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: Apr 21, 2023
Vehicle engine used the engine oil and cause motor failure. One day after hearing the engine start reving and my gas pedal could be held to the floor without any acceleration I was on an interstate I panicked hit the breaks and started to glide over, to try to see if gas pedal would work I hit it and the car drove as normal this happened twice after I bought the car from vroom in February 2022 a y... Read more
Incident date: Apr 20, 2023
The part of the sunroof that moves when opening, spontaneously exploded while on the highway. Nothing hit the car to cause the explosion. Glass rained down on me. The car has 5,000 miles on it and there were no other cars around me that could've caused debris to hit my car. There is a huge hole in the sunroof now and the whole glass is shattered.
Incident date: Apr 19, 2023
Notice a small crack on the led temperature display and it kept growing on its own and now starting to peel. Car is only 5 months old.
Incident date: Apr 19, 2023
Notice a small crack on the led temperature display and it kept growing on its own and now starting to peel. Car is only 5 months old.
Incident date: Dec 22, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. Additionally, the vehicle shuddered while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic retrieved DTC: P0303 (Cylinder #3 misfire). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a cracked engine blo... Read more
Incident date: Apr 20, 2023
The vehicle will get a steering assist fault message and go into limp mode immediately giving you no time to pull to the side of the road. Please make ford do something about the steering issues on these vehicles. These escapes are too dangerous to drive.
Incident date: Apr 20, 2023
Emissions light comes on due to a faulty Fuel Injector and Catalytic Converter. This continues to show up in multiple forums when it comes to this problem.
Incident date: Apr 20, 2023
Emissions light comes on due to a faulty Fuel Injector and Catalytic Converter. This continues to show up in multiple forums when it comes to this problem.
Incident date: Dec 21, 2022
Unintended Hands-Free Liftgate Activation: When standing next to or loading items into the rear cargo area the lift gate will begin to close on its own. On two occassions I have been hit on the head and also on my shoulder. No injuries were incurred. This is a random occurance. The issue has been reported to the Ford delership, McDonald Ford in Freeland MI, on several occasions. The most rec... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2022
Unintended Hands-Free Liftgate Activation: When standing next to or loading items into the rear cargo area the lift gate will begin to close on its own. On two occassions I have been hit on the head and also on my shoulder. No injuries were incurred. This is a random occurance. The issue has been reported to the Ford delership, McDonald Ford in Freeland MI, on several occasions. The most rec... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while approaching an intersection, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a friend jump started the vehicle, and she was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to an Auto Zone and was informed the fuel pump control module, enable c... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2023
None of the issues with this vehicle have ever been addressed by the manufacturer. We have had a STAR case opened and shut with no resolution. The infotainment system glitches, completely goes black, radio doesn't work and the back-up camera will fail on occasion. The blind spot warning is inconsistent and is therefore never relied on while driving. The heated seats have a Technical service bullet... Read more
Incident date: Feb 22, 2023
Engine shut off on me I've replaced battery and alternator there is a strong smell of burning plastic from engine bay before this my AC went out only was blowing hot air but car now will not start after replacement of alternator and battery only had the car for a bit now everyone is breaking on me I've had it in the shop for half the time I've had it about to call finance company and give up on ve... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2023
My full self driving computer has crashed for the 3rd time since owning the vehicle which controls all of the cars safety features.. Tesla says they won’t do anything because the car is past the warranty by 9,000 miles.. so I’m basically stuck with a 1980’s Tesla.
