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: Jun 11, 2025
There was a recent software update 3.6.4 that has made my reverse camera, reverse parking sensor and rear cross traffic warning totally disappear. When I put the car in reverse, the camera doesn’t work at all. It doesn’t even appear - totally unusable. This is a new issue with this update - the rear camera previously worked most of the time (occasionally, I would get “camera unavailable” m... Read more
Incident date: Jun 24, 2025
Was driving in a neighborhood and slowly turning at a 4 way stop, parking brake self engaged causing the car to slam to a stop and was unable to press gas. Had to put the car in park and restart (with shutoff for 30 seconds) before I could move and was stuck sitting in the middle of an intersection.
Incident date: Jun 24, 2025
Brake trailer module failure leading to loss of trailer brakes. Second incident.
Incident date: Jun 18, 2025
over the last 2 weeks, the entire MMI system stops working, the screen goes black, and the system reboots. It happened once when i was backing out of a parking spot and the alerts stopped working. a second time when i was pulling into a spot and the screen went black as well. this is a MAJOR safety-related flaw!
Incident date: Jun 18, 2025
over the last 2 weeks, the entire MMI system stops working, the screen goes black, and the system reboots. It happened once when i was backing out of a parking spot and the alerts stopped working. a second time when i was pulling into a spot and the screen went black as well. this is a MAJOR safety-related flaw!
Incident date: Jun 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V144000 (Suspension, Structure); and it was determined the undercarriage was extremely rusted. The vehicle was not repaired due to the rust. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 100,00... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
It was about 100 degrees outside yesterday, and while trying to pass a car, I look in my rearview mirror and notice there is fuel shooting out from my fill hose under my gas flap. I lost over 3 gallons of fuel on the road. This happened my whole 60 mile trip. This has happened to me before, but the temperature was around 76 degrees and it does not happen in cold weather. I have a feeling my fuel ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
On May 3, 2025 my truck would not go into reverse leaving me stranded 250 miles from my home. There was no indication the transmission was having problems (no warning lights and the truck was driving as designed). Then boom -- nothing. I was left stranded on a Saturday evening in a rough part of Detroit putting my safety at risk due to this sudden malfunction. The truck was taken to a GM dealer a... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V406000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated while driving on the freeway and over a bridge at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several dealers were contacted, and the contact was informed that the parts to... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Lane Keep Assist feature steered the vehicle to the left while the vehicle was driving inside the lane. The Lane Keep Assist warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle also experienced a loss of power steering assist. The contact stated that the failure occurred after the vehicle d... Read more
Incident date: Jun 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML350. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH in heavy rain, she observed smoke emanating from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that there may have been unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off. The contact stated that when the vehicle was restarted, multiple unknown warning lights ... Read more
Fire
1 injured
Incident date: Jun 17, 2025
Ford 10r80 Transmission slips or revs for long period of time before banging into gear when accelerating. When accelerating and merging onto the highway I am unable to merge and accelerate to highway speed without the risk of being rear ended by oncoming vehicles already at highway speed. The vehicle has been inspected and confirmed that the transmission needs to be replaced. No other lights... Read more
Incident date: Jun 17, 2025
Ford 10r80 Transmission slips or revs for long period of time before banging into gear when accelerating. When accelerating and merging onto the highway I am unable to merge and accelerate to highway speed without the risk of being rear ended by oncoming vehicles already at highway speed. The vehicle has been inspected and confirmed that the transmission needs to be replaced. No other lights... Read more
Incident date: Jun 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing A/C system failures. The manufacturer was notified of the A/C system failure and related the failure to TSB Number: 23-040. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determine... Read more
Incident date: Jun 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing A/C system failures. The manufacturer was notified of the A/C system failure and related the failure to TSB Number: 23-040. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determine... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2025
The Multimedia Interface (MMI) Touchscreen Radio will constantly reboot while driving regardless of variables. Diagnosis’ have proven problem to be undeterminable, this is a serious safety concern as I have lost back up camera and other safety features while driving, while I await the system to reboot. This reboot has been occurring non-stop since January. My research online and in other forum... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2025
The Multimedia Interface (MMI) Touchscreen Radio will constantly reboot while driving regardless of variables. Diagnosis’ have proven problem to be undeterminable, this is a serious safety concern as I have lost back up camera and other safety features while driving, while I await the system to reboot. This reboot has been occurring non-stop since January. My research online and in other forum... Read more
Incident date: May 30, 2025
The front drivers headlight low beam keeps going out. I just received my second warning for this failure. It got dark before I got home from the store. We took it to a friend who does mechanical work back in the spring. He fixed it; but now it’s doing it again. Yes we had it inspected last November for tag renewal. There are no warning lights or signals that come on.i think it started acting up... Read more
Incident date: Oct 13, 2024
When I either: i) start the car and drive more than 20 ft OR ii) am at a stop light then accelerate..the car begins to jerk backward. Have changed the gasket and the throttle body and this issue still keeps happening. It started around the 90k Mile mark.
