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: Nov 28, 2019
Electrical system malfunction caused by a faulty generator which was confirmed by Audi Connection (servicing dealership) in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
While driving approx 65 mph on a freeway the vehicle placed itself into neutral and decelerrated as multiple warnings flashed across dashboard. . . “Emissions System Problem”, “Transmission System Problem”, “Electric Parking Brake Problem”. I was able to pull off to the side of an exit ramp but once I put the car in PARK I could not shift into Drive. I could not safely drive/manuever m... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
My used 2016 Hyundai Tucson Eco, 1.6 Turbo, currently with 118,000 miles has been consuming 1 quart of oil every 500 miles. Unfortunately, my 5 year warranty by mileage has passed. Since the vehicle warning system doesn't have a low oil light; if you don't stay vigilant checking the oil level dipstick, the engine could fail and seize up during usage without warning, not ideal while driving the veh... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
Engine started Knocking, check engine light came on and car went in to “limp mode”. Car needs new engine.
Incident date: Feb 2, 2023
SERVICE TRAILER BRAKING SYSTEM. Faulty control in the dash. Known issue per mechanic but no recall issued. Safety issue as trailer brake may not function properly when towing as a result
Incident date: Feb 1, 2021
We have had problems with our 2011 Sienna's electromagnetic coupling and the rear differential. Through my research, I have learned this is a very common problem with the Toyota Sienna. Appears the same problem occured in the RAV4 and a recall was issued, however an recall was not issued with the Sienna. The repair is very expensive, upwards for $4,000 and we had two electromagnetic couplings f... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2023
Apparently Toyota had a recall for the dash of their camry solara models back in 2015 for dashes that melt, bubble, become extremely tacky/sticky & peel when temperatures rise. However, I never received any notice of said dash recall for which my 2005 Toyota Solara qualified for, nor did I hear of any recalls in my local area on any MN news stations. A melting, sticky dash causes glare that is hig... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2023
Check Engine Light was lighting up on and off sporadically and fuel gage was showing E with light on and now both are not working properly. The check engine light stays on and fuel gage always shows empty even when it is full.
ACURA
RDX
(2015) - SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Jan 30, 2023
Incident date: Jan 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and extended to the floor, causing the braking distance to be extended. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who discovered that the brake hoses had failed due to rusting and corrosion of the brake lines. The contact was also informed that the entire subframe had ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2019
The vehicle has experienced an acceleration hesitation issue on a number of occasions. When I depress the accelerator from a stop and take my foot off the brake the vehicle does not respond. If I take my foot off the accelerator then depress it again all the way to the floor the vehicle after 3 or 4 seconds will lunge forward. In an intersection this "stall" may cause a collision with another ve... Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2019
The car would only brake when pushing the brake pedal to the floor. Once diagnosed it was found the HCU needed to be replaced and was told this was on National Backorder. This car went to a mechanic for 2.5 months due to this. And I took it to the Ford Dealership after being told it could be fixed. There is a recall for other years of this same model for this part.
Incident date: Feb 12, 2019
The contact’s daughter owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an unknown speed, the power steering assist warning light illuminated. The contact then stated that the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in... Read more
Incident date: Feb 8, 2022
Car caught fire 1-28-23 minutes after I was park at home car was recently taking to ford of mt juliet Tennessee and wa diagnosed with a oil leak and transmission issue car only leaked but this day it caught fire minutes after my wife drove it 5miles from the house and back..
Fire
Incident date: Jan 27, 2023
Hello, I am making a complaint about my 2017 Subaru Outback's windshield. I am frustrated that my windshield has cracked for the second time in just over 2 years. In early October 2020, I purchased the vehicle as a used car. Three weeks later a small rock hit the windshield on the driver's side and a small chip became a large crack that spread across my vision over 1 ft long. I brought it to the... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2023
The drivers door lock sticks in the cold, so it will occasionally lock me into or out of my vehicle. I feel this is a safety issue, because I may not be able to exit my vehicle quickly in an emergency situation. It also may not lock leaving the vehicle vulnerable to theft.
Incident date: Jan 26, 2023
I went to reverse, then drive and Left turn into a parking spot inside a small flattop parking lot. My car made a popping noise and grating sounds after the reverse and turning of the steering wheel. I turned off my car once in the spot and looked under the car is it sounded like something was grating against the ground. I didn’t see anything. Upon restarting the car, the sounds continued when I... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2023
The headlights are very dim and I cannot drive this vehicle at night due to safety. This problem comes back after replacement of headlight assembly.