Incident date: Apr 18, 2023
On the evening of April 18, 2023, I was driving on the southbound 101 in Northern California using autopilot, and despite the surrounding area being clear of other vehicles, pedestrians or debris, without warning, the autopilot system forced the vehicle to suddenly and harshly brake. It was completely unwarranted and unexpected and really gave me and my passenger a scare, and this ain’t the firs... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2023
2012 Kia Soul 4dr wagon engine fail no warning lights sudden strange noise driving on highway with grandbabies. Heard a strange noise under hood then the vehicle lost acceleration and right before shutting down and dying the oil light came on and car went dead. No warning to any problem. Had the oil changed and double checked new oil was replaced. When I opened the hood and checked the oil their w... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2023
Brakes seem to go in and out from time to time . I keep getting the service brake system light on and will turn itself off after next key cycle . Dealer advised vacuum pump issues this should be a full blown recall
AUDI
A3 CABRIOLET
(2016) - ENGINE
Apr 17, 2023
Incident date: Apr 16, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Land Rover LR2. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. While driving at an undetermined speed, the brake caliper detached from the vehicle. Additionally, the GPS was blinking. The ABS, engine, and battery warning lights were illuminated. The transmission fault and low engine performance messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized. The message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times, and upon turning off and restarting the vehicle, the steering wheel responded as needed. The contact stated that the failure persisted after restarting the vehicle. The... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver’s side seat pivoted back requiring the contact to stand on her left foot to reach the brake pedal while the seat inadvertently adjusted backward without warning. The contact then stated that the rear passenger’s and driver’s side door failed to ope... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2023
Smog check came back as Cadillac converter is failing
Incident date: Apr 17, 2023
The exhaust manifold on the drivers side has sheared a bolt on the back of the manifold, and has warped. This is more noticeable when the engine is cold, but is also noticeable after the engine has been off for 10-15 minutes. On acceleration, there is a chirping noise that will go away when the metals have expanded and "sealed" the leak. When cold, exhaust fumes can be smelled in the cabin of the ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2023
This is one of the emails I sent to Subaru. I had just paid 425 to replace a tail light when the seal failed, the same time the wiper motor went bad 600+ to fix that. This car was in such bad shape they did not even recommend repairing. I had to buy a used car which was a financial hardship. I believe Subaru should reimburse me the cost of the transmission and tail light assembly Gentlemen, I'm ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 12, 2023
2017 BMW 540I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SIDEWALL ISSUES WITH PIRELLI RUN FLAT TIRES.
Incident date: Apr 6, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while receiving a routine inspection on the vehicle, he was informed that there was corrosion around the windshield of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who confirmed the corrosion and stated that if the corrosion was not treated, the windshield was at risk of detaching. The structure around the windshield was not r... Read more
Incident date: Apr 6, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while receiving a routine inspection on the vehicle, he was informed that there was corrosion around the windshield of the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who confirmed the corrosion and stated that if the corrosion was not treated, the windshield was at risk of detaching. The structure around the windshield was not r... Read more
Incident date: Apr 10, 2023
My car shifts into neutral while I’m driving. This is the same issue that I see recalls for but it’s stating that my car is not effected. Also, the rear suspension makes a loud grinding noise for no reason. It’s weird because other 2014 Land Rovers have these exact same recall warnings and my vin number comes up clear on the internet. This vehicle only has 45k miles on it.
Incident date: Mar 31, 2023
Two student seat backs failed in multiple locations. The seat back structures also had welds that did not penetrate and failed and and the metal mesh that forms the seat back broke into pieces. A complaint of a student feeling something poking him led me to investigate the seats and find the failures in two of the seats in the bus. The student safety was put at risk. In the event of an accident a ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 6, 2023
On Friday the 7th of April while driving about 40 miles/hr my car lost power in traffic. I pushed gas pedal all way to floor to no avail. Then I was able to get it to move at about 20m/hr for short distance and it cut out and engine lite on as well as a horrible smell like something was burning. It had to be towed into dealer.
Incident date: Apr 2, 2023
2019 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport - while driving the steering wheel locks up and all lights on dashboard come on. Several error messages "Auto Park Disabled", "Speed Control Messaging Unavailable", "Service Antilock Brake System", "Service Transmission Continue in DRIVE. Do Not Shift or Turn Off Engine" - to name a few. The car will not shut off, I had to remove a fuse to get the truck to turn o... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2023
While driving on a highway at a constant 45 to 50 miles per hour, the transmission suddenly downshifted into second gear which made the engine rev to approximately ~5000 rpm and suddenly jerked to car to slow down. This was followed by a orange wrench light and a message to see owners manual. The problem has not been reproduced because I have parked the vehicle until I can diagnose or take it... Read more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2023
Steering is not as good as it should be. Has 83,000 miles and steering seems very loose, seems to wander from left to right, and hard to control, on Highway or city streets.
