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: Jan 1, 2020
Low beam headlights have diminished to the point where it is absolutely unsafe to drive while dark. This is a widespread problem which has resulted in many complaints with the NHTSA and other online reporting agencies. Acura has not acknowledged the issue for this make or model while other models have been recalled in the past.
Incident date: Aug 20, 2021
Stalling when accelerating. Safety hazard because the car basically dies temporarily and slows down. I have to pump the gas pedal for several seconds to get it going again.
Incident date: Jul 15, 2021
While driving at 60 mph in left lane of highway, without warning, the vehicle slowed and lost all acceleration and slowed, and then a series of warnings lit up on the screen including: electronic parking brake error, a transmission warning pertaining to the ZF 9 speed transmission that demanded driver to pull over to the side to avoid major damage, and emissions failure warning. Then numerous o... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2021
Today, when accelerating on an onramp, merging into interstate traffic, the vehicle suddenly decelerated to about 30mph. Traffic, including a semi, was approaching at a higher rate of speed. I was able to get off the into the emergency lane but was concerned about being struck from behind. I stopped the engine, restarted it, and had no further problems. I tried to reproduce the problem but wa... Read more
Incident date: Jun 17, 2021
Front headlights are very dim. I’m unable to drive long at night. I have to rely in the cars next to me to help light the road. Please fix this. There are many many complaints. I believe mine are getting dimmer. Correct this before there really is an accident.
Incident date: Jun 1, 2017
Unknown, but since I bought the car I encountered a problem with the rear seatbelts, they do not work and I am about to be a grandmother and it is important and is a safety issue,
Incident date: Aug 8, 2021
I was driving car to work and when I was making a turn my car steering wheel stop working it was so hard to maneuver I almost crashed I took it to the shop and they asked to call the acura dealer before making repairs because this car had reports on the steering wheel malfunction I called and they said that this car wasn't cover by the warranty but this could off got me kill now the acura dealer ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
At different times, either with my wife or I driving the vehicle, we will receive error messages on the dash indicating that various systems are inoperative. These involve the lane keeping assist system and the braking system. I also believe that the cruise control does not function when these messages appear.
Incident date: Apr 30, 2021
Vehicle constantly surges during acceleration, seems as if the transmission is bad however, it also feels as if the fuel filter is clogged. This sputter occurs at various speed. Vehicle has less than 64,000 miles. Is there a fix to this issue?
Incident date: Apr 30, 2021
Vehicle constantly surges during acceleration, seems as if the transmission is bad however, it also feels as if the fuel filter is clogged. This sputter occurs at various speed. Vehicle has less than 64,000 miles. Is there a fix to this issue?
Incident date: Apr 30, 2021
Vehicle constantly surges during acceleration, seems as if the transmission is bad however, it also feels as if the fuel filter is clogged. This sputter occurs at various speed. Vehicle has less than 64,000 miles. Is there a fix to this issue?
Incident date: Jan 1, 2021
The low-beam headlights are so dim at night that it is extremely dangerous to drive. One can only see several feet in front of the car. I understand other years of Acura RDX's have a defect, and were subject to a recall, involving the reflective material in the headlight assembly. That material would degrade over time, making the lights dim. I have replaced the bulbs themselves, but that has no... Read more
Incident date: Aug 9, 2021
Whenever i press the brake pedal at low speeds(1-3 mph) i hear a loud spring/clicking sound. This is happening to multiple acura tlx owners i know.
Incident date: Aug 3, 2021
TERRIBLE UNDERBODY RUSTING CAUSING SUBFRAME TO COME OUT OF THE REAR. VEHICLE ABOUT TO SPLIT IN 2
Incident date: Jun 29, 2021
11/17/2020 Acura battery of our 2012 Acura MDX failed & was replaced under manufacturer warranty, via comp was provided. 6/29/2021 Acura battery failed again. Dealership did not honor warranty claiming manufacturer Acura would not pay for replacement. Dealership said I needed to contact Acura Client Relationship which I did. ACR initially said dealership was at fault & the battery should be re... Read more
Incident date: Aug 6, 2021
When accelerating, my vehicle continues to have sudden deceleration, loss of power and stalls. While driving, the vehicle continues to have very sudden decelerate and loses power which is very dangerous given the volume and speed of other vehicles on the road. When driving steady for more than 30 minutes, you can hear the vehicle downshift or trying to go into another gear. It's only a matter of... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2021
Idle stop system works properly 99.9% of the time. However, three times in the last 12 months, I was stopped at a light and when I took my foot off the brake the car did not start. I tried to re-start, but it did not start immediately, took about 10 to 20 seconds to start. In each of the cases, I was able to restart just not right away. These three instances were about four months or so apart.... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2021
When making a sharp turn on hot days the car makes a grinding noise like something is grabbing the tire. It slows the car, hands the steering wheel and then the VSA hazard light comes on. It is a recurring issue and mechanics have not been able to diagnose.
Incident date: May 20, 2021
When making a sharp turn on hot days the car makes a grinding noise like something is grabbing the tire. It slows the car, hands the steering wheel and then the VSA hazard light comes on. It is a recurring issue and mechanics have not been able to diagnose.
