Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 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 2,215,138 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 40,555 complaints for BMW
Incident date: May 15, 2024
“Service trailer brake system” won’t turn over but will crank Transmission shifting very hard around 3rd and 4th gear
Incident date: May 16, 2024
The car would constantly stall, would need to jiggle ignition to get car to turn over. burn oil EXTREMELY. would foul spark plugs around 20k-30kmiles. , coolant would get burned and get shot out to the exhaust area, and finally the car would have smoke coming out of the engine bay after driving for a distance of 15-30 miles while also getting terrible MPG. Car on average should get 38mpg highway a... Read more
Incident date: May 10, 2024
I was driving and the “service brake assist” light came on and I then the brake pedal became stiff and so hard to push! I was driving on the expressway and almost couldn’t stop my car. No warning at all. It happened as soon as the light came on.
Incident date: Feb 1, 2024
My 2024 S AWD VW Taos has a serious lag when I need to speed up fast. The car does not go at all if I try to accelerate quickly and has almost caused many accidents. I have needed to quickly get out of the way of other drivers who were not paying attention and tried to accelerate quickly only to have my car not go anywhere. I am afraid to let my children drive this vehicle or even ride with me due... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2024
Front Left Malfunction Warning Light came on randomly one day. There was an airbag symbol that appeared on the dash as well. The vehicle has not been in any collisions. Mercedes USA says seatbelt components are warranted against defects in workmanship and materials for 10 years, regardless of mileage. I called Mercedes USA and now they say it is not covered because we are past mileage limit and be... Read more
Incident date: Sep 30, 2023
Cams showing early signs of failure at 12,000 mile inspection.
Incident date: Apr 27, 2022
on 11/28/2023 My family and I were driving on the freeway I heard what sounded like a soda can explode under my feet in the engine compartment. I immediately lost power brakes and power steering. There was a large amount of smoke instantly. Within about 3 to 5 seconds the cab started to fill with smoke and fire was coming out of the driver's front wheel well. My insurance has had the vehicle in a... Read more
Fire
Incident date: May 14, 2024
Serious uncontrollable violent shaking in the front end of the vehicle when it hits a pot hole or runs over a bump. It’s almost like one side starts to bounce which leads to the other side to start bouncing and it goes back and forth from either side very fast which sounds like a loud rumble
Incident date: Apr 28, 2024
Front Seat Passenger Side Seatbelt warning indicator activates when no person is in passenger seat. Airbag warning light illuminates even when there is a passenger in the seat. I see numerous complaints about the same/similar issues in your data base, but seemingly no resolution or recall. My car is a convertible. I note from other complaints on your website that a related recall was initiat... Read more
Incident date: Apr 28, 2024
This is concerning a 2019 Chevy Bolt purchased new on [XXX] from Stewart Chevrolet in Colma, CA. Around January 2024, we realized the vehicle's steering wheel was not returning to center on its own, and it took more force than usual to turn the wheel -- it would stick as you turned it. The vehicle had about 26,861 miles when we noticed this steering issue. When performing a turn (at low speeds a... Read more
Incident date: Apr 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Prius. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal beeping sound heard. The contact stated that several warning lights were illuminated. While reversing in the driveway, the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard before the vehicle stopped. The contact's husband an independent mechanic informed her that the brake actuator needed to b... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2024
Squeaking noise on the passenger rear side was noticeable when I am hitting the breaks then a thump sound as if I landed on some big pothole occurred. So I drove as slow as I can until we reach home. I inspected the vehicle and to my surprise the control arm had torn and the tires were hanging loose.
Incident date: May 15, 2024
engine maintenance required light, after much research it shows it is a common defect in 2019-2022 models. Coolant Bypass Valve malfunction or failure. This can lead to overheating/fire. Appeared at 70k, all maintenance done by certified toyota dealership
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
The uconnect/multimedia system sporadically and unpredictably goes haywire while driving; changing vehicle settings, making noises, and rapidly switching screens or even dialing 911! This is distraction and a nuisance while driving which takes a drivers attention from where it should be. Please investigate as I've heard it is a widespread problem with the 4C NAV system.
Incident date: May 6, 2024
My truck experienced the K1 snap ring failure at 3,600 miles.
Incident date: May 6, 2024
My truck experienced the K1 snap ring failure at 3,600 miles.