Incident date: Apr 6, 2023
My vehicle was stopped got rear ended going 55mph. My car was totaled. The airbags did not deploy.
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 12, 2023
Component: Dealer said its the BECM. Lots of them failing, check any Chevy Volt forum. What happened: Driving on road, battery drive turns off and it switches to gas engine, "reduced propulsion" message pops up, then gas engine quits and 'shift to park' message pops up. No electric motor, no gas engine, coasting, then stuck in road, traffic piling up behind me. After half-hour or so of blocking ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2023
Front passenger seat belt, when its in use the system activate the alarm and don't recognize that seat belt is in use.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Mustang. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V082000 (Back Over Prevention) 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had n... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
Periodically when accelerating the car (2020 Acura MDX) looses power. The car does not stall it just looses power. There have been times when we have had to pull over to avoid causing an accident. When it does occur there are no warning or signal displayed on the dash boards pre or post the incident. We have reported the issue to Acura but there has be no resolution to the issue.
Incident date: Apr 6, 2023
When using the remote start the ACC and automatic braking system will fail and give an error. This is a known issue for VW and they have not provided a solutions in over 2 years. To make it work again you need to either turn the car off and back on without remote start or disable the ACC before using the remote start.
Incident date: Apr 6, 2023
When using the remote start the ACC and automatic braking system will fail and give an error. This is a known issue for VW and they have not provided a solutions in over 2 years. To make it work again you need to either turn the car off and back on without remote start or disable the ACC before using the remote start.
Incident date: Apr 7, 2023
The tempered glass panel between the windshield and panaormic sunroof spontaneously shattered. We saw and heard nothing hit the vehicle when driving. We came out one morning, and the glass piece was shattered with missing glass. There are several complaints online of Kia sunroofs and this particular glass panel spontaneously shattering. If nothing is done, we believe someone could get injured.
Incident date: Feb 22, 2023
Snow white pearl paint has suddenly started peeling on passenger door and around windshield
Incident date: Mar 30, 2023
Panoramic sunroof exploded spontaneously while the car was driven at night. Terrifying and traumatic. Glass everywhere. No rock or anything hit it.
Incident date: Mar 30, 2023
Driving down the highway with the sunroof cracked open and there was a loud noise and quickly had to close the sunroof and the slider because the sunroom shattered. No one saw any debris.
Incident date: Apr 4, 2023
Driving on freeway my prius V started shaking violently from what appeared to be overheating of water pump failure or the coolant invertor pump. I believe this to be a known issue Toyota is aware of when I took my Prius into Camelback Toyota in Phoenix they said they could not recreate the issues. I know this was powertrain failure that could have caused me to crash on the freeway.
Incident date: Apr 4, 2023
vehicle stolen.
Incident date: Mar 3, 2023
CHECKING ENGINE LIGHT ON AND OFF SLIDE DOOR NOT WORKING PROPERLY
Incident date: Apr 5, 2023
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated while driving 73 MPH with the Adaptive Cruise Control activated, the vehicle experienced phantom braking. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2023
Over a period of time the electronic steering and rack & pinion became stiff and resistant to turns and lane changes. I called the Honda dealer and they confirmed that Honda has a partial recall for this issue but my car vin number was not part of the recall. I requested a call from their service department several times for a quote to repair it but they never returned my call. I had an independen... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2023
While driving, alarm on car just started horn blowing and all hazzard lights began to flash. This happened on a second occasion that after parking car, the alarms and lights went off when door was opened to get out. The third occurrence lights and horn began blowing while parked. Was unable to get it to stop Drove it home with all horns and lights flashing. On the first occurrence the sudden blo... Read more