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 16,985 complaints for ACURA
Incident date: May 19, 2022
2/26/2008 STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING ONTO A HOT CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL GENERATE SMOKE AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN UNDER- HOOD FIRE. Summary HONDA IS RECALLING 273.000 MY 2004-2008 ACURA TL VEHICLES. PROLONGED HIGH UNDER-HOOD TEMPERATURES MAY CAUSE THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO DETERIORATE PREMATURELY CAUSING THE HOSE TO CRACK AND LEAK POW... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2002 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at speeds exceeding 50 MPH, the front end of the vehicle would shake and vibrate with an abnormal chain-like sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not determined. There was no further information available. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2022
I shifted to sports mode plus while at a stop light on the Bay Bridge. After light turned green, I accelerated and my car stalled and wouldn't go past 20mph on the Bay Bridge which is dangerous, everyone was going about 60-75 mph. All of my hazard lights were on- my brake light, VSA light, Check Engine Etc. I went to the mechanic and he could not find anything wrong with my battery, transmission ... Read more
Incident date: May 18, 2022
The headlights on this model get worse and worse each day. I've replaced the bulb but there is a more serious issue.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
unknown, i cant keep a mobil phone connected to the car bluetooth and tpms system always seems to show light as well as all the other senors. lots of parts have been tampered with
Incident date: May 12, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Acura TLX. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle remained running however, failed to respond to the accelerator pedal being depressed. The contact coasted the vehicle safely to the side of the road. The contact disconnected and then reconnected ... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2022
I have owned this car since new, this is not the first time this has happened. The car has an auto idle stop feature. Which when certain contains are meet and the car is at a stop it will turn off the engine. When the brake pedal is released, (and from other factors) the car will restart the engine so driving can resume. The issue that I am reporting is that the car does NOT restart, the engin... Read more
Incident date: May 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Acura TLX. The contact stated while driving approximately 45-50 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently shifted into neutral causing the vehicle to slow down and stop in traffic. The contact was able to pull over and call a tow truck to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the emissions warning light was illuminated. The ... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2022
It was raining and I was accelerating hard to pass a slow vehicle when the engine malfunction light started blinking and I lost power and could no longer accelerate. I had to pull over into an empty driveway. Had I not been able to pull over into a driveway, I would have been stuck on a 2 lane road with a 55 mph speed limit and no way to get the car completely off the road, endangering myself, an... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2022
Electronic Stability Control Problem-available for inspection upon request. 1. I have had issues with the rear end fishtailing for a few seconds that would correct itself. Today after I pulled out of work, the car fishtailed when I was entering the highway. All the warning lights started flashing-paws, brake assist,power steering, hill,lane departure,etc. 2. This is very dangerous and a safety i... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2022
Power steering rack and pinion leaked and was replaced with an Acura remanufactured part. A few years later it is leaking again.
Incident date: Nov 30, 2018
TRANSMISSION SLIPS,AND HESITATES TO SHIFT NORMALLY AND THEN GOES NORMAL AGAIN. VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURED ,IT HAPPENED WHILE CRUSING AT 35 MPH, AND AT 50 MPH, STREET ,AND HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES TO FIND THE ISSUE AND ANYWAYS END UP WITH NO ANSWERS, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 30, 2018
TRANSMISSION SLIPS,AND HESITATES TO SHIFT NORMALLY AND THEN GOES NORMAL AGAIN. VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHEN THIS OCCURED ,IT HAPPENED WHILE CRUSING AT 35 MPH, AND AT 50 MPH, STREET ,AND HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES TO FIND THE ISSUE AND ANYWAYS END UP WITH NO ANSWERS, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
The standard driving headlights have become very dim over the past 2 years. Have replaced the bulbs with two different manufactured light bulbs with no discernable brightness change in the headlight. The lights did not illuminate any of the road when driving at night. Very dangerous situation. Had to use high beams to get any road illumination. Replaced the entire lighting assembly as online for... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2022
Rear tail gate lift motors are overheating and won't open rear hatch. The motors will lift the gait for about 5 or 6 openings, then the gate will not lift at all. The vehicle has to sit overnight for the system to "cool down". Once it cools down, the tailgate will operate the next date, but will operate only once. The car has to once again, sit overnight, in order to lift the tailgate 1 time. ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Acura TLX. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the sunroof panel shattered without impact and glass fragments entered the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the sunroof panel to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufactur... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2022