Incident date: Jan 24, 2023
Was told parts still backoreded. Door latches present safety hazard
Incident date: Jan 25, 2023
When I hit a bump with this truck the steering shakes violently. I brought to ford and they said it is a steering dampner and it is a recalled part and they would fix it as a recall however they said they dont have the part and they dont know when the part will be available. I am now left with an undriveable truck and no one can tell me when it can be fixed.
Incident date: Jan 25, 2023
My 2012 GLK350 leaking gas from under the rear right passenger seat, where the gas cap located. we fill up gas when we came back to home and park in the garage gas smell was very strong We thought may be because of spill some gas while Pumping. Next day gas smell was still strong inside of garage. I found gas leaking from under the rear right passenger seat. gas was dripping on the plastic cover... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the defroster selector was inoperable, and the front and rear windshields could not be properly defrosted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.
Incident date: Dec 21, 2022
With no impact whatsoever a crack appeared on the INSISE of the vehicle windshield. Outdoor temp was about 40 degrees. Has never been on highway has 2400 miles on it.
Incident date: Jan 22, 2023
All electrical systems failed while driving around 30mph, Power steering failed, power brakes failed, lane assist failed. We were at high risk of a crash due to lack of control of the car while driving. We were lucky that it happened on a flat road and we were able to manually pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was inspected by the manufacturer and we were told that the car did show... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2023
Please note that this exact same issue has been previously reported by another driver ... While the car was fully stopped at a red light, in drive, and with the brake pedal depressed, the Audi pre sense system falsely triggered. There were no vehicles or pedestrians in close proximity and there was no apparent reason for the trigger. The seat belts were forcefully retracted and the pre sense li... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2023
I purchased a Mazda CX-30 October 2021 - in April of 2022 the oil light came on mileage 4,672 and I decided to have just have the oil changed at Hello Mazda of San Diego. They said they wouldn't charge me for the oil only the service charge. And mentioned that something is wrong and will top the oil off at no charge in the future. Last month in November I took a short trip to Tucson AZ to visit fa... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2022
We have taken the vehicle in to Zeigler kia twice to complain about a clicking noise athat sounds like it around the tire area. Neither time has the issue been resolved. We have also taken the vehicle in for a recall that possibly could be related to the sensors being inoperable. This issue has yet to be resolved as well. They are quite unhelpful even making us stay on hold for over 30 minutes to... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2023
Service shifter light, EVERYTHING ON THE DASH BORD LIGHTS, UP, THE WHEEL LOCKS , NO EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAN BE TURN ON, WHEN THE SERVICE SHIFTER LIGHTS UP, OR PARK. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER HAZARD, ANY ONE CAN BE HURT. THIS HAPPEN TO ME IN THE RAIN , MULTIPLE TIMES, EXITING FROM FWY . I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN ON THE EMEGENCY LIGHTS , I HAD MY NEWBORN IN THE CAR. I HAD TO STAND OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN WITH M... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2018
I was preparing 2008 corvette with 93k miles for winter storage end of 2022. Filled tank and put in garage with cover. Next day strong smell of fuel filled garage. Looked into other cases if this was common and found that there were a lot of customers with same problem cracked fittings on fuel pumps but coverage was only for 10 yrs. Fuel can drip down onto exhaust from what I read on others post. ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 18, 2023
Engine oil consumption: I have owned this car since November 2022 and took my Kia Optima to Valvoline for an oil change in December 2022 because my oil light came on and it turns out that my car was 3 quarts low and they topped my oil off for me. 1 month (January 2023) later my oil light in my car did NOT come on but the check your engine light did and it seemed like it was losing power. So in ord... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
Hello my car has had an ongoing issue that was recalled for the 2009 to 2013 year Honda pilots regarding oil consumption. My car constantly has issues with misfiring due to oil on the spark plugs. This started happening around 90000 miles on my vehicle. After several expensive repairs including having the heads on my engine rebuilt, having the coils replaced and having the cylinder 1 spark plug re... Read more
Incident date: Dec 11, 2022
My back up camera works when it wants to sometimes and then other times it’s all blurry and can’t see also I get a light on for my brake system that goes on and off
Incident date: Aug 18, 2022
Vehicle unable to accelerate abruptly. Wont shift.
