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: Oct 12, 2023
My 2020 Explorer ST has been in the shop off and on for three months. The engine had to be replaced at about 45K miles. The transmission whines. The latest issue occurred while driving in downtown Chicago. I was coming up on a light and moved to the left turn lane to turn into oncoming traffic. When I went to go - I pressed the pedal and nothing happened. I ended up rolling into oncoming traffic... Read more
Incident date: Oct 12, 2023
My 2020 Explorer ST has been in the shop off and on for three months. The engine had to be replaced at about 45K miles. The transmission whines. The latest issue occurred while driving in downtown Chicago. I was coming up on a light and moved to the left turn lane to turn into oncoming traffic. When I went to go - I pressed the pedal and nothing happened. I ended up rolling into oncoming traffic... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2022
Morning of October 16th, wife said engine "clicked" at start and then stopped at idle. I checked oil as it had been changed week prior and all levels were normal, then performed diagnostic with Carista tool and app, no codes. That evening while on the way to my 4 year olds practice, the car stopped in a lane of travel on a main cross town thoroughfare in Charlotte NC in rush hour, my wife, 4 yea... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2022
Morning of October 16th, wife said engine "clicked" at start and then stopped at idle. I checked oil as it had been changed week prior and all levels were normal, then performed diagnostic with Carista tool and app, no codes. That evening while on the way to my 4 year olds practice, the car stopped in a lane of travel on a main cross town thoroughfare in Charlotte NC in rush hour, my wife, 4 yea... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2023
Was told my lug nuts are swollen and need to be replaced.
Incident date: Oct 19, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Transit. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, she heard an abnormal sound coming from an unknown location prompting her to attempt to slow the vehicle after which she became aware that the brake was not functioning properly. The contact stated that with the brake pedal depressed all the way to the floorboard the vehicle failed to slow as intended; violently... Read more
Incident date: May 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Porsche 911 GT3. The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention system failed to display a rear-view image. After a visual inspection of the rear of the vehicle, the contact became aware that the reverse lights also failed to illuminate. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 16, 2023
I know it’s the transmission because it gears just goes and the car doesn’t go anywhere. Now I have my car parked
Incident date: Oct 28, 2022
To Whom It May Concern. Please help me on this. I purchased a BMW x5 that needed recalls installed at the BMW dealer. I purchased the vehicle, performed routine preventative maintenance, new tires, new brakes, full detail, shampooed the interior, and full wash, etc. When I took my BMW to the dealer, the BMW dealer installed the recalled items, but did not install or replace the defective FRM foot... Read more
Incident date: Oct 28, 2022
My parents involved to an accident, my mom's head and my dad's rips and neck get injured( send to hospital with the police report). We believe that the airbags should deployed.
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Oct 28, 2022
Driving at highway speeds, power steering disengages. Drove for about one mile and it reengaged. This repeated itself multiple times and at multiple speeds. Was able to steer but vehicle had no power steering assist. This posed a high risk of accident with injury or death. Have not taken vehicle to the dealer as of yet. Power steering warning indicators displayed during incident.
Incident date: Oct 17, 2023
I submitted a complaint regarding traction service/escape alerts at any given time of my 2010 Chevolet Malibu and have not received an acknowledgment of my complaint. Therefore I am hoping it has been resolved. Thank goodness, the car passed inspection on 10/17/2023 for which the complaint of the traction service alerts have affected my yearly inspection for at least 3 years. I am asking... Read more
Incident date: Aug 30, 2023
Backed into a mailbox on the passenger side rear taillight. Car did not detect the mailbox and give any warning to the driver. Mckinnon Toyota in Clanton Alabama advised that this vehicle is not equipped to detect a stationary object behind the vehicle. Three individuals at Toyota customer service advised that it did. R/O Number for the visit is [XXX]. The reference number from Toyota customer... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Oct 18, 2023
The transmission slips and jumps into different gears while driving. When applying the accelerator from a stop the truck will not move due to it being in 7th gear, when it finally decides to move it shifts hard jolting the truck. The electric driver seat moves around, it is not stable.
Incident date: Oct 18, 2023
The transmission slips and jumps into different gears while driving. When applying the accelerator from a stop the truck will not move due to it being in 7th gear, when it finally decides to move it shifts hard jolting the truck. The electric driver seat moves around, it is not stable.
