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: Dec 15, 2024
Sometimes when the cruise control is turned on the car starts the cruise setting at 110mph and then starts accelerating the vehicle to that speed. It does not allow the mph setting to be turned down using the controls on the steering wheel, the only way to take it out of the stuck 110 mph setting is by turning cruise control off or braking. This situation happens rarely but does occur with only th... Read more
Incident date: Nov 6, 2024
Shifts hard and accelerates too fast between gear 1 and 2. DTC permanent codes are p2638 and p170B
CHEVROLET
LOW CAB FORWARD 4500
(2024) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Feb 5, 2025
Incident date: Feb 5, 2025
I received a letter in the mail stating that my fuel injections had a recall. 2024 Feb-Mar. Letter stated that I would not be able to get it fit until the fall because Honda Parts were backed up. At about May all my dash board lights were on, check engine, TPS, tire pressure. I assumed it was from the recall. At that time I had about 120,000 or 130,000 on my car, I'll have to check my oil change ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2025
I was driving on the freeway when a few error lights came on—the Reduced Acceleration, Propulsion System Icon, and a turtle icon on the dashboard and I had to floor the accelerator pedal to maintain my speed. I then pulled over, and the vehicle wouldn’t shift into drive or reverse. It gave an error message saying “conditions not meet.” Eventually, the car started working again. This is an ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2025
While braking (in hybrid mode, with max regen braking on), the car begins to lurch forward with significant force as it comes to a stop. This seems to be an issue with max regen, as acceleration and braking is overall much smoother with the feature off. This has happened sometimes before, but is difficult to replicate on demand. No warning lights on dash, and has not been confirmed by a dealer. Th... Read more
Incident date: Jan 26, 2025
I'm not sure which component caused the issue, but this happened a couple of times already, when I stepped on the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle didn't response at all. The first time, when I was turning into a parking lot, I had to let off the gas pedal, and try it again. The second time this happened was very scary, I was trying to get on to the main road, but I was coming up from a steep ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 4, 2025
August of 2023 I had my service electronic braking system, abs, and traction control light come on. Dealer diagnosed as bad hcu. As of today 2-4-25 I am still waiting on parts with no answer as to when parts will be available for the repair.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2021) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Feb 4, 2025
Incident date: Jan 29, 2025
2022 Honda pilot will have engine stall and will not accelerate while in motion. First time it happened was February 2024. Vehicle completely stalled in traffic and would no longer accelerate. Vehicle had to get pushed out of traffic and towed to Honda dealership. Honda service department replaced the transmission saying that was the issue and reason the vehicle engine was stalling. Vehicle has c... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
There's a delay when pressing the accelerator pedal. This happened once and I took it to the mechanic. He mentioned that the CVT transmission code came up. He did maintenance work on the car on 12/10/24. Oil was changed and everything else he said needed to be done. He also mentioned that some Nissans had that problem with the CVT transmission. It happened again yesterday. Upon looking into it onl... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2025
The car bring 2 cruise control the doesn't work no safety
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
While operating vehicle at highway speeds the speedometer suddenly drops to zero and the transmission downshifts to first gear without warning. Apparently a failure of the transmission speed sensor. (?) A driver unaware of this issue that continues to drive results in excessive heat and pressure developing in the differential..A recall has been issued by NHTSA but Ford and the local dealer refus... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2023
I was on the 101 freeway on January 20, 2025. I was driving on the far left lane, driving 72-65 miles an hour. The 2025 Volvo EX90 suddenly wouldn't accelerate more than 36 mph. A turtle error came on the screen. "Driving Performance Reduced Drive with Caution Book a Service" message displayed. Due to the car suddenly slowing down, we almost were read ended by a truck. I have kids in the car. This... Read more
Incident date: Jan 31, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Lincoln Nautilus. The contact stated while driving at 20 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated, and the cruise control activated independently. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the cruise control was deactivated. The Lane Departure warning light was illuminated, while the feature was turned off. The vehicle was driven to the dealer where it was diagnosed with m... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2025
Received safety recall notice 24S37/ NHTSA recall 24V444 for my 2014 F150. Recall appears to address a safety issue resulting in the pickup downshifting into 1st gear while driving. My pickup was doing this back in 2022. It sat at the dealer for 3 months because it was too dangerous to drive (or sell) and needed a new Lead Frame to correct the problem, but Ford was unable to supply this part. ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 25, 2025
Transmission downshifted to 1st gear causing the rear wheel to lock momentarily while driving 40mph on the highway and then shifted back to 5th gear. Transmission will occasionally stay on 3rd or 5th gear when at a complete stop. Dealership refuses to remedy recall issue for my truck. I have complained multiple times.
Incident date: Jan 25, 2025
Braking system. Vehicle brakes did not brake and vehicle skidded over gravel and a driveway culvert. Vehicle was considered total loss because the airbag went off. My safety and others' was put at risk. Other questions, answer is UNKNOWN.
