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 41,082 complaints for BMW
Incident date: Feb 27, 2025
Engine malfunction. Goes into “limp mode” going over 1800 RPM. Dealer has replaced engine coils and plugs multiple times. Sold as Honda True Used with warranty. Dealer states it’s out of warranty.
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
Continuously reboot of MMI system which impacts use and utility of main screen inclusive of backup camera, parking, collision warning, etc..
Incident date: Jul 3, 2025
My 2020 Mercedes-Benz A-Class has experienced a recurring and extremely dangerous transmission malfunction beginning around 15,000 miles and continuing through 75,000 miles. While driving on both highways and main streets, the car would suddenly stall and shift itself into neutral. A warning message would appear on the dash saying “Cannot reverse – take to dealer.” The gas pedal would becom... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2025
While test driving a 2017 RAM 3500 6.7L Cummins diesel at Cherry Hill Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, both the check engine light and the regen warning light came on simultaneously. I returned to the dealership, looked up the regen warning, then retrieved my BlueDriver OBD2 scanner from my own vehicle. I scanned the truck on-site and ran live data. The scan confirmed the diese... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2025
While driving in Hybrid mode, the Jeep threw itself into park. I was at the middle of an intersection. I put it back in drive, then it did it again once I started moving. 1. The hybrid mode threw the car into park while moving. 2. This happened to me a few times in a row, but once in the middle of a major intersection. I was lucky there were no cars that crashed into me. 3. I have brought this... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
Lifters are failing with 31,000 miles. There are thousands of these trucks with less than 30,000 miles on there second or third set of lifters. I took the truck to Allen Samuels Dodge in Aransas pass Texas for a loud rattling kept the truck several days couldn’t figure it out. I recorded a video of the banging inside the engine they kept the truck 5 days or so gave me a letter saying it’s ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
Lifters are failing with 31,000 miles. There are thousands of these trucks with less than 30,000 miles on there second or third set of lifters. I took the truck to Allen Samuels Dodge in Aransas pass Texas for a loud rattling kept the truck several days couldn’t figure it out. I recorded a video of the banging inside the engine they kept the truck 5 days or so gave me a letter saying it’s ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger’s side A-pillar trim detached. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonabl... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving 35-65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle was slow to respond and to stop. The brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. The contact stated that the engine, traction control, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that th... Read more
Incident date: May 31, 2025
I called Honda I emailed l3 Harris I tried getting them off my devices they won't stop survillanceing and brain hacking me and they doing fraud and theft stealing and using it for Switzerland millitary
Crash
Incident date: Jul 8, 2025
It started when I purchased it in February 2025 Mileage was 99200 I noticed the seatbelt warning signs didn’t ding if I didn’t have my seatbelt on. And the sunroof not only was leaking but it is coming apart where it is held in place I’m afraid it will suddenly come down and strike me without notice while driving. Theee days ago I noticed the airbag light came on while I had the driver assi... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2025
The vehicle began displaying intermittent warning messages and slipping into "Mud & Sand" mode without cause. Later, multiple dash lights illuminated, including 4WD malfunction, check engine, and coolant system warnings. The vehicle became undrivable due to overheating. Dealership diagnostics indicated a failure in the coolant bypass valve actuator the electronic water pump was receiving a signal... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2025
While driving, steering column locked up and could not turn - nearly causing crash. Steering column is not key locked, but still will not turn in any position. A few small clicks right behind the steering and one loud click immediately before strong locked up was the only indicator that something was wrong.
Incident date: Jul 15, 2025
Left sliding door latch is stuck in lock position. In case of emergency passengers (2 daughters) would be trapped inside. There is currently a class action lawsuit for previous models but it was only settled for 2017 and 2018 models. I was given a quote of $2000 from a dodge dealer to fix the issue when it is a clearly known faulty design/part.
Incident date: Jul 13, 2025
while driving, including backing up with the camera, the computer restarts itself. Navigation, warnings, and backup camera all restart for about 30 seconds. it has happened while depending on the backup camera. just goes black then restarts.