Incident date: Oct 16, 2023
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while an independent mechanic was performing an oil change on the vehicle, he informed the contact that the subframe was severely rusted. The vehicle was taken to several mechanics, who informed the contact that the subframe might collapse if he continued driving the vehicle. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not r... Read more
Incident date: Oct 16, 2023
Was at a complete stop heading Westbound on State Road 200 at Amelia Island Parkway (rd name?) at approximately 9:35 AM. I was behind a semi truck in the right hand lane. No one was ahead of him. There were two cars in the left hand lane, no one in the turning lane onto Amelia Island Parkway. I decided to get into the left lane behind those two cars so I wasn’t stuck behind the semi. I ve... Read more
Incident date: Sep 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) 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 had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not av... Read more
Incident date: Oct 18, 2023
My wife and I Were driving then all of sudden the engine light would come on and the car would hesitate and go then at anoqtpher time it stopped on my wife we travel often back and forth to the veterans hospital for treatment and we don’t feel safe any longer. We had it at the dealership about three times. Faulkner Hyundia. We thank you for your help
Incident date: Sep 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Canyon. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the power steering failed. The contact stated that the ABS and "traction control" warnings were illuminated. The contact stated that he pulled off of the road and turned the vehicle off and on several times and the power steering regained functionality. The contact stated that the power steering failure h... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2023
My engine started making a loud knocking noise suddenly. It only has 84,000 miles on it and I haven't missed any maintenance appointments. The Hyundai dealership was thoroughly unhelpful when I called them so I had another mechanic look at it. Turns out there is metal in my oil and my engine is shot. I have a reasonable expectation of not needing a new engine at 84,000 miles but I am not sure ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 10, 2023
Summary of complaint: We own a 2007 BMW X3 SUV that we have taken to the BMW Mt. Laurel NJ dealership for service since we bought the car over five years ago. On August 15th 2023, we took the car for a scheduled service and oil change. We paid $3000 + and brought the car back home first week of September when the car was purportedly repaired. My husband noticed that the car was not driving quite... Read more
Incident date: Sep 10, 2023
Car started smoking while idling, fire department called. Did not have check engine light on smoking from left tail pipe
Incident date: Sep 10, 2023
Car started smoking while idling, fire department called. Did not have check engine light on smoking from left tail pipe
Incident date: Oct 10, 2023
My car started smoking while parked at work for no reason and I had to call the fire department. It stop smoking by the time the fire department came. I had it towed to the Dealer. My brakes are a mess but especially on a wet road you have to pump them to try to stop. I have taken it to the Dealer and of course they find nothing wrong. I told them to test drive it on a wet raining day and try t... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Oct 1, 2023
On 2023 BMW i7 while I was trying to park in a parking stall moving forwards at a very low speed in a shopping center( less than a 1 m/h) . The car suddenly and very aggressively took off and accelerate on me while I was straightening the steering wheel to pull more forwards, heading another parked car in front it, head to head and pushed/ slid the parked car about 20 feet. I have no idea if any ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Oct 1, 2023
My car was in for a recall repair on another item and the repair of the steering coupler part was noted to be needed. The parts personnel stated they informed me that the steering coupler was in need of repair and that I had declined this service. My vehicle did not have 100,000 miles on it yet. They in fact said nothing to me about this repair needed to be be done. It affect the steering of t... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and lurched significantly. Additionally, the tachometer rose to 2,000 RPMs and started fluctuating. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle operated as intended while accelerating to 40 MPH. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The v... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2023
The contact’s daughter owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that on several occasions while her daughter was driving at undisclosed speeds, several unknown warning lights intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ABS had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the VIN was inc... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2023
The contact’s daughter owns a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that on several occasions while her daughter was driving at undisclosed speeds, several unknown warning lights intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ABS had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the VIN was inc... Read more
Incident date: Oct 21, 2021
The vehicle had a repair made by dealership. The repair started to malfunction as it would lock the vehicles driving mechanism making the vehicle non opporstional while driving. Issue was reported to the same dealer and explained. The dealer stated that I would receive a call to schedule a mechanical appointment to investigate however the time spent waiting for further instructions from dealer. Da... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 21, 2021
While night driving driver noticed the driver side headlight completly pointing down providing no visibility. Vehicle was brought into GM dealership where is was discovered the Driver LED headlight adjuster screw broken causing a safety issue, where the light beam pointed down. Vehicle light assembly is currently being inspected for replacement under manufacture warranty under 36,000 miles.