Incident date: May 20, 2021
When making a sharp turn on hot days the car makes a grinding noise like something is grabbing the tire. It slows the car, hands the steering wheel and then the VSA hazard light comes on. It is a recurring issue and mechanics have not been able to diagnose.
Incident date: Jul 30, 2021
The battery has been drained on three separate occasions this year (2021). I replaced the battery after the first occurrence. Each time I have had to use a battery jump to restart the vehicle which sufficed to get it operating and return home. On the last occasion, the car started to display dash board warning messages before arriving at home after driving only 15 miles. This came with a fully... Read more
Incident date: Jul 30, 2021
when air conditioner is running in hot summer days, the car hesitates to restart (sometimes) following idle stop engine shutoff after coming to a full stop at a stop sign or red light. I strongly feel this is a safety concern as this impedes traffic and can causes road rage. If needed I can share video of this situation recurring time to time. Car starts just fine every single time outside of idle... Read more
Incident date: Nov 30, 2020
Car last year began randomly displaying VSA code during inclement weather. Took vehicle for diagnostic and report showed APS sensor issues. Replaced acceleration pedal. Car then lost power steering. Replaced pump. Can began having loss of power while using cruise control and steering would stiffen. Yet, only during inclement weather while driving. The Engine light with emmisions control warning wo... Read more
Incident date: Nov 30, 2020
Car last year began randomly displaying VSA code during inclement weather. Took vehicle for diagnostic and report showed APS sensor issues. Replaced acceleration pedal. Car then lost power steering. Replaced pump. Can began having loss of power while using cruise control and steering would stiffen. Yet, only during inclement weather while driving. The Engine light with emmisions control warning wo... Read more
Incident date: Nov 30, 2020
Car last year began randomly displaying VSA code during inclement weather. Took vehicle for diagnostic and report showed APS sensor issues. Replaced acceleration pedal. Car then lost power steering. Replaced pump. Can began having loss of power while using cruise control and steering would stiffen. Yet, only during inclement weather while driving. The Engine light with emmisions control warning wo... Read more
Incident date: Jul 16, 2021
My wife purchased this car about one month prior to this incident. It was presented as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. While traveling on the PA turnpike, the car suddenly and with no warning went into "limp mode", with only enough power available to maintain about 20 mph. The "check engine" light came on, and we continued at about 20 mph on the shoulder, hoping to come to an exit. After a few minu... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2021
The contact owned a 2020 Acura RDX. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle inadvertently slowed down and without warning a strange noise came from the engine compartment and a sudden jerk to the wheel when the vehicle accelerated without warning up to approximately 100 mph. The contact was able to exit the highway where the vehicle made another strange noise from the en... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Mar 20, 2021
The contact owned a 2020 Acura RDX. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle inadvertently slowed down and without warning a strange noise came from the engine compartment and a sudden jerk to the wheel when the vehicle accelerated without warning up to approximately 100 mph. The contact was able to exit the highway where the vehicle made another strange noise from the en... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Mar 20, 2021
The contact owned a 2020 Acura RDX. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle inadvertently slowed down and without warning a strange noise came from the engine compartment and a sudden jerk to the wheel when the vehicle accelerated without warning up to approximately 100 mph. The contact was able to exit the highway where the vehicle made another strange noise from the en... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Apr 1, 2020
While driving on highway driver side windshield trim panel flew off into traffic causing a car to swerve at highway speed. Included with the genuine Acura replacement part (# 73162-tl2-305zd) was service bulletin # 09-030 which states that the glue needs to be replaced. I talked to Acura of Wappingers service and parts department and Acura of America regarding this issue. All parties denied replac... Read more
Incident date: Jun 6, 2021
I exited a highway, decreasing speed to merge with local traffic, tried to accelerate and car revved but would not go over 30 mph. Drove home with safety flashers on, then tried to back into driveway to keep front of the car accessible, but the car would not shift into reverse. Toggled back and forth between drive and reverse and it finally shifted and I back in. Had the car towed to the dealer... Read more
Incident date: Jul 27, 2021
When I press the start button with my key fob in range and with a new battery, the car won't start, but makes a rapid "ticking" noise while all of the dashboard lights flicker and other interior and exterior lights turn on. Despite repeated attempts over several hours, the car will not start.
Incident date: Jul 26, 2021
On 7/24/2021 around 6.30pm, the transmission on my RDX suddenly failed. The problem happened when I attempted to accelerated when entering a highway. I temporarily fixed the problem by turning engine off and re-starting.
Incident date: Jul 23, 2021
Car feels like being locked while I can only be able to drive at a very low speed(maybe 1m/h). Dealership said everything is fine. They don't see the problem. They did nothing to address these issue. Two messages on dashboard: Electronic parking brake problem, Emissions system problem. First appear on 7/23/2021 just when the issue appears.
