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 16,369 complaints for AUDI
Incident date: Jun 28, 2023
While approaching a intersection, the vehicles engine stalled. The vehicle shifted itself into neutral. The loss of power in neutral resulted in a loss of power steering and power braking. The vehicle had diminished controls in traffic with 3 occupants. (2 adults, 1 infant.) Vehicle was stopped using emergency brake in turn lane. Local police were required to use push bar to move vehicle due... Read more
Incident date: Jun 28, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the emission system warning light and the throttle control warning light were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle shuddered while being started. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the spark plugs and made several other unknown repairs. The deale... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 22V406000 (Fuel System Diesel) and 23V411000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2023
I purchased the vehicle in 2017. The car has 175k miles on it now. A few months ago, the vehicle began making a shuddering noise when turning. Recently, the steering became very hard and heavy. When moving the steering wheel, I began to hear a muffled noise as if something was grinding. The next day, the steering became progressively worse and even harder to turn along with the noise becoming loud... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2023
Service shifter message was displayed along with one chime.
Incident date: Jul 29, 2023
With no warning, the electric power steering just shuts off leaving you with an unsafe, sometimes impossible situation of getting the car pulled off the road.
Incident date: Jul 29, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) and 23V411000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the parts for the recall repairs were not yet available. No information on parts availability was... Read more
Incident date: Aug 8, 2023
Headlights will randomly turn off when driving. I then have to quickly turn the headlight switch from auto to off to on to get them to come back on. There are numerous complaints online regarding this very same problem with Kia Optimas and other Kia vehicles. This is extremely dangerous.
Incident date: Aug 8, 2023
This 2011 Subaru Legacy would pull severely to the right when braking, nearly jerking the steering wheel out of the drivers hand. The car was taken to a private auto repair shop where it was found the motor cradle (part #50527AJ00B) was completed rusted out so the A-arm to the wheel was unstable. In trying to locate a new part, online and from local dealers, it was found the part was on backorder... Read more
Incident date: Oct 5, 2022
Engine failure, requiring all new ignition coils and spark plugs (62,000 miles). Car ran well for 3 weeks, and resumed having acceleration issues, engine/transmission judder and check engine light returned. Brought back to mechanic and replaced a failed ignition coil. Was directed by the mechanic to bring to a dealer if the issue continues as it's likely due to a cylinder issue which is causing... Read more
Incident date: Oct 5, 2022
Engine failure, requiring all new ignition coils and spark plugs (62,000 miles). Car ran well for 3 weeks, and resumed having acceleration issues, engine/transmission judder and check engine light returned. Brought back to mechanic and replaced a failed ignition coil. Was directed by the mechanic to bring to a dealer if the issue continues as it's likely due to a cylinder issue which is causing... Read more
Incident date: Oct 5, 2022
Engine failure, requiring all new ignition coils and spark plugs (62,000 miles). Car ran well for 3 weeks, and resumed having acceleration issues, engine/transmission judder and check engine light returned. Brought back to mechanic and replaced a failed ignition coil. Was directed by the mechanic to bring to a dealer if the issue continues as it's likely due to a cylinder issue which is causing... Read more
Incident date: Jul 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) 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 dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The... Read more
Incident date: Jul 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while exiting his garage and making a right turn, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent shop but was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with the power steering mod... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2023
Transmisión control module stopped working while driving on the highway. It went from going 70 miles per hour on the highway to 15 miles per hour. Very scary and dangerous.
Incident date: Jul 31, 2023
I noticed that the airbag light was continuously illuminated on the dashboard of my Subaru Forester. I promptly took my vehicle to a certified Subaru dealership to have the issue diagnosed and resolved. After a thorough inspection, it was determined that the passenger seat bottom occupant seat mat required replacement to rectify the problem. Otherwise, my airbags would not inflate in the event tha... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2023
headlights too dim And won’t pass inspection
Incident date: Aug 2, 2023
Experienced what people are calling the "death wobble"
Incident date: Jun 4, 2022
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while idled at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle remained at the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 2... Read more
Incident date: Jun 4, 2023
The horn is a tiny button on the steering wheel. Several times when someone inadvertently started entering my lane I couldn't find the horn fast enough to warn them so had to veer away and brake suddenly to avoid them as I couldn't warn them.