04 acura tl my transmission wen applying the brakes feel like a big part of tranny broke u feel it move like it grinding about to brake it can cause a big accident or death .if wen fully apply brakes complete stop .it will b bad it say a recall yrs ago 4 this same thing I'm telling u now about trannie i got kids I take n car seat belt lock don't work n back lights keep flashing n back at nite out ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2022
04 acura tl my transmission wen applying the brakes feel like a big part of tranny broke u feel it move like it grinding about to brake it can cause a big accident or death .if wen fully apply brakes complete stop .it will b bad it say a recall yrs ago 4 this same thing I'm telling u now about trannie i got kids I take n car seat belt lock don't work n back lights keep flashing n back at nite out ... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Acura TL. The contact stated that the passenger's side dashboard was cracked near the passenger's side air bag housing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN and ... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2022
Dealer says two warped rotors Brakes pads are good there has been no abnormal breaking while driving the car. I feel this is a faulty rotor
Incident date: Apr 29, 2022
Starting around 20,000 miles, my car started to majorly hesitate when I would step on the pedal trying to accelerate. Over time the problem became increasingly worse to the point where the car would slip into neutral causing a major hazard driving on the tollway when my car would decelerate when stepping on the gas pedal. This has caused me to have several very close near accidents. The dealership... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2022
Starting around 20,000 miles, my car started to majorly hesitate when I would step on the pedal trying to accelerate. Over time the problem became increasingly worse to the point where the car would slip into neutral causing a major hazard driving on the tollway when my car would decelerate when stepping on the gas pedal. This has caused me to have several very close near accidents. The dealership... Read more
Incident date: Apr 30, 2022
Got into the RDX, closed the driver door and rear glass shattered. Called Dealership and spoke with salesman and service manager and both said they never heard of this before. Reading online this has happened several times. Acura in Canada has acknowledged that this is a defect and repairs are done under warranty. What can be done in USA?
Incident date: Mar 26, 2022
The steering ability and rear suspension failed on the vehicle. I was driving straight on a major interstate and the car veered to the right. I was able to correct the vehicle by turning the steering wheel to the left. This happened on several occasions during this particular weekend. However, 2 weeks prior to this incident, I received forward collision warnings, brake warnings, and lane departure... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2022
At slow speed our brand new vehicle with only 800 miles the electric power steering system failed causing difficulty manually steering the vehicle and pulling off the roadway. In addition every warning light illuminated on dashboard. Vehicle was towed to Acura of Turnersville in NJ and after three days is still being diagnosed. Internet searches have revealed several other owners with the 2022 Acu... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2021
Low beam headlights have become continually worse in the past four years. The bulbs are working fine, but the low beam headlights only project light out a few feet from the front of the car. The car is unsafe and undriveable at night using only the low beam headlights. The high beam headlights are fine, but driving with the high beam lights on at all times is also a safety hazard. The dealer ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 20, 2022
My Acura TL has many issues and is dangerous to drive
Crash
Incident date: Apr 20, 2022
My Acura TL has many issues and is dangerous to drive
Crash
Incident date: Apr 20, 2022
My Acura TL has many issues and is dangerous to drive
Crash
Incident date: Apr 27, 2022
I was merging on to the freeway going about 60mph, with traffic right behind me. Car started decelerated and the dash board lit up. A car behind me had to swerve to avoid hitting me. I put on my hazard lights and tried to move to the shoulder the car was only going about 5mph at the time. I turned the car off and restarted to see if it would move, but it was still going about 5mph. After doing thi... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2022
I was merging on to the freeway going about 60mph, with traffic right behind me. Car started decelerated and the dash board lit up. A car behind me had to swerve to avoid hitting me. I put on my hazard lights and tried to move to the shoulder the car was only going about 5mph at the time. I turned the car off and restarted to see if it would move, but it was still going about 5mph. After doing thi... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2022
I was merging on to the freeway going about 60mph, with traffic right behind me. Car started decelerated and the dash board lit up. A car behind me had to swerve to avoid hitting me. I put on my hazard lights and tried to move to the shoulder the car was only going about 5mph at the time. I turned the car off and restarted to see if it would move, but it was still going about 5mph. After doing thi... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2022
Transmission surges when shifting between 1st gear to 2nd, feels like rear ended, the whole car jumps. Acura of America seems to not have a fix for this issue that a lots of 3rd generation ACURA MDX owners suffer from . Acura dealership only suggestion is transmission fluid flush, which is not a real fix for the transmission jump that can cause a serious accident while operating the vehicle in t... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2022
I was driving onto an exit ramp around 50 to 60 mph on Rt 50 yo 495 south and VSA light appeared on dash. Also steering felt extremely loose. No control to steer and could not accelerate either.
