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: Mar 14, 2024
I was driving 70mph in the middle lane on the highway and all of a sudden it down shifted resulting in my rear end locking up. I had my three children in the vehicle and the truck gave me no warning signs. I was fishtailing and was extremely lucky we didn’t crash and I was able to gain control of the vehicle again. I took it to the mechanics shop and they told me it was the p0720 output speed ce... Read more
Incident date: May 29, 2024
While driving west on [XXX] thru Utah at 78 mph (speed limit posted 80) the car suddenly and almost violently applied full brakes and reduced speed to 50 mph before I could override by applying added pressure to the accelerator. There were no cars in front of me for over a mile, and the following cars were well back as well. This occurred late morning on perfectly dry pavement. There were few if a... Read more
Incident date: Feb 15, 2024
The engine would randomly accelerate , rev and make a whining noise, slip into neutral and I would have to pull over and shut it off sometimes in an unsafe area. Occasionally when I would start the engine it would rev as though I had my foot on the gas and I would shut it back off. I was traveling on the highway approximately 70 mph and cancelled the cruise control to go around a curve and presse... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jun 26, 2024
Would be driving at about 55-60 mph on the interstate and the truck would drop into first gear slamming me forward almost causing an accident twice !!!! Not including the whiplash it gives you!
Incident date: Jun 4, 2024
The issue with my 2022 rally my dealership said they can recalibrate the sensor but this is the 2nd time it has been braking. I was coming home and on sharp curves roads it start to brake left but turning right was fine i was able to go around 50mph but going left it was slowing me down to 10-35mph i even had a guy in a BMW tailgate me because my bike would slow down. This is extremely dangerous ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2022
I purchased the car, July 2022. It was a used certified vehicle with 3289 miles on it. This is a commercial vehicle as I own my own business. I reported two days after purchasing it that The front passenger tire shakes. For two years now, I have been trying to get Wagoneer and my dealership to fix the issue. Last Thursday, I was instructed to replace all the tires and see what happens. I did so An... Read more
Incident date: Jun 22, 2024
My ABS light has been on and when I took my vehicle to the dealership, they said it requires a part that is on back order for almost a year already. My vehicle suddenly comes out of drive while I’m on the road. It’s scary because one minute I’m going 50 miles an hour and then it just turns off. Other times the car does not register my foot on the break when trying to get it out of park to st... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2024
Incident happens every 1k miles or more. Car is in motion driving. Press down on throttle and transmission drops to 1st gear. A bunch clicking and thumping sounds are heard. Car doesnt accelerate(can be at 70mph), starts to slow quickly until gears change. Also 4H is jerky as well as sport mode. Very unsafe to be traveling on the highway trying to overtake a vehicle and then your car fails.
Incident date: Aug 22, 2022
My transmission started to shudder with MPH under 40. I mentioned this to the Ford Dealership in Manhattan during an oil change but they said they found no transmission issues. My car just hit 61,800 miles, so the warranty is now over. The shudder started much worse in the past couple of days. I contact the dealership in regards to the Tech Service Bulletin on the NHTSA website from 3/18/2021. I m... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2024
On April 25th, 2024 on Interstate 75 in Findlay, OH my truck had the back end lock up briefly and started to hop and fish tail. The engine RPM's went way up and the Service Light came on in the truck and the ignition was shut off (automatically and not by the key) truck had electrical power but engine was no longer running and the truck coasted to a stop on the side of the highway. I had the truck... Read more
Incident date: May 8, 2024
Been having this issue for months. Go to hit the gas to go from a stop truck shutters and hastates to move. No check engine light has come on. Thought it was the fuel we put in it but no matter what fuel it still does it. Almost have been hit a dozen times with my children in the truck with me due to truck will not Accelerate and shutters when you go to take off from a stop. Even when putting the ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 26, 2024
2013 f150 truck wouldn’t get out of first gear from stop light, wrench light came on, speed odometer stayed at 0 miles. Took to ford dealership to have recall 19S07 done and was told this would not fix it, (needed a fix that was no longer offered bc I’m past 10 years mark) they did the recall and now the truck jerks when shifting gears and downshifts to first from any speed
Incident date: Jun 26, 2024
