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: Mar 5, 2025
While actively driving into an intersection, driving on the street and or stopped at a light or at a stop the vehicle will shut off, the lights on the dashboard will sometimes be on, other times go completely black, a notification pops up on the dashboard saying "engine not in P". There is no way I'm aware of to re create this action. My children's safety as well as mine has been put at significan... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2025
While actively driving into an intersection, driving on the street and or stopped at a light or at a stop the vehicle will shut off, the lights on the dashboard will sometimes be on, other times go completely black, a notification pops up on the dashboard saying "engine not in P". There is no way I'm aware of to re create this action. My children's safety as well as mine has been put at significan... Read more
Incident date: Apr 28, 2025
Since purchasing this truck 06/30/2024; during the 9100 miles driven, electrical issues such as check engine, EWS needs to be serviced, Forward Collision Service, Stereo screen freezing up, Tire Pressure stating air is needed but checked air pressure, it is where it should be, Right Signal Trailer service needed but not pulling a trailer. Three times after starting the truck it failed to go into... Read more
Incident date: Jun 7, 2023
after shortly pumping gas, I received a alert on my car that I needed to check my fuel cap, after checking fuel cap I proceeded to drive on the highway during this time a multitude of sensors started to go off on my car, and it started to drive weird there were light such as my interlock, being deactivated, parking, brake, deactivated, malfunction of VSC, collision deactivated. Then suddenly while... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2025
There is a "sticky" feeling when steering, particularly when veering or turning right. My local Honda service department identified it as a defective steering gearbox and estimates that it will cost about $5,100 to fix it. I contacted Honda and was told that my specific VIN is not part of the recall associated with steering issues; they also refused to add it or cover my repairs.
Incident date: Apr 26, 2025
Bci message appears on dash. Then a number of other dash lights (see picture attached)
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
Vehicle goes into limp mode unexpectedly and with no warning. Lose all throttle control forcing me to pull off out of traffic and trying to do so safely.
Incident date: Apr 9, 2025
The multimedia screen powers on and off consistently.
Incident date: Apr 9, 2025
The multimedia screen powers on and off consistently.
Incident date: Apr 9, 2025
I received a recall letter for my Kia 2021 Seltos EX 2.0 dated 4-4-25 for piston oil ring and engine inspection. I checked my car in with a local Kia dealership on Thursday the 24th. Approximately, thirty hours later I received a call it passed inspection. On Friday I picked my car up and did my normal Friday laundry and went home. I’m talking about for the laundromat and my home maybe a tot... Read more
Incident date: Jun 22, 2022
My 2016 Ford Fusion 1.5L EcoBoost has developed Fords known Coolant intrusion into the head gasket and block issue. I’m currently experiencing dangerous misfires, violent shaking, with EVAP/O2 codes (not sure if related). I got it towed and received diagnosis and the car will be needing a new engine. 124K miles on vehicle at the time. We demand immediate NHTSA investigation and a Ford recall.
Incident date: Apr 16, 2025
Traction control warning lights comes on during drive. Shuts down abs braking and cruise control. Has been worked on by Harley Davidson technician multiple times but continues to be a problem.
Incident date: Sep 25, 2023
Bought in 2023 @ 98k miles. Have had trouble with 1.it would only start in drive, then that seems to have self corrected. 2. In drive, car would not accelerate properly, and would slow as though I was braking, but no foot on brake. Had rear brake sensor replaced, seemed better for a while. 3. Developed oil leak at 120 miles which valvoline characterized as "not serious...just keep checking it... Read more
Incident date: Sep 25, 2023
Bought in 2023 @ 98k miles. Have had trouble with 1.it would only start in drive, then that seems to have self corrected. 2. In drive, car would not accelerate properly, and would slow as though I was braking, but no foot on brake. Had rear brake sensor replaced, seemed better for a while. 3. Developed oil leak at 120 miles which valvoline characterized as "not serious...just keep checking it... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2025
Dash glare on windshield is severe. I cannot believe there isn't a recall on it.