Incident date: May 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (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 of the issue. The contact h... Read more
Incident date: Apr 30, 2024
my 2019 Rav4 has a message "to visit the dealer" vehicle needs maintance. i believe code #P2681. The coolant bypass valve. the dealer told me that the coolant bypass valve needs to be replaced. Also through my research this is a know issue with certain Toyota vehicles including the Rav 4. Deal needs approx $1,000 to replace the coolant bypass value. My personal mechanic researched the known iss... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manuf... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2024
I have had my car serviced twice by the Hyundai dealership for the same exact issue. I believe I was told it was a knock sensor. A refurbished engine ended up being put in. The car is still having the same issues as when I first got it serviced in 2021/2022. My car is sputtering, loses power when accelerating and stalling. My car has always had an oil consumption issue and is causing additional is... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2024
i have 2024 lexus lc 500 convertible not alignment gap was big and lexus not go to fix it
Incident date: May 12, 2024
2013 Honda Accord accelerated to a very high speed when driving from the church parking lot, braking did not stop it. barely avoided hitting a car. On Sunday [XXX] at around 13:45pm, as I was leaving the church parking lot, driving at around 5 miles an hour, the car suddenly accelerated to a very high speed, I tried braking but that did not stop it. The car entered and crossed the street, barely m... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2024
Just purchased a 2024 Dodge Hornet for my daughter on [XXX] She was involved in an accident on [XXX]. Cause of the accident was brake failure - as a result of said failure, she stuck a fuel truck going 45 mph on a highway offramp. Airbags did not deploy, seat belt did not lock. Why did this happen on a brand-new vehicle with under 500 miles on it. A witness, who was travelling behind my daugh... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 14, 2024
Just purchased a 2024 Dodge Hornet for my daughter on [XXX] She was involved in an accident on [XXX]. Cause of the accident was brake failure - as a result of said failure, she stuck a fuel truck going 45 mph on a highway offramp. Airbags did not deploy, seat belt did not lock. Why did this happen on a brand-new vehicle with under 500 miles on it. A witness, who was travelling behind my daugh... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light was illuminated but then disappeared. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with a failed actuator. The contact was informed that an actuator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was in... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the speedometer suddenly went to 0, and the vehicle failed to shift gears as needed. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the lead frame was deformed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired b... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2024
The contact owns a 1999 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was not driving smoothly. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact stated that while disconnecting the trailer hitch, the contact proceeded to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated that the undercarriage was severely corroded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
8/10/17: Purchased car brand new. 8 miles on car at time of purchase 8/21/17: 11 days after purchase. 405 miles. Rattling/Shuttering, bucking before catching. TCM Failure 5/18/21: 31,985 Miles. Hesitation/shuttering. Faulty Clutch. Clutch assembly replaced. 3/4/22: 36,598 miles: Similiar symptoms to 5/18/21. Sluggish. Revving when not needed. No service. 3/24/24: 47,847 miles: . The car s... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
Car will restart after it is turned off and left for awhile. Transmission will jerk hard while in gear and driving.
Incident date: Apr 10, 2024
Car caught on fire under hood
Fire
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
The clutch has been a problem. The clutch wears out prematurely, causing loss of acceleration, which caused loss of power trying to merge into freeway traffic, which nearly resulted in a collision with a semi. Looking up repair or replacement information, it appears this is a common problem that Mini has, some people were replacing the clutch 3 times before 50,000 miles, and also refusing to honor... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
It is not staying in the proper level
Incident date: Jan 23, 2024
The sensor just abruptly went out and is a known issue on these cars yet Nissan refuses to issues a recall instead they want to charge you $2000 to get it fixed, and it’s a safety concern being since it’s supposed to alert you and help brake if you approach a car to quickly
Incident date: May 3, 2024
Here is the video about how the part fails. I uploaded this video to youtube. You can pass this video to BMW, that is your prerogative, [XXX] My cars has the angle sensor error, and calling for irregular communication with other modules. I am sure he reasons for this are in the video. Lastly I will upload error codes my scanner detected. The steering angle control fails in all BMWs 5 series ... Read more
Incident date: May 3, 2024
I have to add oil to my every 2 days.. there is no leaks and I get frequent oil changes. Also acceleration to meet state limits my Rpm go super high not wanting to shift. Again no leaks and have checked so there is good transmission fluid in it
Incident date: May 3, 2024
I have to add oil to my every 2 days.. there is no leaks and I get frequent oil changes. Also acceleration to meet state limits my Rpm go super high not wanting to shift. Again no leaks and have checked so there is good transmission fluid in it
Incident date: Apr 5, 2024
Unknown . Engine or fuel mishap Car caught on fire as I was driving down the hwy with my 3 kids
Fire
4 injured
Incident date: May 4, 2024
Panoramic sunroof spontaneously exploded while driving.
Incident date: May 4, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Genesis G80. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V107000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not 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 e... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) 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: May 10, 2024
Gas tank crack discovered at the top of the gas tank where the fuel system connects to the tank. No previous damage (such as a collision) or excessive (hard) driving has occurred to the vehicle. Vehicle has been maintained according to manufacturer's recommendations.
Incident date: Nov 10, 2023
The engine would completely shut down while driving you had to completely take foot off gas petal because it would not excellent to make the car run it would almost come to complete slow down and stop you could then push gas and it would pick up and start running again.was worse when raining. Then the brakes got to where they would not stop and would lock up.Iwas on busy road and on interstate whe... Read more
Incident date: Nov 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving out of the driveway, the steering wheel became extremely stiff. Additionally, the power steering sensor fault message was displayed. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mile... Read more
Incident date: Nov 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while inspecting the engine compartment, he observed abnormal corrosion on the battery terminals. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 21, 2024
I purchased the 2015 528i x-drive with 110k miles on it on 1/9/24. On 3/1/24 it broke down on the side of the road, just 7 weeks after purchase and had been driven a total of 978 miles since purchase. It had to be towed, and was taken to a BMW dealership. I was told that the engine bearing had failed and that the car would need a total and complete engine and turbo replacement if it was ever to be... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
ABS lit stayed lit and AWD error lit also on.
Incident date: Apr 30, 2024
shudder/buck/jerk while driving up to 35 mph i do see there is a service bulletin online regrading the matter https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10189788-0001.pdf
Incident date: Apr 19, 2024
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering failed to work as needed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with EGR valve failure. The contact was informed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The contacted stated that the check engine... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2023
This past year my 2017 Jeep Cherokee has started to randomly turn on the Service Shifter light and at the same time all the shifter lights turn red. The transmission starts acting differently as well when it comes on. If I pull over and shut the car off and then turn it back on it will be normal again. I cannot bring this into the dealership as my warranty is no longer available and I will not pay... Read more