Incident date: Jan 13, 2023
The contact’s father owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while his father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine started to make a knocking sound. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was hauled back to his father’s residence. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic however, no diagnostic test was performed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2023
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check hybrid system and two other unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact managed to coast the vehicle to the side of the highway; however, the vehicle failed to restart. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test was perf... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2023
While driving on interstate 65 headed towards Mobile, Al. My 2019 Acura RDX lost ALL power. Every light surrounding the speedometer was lighted. No power, nothing.. was able to coast from the right hand lane to the shoulder of the interstate. . No power steering and I was moving slower and slower because I was on a hill. Frightening to say the least. If I had been in the left hand lane I’m not s... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2023
We have a 2014 Audi Q7 with 60K mileage that we serviced and maintained by Hoffman Audi all the time. On December 27th, while on the freeway, the engine was shut down without any prior alert, with a lot of smoke and oil leakage. With our minimal knowledge, it appears the gasket was frozen, causing the coolant to leak into the engine's unwanted part and damage it completely. This is a manufacturin... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2023
We have a 2014 Audi Q7 with 60K mileage that we serviced and maintained by Hoffman Audi all the time. On December 27th, while on the freeway, the engine was shut down without any prior alert, with a lot of smoke and oil leakage. With our minimal knowledge, it appears the gasket was frozen, causing the coolant to leak into the engine's unwanted part and damage it completely. This is a manufacturin... Read more
Incident date: Nov 26, 2022
I was driving, luckily at a slow speed when my trucks transmission without warning down shifted into first gear.
Incident date: Nov 26, 2022
I was driving, luckily at a slow speed when my trucks transmission without warning down shifted into first gear.
Incident date: Jan 12, 2023
Passenger side rear axle bolt failure. The bolt sheared off completely and was found rattling inside the center cap. Dealer states vehicle cannot be driven. Ford will provide rental until repaired but can’t provide estimated repair date.
Incident date: Jan 13, 2023
I was on the feeder road of a major freeway in Houston Texas at a stop the brake fully applied. The auto engine idle stop was enabled. When I removed my foot from the brake the engine did not restart. The lights, radio remained on but I was unable to drive my car or change the gear shift. Being on a freeway feeder was a dangerous place to be stalled and had to wait in major traffic for a tow tr... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2023
Windshield was found cracked after parked for no apparent reason. Crack starts at the passenger side A pillar and goes 10 inches inward.
Incident date: Jan 13, 2023
To whom this may,I been having problems with check engine light keep coming on,I'm paying alot of money on this car,it could be that recall hose on back order causing that check engine light to come on,please HELP!!!!!!
Incident date: Jan 13, 2023
While entering a roundabout, the throttle was released and brakes applied. Auto start/ stop light came on. Loud grinding occurred and all light notifications came up on the dashboard. Resulting in the car completely stalling. After putting the car in park it struggled to restart. Once it did, with more loud grinding, the oil was checked by a technician. The oil was almost completely gone. No leaks... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2023
There have been several instances of the vehicle completely shutting off while sitting idle and at red lights. I took it to the dealership and there is coolant leaking into the cylinders causing it to misfire. This is very dangerous and could cause the car to run hot or burn up! The said I should replace the engine but FORD should be responsible as this seems to be a problem in many of their escap... Read more
Incident date: Jan 12, 2021
•Driver’s window failing to properly and completing retract. This has been particularly troublesome in the bitter cold of Northern Minnesota. On each visit to Subaru I have requested that the window be repaired. All efforts have been unsuccessful. •Battery failure without cause or prior warning signs. On previous visits the Service Center failed to address and resolve the battery proble... Read more
Incident date: Jan 12, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as a catastrophic camshaft failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.
ACURA
RDX
(2013) - VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
Jan 11, 2023
Incident date: Dec 17, 2022
truck rear glass shattered . I went inside the truck and when I closed the door I heard some shattering behind me , I turned back and saw little glass part falling down
Incident date: Oct 3, 2022
Service ABS and Service Electronic Braking System warnings on dash. Dealer diagnostics indicate it is necessary to replace the ABS Module and Hydraulic Control Unit, both of which are necessary for the safe operation of the vehicle. Dealer quoted $1700 for repairs and one part is on back-order indefinitely.
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
My passenger side dash airbag is bloating and tearing at the seam. It is available for inspection. I am concerned that it will continue to add pressure and eventually deploy. It seems unsafe for passengers -would it work properly in the case of an accident? And for myself as the driver, it would certainly startle me while driving if it deployed by itself. I took it in to get serviced and was t... Read more