Incident date: Mar 25, 2025
brake pads wearing prematurely, too many rattle noises in side cabin, moonroof water leak, hit and miss rear cross traffic alert, frequent infotainment system reboots, transmission shift to nutral while try to speed up.
Incident date: Mar 25, 2025
brake pads wearing prematurely, too many rattle noises in side cabin, moonroof water leak, hit and miss rear cross traffic alert, frequent infotainment system reboots, transmission shift to nutral while try to speed up.
Incident date: Apr 25, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into second gear while driving. The contact stated there was an abnormal grinding sound while turning the steering wheel. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10-50 MPH, the vehicle began to slow down and kick back. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the loca... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into second gear while driving. The contact stated there was an abnormal grinding sound while turning the steering wheel. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10-50 MPH, the vehicle began to slow down and kick back. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the loca... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2025
I was parked on surface parking lot with no cars around me, when I put the vehicle in reverse to back out of the parking space, within 2 or 3 seconds the steering wheel airbag exploded without warning. I did not hit anything backing out and there was no collision. I simply put the vehicle in reverse when the airbag exploded. The vehicle was towed to the dealership Porsche Dallas, 6107 Lemmon Ave.,... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Apr 22, 2025
When we were entering a major intersection, car strolled and rolled forward and stopped 3/4 thru the intersection. It would not restart immediately while cars were speeding by on both sides. It finally started. This is the second occurrence we took the car into the KIA dealership. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
Vehicle: 2019 Jeep Compass Mileage (approx): 84,000 miles Issue Type: RANDOM - Electrical failure causing loss of power, brake lock, steering disablement Car is currently at an auto electric shop but can be available if needed. Description of Issue: I’ve been experiencing a recurring and dangerous issue with my 2019 Jeep Compass since around 2021. Every 6–8 months (sometimes more frequently... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2025
The iccu failed causing the vehicle to suddenly go into limp mode
Incident date: Apr 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the engine, resulting in damages to cylinders #1 and #3. The contact was informed that a partial rebuild of the engine was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not no... Read more
Incident date: Apr 18, 2025
The contact owned a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the front driver's side air bag unexpectedly deployed without an impact to the vehicle. The air bag warning light illuminated prior to the incident. The contact then crashed into the rear of a utility trailer, where it came to a stop. The contact broke a tooth. The paramedics were called and perfor... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jun 1, 2022
Suspension system potentially life threatening. On [XXX] I purchased a 2005 Chevy Silverado truck from used car dealer in Tallassee, AL/$6000. Several days after driving home at Interstate speeds, I discovered extreme rust on the underside of the truck. The spare tire rim was unusable from rust and the tire hoist was rusted beyond use--I had to cut the tire hoist cable tip with a grinder and l... Read more
Incident date: Apr 18, 2025
While driving my 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid, I heard a rattling noise. I was having a hard time figuring out where it was coming from. Then I heard it again and noticed it was coming from above the sunshade for the sunroof. My sunshade is always closed. When I went to open the sunshade, the sunshade hit the spacer that had fallen off and the sunshade popped off the clips and recoiled into the back ro... Read more
Incident date: Feb 10, 2025
There were three recalls listed on your site that are no longer active which perfectly describe what is going on with my car at the moment we have had major electrical problems with it we have had problems with the tailgate not latching and opening while driving down the road also overheating when stopped at a light all of a sudden the air conditioner starts blowing hot air and it shoots up and ov... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
Faulty Transmission that Toyota doesn’t want to cover fixing.
