Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,245,377 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA, including 140,173 crashes, 56,794 fires, and 8,580 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 2,245,377 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 17,413 complaints for ACURA
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
I am reporting a serious and ongoing safety issue with my Ram 1500. The vehicle has experienced multiple incidents of complete power loss while driving, including at highway speeds. During these events, the vehicle abruptly shuts down without warning. The dashboard lights illuminate (including the battery and check engine lights), followed by total electrical failure. The engine turns off, the rad... Read more
Incident date: Feb 26, 2026
ICCU failure, code P1A9096.
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where a scan was completed, and diagnostic trouble codes for the Emissions, engine misfire, timing chain, and crank position sensor failure... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
When both the left and right rear passenger seatbelts are in use independently from each other, the seatbelt warning signal is initiated when a passenger is seated in the respected positional location. The warning signal is both visible and audible when a passenger is buckled in and seated.
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
My vehicle launches forward even when I do apply the break. I may be cruising, doing the speed limit, 25 mph and my car will try to accelerate to go faster.
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
CVT Transmission failure
Incident date: Dec 10, 2025
On 03/29/2026 at approximately 11:00 AM, I was driving my 2024 Polestar 2 southbound on [XXX] near [XXX] in the center lane at approximately 80 mph in heavy traffic. Without any prior warning — no vibration, no TPMS alert, no unusual noise, no warning lamps or messages of any kind — the left rear tire suffered a catastrophic tread/belt separation. The tire is a Continental original equipmen... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
Power Train- error message stating 4x4 is unavailable, message will appear anytime between when first starting the car to active on the road. While active, there sounds like there’s some sounds coming from the rear tires before message appears. This issue has been consistent since purchasing the car at 76k mileage. Airbag- at random and then noticeably when hitting some bumps, dash light stating... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
Power Train- error message stating 4x4 is unavailable, message will appear anytime between when first starting the car to active on the road. While active, there sounds like there’s some sounds coming from the rear tires before message appears. This issue has been consistent since purchasing the car at 76k mileage. Airbag- at random and then noticeably when hitting some bumps, dash light stating... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle hesitated, and the RPM became elevated, before the vehicle accelerated as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the failure was not... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
my car was going uphill and would only go about 15 up hill and would not accelerate, then after aboit 4 min it just died, the check oil, engine and battery lights came on. Then after turning off car it came back on but happened exact same way after 3 more min. Both times the lights went off. Now it trys to turn on but stalls right away.
Incident date: Feb 20, 2026
Vehicle displayed a “power brake loss” on the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid instrument cluster upon trying to start it. After not being able to turn the vehicle on, I exited the vehicle to ensure my key fob was in my pocket. All electronics worked. After roughly 4 minutes of being in the car all power was loss - battery drained. Towing company that my Toyota Dealership Provides had a number out of... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
When my car gets to about 20mph the abs light comes on and stays on until I restart the car and drive it again then at 20 mph it come on again I know there are recalls on other Nissan Murano midnight edition for there abs system issues the nhtsa number is 19v807000 other numbers were r1916 and 1920 also 18v601000 my car is showing the same issues the other recalled vehicles are showing and needs t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2026
I am writing to formally document a serious, recurring safety defect in ou 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, purchased less than a month ago. The vehicle has now exhibited multiple distinct dashboard warning faults related to the electronic shifter system, has left me stranded on more than one occasion, and has been sitting at Schomp Hyundai in [XXX] , for the second time, for over one week, with no res... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Driver assist systems, including lane keeping assist, forward collision avoidance/braking system, and related exterior sensor systems, are malfunctioning. The lane assist system has taken unintended control of steering, and the braking system has activated without cause. Yes, the vehicle is availa... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
When exiting a parking lot going about 6 miles an hour I approached a stop sign. When I attempted to stop my vehicle the antilock brakes engaged and vehicle would not stop. I pressed harder on the brake but it did nothing. The vehicle finally did stop but I was half a car length into the street. I was terrified. Fortunately there was no oncoming vehicle. This terrifies me because I frequently ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 29, 2026
The onstar module of my 2023 GMC Yukon has failed. This is a wide spread issue with recent model GMC's. There are thousands of reports of the same thing happenings. When an onstar module fails, the vehicle loses its safety features. No lane departure, no collision detection or pre-collision braking, no critical system checks. Even the gas and mileage components stop working correctly.
