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: Jan 25, 2025
The rear view camera system of many of these 2024 & 2025 Honda CR-Vs at night shows an image of the rear area behind the car that is greatly blurred. No object is clearly visible, and many objects are not visible at all. Does this meet the federal regulations in 49 CFR 571.111 § 5.5.1 , 5.5.2 , and 5.5.6
Incident date: Jan 13, 2025
On 3 separate occasions the vehicle has abruptly stopped while making a left turn endangering our lives. The pre-sense automatic braking malfunctions and stops the vehicle as we begin a left turn. The turn signal is engaged and the car incorrectly determines it needs to perform an emergency braking action. The only oncoming traffic is 200 yards or more away. In addition the lane keeping assista... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V104000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware... Read more
Incident date: Jan 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle started to shudder. The contact stated that after releasing the accelerator pedal the vehicle to respond normally. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure persisted while driving the vehicle. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer... Read more
Incident date: Jan 12, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while approaching a light and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the vehicle shut off. The contact pumped the brake pedal while the vehicle was coming to a stop. The contact stated that the vehicle was unable to be shifted into park for a while; however, after several attempts, the contact shifted into park, restarted the veh... Read more
Incident date: Jan 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. Additionally, the speedometer failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure and the contact provi... Read more
Incident date: Jan 23, 2024
Misfire from premature failure of head gasket and poor design causing coolant to enter engine
Incident date: Jan 23, 2025
Le Moteur Le 13 décembre 2024 le véhicule arrêté subitement je tente de le redémarrer et ne demarre plus à plusieurs reprises je branche un obd2 et cela indique crank sensor j'envoie le véhicule au dealer et me dise qu'il y a quelque chose dans la base et aujourd'hui ils y est encore Les pneus Certains Flan de pneu de ce véhicule sont fissures tous le tour des roues
Incident date: Dec 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); 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 dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 23, 2024
The Electric seats do not adjust due to failed motors. Electric mirrors do not adjust due to failed motors. Gas refuel door does not open due to faulty actuator. All things that make the care dangerous to drive. Online search reveals that all three issues are very common in the 2021-2023 KIA K5 cars. We believe they pose a danger. Also, they seem to break at about 40-60K miles. Often out of war... Read more
Incident date: Jan 23, 2024
The Electric seats do not adjust due to failed motors. Electric mirrors do not adjust due to failed motors. Gas refuel door does not open due to faulty actuator. All things that make the care dangerous to drive. Online search reveals that all three issues are very common in the 2021-2023 KIA K5 cars. We believe they pose a danger. Also, they seem to break at about 40-60K miles. Often out of war... Read more
Incident date: Jan 21, 2025
The service Anti-lock brake system, and service electronic braking system, along with the lights come on. Also the electronic stability control (ESC) disables, and that light comes on as well. The cruise control does not work either. My truck year model is 2019, and a recall has been issued (reference number 75B/NHTSA/24V-653) for this same problem, but my vehicle was not included for whatever re... Read more
Incident date: Dec 5, 2024
The complete engine on this vehicle was replaced by GM on 04/05/2024 at 24,069 miles. This was due to the known engine failures GM is having with the 6.2L engine. This is a well known and documented safety issue that GM is refusing to properly address. Vehicles with the 6.2L L87 engine are having complete engine failures while driving at highway speeds, which is a huge safety issue. I live in... Read more
Incident date: Jan 18, 2025
1) On 3 occasions the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) has self activated and the car attempted to come to a complete stop. The 1st incident, 10/19/24, happened while driving 35-40 mph while changing lanes, a red BRAKE light and alarms sounded bringing the car to a complete stop. While there was traffic around me, no one was directly in front of me or close enough to have required this to activ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 21, 2024
As I stated, the Hondalink information feature stopped working on October 1, 2024. I have sent screenshots to Honda showing the app keeps crashing, yet I only get the same email every few weeks saying they are."reviewing" the problem and will advise me when a "fix" is available. If they can't fix it, I should receive monetary compensation for a feature that has stopped functioning.