Incident date: Oct 21, 2021
When I hit a bump my ABS warning light and my traction control light come on on the dash. My cruise control stops working. Had it scanned and there is an error code C0020-01-ABS PUMP MOTOR CONTROL - motor pump (open recirculation test). - internal electronic failure. It comes on and off more often when hitting a bump. This is apparently common and should be a recall.
Incident date: Oct 10, 2023
Vehicle would suddenly slam on breaks when breaking and stalled changing gears. We have had it looked at and it is in engine failure - the vehicle is only 3 years old.
BMW
R 1200 GS ADVENTURE
(2017) — STRUCTURE
Oct 16, 2023
Incident date: Oct 12, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for rear wheel alignment. The contact stated that rear toe link fractured during the rear alignment process. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,576.
Incident date: Oct 15, 2023
This is a follow up from previous complaint 11525953 dated 6/8/2023. My subaru forester stalled again on 8/2 at an intersection after 15 minutes of driving, and then again on 10/4 at an intersection after 45 minutes of highway driving. There are no warning signals or any indication of engine problems. I replaced the air filter in June hoping that might solve the issue.
Incident date: Mar 7, 2022
Passenger restraint system malfunction. My vehicle as well as thousands of others have the chronic and unsafe issue of the passenger occupancy sensor malfunctioning. In order to remove warning on dash it’s either a $2,000 repair, or a $40 bypass which basically places the seat as constantly occupied, sticking the passenger airbag in the ‘on’ position. Vehicle is available for inspection. Wit... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2022
When at the Winnebago factory service center for other recalls and repairs, technicians found that the propane line going from the regulator at the tanks to the cooktop in the kitchen was worn and frayed, having rubbed against the rear tires for more than 15,000 miles. They said it was a safety hazard and had to replace the line and ensure it would no longer rub against the tires.
Incident date: Mar 7, 2022
When at the Winnebago factory service center for other recalls and repairs, technicians found that the propane line going from the regulator at the tanks to the cooktop in the kitchen was worn and frayed, having rubbed against the rear tires for more than 15,000 miles. They said it was a safety hazard and had to replace the line and ensure it would no longer rub against the tires.
Incident date: Oct 10, 2023
The brakes become very hard to engage while at a low speed, consistently in traffic and the car rider line at school. It has caused me to almost hit cars in front of me and people walking between cars. To me, it feels like the brakes are sticking and not releasing fully when I release the pedal to recoil and as if a line is going to be filled with pressurized air to work again and it is not able t... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2023
The power train may be defective. The auto shut off on the vehicle completely shuts off when you stopped at a red light. The entire vehicle restarts, and then 12 lights appear on the dashboard. The car starts shaking sometimes when it's being driven. The vehicle is currently being looked at, at the dealership. I was told that the diagnostics is reading 19 codes and misfires.
Incident date: Oct 10, 2023
As reported by the dealer the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) has failed. Car initially did not start but then did start with a check engine light and a "Propulsion Power is Reduced" warning. Vehicle has approximately 56,500 miles. Car could have abruptly stopped or slowed considerably while driving. Chevrolet dealer is blaming the current UAW strike for complete lack of replacement parts. T... Read more
Incident date: Jun 17, 2023
The contact owned a 2020 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while driving 63 MPH, several warning chimes and alarms began to sound off and the warning message stating, "Traction Control Failure," had illuminated. At the same time, the steering wheel had suddenly seized which caused the vehicle to veer off the side of the road and further into the woods. The contact was unsure of how the vehicle... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 20, 2023
Vehicle stopped three times on highway. There is an issue with fuel injection. I am repairing the same thing every year and it is stopping every year on highway. They keep on repairing/replacing the module and I still get the problem. I missed a big rear collision because of this. This model has so many issues. Suspension broke. So many issues with gas pump. being it a first generation hybrid, it... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the catalytic converter. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000.
Incident date: Aug 20, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hyd... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Transit Connect. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V502000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that when he went to shut the driver's side door during the morning start of the vehicle, the door would not close and lock. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer who advised that they... Read more
Incident date: Oct 8, 2023
Water getting inside the cabin near a fuse box. Mold passenger side carpets and underlayer.