Crash
Incident date: Jun 17, 2024
Stopped at a stop sign, slightly uphill, turning from a residential street onto a busier road. When I pressed the accelerator, the pickup moved a bit and then hesitated. After pressing the accelerator further, the pickup accelerated suddenly and quickly. This has happened intermittently, multiple times. This is NOT the case of the auto start-stop system not starting quickly enough. The first ri... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2025
I turned on the vehicle and the check engine light came on *NOT BLINKING* for the first time. The traction control light also came on after a few minutes of driving. About a minute later, the vehicle began to slow from 40 to a near-complete stop in the middle of a busy road. No blinking lights or alerts. I pulled the vehicle into a parking lot and parked. The vehicle began shaking slightly. I turn... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2025
The full self driving is very dangerous. I had several events that put me in danger. Like, going to the wrong lane. Going to the wrong way. Changing lanes that almost hit a car good thing I took over right away. It made the other car upset and honk at me.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2023) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Feb 3, 2025
Incident date: Jan 30, 2025
I was driving to work from Livingston to Bozeman and the roads were bad so I was only going about 60 maybe 65 which was reasonable for the conditions this day, and out of nowhere my truck locked up and I slid it directly into the center median.
Incident date: Nov 19, 2022
On the morning of 1/19/25, my 2021 GMC Sierra 6.2L AT4 went into limp mode heading south on HWY 207 in Leavenworth, WA at approximately 60 m.p.h. Fortunately, I was able to avoid a rear end collision. I quickly turned the truck off in the middle of the road and restarted it with a CEL. When I returned home almost 180 miles away, my local mechanic diagnosed a code P0303 and cleared it. Since, the t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2023
Purchased the 2021 Ford EcoSport from Courtesy Ford (new), where I have the regularly serviced the vehicle. However, my ownership experience has been marked by repeated mechanical failures that have escalated to the point where, after only three years of ownership, I am being asked to replace the transmission—a repair I believe is both premature and unjustified given the circumstances outlined b... Read more
CADILLAC
ESCALADE ESV
(2019) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Feb 2, 2025
Incident date: Sep 13, 2023
I was pulling into a parking spot and my vehicle suddenly accelerated. I slammed on the brakes and the car did stop, but not before hitting a railing in front of me. There were also trees close to the railing, so the camera should have detected those as a barrier and I believe the veauto-braked, even if I had not hit the brakes. This is a safety concern because the vehicle would have plowed over ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 28, 2025
The cruze control shuts it's self off It said "ACC temporarily blocked, service required" this is very dangerous. The headlights don't project in the correct direction to have proper visibility. All the system error lights come on for no reason, seems like something is aways wrong according to the dash lights.
Incident date: Jan 29, 2025
While cruising control is engaged, turning the steering wheel 5-10 degrees to the right will result in disruption of the cruise control and displaying a message "cruise control cancelled." This results in an abrupt deceleration during a turn that is unexpected and can create a safety hazard. Additionally, the illumination of steering wheel switches flickers with 5 degrees of right turn. This ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 10, 2024
Two times I have been driving in busy areas and when I brought my car to a stop at red lights and it’s turned green, my car will no longer move, but stays running so then I have to turn it off and turn it back on for it to gain motor function again. I have almost been rear-ended twice.
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
Sometimes my truck hesitates from leaving a complete stop. I will press on the accelerator and there is throttle lag response, which causes me to pull out slower than expected. There was one time where I pulled out and lost throttle power in traffic. I have taken it to the dealer and reported this Issue. They flashed the ECU and said that was the only fix they had, but it didn’t do much differen... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2025
Bought vehicle new in 2018. Starting in 2020, brought car to dealership complaining that car, at times, did not accelerate when prompted. Vehicle pauses, then lurches forward. Very dangerous when making left turns and when merging with traffic. My wife (who used to be primary driver of this vehicle), refused to continue to drive it ...and neither I nor my wife would allow our now age 21 daught... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that after parking and turning off the vehicle, the "Steering Assist Fault, Service Required" message was displayed. The message disappeared after restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure recurred while pressing the Auto Start/Stop button without depressing th... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
- Vehicle displays are unresponsive and stay off or black, the display shows key indicators like speed & turn signals. Because the vehicle has no physical buttons you cannot control heat, cannot use backup cameras.