Incident date: Jul 22, 2021
Incident happened on, 22 July 2021- Rainy day, accelerated vehicle to pass, vehicle went limb unresponsive, check engine blinking, needed to stop in Highway 4. Almost got rear-ended by semi trailer, fortunately made maneuver for emergency stop. Turned vehicle off for a few minutes, while my heart settled and turned vehicle back on check engine was no longer blinking and vehicle was once more respo... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 Acura TSX. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bag sensor warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.
Incident date: Jul 20, 2021
On July 20 2021, I was driving at 45 mph when I pressed the accelerator and the car did not accelerate while making a loud sound. I pressed it again and it repeated the behavior. Meanwhile the car became slower and slower. There were no warning lamps or messages. I stopped the car and after about five minutes, I restarted it and it worked as usual. However, the technicians at the dealership were... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Acura RDX. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The failure also recurred while switching lanes or passing other vehicles. The contact also stated that the vehicle would lunge forward soon after hesitation without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where they were unable to duplicate the fai... Read more
Incident date: Jul 21, 2021
If the car thinks the door is not fully closed, it will not allow the car to go into drive. My husband put the car into reverse and backed out onto a busy highway. He tried to put the car into drive and it would not go because the car's electrical system thought the door was not fully shut (it was). He had to shut the car off completely and open/close the door again. This put him in a very dang... Read more
Incident date: Jul 14, 2021
While driving in heavy traffic and making a right turn,the power steering screen began to blink and immediately the power steering locked up. I had to manually turn the wheel and was able to over to the side and stop. After several minutes, the wheel finally unlocked and I pulled into a parking lot where it occurred again. I turned the key on and the unlocked wheel began to work again After making... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2020
Headlights (low beams only) are very dim to the point where it is dangerous to drive at night. Can only see a few feet in front of me. Original headlights, both passenger and driver side have the same problem. Changing bulbs does not improve the brightness at all. Problem started about a year ago, and has quickly become much worse. Checking online, I found hundreds of posts from other owners of 20... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2021
After approx. 15,000 miles on the odometer applying the brakes at highway speed to slow the car down the steering wheel shakes, went to the dealership they said the front brake rotors are warped. Also when traveling at highway speed around 70 mph with strong wind the hood of the car shakes as if it is not latched, stopped vehicle and checked that the hood is properly latched and it was, I am con... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2021
After approx. 15,000 miles on the odometer applying the brakes at highway speed to slow the car down the steering wheel shakes, went to the dealership they said the front brake rotors are warped. Also when traveling at highway speed around 70 mph with strong wind the hood of the car shakes as if it is not latched, stopped vehicle and checked that the hood is properly latched and it was, I am con... Read more
Incident date: Nov 27, 2019
I have a 2005 MDX. It allows me to take out my key without putting it in park. Being unaware, I turned it off while it was still in drive and it rolled back into another parked vehicle November of 2019. There is a report with the police department and my insurance covered the other vehicle's repair costs. It has rolled several times in the last couple years but luckily not into other cars. I don't... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Sep 4, 2020
The airbag light is on I went to have the airbag replaced. I was told I couldn't get my airbag replaced because it was a CANADIAN vehicle and they couldn't get the part etc. to replace it. So I have a Canadian vehicle that was not disclosed to me at the time of purchase. What can I do to resolve this issue? I purchased the Suv from Walt Sweeny 6315 Harrison Avenue Cincinnati Ohio 45247Auto Center... Read more
Incident date: Nov 25, 2020
Never been in accident, Srs warning on dash, so took to Acura service dept in November of 2020, they confirmed it's the opds unit & the opds sensor inside seat, said it's not the seatbelts, & no airbags will deploy if in accident, they want to charge $1700+tax, we are poor & can not afford that or to buy another vehicle, our safety of our family with kids are at risk if in a accident because we ca... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2021
Vehicle suddenly brakes at freeway speeds and sways to one side. VSA light and warning light comes on. After couple of seconds, vehicle resumes freeway speed. This has happened few times in last 2 weeks. It causes the SUV to sway and can easily lose control or drift into adjacent lane causing accident. After stopping and restarting the warning lights go away.
Incident date: Jul 5, 2021
My 2014 Acura TL with 36,000 miles has developed serious aluminum alloy wheel corrosion and metal peeling on all four (4) wheels and results in intermittent tire pressure loss. The Acura company refuses to replace at their cost the defective material alloy wheels which cost and the dealer is requesting per wheel $357.00 plus 245$ plus labour and for new tire pressure sensors located inside on the... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2021
2017 Acura MDX purchased May 2020. Incidences has happened 5 times. Twice this month in July 2021 the brakes engaged! Anxiety and fear of being hit by cars behind. 1st incident:location back road When the brakes engaged the vehicle in front had taken a right turn. The vehicle was cleared from mine so it came as a scare as it stopped in the middle of the road with others behind me honking….. The... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2021
When this RDX’s weight distribution shifts/flexes from turning out of a driveway or any parking entrance with an incline/decline the panoramic moonroof makes a popping sound across the rear of the moonroof. This occurs from both rear corners of the moonroof. The moonroof frame may be knocking around the body of the car due to lack of insulation or the moonroof frame not fitting properly. The p... Read more