Incident date: Apr 24, 2022
I was driving onto an exit ramp around 50 to 60 mph on Rt 50 yo 495 south and VSA light appeared on dash. Also steering felt extremely loose. No control to steer and could not accelerate either.
Incident date: Apr 21, 2022
On several occasions the vehicle will come to a stop and from that stop will begin to stall-at that point almost completely loosing power and an indicator light on dash indicates that an undefined problem *exclamation mark* Each time, the car almost completely slows to almost a stall out, and the car behind me comes dangerously close to hitting me from behind.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
I was told by a mechanic that this 2006 Acura TL I bought from Joe's Garage here In Clovis Ca was a car I do not want to be driving. Now when purchased from Joe's Garage he stated he put engine didn't say new or used, He also said the car was practically brand new because previous owner was a high school kid who assume he cracked his radiator and was not the problem, but the kid bought a new car a... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
I was told by a mechanic that this 2006 Acura TL I bought from Joe's Garage here In Clovis Ca was a car I do not want to be driving. Now when purchased from Joe's Garage he stated he put engine didn't say new or used, He also said the car was practically brand new because previous owner was a high school kid who assume he cracked his radiator and was not the problem, but the kid bought a new car a... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
I was told by a mechanic that this 2006 Acura TL I bought from Joe's Garage here In Clovis Ca was a car I do not want to be driving. Now when purchased from Joe's Garage he stated he put engine didn't say new or used, He also said the car was practically brand new because previous owner was a high school kid who assume he cracked his radiator and was not the problem, but the kid bought a new car a... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2022
The brake pedal in my car was soft. pressed it and did not stop the car until its almost to the floor. Called acura and they told me there was a tsb as other have had this problem Honda TSB 19-022. the car needed to be reprogramed and fixed the issue. they charged 87.78 for the reprograming. i filled a complaint with honda to get reimbursed case number 12954925. This is a saftey issue... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2021
On a regular basis, if accelerating to cross an intersection, car stops or hesitates for several seconds. We have almost been hit by cars several times in the past year. Dealership states everytime i have it serviced, they are unable to replicate and they have never heard of this. In a 5 minute internet search I have found many references to the same issue.
Incident date: Apr 1, 2021
On a regular basis, if accelerating to cross an intersection, car stops or hesitates for several seconds. We have almost been hit by cars several times in the past year. Dealership states everytime i have it serviced, they are unable to replicate and they have never heard of this. In a 5 minute internet search I have found many references to the same issue.
Incident date: Mar 21, 2022
The reflector plate inside the sealed front headlamps has deteriorated. The headlamps no longer project enough light to drive the Acura RDX safely at night. The Acura dealership inspected the vehicle, acknowledged the problem, and will replace the two lamps for a little over $2K. It’s my understanding this occurs on model years 2013 and 2014 as well. Deterioration of the reflector plate occu... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2022
The car kept stalling while I was trying to accelerate on the highway. I pulled over and turned it off and the problem resolved itself
Incident date: Apr 14, 2022
The car kept stalling while I was trying to accelerate on the highway. I pulled over and turned it off and the problem resolved itself
Incident date: Apr 14, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Acura TLX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH the transmission erroneously shifted to the neutral position causing the vehicle to lose power. After stopping and restarting the engine the failure continued to occur. The contact unplugged the engine battery which temporarily resolved the failure. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 27, 2021
I was getting ready to pass a semi and when I went to accelerate I had no power. I pushed the pedal several times with no power. Then it finally kicked in and the car accelerated. I was almost rear ended due to me losing power. This has happened multiple times. No lights ever come on. I am also experiencing the car completely shutting off while stopped. When it does this, a message pops up that I ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 27, 2021
I was getting ready to pass a semi and when I went to accelerate I had no power. I pushed the pedal several times with no power. Then it finally kicked in and the car accelerated. I was almost rear ended due to me losing power. This has happened multiple times. No lights ever come on. I am also experiencing the car completely shutting off while stopped. When it does this, a message pops up that I ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2005 Acura TL. The contact stated that the entire dashboard was cracked. Additionally, air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.