I was driving at 70 mph on the highway and my transmission automatically downshifted locking up my rear wheels twice nearly causing me to lose control. I was able to pull off the highway safely and get into a parking lot and turn off and restart my truck. I was able to make it to my destination on city streets, but with similar issues at lower speeds. I took my truck to have its codes checked and ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2023
Transmission started shifting eratacely eventually went out in 2023 replaced late or early 2024, transmission still exhibiting same problems,biggest problem is not shifting out of 5th gear when coming to a stop.have to shut off truck to disable safe mode,doesn't always work.code is 720,721,723
Incident date: Jun 24, 2024
Vehicle experienced power terrain failure causing vehicle to stop while driving in the middle of the road meanwhile cars avoid hitting my vehicle. I had my [XXX] old in the backseat at the time and this incident could have caused injury or possibly death. Vehicle has also experienced accelerator issues. Vehicle would lag 3-5 seconds for vehicle accelerator to speed up when pressing on accelerator... Read more
Incident date: Jun 10, 2024
Since I have purchased the 2022 Ford F-150 I have had several incidents where the cruise control has set itself. A couple incidents have resulted in me slamming on the brakes to avoid collision. I have taken it to the dealer a few times and they have replaced everything that has to do with the cruise control and it still sets itself from time to time but it's sporadic. The dash lights/instru... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2024
My vehicle has had two instances on the highway where the vehicle abruptly downshifted from 6th gear down to 1st and the other time down to third. I took it to Ford and they said it was the speed sensor however they said it was not a recall. I see all these recalls on 2013 f150’s but not mine?? Why?? Im having the same issue.
Incident date: Feb 1, 2024
At a four way stop, four cars were stopped waiting for a car with right of way to turn left. Car turning left hesitated. I began to accelerate since myself and another car going straight had next right of way. Another car began to enter intersection so I let off the throttle and began to apply brakes for them to clear the intersection. This car also stopped seeing me begin to go so I hit the throt... Read more
Incident date: Jun 25, 2024
Ford Explorer 2021 recall stems from a defective rear axle horizontal mounting bolt. Ford Motor Company has promised to cover the cost of replacing the subframe bushing and the rear axle bolt and repairing any resultant damage. The dealer, Payne Ford Weslaco, the Tech broke a tool to fix and Ford has failed to replace said tool.
Incident date: Apr 1, 2022
The situation occurs when using supercruise (GM’s lane centering and adaptive cruise control system). Under certain conditions with super cruise engaged and one pedal drive mode active, pressing the cancel cruise button (example: taking manual control briefly in order to allow a merging car into your lane) causes the vehicle to abruptly decelerate without the ability to override with the pedal.... Read more
TOYOTA
PRIUS PRIME
(2022) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jun 25, 2024
Incident date: Jun 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the Forward Collision Avoidance system erroneously activated causing the vehicle to abruptly stop. During the failure there were no other vehicles or objects nearby. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would not properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The ca... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2021) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jun 25, 2024
Incident date: Jun 22, 2024
When traveling on road and want to speed up to get on freeway, change lanes, or simple speed up I lose power shift and it goes from 6 to 4 or 3 in gears and I can't accelerate which has almost caused many accidents. The check engine signal will only blink right when it's happening and loose speed and the AC air flow will get warm until it corrects itself after I either slow down or shut truck off ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 18, 2024
The component that appears to have malfunctioned is the vehicle's turbocharger or acceleration system. This issue is reproducible upon request for inspection. The malfunction poses a significant safety risk as it creates a delay in the vehicle's response when turning, leaving the vehicle momentarily stranded in the middle of the opposite lane. This puts the driver and other road users at risk of ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 22, 2023
upon turning right, the car lost power, degraded acceleration as if someone is holding and pulling the car to move forward. The traffic behind me expected me to cathup with the speed on the road but due to loss of power and engine hesitation i got honked and was luck to avoid a crash from behind on a busy road. Acura dealership in Dallas dont have parts since a very long time. They have pleant of ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 7, 2023