Incident date: Mar 4, 2026
It will not take fuel. I try very slowly to put fuel in it and it keeps shutting off at the pump. I took it to the VW Dealership and they said it was a stuck valve in the tank. That I would need a new gas tank and wanted to charge me $2000 to fix it. I took it to another place and they said it was a venting problem. They put a camera down in the tank and pushed the stick valve open and it was... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2026
#### The ABS Defect 12. Within seven (7) days of purchase, and with fewer than [NUMBER] miles driven, the subject vehicle experienced a catastrophic failure of the ABS pump containing the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) [citation:1 from previous analysis]. 13. This failure caused the ABS warning light to illuminate and completely disabled the ABS functionality, reducing the braking system to non-p... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 29, 2025
The infotainment system in my 2021 Jeep Renegade has failed and was diagnosed by an authorized Jeep dealership as an infotainment (info center) failure. The display frequently blacks out, shows lines, and becomes distorted, preventing access to essential vehicle controls including navigation, climate control, and radio functions. More critically, the backup camera randomly activates while the vehi... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
My car turned the brake light on, the cruise control stopped working, it has the lane departure warning on, the sensor on the windshield apparently is not working.. I can't use the cruise control nor the lane departure assistant and I am concerned that when needed the emergency breaks won't work.. this is a serious issue Honda should remedy.
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
My car turned the brake light on, the cruise control stopped working, it has the lane departure warning on, the sensor on the windshield apparently is not working.. I can't use the cruise control nor the lane departure assistant and I am concerned that when needed the emergency breaks won't work.. this is a serious issue Honda should remedy.
Incident date: Mar 29, 2026
Safety Hazard: Oil Pump Failure Leading to Sudden Engine Stall (BMW B58TU engines) Description of Defect: The oil pump module in the 2020 BMW X5 (G05) contains internal plastic components that are prone to thermal degradation and premature failure. These plastic parts can crack or disintegrate, causing a sudden loss of oil pressure. Safety Risk: A failure of the oil pump leads to insufficient lu... Read more
Incident date: Mar 29, 2026
Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 2023 Nissan Frontier Defect Description: The wiring harness connected to the brake stop lamp switch on 2023 Nissan Frontier vehicles contains a design or manufacturing defect that causes premature switch failure. The defect results in the switch overheating and burning out, evidenced by visible charring and sooty residue inside the switch housing. Upon failure, the brake ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 29, 2026
Vehicle Year/Make/Model: 2023 Nissan Frontier Defect Description: The wiring harness connected to the brake stop lamp switch on 2023 Nissan Frontier vehicles contains a design or manufacturing defect that causes premature switch failure. The defect results in the switch overheating and burning out, evidenced by visible charring and sooty residue inside the switch housing. Upon failure, the brake ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2026
All dash warning lights are on and dash lights have a intermittent bright light surge. Hard to shut off engine and have to disconnect battery for electric power to shut off. Very noticeable hesitation in acceleration starting to drive
Incident date: Mar 27, 2026
While driving at highway speeds, I needed to accelerate hard in order to pass another vehicle and while accelerating there was a downshift and increase in RPM. After passing, the RPM remained high even after I took foot off accelerator and it seemed the transmission did not shift back out of lower gear, keeping the car traveling at a high rate of speed, endangering myself and other traffic. Apply... Read more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2026
Following replacement of the small block in Dec. 2025 for bad pushrod bearings. The vehicle ran for 3000 miles, before the engine seized up again while driving at 50 mph. The vehicle came to a stop in the travel lanes and could not be moved due to engine failure. Upon having the vehicle towed back to the dealership for inspection and repair, they found that the #3 cylinder had both valves broken a... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2026
In October, my son was driving our Jeep Wrangler 4xe when the vehicle suddenly lost power steering, acceleration, and braking while multiple warning lights were flashing on the dashboard. The vehicle became very difficult to control and created a serious safety concern. We have a video showing all of the warning lights flashing during this incident (it is not allowing me to upload a video below as... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2026
In October, my son was driving our Jeep Wrangler 4xe when the vehicle suddenly lost power steering, acceleration, and braking while multiple warning lights were flashing on the dashboard. The vehicle became very difficult to control and created a serious safety concern. We have a video showing all of the warning lights flashing during this incident (it is not allowing me to upload a video below as... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2026
In October, my son was driving our Jeep Wrangler 4xe when the vehicle suddenly lost power steering, acceleration, and braking while multiple warning lights were flashing on the dashboard. The vehicle became very difficult to control and created a serious safety concern. We have a video showing all of the warning lights flashing during this incident (it is not allowing me to upload a video below as... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
There is a stress fracture to the windshield starting at the bottom of the glass where it attaches to the body of the car, below the wipers. It’s not a chip nor was it caused by an object. It’s a semi circle crack. Two employees at the dealer glass department concurred that it’s not damage from a foreign object hitting and that it’s a stress crack. Yet dealer refuses to cover hands warrant... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2026
Door Latches freeze in cold temps and prevent my doors from latching closed. I held an extended warranty on my vehicle and reported to my local dealership, but they would not repair since I could not replicate the issue after the fact. The newer models of my vehicle have this listed as a recall item, but they fail to recognize that the same thing is happening to my vehicle.