Incident date: Jul 15, 2025
We were rear ended on the interstate. Cars in front of us stopped and we also came to a complete stop and a few moments later we were hit. During the collision, none of the airbags were deployed. Both our front seats fully reclined backwards. None of our seatbelts locked. Only the two seats that no one was in locked. Also, my headrest completely broke off. Our car was later determined by the insur... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Jul 14, 2025
I purchased this 2018 Ford Escape in August 2022 from Richmond Ford. Within 2 days to a week I noticed fault indicators stating check engine, failed Auto stop and start malfunctioning. I immediately reported this issue. Richmond Ford put me in a loaner for approximately 2 months to only remedy the problem with a new battery. This has happened for 3 years. I’ve had 4 batteries replaced even recen... Read more
Incident date: Jul 14, 2025
My Tesla got stuck in a McDonald's drive-through because the EPB (Electronic Park Break) refused to disengage. I believe it got stuck as the vehicle was pulling up to the window to pay and I had to reach out with my phone to tap their payment terminal to use Apple Pay. Then the park brake engaged I believe because I possibly lifted up from my seat, yet had my foot on the brake, but when I put it i... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2025
23540 r Tire sidewall separated and burned up while traveling on the highway.
Incident date: Jul 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact stated another driver with a tow truck assisted and towed the vehicle off the highway to a safe location.... Read more
Incident date: Jul 14, 2025
Parksense Unavailable. While reversing we backed into another vehicle. Normally, the parking brakes if we get to close or at least a warning that we are approaching a potential hazard.
Crash
Incident date: Jul 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that upon attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle started to shake abnormally, and lost motive power. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the contact immediately attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, and th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that upon attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle started to shake abnormally, and lost motive power. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the contact immediately attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, and th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); 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. ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2025
After getting gas, the vehicle will not start. It will crank and crank but not turn over, like it is starving for gas. Then after 10-15 minutes it will start barely and to keep it running I have to floor the accelerator. Any other time it starts just fine. There are also no codes causing a check engine light.
Incident date: Jul 10, 2025
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally submit a complaint regarding an unresolved safety recall affecting my 2020 Nissan Leaf, currently with approximately 30,000 miles. The recall in question addresses a battery overheating risk associated with Level 3 fast charging (CHAdeMO), which Nissan has acknowledged and advised owners to avoid until a solution becomes available—scheduled for N... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2025
There is a design flaw with the engine where coolant leaks into the motor. The entire engine needs to be replaced. The issue begins with a piston misfiring and then slowly devolves into total engine failure. Ford knows about the issue and has offered in the past to replace it, but this ended in 2022.
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2007 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that the transmission fluid was low. The contact became aware that transmission fluid was leaking from the vehicle. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 12... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
Clock spring failure at 10 years 1400000 miles causing airbag light to come on. Airbag in steering wheel presumably doesn't work properly. The car has been looked at by a dealership who quickly confirmed clock spring failure, but falls outside of VW warranty replacement for this vehicle. There was no warning prior to failure of the clock spring.
Incident date: Dec 29, 2023
Since I have bought this used vehicle in September 2024, it has been shutting off completely with having to restart the engine. There was a recall for the battery in January 2025 that was finally approved to be replaced maybe in May or so. Battery was replaced but it keeps shutting off. I just took it in July 7 for the fuel pump to be replaced as they said that was the final cause. I drove it home... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2025
Trailer brake controller was at first intermittently failing with message “trailer disconnected” appearing on dashboard. Now > 2,000 miles trailer brakes are not working. Vehicle was updated with SSM 53889 which did not resolve the issue.