The contact owns a 1993 Ford F-150. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 00V424000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 05V017000 (Vehicle Speed Control); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while inspecting the fuel tanks, he noticed that fuel had transferred from one tank to the other, nearly causing the tank... Read more
Incident date: Nov 24, 2023
ABS, Traction Control, and Brake lights have been on for more than a year. I have taken it to Jeep Dealership here in Jacksonville, FL and they have continually tried to order the part from Jeep, but are told that the part is. not available at this time. I called Jeep directly and have been told "Part STOCK is under QUARANTINE pending quality / engineering review and inspection. Working to obtai... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2021) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jun 24, 2024
Incident date: Jun 24, 2024
The electronic stability control has malfunctioned and the 4wd svc light has comeon. The vehicle shifts hard when taking off at low speed. When coming to a stop there is a loud pop from transfer case. Also the 4wd low and neutral comes on by themselves. This vehicle definitely has safety issues. I just bought this vehicle and just barely have 1000 miles on it. How is thus safe? The hard shift... Read more
Incident date: Jun 9, 2024
On 5/28/24, while pulling up the driveway, the car suddenly accelerated and it’s so fast that we couldn’t react. The car crashed into the garage, knocked down one wall along with the main electrical panel. It stopped because it got stuck on 10 in foundation’s of garage structure. The collision mitigation feature did not get triggered and didn’t give any alert or helped to stop the car from... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Oct 5, 2023
Transmission lead frame module needs replacement. Truck will not shift properly and the wrench light illuminated on dash; I took it for an assessment and it was determined that the lead frame module was bad. I found a safety recall for the lead frame module for my truck for which I never received any correspondence about and would like to have it investigated.
Incident date: Jun 5, 2024
While driving my vehicle in four-wheel-drive low, with no lockers engaged I noticed that the rear wheels at different times were dragging, I could also hear and feel the ABS module actuating. During these events I would have diminished breaking capabilities and no ABS warning lights. it was doing it under 5 miles an hour at first and then higher speeds. I got a service ABS, service traction cont... Read more
Crash
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2021) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jun 23, 2024
Incident date: May 20, 2024
I bought my Bronco back in January this year (2024) and everything worked great. Then fast forward the end of May (2024) and my car when I got in it and crunk it up told me my MyKey had been activated. I said what is a MyKey never heard of it before in my life. I did some Google searches and tried to figure out. Once I figured it and couldn't get it off of there myself I took it to a Ford dealersh... Read more
Incident date: Jun 21, 2024
ABS/Service Electronic Brake Control and Cruise Control lights constantly flash and chime while driving. Have been told that replacements parts have been on back order for over a year now. Any help will be appreciated.
Incident date: Jun 23, 2024
I was pulling into a parking spot. When I do this, my foot is always on the break. I'm an experienced driver (30+ years) and have never had an incident when I felt the car accelerate without my initiation. When I was maybe 5-7 ft from the car in front of me, the car suddenly accelerated (like it was possessed). I immediately slammed on the break and turned the wheel. Thankfully, and amazingly, I a... Read more
Incident date: Jun 22, 2024
Budget rental out of KSGF. THIS DANGEROUS COMPACT SUV IS UNFIT FOR UNITED STATES ROADS AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. IN 2 WEEKS THE CAR OVER 8x Attempted to Overpower my driver inputs nearly driving me in to semi tractor trailer rigs. Further every time that happens a loud annoying message to take a coffee break even 7 minutes into the drive since engine start up. The partial Turn Off only partly lesse... Read more
Incident date: May 17, 2021
Yes, I bought a brand new 2020 Jeep Compass North Edition from a Wisconsin dealer in June 2020. I drove across country to Utah where I know reside. Had no problems on that trip. About 10 months later I started experiencing a "High temp coolant" light come on and the vehicle shuts off and locks up. Very dangerous while driving. After about 30 seconds I could restart it. It happened about 10 times.... Read more
Incident date: Jun 21, 2024
There is NO "rubber" pedal on the gas pedal. Foot easily slips off "metal" pedal whether shoe is dry, wet, muddy snow encased, etc. Unable to maintain positive pressure on gas pedal as shoe/foot easily slips off. First vehicle I have driven with no "rubber" pad on the Gass pedal. With no "rubber" pad, may not be able to accelerate due to foot slipping OSS, may cause unnecessary REAR END COLLISIO... Read more