Incident date: May 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 BMW X3. The contact stated that after his wife parked the vehicle, she shifted the gear into the park (p) position however, after his wife exit the vehicle, the vehicle inadvertently rolled and crashed into a post without warning. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. No police report was filed. The contact notified AAA and upon inspection, the cont... Read more
Crash
Incident date: May 18, 2023
When you put the car in park, reverse, drive it jumps forward or back.
Incident date: May 14, 2023
2020 FORD EXPLORER ST-ABOUT 55,000 MILES. DEALER: PREFERRED FORD IN GRAND HAVEN, MI. ISSUE IS SOMETIMES A MULTITUDE OF WARNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN TRAVELING. THEY INCLUDE SHUTTING DOWN THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN IN MOTION, THE FORWARD COLLISION SENSOR WOULD STOP WORKING, ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND HILL ASSIST LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND STOP WORKING. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER A SHORT TRIP, 10-15 MILE... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2023
VEHICLE STALLS AT HIGHER SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY This problem happened 1 time on 7/22/23, 1 time on 7/23/23, and 5 times between 7/29/23 and 7/31/23 when traveling between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Symptoms (this repeats every time) 1.High speed (freeway speeds) car stalls, loses power and begins slowing. This is very dangerous in heavy traffic and could have very easily caused an accident! 2.Pump... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2023
Got in touch with VW regarding recall 42J5 but manufacturer tells me that my vehicle is not a part it the recall. I believe since my car is 2017 which is a part of the recall, there is a chance a defective part could have been used on my car. Also VW refused to provide me with parts numbers for the effected vehicle. I was going it compare with parts on my vehicle which are broken ( coil springs)
Incident date: Jul 31, 2023
I PURCHASED MY 2014 BUICK ENCORE APRIL 2021 THAT NEXT YEAR 2022 MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK IT TO O'REILLY THEY TURNED IT OFF TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR MY VEHICLE STARTED DRIVING ROUGH I WAS HAVING TROUBLE TAKING OFF ONCE I DID IT WOULD IDLE UP HIGH WHEN I CAME TO A STOP IT WOULD START SHAKING AND IT WOULD TURN OFF CARS WENT AROUND ME I COULDN'T ACCELERATE IT KEPT HESITATING SO NOW I'M SCARED... Read more
AUDI
A3 CABRIOLET
(2015) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Jul 31, 2023
Incident date: Jul 17, 2023
Service engine soon light came on, repair shop said I needed a tune up and could still drive ok. Broke down. Got that done and still engine light on so transmission fluid changed too. Now repair shop says it’s the transmission and clutch assembly that the dealer recalled and fixed a few years ago. I’m stuck with payments still and no way to get the $5000 the dealer days it will cost to fix th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2023
After rainfall water is leaking into the rear fuse box compartment located behind the 3rd row seats and causing the tailgate control module and other parts to fail. The tailgate does not have any power and cannot be opened or closed with the fob or the push buttons located in the tailgate or in the dashboard area. The tailgate cannot be locked as the latch does not engage and it can be very ris... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2023
This 2017 Ford Fusion is equipped with the 1.5L Ecoboost engine. This engine experienced a catastrophic engine failure due to coolant intrusion into cylinder #2. Check engine light comes on and flashes indicating it should not be driven. This was confirmed by factory service at Corwin Ford in Spokane WA. The vehicle has just over 80,000 miles. Dealer says this is a known issue where the engin... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2023
3rd brake light cracked on both sides.
Incident date: Jun 24, 2023
On 7/23/23 I experienced the death wobble in my 2014 F350 for at least the fifth time since purchasing the truck 4 years ago. This time was the most violent, scary and dangerous time of all. I was on an interstate, in heavy traffic, traveling at 65 miles per hour. Previous incidents have resulted in repairs to the suspension. Everything from tie rod ends, stabilizers and shocks. This most recent... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2023
When placed in reverse the back up camera will show just the blue lines on the screen and immediately the screen will go off so the backup camera doesn’t work and while back up the car it just automatically brake even when nothing is around the vehicle and by doing that it has caused my breaks to start making a noise
Incident date: Jul 23, 2023
Car will loose power unexpectedly and start shaking badly. Check engine light comes on flashing. Vehicle gets towed to shop to find loss of compresión on cylinder one. Mercedes Benz forums full of this type of issue. Shop says repair is to rebuild or replace engine. Vehicle available for inspection.
Incident date: Jul 23, 2023
Rod bearings being declined coverage by Hyundai despite NHTSA having a recall for it. They have said it already has the new engine yet it keeps knocking the spark plug electrodes right off every 4 weeks.
