently, but almost always several times a day. always from a stopped position. 2.When you are turning left (going across the oncoming lane) you hit the gas pedal and nothing happens for 2-3 seconds and then it shoots off like a rocket ship. I have never been so close to a severely injured or more likely fatal car cras... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2023
On 3/1/23 on my way home from my which the site was in Perth Amboy, NJ. At the North Somerset rest stop, just exited the I-76 westbound. I lost power around 65 mph. I didn't get any response from my brakes at first and nothing from my accelerator. Upon drifting and praying that I'd make it to the lot out of the main exiting lane. Upon pulling into a spot at the very farthest spot from the buildin... Read more
FORD
MUSTANG MACH E
(2021) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Mar 10, 2023
Incident date: Mar 9, 2023
Unintended acceleration from a stop when pushing accelerator. Has happened 2 times in the last 2 days. I touched the throttle from a stop 2 time and it took off like I put the accelerator to full throttle (which I didn’t). Very dangerous situation in parking lots or around pedestrians. I have scheduled an apt with my local dealer.
Incident date: Feb 28, 2023
Electronic Braking System and Antilock Braking System is defective, similar to being described in FCA Case Number S2005000004. This issue also effects the Speed Control System
Incident date: Mar 10, 2023
I was driving on the highway and my car started to jerk when I accelerated and hit the brakes. I pulled over to see what was wrong with the car. It hesitated to start back up and when it did it stalled. My ESC light came on and my engine light came on before I pulled over. I was stuck on the side of a busy highway with a car that almost caused an accident when it jerked. Took the car to AutoZone f... Read more
Incident date: Mar 9, 2023
Car was purchased December 30, 2022. The first time I engaged auto pilot, an oncoming semi was in its lane and my car slammed the brakes on while on auto pilot. It happened the next time I used auto pilot with zero perceived “threat”. I was extremely hesitant to use it, henceforth. I tried auto pilot over and over with my foot, poised and ready to take over the throttle, and my hand poised t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 9, 2023
Veh accelerated on its own into traffic was sitting at a stop sign it just took off i was t-boned in the incident no lights or warning lights were on
Crash
Incident date: Feb 26, 2023
I was driving my Tesla Model Y on 02-26-2022 with my wife in the passenger seat. We were on our way to pick up our son and his two friends from the movie theater in Lincoln Square North, Bellevue Square, Washington. As we entered the Lincoln Square parking garage approximately around 6 30pm and turned into the narrow passage leading down to the several floors of parking lots at approximately 5 mil... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Mar 5, 2023
The car is currently in the shop at Jim Shorkey Gainesville Kia and is available for inspection. They have contacted me to tell me the transmission/engine failed. I was driving on interstate when I suddenly lost the ability to accelerate and was forced to get off of the highway. After coming to a complete stop I pressed on the gas pedal but the car would still not accelerate. I tried putting into... Read more
Incident date: Feb 26, 2023
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the recall repair performed on my 2015 Hyundai Tucson on October 5th, 2022. I have received numerous letters from Hyundai regarding an open recall and finally received a notice stating the remedy was ready. I scheduled an appointment with Matthews Hyundai of Syracuse and took the vehicle for the recall. Unfortunately, after taking the vehicle back to ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2022
Periodically while using cruise control, most often on toll lanes with a different speed limit than the non-toll lanes, the car slows down rapidly and unpredictably. There are no warnings, and the braking is can be quite considerable (10-15 mph). This only happens when using cruise control.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2022
I received a notice of recall on the ABS for my Hyundai Santa Fe 2014 Sport. My ABS light recently illuminated, I went to the Hyundai site to make an appt. I was given one a week out, while waiting for the appt my brake lights wouldn’t turn off unless I disconnected the battery. I took the vehicle to the dealership in Brevard Fl, the guy kept trying to upsell me $180 for diagnostics and that I h... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2022
**I have made the dealership aware of the ongoing situation as well as Honda Corporate but I am waiting on a call back.* A month ago, I had my car on cruise control going around 76mph on flat land. After a while, while driving on flat land, my RPM's shot up to almost 6000 and the speed got up to 88mph in less than 10 seconds. I pulled over, shut the car off so I could calm down before driving aga... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2023
Financed for a 2015 Hyundai Tucson at Byrider. On February 25th 2023. Check engine light flashing as I'm losing power unable to stay within speed limit at 40mph. Byrider service asked me to bring it in. I did. They called me back and hour later told me to come get the vehicle and take it to Hyundai. I told them I didn't feel safe driving the vehicle it was hard enough getting the vehicle to them o... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH and exiting a parking lot, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate as needed. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to shift into low gear and continued driving to his residence. The vehicle became undrivable. The contac... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
This is happening to my car. Would like them to fix it . Manufacture defect and it is a huge safety issue. Effect pedal function. Some customers may comment on an intermittent malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) being Illuminated with a message or an indicator that displays Reduced Engine Power. The technician may observe on a scan tool DTC P2138 - Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) Sensor 1-2 Correla... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2019) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Mar 8, 2023
Incident date: Mar 5, 2023
My throttle got stuck open four times and the last time I almost lost my life and was in an accident. This is a known issue on the dodge forums but dodge refuses to call this defective and make it a recall. This is dangerous it could have killed me and others. There were no warning the throttle was going to go on its own.