Incident date: Jun 22, 2024
Twice now within three months while I was backing up as I was parking the car parallel to the curb, the car suddenly accelerated at a much faster pace and projected the car backwards. Luckily no property or individuals were hurt. It would appear that the accelerator or speed control failed at the lower speeds required when backing up to parallel park. I saw no warning lights on the dash howev... Read more
Incident date: Jun 16, 2024
I was on the freeway and I needed to accelerate to get over and I pushed on the gas and the car would not accelerate at all I could not get the vehicle to speed up it was stuck at 40 I had gotten the gas pedal to the ground and no acceleration the RPM were jumping up but the miles per hour were not so I I tried to let it drop down in speed and then tried to accelerate again and at that point I cou... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2021) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jun 20, 2024
Incident date: Jun 19, 2024
The first time I was stopped at an intersection. Luckily there was no one in front of me as the car, without warning, accelerated at full throttle. Although my foot was on the brake, and I was braking as hard as I could, the car continued to lunge forward. It finally stopped and I backed up to my original position in the intersection. The second time it happened I was pulling into a parking spot i... Read more
Crash
LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
(2017) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jun 20, 2024
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
Ever since Tesla rolled out an update for everyone to beta test FSD, the adaptive cruise control has been changing speeds when near interstate type exits and entrances. I've had it change from 75 down to 40 mph which is dangerous in traffic. This change in speed some times is just a drop to the next 5mph increment, such as from 73 to 70. Sometimes it is more from 73 to 65 at the same place/exit. I... Read more
Incident date: May 22, 2024
On June 16, 2024, My car lost power completely, I stepped on the gas pump and nothing. First I was parked and I tried to start and it would not give me acceleration. Later on, it re started normally, later on when in the freeway, it completely lost the acceleration capability. My speed went to 7 miles per hour. It was scary as other cars were driving at an average of 60 miles per hour. My mecha... Read more
Incident date: Jun 16, 2024
I don't yet know the exact cause of the problem, but while at highway speed (approx. 72 mph), my wife pressed the gas pedal to accelerate, and it didn't work. She continued to press the pedal, and after several seconds, the vehicle did accelerate. I see this issue on severe threads and will be contacting the dealer or my mechanic as we are very concerned about this safety issue, the vehicle not ac... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate immediately while depressing the accelera... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2024
The car has a digital speedometer that can be switched from MPH to KPH through the settings (but it takes several steps) but one day my wife was driving and the units had switched and she didn't know so was not driving at the expected speed. I know of no "shortcut" to switch it quickly. I posted the question on an "Ariya forum" and at least 6 other owners said they experienced similar.
Incident date: Jun 13, 2024
ABS and anti-slip Lights they are on
Incident date: Jun 16, 2024
Without warning, vehicle loses power and ability to accelerate is greatly reduced. The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (aka "check engine light"), the Reduced Engine Power light, and the Traction Control System/Stabilitrak light all illuminate at the same time and are not flashing. Using a diagnostic tool from a local auto parts store, code P2138 is reported as follows: Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2023
Hydraulic cont module/ abs module is constantly going in and out causing the abs/traction control to be disabled and non functional cruise control. Highly unsafe when towing heavy like I do most of the time.
Incident date: Jun 18, 2024
My truck would shift gears and I would feel a kick. Then the speedometer would drop, and the airbag sensors would turn off. At times the dealership states it is an issue with the Transmission Lead Frame.
Incident date: Mar 16, 2024
Multiple times the acceleration has stuck and would not release when hitting the brakes. I have to stick my foot under the accelerator and lift the petal to get acceleration to stop. Without physically lifting the petal it would appear this continues indefinitely.
Incident date: Jun 17, 2024
Engine just stopped working. car stop running turned off in the middle of traffic in Dallas Tx. I took my car for an oil change the mechanic said he’s had plenty of 2015 sonata engines just give out and some catch a fire as well.It gave no warning and no smoke. This happened last week.