Incident date: Jan 8, 2025
The Seltos started losing power driving on interstate, started smoking and then lost all power and would not start. We had the car towed to Brakes plus where we had an oil change as of recent, they confirmed it was piston ring failure and the engine was done for. The car has just over 28,000 miles on it. Kia dealership and warranty is avoiding to state that it was indeed the piston rings failing. ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V880000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not exper... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2025
The gmc trailering app will not read trailer tire pressure above 100psi. When trailer tires carry a safe psi amount above 100psi the trailering app will not be able to confirm if the trailer tire is low in pressure which could cause a massive wreck if driver did not know the trailer tire was going bad. Truck was taken to dealer, they tried to follow bulletin 22-NA-172 to have the pressure to read ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2025
When starting my 2019 Jeep Compass an error message stated "coolant temperature high" and "service brake system." It then sputtered and shut down. I waited a minute and then restarted the vehicle. There was a lag for the car to start and then it went back to normal and no codes were present.
Incident date: Jan 17, 2025
Air bag light will not turn off so I’m not sure if the air bags work. Oil is going missing from the car causing it to suddenly shut down. It also makes the rpm’s go really high (close to 5,000) when trying to go up hills or accelerate. I don’t see a leak, or puddles under the car, nor black smoke.
Incident date: Jan 21, 2025
Started my truck and the check engine light was flashing along with a few other warming lamp lit up. When I went to drive the truck the engine started to make some noise, and didn't have much power. After being diagnosed by the dealer ship the motor needed new valves, lifters and camshaft. The bill for the repairs is going to be around $8,500 and GM is not willing to help with the costs.
Incident date: Jan 21, 2025
Remote start, infotainment system which controls everything, dashboard, lights, and cigarette lighter all intermittently turn off and on. Everyday, something else seems to stop working. My vehicle is 2.5 weeks old. This is apparently is a know latent defect that Volvo has chosen to keep from customers, based on feedback from VOLVO service, who are actually denying appointments stating that ther... Read more
Incident date: Jan 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); 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 while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power. There wer... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2025
My rear window has exploded twice in less than a year. American Honda is aware of this problem and has issued a service bulletin, 22-014. American Honda is refusing to pay my out of pocket expenses totalling $1,100.00. There is a class action suit in CA against American Honda. In both situations my window exploded, parked, for no reason. This is also a safety issued with glass shattering with ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V802000 (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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the in... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2024
When I was exiting the expressway, my car suddenly stopped without any warning. I managed to restart it, but after driving just a few feet, it stalled again. I was able to restart it once more, but this time I could hear a knocking noise coming from the engine. I initially thought it couldn't need oil since I had an oil change just the previous week. I drove to a nearby gas station to check the o... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2025
On Jan 15, 2025, my vehicle exhibited an unintended sudden acceleration event while applying the brakes to slow the vehicle. Shortly after applying the brakes, the vehicle's engine revved very high and the car launched forward despite my foot on the brake and then struck another vehicle in front of me. The automatic emergency braking did not trigger. The air bags did deploy. No significant inj... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 21, 2025
On 1-16-25 I was involved in a vehicle crash in which the airbags "did not" deploy. The vehicle is at my home, the brakes locked also. I have photos. No inspection to my knowledge. Yet. Insurance claim was filed. I do not have a police report yet. No warning lights or sensors.
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jul 5, 2022
The forward collision detection system failed first. Then the car suddenly would not move and gave a pull over immediately warning on the dash and also flashed a battery light. It was 15 degrees outside and my wife and son were stuck in the cold. Not a safe environment. This is inexcusable for a car to be driving fine on minute and to be completely inoperative the next.
Incident date: Jan 17, 2025
My 2017 Ford F150 STX with 3.5L Ecoboost engine was recently noted to have a leaking oil pan. I was told by my mechanic that the OEM plastic/composite Ford oil pans have a chronic problem with leaking seals. Replacing with another OEM pan is highly likely to result in another leak down the road. Replacement at my local dealer is in the range of $3,000.00. Even the service representative admitted t... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2023
Ever since the 2nd day I owned the car which I purchased on [XXX], the interior lighting, sunroof button and roadside assistance button operate themselves when it's colder then 40 degrees outside, the lights blink, the sunroof button doesn't work and the roadside assistance gets called repeatedly. All this is very distracting while driving, especially in the evening time. I have video recorded it... Read more
Incident date: Jan 10, 2025
Parasitic Battery Drain due to DCM fuse problem
Incident date: Jan 20, 2025
When driving down the interstate or crossing traffic the transmissions in these vehicles will slip causing you to be immobile. Possibly causing death
Incident date: Dec 2, 2024
The back middle seatbelt warning light always thinks someone isn’t buckled even when no one is there. We keep that buckled so it doesn’t ding. The forward pre collision sensors do not work at all.
Incident date: Dec 2, 2024
7 months after purchasing a Lexus 350h, the driver seat started having noise when it moves. Three steel balls and several pieces of white plastic detected in the rail. Look like a ball bearing, which is part of the power seat, was disintegrated.