Crash
Incident date: Mar 7, 2023
The first incident occurred when I drove into a parking space, applied the brakes, and the car suddenly sped forward, so I had to repeatedly jam on the brakes to make the car stop. Fortunately, no person or vehicle was directly in front of me. In the past week, we have experienced problems with the ADAS. We were backing into a parking space at night and made contact with a parked car. Our car ... Read more
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2011) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Mar 8, 2023
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
Jan. 2023 my coolant pump had blockage which caused the coolant hose to break and discharge coolant all over my engine and overheat. I have the repair receipt from Audi Dealer and requested a copy of the inspection report from them. Pictures also attached. I also have my car at the Audi dealer as we speak due to a week later the car would not accelerate properly with a Drive System Malfunction er... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
ML350
(2011) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Mar 8, 2023
Incident date: Mar 8, 2023
Driving down the freeway, the vehicle lost response to the throttle and transmission resulting in no ability to safely move off the road and needing to coast to the shoulder. A wrench icon on the dash appeared along with an engine light which stayed illuminated and was reading a p0720 error code (Output shaft speed sensor). This occurred twice while going freeway speeds, and once at city street ... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2018) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Mar 8, 2023
Incident date: Jan 26, 2023
We were driving at 75 mph in the left lane when our car suddenly dropped in speed to 40 mph as though the transmission had dropped into neutral. There were no warning lights or any indication about what was happening. We were in heavy traffic, with trucks and car hitting their brakes. This could have caused a very serious accident. We managed to move our car to the right shoulder. The car's transm... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2022
1. Vehicle accelerates on its own when shifting into drive and releasing the brake. 2.Vehicle lunges forward when the transmission is shifting from 1st to 2nd gear or 2nd to 3rd gear. This occurs in the lower gears only. 3. Doesn't shift into the next higher gear and the RPM's are running high which should activate a gear change but it doesn't occur. 4. The RPM's are increasing but there is very l... Read more
Incident date: Feb 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while accelerating at an undisclosed speed, the RPM fluctuated and the engine revved; however, the vehicle failed to respond. No warning lights were illuminated. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Incident date: Feb 28, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at low speeds and attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle inadvertently went into reverse, then accelerated forward. The vehicle failed to stop and jumped the curb and abruptly stopped. There was an abnormal clacking noise detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and drove as designed. The... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
I purchased the car in April 2022. Did not have any issues until February 2023. Initially, the engine light came on with a turtle icon in the dash screen. I was driving and the car would not go over 45 mph. on a busy street . The car was hesitating badly and also said something about the propulsion? Volvo Ontario towed it from my business and supposedly fixed it. Fast forward the following w... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while at a stop with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that she rear-ended the vehicle in front as she turned the steering wheel to the left and landed in a ditch. No air bags deployed. The contact stated that she and her front... Read more
Crash
1 injured
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2019) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Mar 7, 2023
Incident date: Mar 6, 2023
Collision avoidance system and cruise control become disabled when driving. For the first 3 months vehicle system worked fine, after that the collision avoidance system and cruise control would occasionally shut off when driving. Took it to the dealership out 5 months ago, they said there was no fix and wait for a recall. Since then it is occurring more often and we made another appointment for ne... Read more