Incident date: Apr 19, 2025
I have a 2017 Acura rdx all wash lights on ( Check emissions, abs, brake, brake system, power steering, tpms, and hill start assist, air bags, no seatbelt). Been to 3 different dealerships nobody can figure out what's wrong because the car does not communicate with itself anymore. Unsafe to drive because some is majorly wrong. Losses acceleration and beeps at you that the whole vehicle is not work... Read more
Incident date: Jun 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the contact experienced the death wobble. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to control the vehicle and slowed down, and prevented the vehicle from driving off the road into a ditch. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with hesitation in the steering wheel linkage, sus... Read more
Incident date: Jun 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the contact experienced the death wobble. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to control the vehicle and slowed down, and prevented the vehicle from driving off the road into a ditch. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with hesitation in the steering wheel linkage, sus... Read more
Incident date: Apr 19, 2025
I noticed coolant leaking from under the vehicle. The message to add coolant was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the engine was inspected, and was notified of stains of coolant coming from the head gasket. The contact was informed that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no a... Read more
Incident date: Apr 20, 2025
I have read a lot about the "Death Wobble." It appears there has been no recall on this but I believe there have been many incidents. Almost every day that the vehicle is driven and we hit a bump in the road going between 30-45 miles the steering wheel shakes aggressively. Would you not call this a definitely a safety hazard? The second issue is the dash board reading goes blank occasionally. Una... Read more
Incident date: Apr 20, 2025
I have read a lot about the "Death Wobble." It appears there has been no recall on this but I believe there have been many incidents. Almost every day that the vehicle is driven and we hit a bump in the road going between 30-45 miles the steering wheel shakes aggressively. Would you not call this a definitely a safety hazard? The second issue is the dash board reading goes blank occasionally. Una... Read more
Incident date: Apr 20, 2025
My husband, kids and I were headed home from dinner around 8:30 pm and the Sunroof randomly exploded. Nothing hit it at all.
Incident date: Apr 8, 2025
Air bag light suddenly said “passenger airbag off”. Don’t have to brake to switch gears. Steering at times feels a bit off.
Incident date: Apr 18, 2025
Breaks are locked up, car won't start due to faulty Vaccum pump and brake booster!
Incident date: Apr 19, 2025
Unknown. Discovered with maintenance
Incident date: Apr 19, 2025
Unknown. Discovered with maintenance
Incident date: Apr 19, 2025
The car stalled while driving on [XXX] while approaching Express EZpass toll on [XXX]. The car stayed in the middle of the fast lane until the tow truck driver came and started the car. I cannot recall the yellow message on the dashboard that appeared as soon as the engine stopped. A yellow triangle with exclamation point and a car with exclamation point appeared on the dashboard. We called 911... Read more
Incident date: Feb 11, 2025
Have had issues with transmission for years and was checked previously and dealer said no problems. Seems like it was down shifting for no reason. No recalls. In 2024 while driving I experienced sudden loss of power and seemed like down shifting from transmission on major highway and almost came to a stop in the middle of the lane. This was frightening! This continued to happen. Took to deal... Read more
Incident date: Apr 12, 2025
Excessive Oil usage to the point of no oil on dip stick yet engine doesnt alert to low oil or pressure. Engine started sputtering and stalling which is why we even checked. Oil changes are done on normal basis. This seems to be a common complaint on the Internet now that I am looking into this. This car is 4 years old and should not be having engine trouble.
Incident date: Jan 18, 2025
At highway speeds, while steering wheel is centered, steering “sticks”, when turning to the right. It takes some effort to get it to go past this sticking point then feel a pop in the steering and it lets go. Just like the recall says, but this vehicle as well as many others are affected. Yet still no recall on them
Incident date: Jan 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); 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 while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, but... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2011 Lexus CT200H. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ABS and brake warning light and check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the brake booster and brake booster pump were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid. The contact stated while 65 MPH on the freeway, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the power steering assist failed to operate. The contact stated that after turning off and restarting the vehicle, the power steering functionality returned; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2011 Lexus CT200H. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ABS and brake warning light and check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the brake booster and brake booster pump were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2025
My transmission is always having problems with it. My check engine light will not turn after put over $5,000 into it.
Incident date: Apr 13, 2025
ON [XXX] AT [XXX], AT MY HOME, I PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY IN MY 2012 AUDI 2012 Q5, I DROVE THREE HOUSES DOWN, AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED SENDING SHATTERED GLASS ON MYSELF, MY THEN [XXX] SON, AND INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I CALLED AUDI FOR REPAIR, BUT WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A 3 TO 4 MONTH WAIT, ORDERED A ON REPAIRS. SO I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT AND INSTALLED MYSELF. ON [XXX] MY 2012 AUDI Q5, WOULD NOT... Read more
2 injured