Incident date: Oct 24, 2024
The engine consumes alot of oil. There are no oil leaks. I have to refill the engine with 1 quart of oil weekly. The vehicle is available for inspection. If this is not checked week, the engine could lock-up for low to no oil. The service representative at Kia in Wendell, NC, verbally stated to me the engines do burn alot of oil and to monitor it regularly. He confirmed there are no recalls on... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 70-75 MPH on the interstate, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over and restarted the vehicle. The message "Transmission Not in Park" was displayed. The contact stated that while veering to the left lane, the vehicle started to shudder. The local dealer was not contacted.... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2025
I am first concern with the fact that the CVT transmission is not listed under the “component” section and this concern is a major problem many Nissan drivers are seeing. I would like to additional know how this transmission malfunction is not a safety concern as it tremendously affects the speed and operation of the vehicle regardless of maintenance. I have a 2019 Nissan Rogue Sport that rece... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
While driving on the interstate, my truck began to lose power and decelerate. A fuel pump and engine warning light appeared. I began to lose power steering while decelerating. When I finally stopped and the truck turned off, I tried restarting which resulted in a cranking noise and was not successful in starting. I had to contact a towing company for assistance and my truck has been undriveable si... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
While driving on the interstate, my truck began to lose power and decelerate. A fuel pump and engine warning light appeared. I began to lose power steering while decelerating. When I finally stopped and the truck turned off, I tried restarting which resulted in a cranking noise and was not successful in starting. I had to contact a towing company for assistance and my truck has been undriveable si... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2025
I bought my vehicle brand new and have received several recall notices and have had to have repairs done for common issues not featured in recalls but maybe service bulletins. I have had the water pump replaced 2x in the last 2 years Rear differential replaced completely linked to the recalled issue. PCM software is being recalled for the second time in 2 years. I’ve have owned exclusively fo... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2025
I bought my vehicle brand new and have received several recall notices and have had to have repairs done for common issues not featured in recalls but maybe service bulletins. I have had the water pump replaced 2x in the last 2 years Rear differential replaced completely linked to the recalled issue. PCM software is being recalled for the second time in 2 years. I’ve have owned exclusively fo... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2025
The contact called on behalf of his mother who owns a 2023 Lexus RX500H. The contact stated while his mother was reversing, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The contact stated that while his mother was depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The driver turned off the vehicle and the vehicle restarted after several attempts. The vehicle was driven to the sho... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2025
Power Transfer Unit Failed while driving on highway. Not a serviceable part as manufacturer claims it is a lifetime fluid. Approximate date
Incident date: Jul 7, 2025
While driving down the road a passerby got our drivers attention to tell them the truck was on fire. When he pulled over and got out the truck went up in flames fast from under the hood. Due to the heavy damage we are unsure where the fire started. It has not been inspected by anyone yet. It was towed to our shop. The driver reported there was an odd smell but that was it.
Fire
Incident date: May 1, 2025
Vehicle: 2017 Chevrolet Volt Purchased: March 2017, new from Quality Chevrolet, Escondido, CA I am reporting a persistent and worsening issue with the “Shift to Park” system in my 2017 Chevy Volt. The problem began approximately three months after purchase (mid-2017) and has continued to worsen over time. Initially, the issue occurred intermittently, but it now happens every time I attempt to... Read more
Incident date: Jun 19, 2025
Vehicle: 2017 Chevrolet Volt Purchased: March 2017, new from Quality Chevrolet, Escondido, CA I am reporting a persistent and worsening issue with the “Shift to Park” system in my 2017 Chevy Volt. The problem began approximately three months after purchase (mid-2017) and has continued to worsen over time. Initially, the issue occurred intermittently, but it now happens every time I attempt to... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
My lights turn on and off while the vehicle is turned off until I lock the car.
Incident date: Jul 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms p... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2025
Vehicle stalls out every 3-5 minutes after starting. Vehicle stops and will restart after start up but will only once again run for 3-5 minutes. Vehicle is a hazard on the road as well to the passengers. Local Ford Dealership and Ford Corp. both admit there is a recall (25S75) on my 2022 F-150 but are unaware of how to repair the vehicle. I am to wait until Ford develops a solution. Unwilling... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2025
Vehicle stalls out every 3-5 minutes after starting. Vehicle stops and will restart after start up but will only once again run for 3-5 minutes. Vehicle is a hazard on the road as well to the passengers. Local Ford Dealership and Ford Corp. both admit there is a recall (25S75) on my 2022 F-150 but are unaware of how to repair the vehicle. I am to wait until Ford develops a solution. Unwilling... Read more
Incident date: Jul 6, 2025
Coolant bypass valve problem with several rav4s. My car is unusable and I need it to work.
Incident date: Jun 20, 2025
I had the recall done on my van for the backup camera. After the update was completed my van continues to not work. The screen does not come on and the backup camera does not come on when in reverse. It does not happen all the time. I took it back to the dealership and all they could say was that I needed a new camera. That does not make sense to me because the entire screen would not come on incl... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that the message "Transmission Overheating" was display while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a Certified Mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with transmission control module failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of a possi... Read more