Incident date: Nov 4, 2024
The crankshaft bearings failed causing engine to knock very loudly. I didn't get an engine light. Dealership did replace one bearing and said lifters we fault and replaced. This happened with just over 33000 miles on truck. I didn't receive any extended warranty from manufacturers for any problems that may occur in future from pieces of metal or other contamination to inside of engine.
Incident date: Jan 3, 2025
I purchased this used pickup on [XXX] with 16,912 Miles. On [XXX] with 19,970 the engine expired on the pickup while I was driving on [XXX] in South Dakota. It was replaced by Northtown Automotive in Yankton, SD in early July 2024. On [XXX] the second engine expired while I was driving down [XXX] in South Dakota at 33,843 Miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (F... Read more
Incident date: Dec 13, 2024
Car will not turn off. Message of “Shift to Park” will appear even if shift is in Park. This is a safety issue. I just bought my car 2 days ago and it keeps happening. The car is only at approximately 44,000 miles.
Incident date: Jan 18, 2025
My vehicle has had 3 Evap Canister Valve Recall repairs since 2021, I purchased my 2018 Ford Focus Titanium brand new in January 2019. I have all receipts. I recently had the 3rd Evap canister valve repair January 15,2025. My vehicle had pending codes P144A and P1450 which would have prevented it from passing Texas Emmissions. My Vehicle has also had a Transmission Control Module Recall repair ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 18, 2025
My vehicle has had 3 Evap Canister Valve Recall repairs since 2021, I purchased my 2018 Ford Focus Titanium brand new in January 2019. I have all receipts. I recently had the 3rd Evap canister valve repair January 15,2025. My vehicle had pending codes P144A and P1450 which would have prevented it from passing Texas Emmissions. My Vehicle has also had a Transmission Control Module Recall repair ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 17, 2025
Seat belts come unbuckled randomly Has happened multiple times over the past 2 years with drivers seat and second row driver side seat. Switched second row car seat to LATCH install due to safety concern
Incident date: Jan 17, 2025
While driving down road at around 60mph 6.2L engine started to make loud knocking noise and shaking violently while loosing all power. Truck had 79,797 miles on it at the time with all oil changes and service done at GM dealership. After having GM dealership diagnose truck, it was determined to have a spun rod bearing, causing multiple other engine components to fail. Truck was not under factory w... Read more
Incident date: Jan 17, 2025
In July of 2024 while coming back from vacation pulling our boat our 2021 Yukon Denali with 6.2L motor started making noise while traveling on the interstate. I started to get over to the shoulder as the car lost power. I finally got it over to the shoulder as traffic was heavy and it was pouring down rain. As soon as I got it to the side of the road the check engine light came on and the engine d... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2024
The dash and infotainment shut down and went completely blank screen while driving. No speedometer. No information on how fast I was going.
Incident date: Aug 20, 2024
The dash and infotainment shut down and went completely blank screen while driving. No speedometer. No information on how fast I was going.
Incident date: Dec 10, 2024
I have had several incidents where my vehicle malfunctioned. The most recent one that I was concerned about my safety was that I was driving 55 mph where my car applied the automatic emergency feature and suddenly started breaking without reason. I was not able to accelerate due to the malfunction of the car breaking on its own and when the car reached about 30 mph that’s when i was able to acce... Read more
Incident date: Jan 18, 2025
All of my warning/service lights came on, my car wouldn’t accelerate, one of the warning lights said it had to be in stop to brake and start, my dash won’t light up which shows my fuel levels, other info. My car stopped in traffic completely, I had you out my four ways on, hit the start/stop button. It was so scary!
Incident date: Jan 18, 2025
All of my warning/service lights came on, my car wouldn’t accelerate, one of the warning lights said it had to be in stop to brake and start, my dash won’t light up which shows my fuel levels, other info. My car stopped in traffic completely, I had you out my four ways on, hit the start/stop button. It was so scary!
Incident date: Jan 18, 2025
Bmw has failed on several occasions to address this issue or service vehicle. I have made them aware of the situation but continue to receive letters that indicate I could die of the airbag.
Incident date: Jan 18, 2025
Transmission had to be replaced from the dealership. Hard shifting dealership said truck was 23 days out of warranty. I couldn’t get into the dealership that truck was purchased from for 3 weeks. Had to go to the Jeff Gordon dealership, which is Chevrolet. And I had to replace the transmission.