Incident date: Jul 26, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate and started to jerk and hesitate. The contact stated that the RPM raised quickly, and the speedometer failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact parked at a nearby gas station for a... Read more
Incident date: Jul 12, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that on several occasions when the vehicle was started and the seat belt was connected, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the seat belt sensor needed to be replaced due to failure in detecting that the seat belt had been inserted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure b... Read more
Incident date: Jul 27, 2023
What happened: the air bags failed to deploy during a crash. Question: What component or system failed or malfunctioned? Answer: air bags, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning. Question: Is it available for inspection upon request? Answer: yes Question: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer: driver-side air bags failed to deploy upon a rear-end col... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jul 20, 2023
While driving at approximately 10-15mph the engine shut off and was forced to come to a stop and restart the engine. The error read "Engine start/stop error, manually restart engine." I have been reading that this is a known issue by Volkswagon but they are not addressing. Luckily my car was just going onto an offramp when the engine shut off.
Incident date: Jul 24, 2023
Car was purchased new on 3 Oct 2022. I was at dealer on 17 Jul 2023 for the 5th time for issues with infotainment screen going black and/or freezing. Diagnosis revealed it needed another F5 computer chip (the 2nd replacement). In addition, I was informed I needed a new steering wheel. A few days later, lane departure and travel assist function would turn off/on spontaneously, frequently pulli... Read more
Incident date: Jul 21, 2023
A/C compressor in 2007-2011 Honda CR-V has a known defect in the A/C compressor clutch. The clutch component of the compressor includes the pulley which turns the compressor motor. When the clutch fails, the compressor motor seizes up and stops the pulley from turning. The pulley on the compressor is driven by one serpentine belt on a tensioner which turns the alternator, the power steering motor,... Read more
Incident date: Jul 21, 2023
A/C compressor in 2007-2011 Honda CR-V has a known defect in the A/C compressor clutch. The clutch component of the compressor includes the pulley which turns the compressor motor. When the clutch fails, the compressor motor seizes up and stops the pulley from turning. The pulley on the compressor is driven by one serpentine belt on a tensioner which turns the alternator, the power steering motor,... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2023
While waiting at signal, there are no visual or audible warnings when seatbelts disengage in the front. I'm concerned this might occur with the rear seats, which is haphazard for little ones in car seats.
Incident date: Jul 2, 2023
While waiting at signal, there are no visual or audible warnings when seatbelts disengage in the front. I'm concerned this might occur with the rear seats, which is haphazard for little ones in car seats.
Incident date: Jul 2, 2023
The Secondary fuel filter broke from the fuel filter head causing the truck to shut off while driving.
Incident date: Nov 19, 2019
I had to transport a friend from a hospital and because of his surjury had to have him sit in the front passenger seat. I looked in the Driver manual to locate the passenger air bag shut off switch, " there is not a switch to be found. The instruction in the Driver Manual states to place anyone having concerns to be seated in the rear. There is NO Shut-OUT switch.
AUDI
Q4 E-TRON SPORTBACK
(2023) - ENGINE
Jul 24, 2023
Incident date: Jul 21, 2023
The car has been burning oil where I have to have it changed every week. I read that California has a lawsuit on lemon law against Kia and Hyundai for burning engines and my 2014 Kia Rio is included but I don't live in California. I am requesting you to do the same thing California is doing and do a lawsuit. I have all the receipts and proof every week I have to add oil because the engine burns oi... Read more
AUDI
Q4 E-TRON SPORTBACK
(2023) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jul 24, 2023
Incident date: Jul 21, 2023
The car has been burning oil where I have to have it changed every week. I read that California has a lawsuit on lemon law against Kia and Hyundai for burning engines and my 2014 Kia Rio is included but I don't live in California. I am requesting you to do the same thing California is doing and do a lawsuit. I have all the receipts and proof every week I have to add oil because the engine burns oi... Read more
AUDI
Q4 E-TRON SPORTBACK
(2023) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Jul 24, 2023
Incident date: Jul 21, 2023
On about 7-10 occasions since purchasing car new, the automatic braking system will engage brakes for no reason. These have all been in cuise control mode and with no cars in front of me. It is a very hard braking and a many of the times on interstates going 70 MPH. Have no idea why it does this, but definitely feel it is unsafe and makes me wary of this situation happening in the future (as I'... Read more