Incident date: Jan 25, 2025
When I turned on the car this morning, the instrument cluster screen was black and would not activate. Because of this, there was no way to determine speed or to utilize driver assistance functions. This created significantly unsafe condition because I had no gauges or dials to assist. I turned the car off multiple times and attempted to reset it and the instrument cluster screen was still black a... Read more
Incident date: Jan 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Honda HR-V. The contact stated while entering a parking space, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly and jumped over a curb. The brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond and drove towards a building. The contact was able to steer the vehicle away from the building, and the vehicle crashed into the side of a tree. The air bags did not deploy. There was no ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 17, 2024
I bought a 2017 Kia Sportage with a salvage title at auction on [XXX] for my wife, [XXX]. It had 57,463 miles on the engine. Before it reached the 60,000-mile warranty limit (only for non-salvage title vehicles), it showed error code P1326 and went into limp mode which makes the vehicle drive at a very slow speed to avoid damage to the engine. For an explanation of limp mode, go to the web addre... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2024
Rpm going to high and irregular shifting .This happened after I replaced the part for the 24n07 campaign
Incident date: Jan 19, 2025
The 2023 Jeep Wrangler has been inspected by two different dealerships 6-7 times, and I have submitted four cases through Jeep Wave, including a request for a buyback. While driving on the highway or on city streets, the vehicle experiences a speed reduction to 5-10 miles per hour, with a stiff steering wheel and hard brakes. Warning messages appear, including: "Engine Light," "Service Transmissio... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2025
The steering cable is connected to the transmission hub, and the fitting that connects the two has a gasket that wears away and falls out. This is a recall with vehicles that are made from one of the two plants that assemble fusions, however my vehicle is not covered under the recall even though it is the very same issue as the recall from the other plant. it makes no sense, why is one assembly ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2025
Car makes loud humming noise when accelerating and safety break go off for no reason when backing up or parking . I try put gas’s but it doesn’t let me keep the nozzle in . Gas’s light always going off
CHRYSLER
PT CRUISER
(2007) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jan 30, 2025
Incident date: Jan 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and attempting to shift into drive(D), the vehicle failed to shift or respond as needed. The contact became aware that the vehicle also failed to shift into reverse(R). After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, and the contacts son was able to shift into drive. The ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2024
This incident it similar to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V409000. On December 7, 2024, a 2024 BMW iX was traveling on a cul-de-sac street at low speed, preparing to come to a stop. The driver was turning the steering wheel gently when, without warning, the vehicle suddenly accelerated rapidly. The unexpected surge in speed left the driver unable to react in time to stop the vehicle. As a result, the B... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Jan 27, 2025
While driving down the freeway at around 60 mph, I sharply accelerated to negotiate traffic and my vehicle lost power and the check engine light was flashing. I was able to roll to an exit ramp where i could barely get up a slight incline. I was able to get out of traffic but at speed of less than 5 mph. It sounded like the vehicle was running on two cylinders. I pulled over and turned the car ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 17, 2024
Entire car needs repairs problems with starting
Incident date: Jan 29, 2025
While driving my ram truck, a notice goes across the cluster center saying to shift vehicle to park. No other lights go on like check engine lights etc. But the truck goes to a complete stop and makes you shift in to park then back in to drive this is dangerous because it happens to me while I am driving to include one time coming off the off ramp on the freeway possibly making someone rear end me... Read more
Incident date: Dec 25, 2024
On January 22, 2025, I was driving at highway speed and suddenly my car seemed to lag in power. It slowed from about 60mph to 40mph and pressing on the gas did not do anything. The Check Engine light began flashing. I felt like it would continue to slow down and it was rush hour. I managed to safely exit the freeway and parked the car. I turned it off, waited a moment, turned it back on. It seemed... Read more
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2021) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jan 29, 2025
Incident date: Jan 29, 2025
I was trying to reverse the car from my Garage. I turned on the Engine and put the vehicle in Reverse Gear. The vehicle just zoomed out of the driveway leaving me without the ability to control it and hit a tree on a neighbor's house and stopped. Then I tried to bring the Car into the Garage by engaging the Drive Gear. Again, the vehicle zoomed into the Garage, hit a few objects in the garage and... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 28, 2025
I will be driving down the road and a red lighting bolt will flash on my gauges then the jeep will either lose power or shut off. I was almost hit by a semi truck due to this. Once I cycle the key goes away till the next time it happens. Also the brake assist will randomly kick on typically applying braking power to the left rear passenger tire. This is not fixed by cycling the key. Jeep has recal... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2025
The contact called concerning the owner of a 2024 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated while idle at a red light in her vehicle, the 2024 Tesla Model Y rear-ended her vehicle. When speaking with the owner of the vehicle it was informed that the Tesla was on autopilot causing the crash. The owner stated that they could not feel when the impact occurred. No air bags deployed. The contact's vehicle was ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
I feel there was intentional odometer tampering done on my car
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2021) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jan 29, 2025
Incident date: Jan 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. The contact stated upon pulling into her neighbor's driveway while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly and crashed into a brick wall that was 4 feet away. The brick wall was damaged. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that upon shifting to reverse while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 13, 2024
On [XXX] I was parking in my parking spot outside my house, went to pull up 3 more inches in my parking spot when the vehicle accelerated at an extremely rapid speed, went over the high curb, up my front lawn into the tree in my front yard. It was a battle between the brake and the gas acceleration event. Then I put it gently in reverse, my car fled rapidly down into the parking lot at such a high... Read more
Crash
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2021) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jan 29, 2025
Incident date: Jan 25, 2025
RPM surges intermittently upon deceleration while in the sport mode. Began a few months ago.