Incident date: Jan 6, 2025
I was charging at a Tesla Supercharge using the OEM Porsche converter and my car experienced a catastrophic electrical fault. The charge completed but the charger was hard to pull out and then my car had battery fault errors and said it needed immediate service. I took it to the dealer and they pulled these error codes and said severage battery componets had failed including a failed high-voltage ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2026
While driving a "Service Transmission" message appears on the information center. The truck shifts slowly, sometimes slamming into gear, doesn't seem to have smooth acceleration through the gears until a high gear is reached. Unusual sounds occur during the shifting sequence. The vehicle was dropped off at the dealer for service. Dealer claims that since they were not able to duplicate the conditi... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
I was driving on the highway and all of my dashboard lights began to flicker, my windshield wipers came on and my doors began to lock and unlock then the car shut off while I was driving.
Incident date: Mar 21, 2026
The contact owns a 2026 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called a dealer while traveling in Braunfels, Texas, and asked about parts avai... Read more
Incident date: Mar 21, 2026
Our truck had just passed 60,000 miles when the engine seized. The recall procedure was completed in January, and the engine passed the test at that time. We were also using the recommended 0W‑40 oil. Despite following all guidelines, the engine still failed. This shows that the procedure GM has outlined is not sufficient to determine whether an engine is actually in good condition.
Incident date: Mar 21, 2026
severe coolant intrusion issue where coolant leaks into the cylinders, causing rough running, overheating, and potential engine failure. Very unsafe especially due to the fact the their were recalls on the 2017-2019 but not for 2016 models and ford refuses to replace the engine.ford reproduced a better block however my 2016 isn't covered. There signs of rough idling and a engine code for a failed ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the rear-view camera had become inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was initially unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was later diagnosed, and it was determined that the failure was with the radio and the camera. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The m... Read more
Incident date: Mar 6, 2026
While driving the brake pedal became hard to push out of no where. Once the car got to the shop it stopped cranking. The shop is stating that the brake vacuum pump is the cause of the brake pedal messing up, and that it also caused other engine damages estimating $3000.00
Incident date: Mar 6, 2026
While driving the brake pedal became hard to push out of no where. Once the car got to the shop it stopped cranking. The shop is stating that the brake vacuum pump is the cause of the brake pedal messing up, and that it also caused other engine damages estimating $3000.00
Incident date: Mar 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50-65 MPH on an incline, the contact believed that the transmission was slipping or there was a misfire coming from the engine. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart automatically after the engine AUTO Start/Stop system was engaged after a complete stop. Additionally, the contact stated tha... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2026
Manufacturer recall #24E12 (PCM software update) triggered a PO430:00-ED code (Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold - Bank 2) because the new software more strictly monitors the catalytic converter, causing it to detect previously ignored degradation. This reprogram scamming program makes community bothered by paying parts replacements more than 2K, even vehicle was fine before the recall. T... Read more
Incident date: Mar 21, 2026
I have a 2016 Acura TLX 3.5L j35Y6 AWD that initially Had the safety recall XG1 and the engine was replaced at roughly 140k miles, 40k miles later the replacement engine suffered the same problem, and I am aware that I am not the only person this has happened to as there is currently a NHTSA investigation PE25008 that is related to these replacement engines failing. I have pushed the dealership fo... Read more
Incident date: Feb 21, 2026
I parked the vehicle in a parking lot. I walked away and it immediately started smoking. Shortly after that, flames appeared coming from the hood. Shortly after that, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames.
Fire
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 24, 2026
While accelerating to highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly experienced a significant and continuous loss of power. Even with the accelerator fully pressed, the vehicle would not increase speed beyond roughly 50 mph. Based on the behavior and previous service history, the issue appears to be related to the engine, fuel delivery system, or overall powertrain. The incident created a serious safety c... Read more
Incident date: Mar 29, 2025
WHile trying to park 2025 Q7 the vehicle accelerated without warning and adaptive cruise flashed quickly then disappeared. I was the driver and had a passanger along. THis incedent repeated itself within 30 mins. I am not comfortable driving the car..
Incident date: Feb 18, 2026
March 19, 2026, the car left my 18 y.o. daughter stranded at 10:00pm in a store parking lot. The car was fine when she went into the store. When she went back to the car, it was completely dead. No power at all. I had to pick her up to bring her home and left the car overnight. Called AAA the next morning. I have already previously reported about this car a few months back when it was in the shop... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
I am writing to formally request reimbursement for a timing chain replacement performed on my vehicle, which was the subject of a specific safety recall issued by BMW. The timing chain defect in this vehicle represents a severe safety hazard, as a failure can cause an immediate and total engine stall while the vehicle is in motion. This loss of power in traffic creates an 100% avoidable risk of co... Read more