Incident date: Oct 13, 2024
On [XXX] I was driving in Beloit WI. Luckily I was in town and only doing 30-35mph and not another mile because I was headed for the interstate and we all would have died, because all of the sudden my parking brake locked on, my check engine light, ABS light, traction control light all came on and gray smoke just started pouring out my exhaust. Had it towed to my usual mechanic, it had 38 diff... Read more
Incident date: Oct 13, 2024
When parallel parking, steering became extremely heavy making it difficult to turn the steering wheel. This was followed by heavier-than-normal steering when driving at speeds ranging from 25-45 mph.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
When I have gone to slow down and try to stop, the vehicle has slide forward a fee times. I thought it was a little weird, but didn't think to much of it. After a while, my transmission started acting up as well. I will be driving down the road about 50-60mph and it will shift to 4th gear and not come out of 4th gear until stopped and shut off and restarted. I recently heard about the recall wh... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2025
While driving northbound on [XXX] between the [XXX] exit and [XXX] exit, I turned my cruise control on and set it at 70 mph shortly after setting the cruise control I put on the brakes to slow down and instead of slowing down and turning the cruise control off it started accelerating real fast and shot up to 90 mph. I kept hitting. the brakes trying to slow down and all that did was make it accel... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2025
MMI shuts down and reboots randomly without warning and multiply times a day. All the backup camera and safety warning features were disabled while MMI is off. Huge safety concerns!
Incident date: Mar 12, 2025
MMI shuts down and reboots randomly without warning and multiply times a day. All the backup camera and safety warning features were disabled while MMI is off. Huge safety concerns!
Incident date: Jun 16, 2025
My instrument center cluster display went totally dark while I was driving . It scared me because I had no readouts of the gauges. I could have very easily had an accident.
Incident date: Nov 25, 2024
P265/60/R20. All wheels are worn severely on outer wheels. One wheel is so severely worn on outer edge it’s into the secondary rubber and I was told it wasn’t safe to drive… Dealership said that it wasn’t safe to drive long distances that it could blow apart… as of know no one had admitted fault and they expect me to cover costs. Truck is 2023 with 19,500 miles on it. Pictures show the w... Read more
Incident date: Nov 25, 2024
P265/60/R20. All wheels are worn severely on outer wheels. One wheel is so severely worn on outer edge it’s into the secondary rubber and I was told it wasn’t safe to drive… Dealership said that it wasn’t safe to drive long distances that it could blow apart… as of know no one had admitted fault and they expect me to cover costs. Truck is 2023 with 19,500 miles on it. Pictures show the w... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) independently activated, causing the vehicle to suddenly come to a stop, and the front driver’s and front passenger’s side seat belts to independently lock. The contact stated that the brake warning light was illuminated. An appointm... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); 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 confi... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2025
The rear camera warnings both visual and beeping sound did not activate while backing up. Safety of others was put at risk not warning them that the vehicle was backing up. Because of this failure, I backed into a pole causing the driver's side tail light to be cracked. The problem was reported to Fairway Ford who could not reproduced the failure. They contacted Ford "hotline" and Ford refused to ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: May 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2009 Ford F-150. The contact stated while 45 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and waited for towing assistance to tow the vehicle to the residence. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic and was diagnosed with an ABS module failure... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2025
The engine stopped as I was driving on the road.
Incident date: Jun 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); 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 dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not ex... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V347000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufactur... Read more
Incident date: Apr 20, 2025
A warning light is showing on the dash about the right side light not working. On inspection all lights are illuminated. Reportedly there has been a recall on some VIN’s for this problem but not ours. On line discussion groups report that the problem is more wide-spread in this model than with the limited VIN’s covered. Since the cost of a dealer replacing the lighting assembly is around $... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2025
There was no incident however I received a recall for a windshield piece that was back in 2024 and supposedly would be available for repair in the latter half of 2024. However nothing has been sent to me regarding this and when the piece came off it cracked my windshield so I have a crack across that as well.
Incident date: Jun 12, 2025
The Right Captain Chair seat belt come unbuckled while we're driving down the road, this happened multiple times, every time when we visit dealer, they manually check it (without passenger in seat or simulate the issue) and said no issue with seat belt buckle. There is not option to reproduce and record the situation to prove while driving, however this is life threatening to my kids if the belt ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 12, 2025
The component that has been failing is the transmission is the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) is plagued by loud noises which can eventually lead to expensive gearbox failures. The safety risk is that the transmission will start Whining, humming or buzzing noise Rattling noises Slipping first gear or reverse. I have been told by a representative of Toyota that they have had many reports... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2025
Transmission going bad car shakes and studders upon acceleration
Incident date: Nov 4, 2024
I was traveling on the highway at highway speed during peak commuting times when a notice to service hybrid system was displayed on the gauge cluster. The vehicle then lost all acceleration and shut down. I had to safely navigate to the side of the road with zero ability to accelerate or brake in fear of not being able to get off the roadway safely. I was automatically shifted into park once I rea... Read more
Incident date: Jun 17, 2025
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The issue appears to be related to the powertrain system, specifically the belt tension or transmission shifting components. A “Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced Power” warning message appeared through the FordPass app, and I have also been experiencing jerking or hesitation when applying pressure... Read more
Incident date: Jun 17, 2025
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The issue appears to be related to the powertrain system, specifically the belt tension or transmission shifting components. A “Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced Power” warning message appeared through the FordPass app, and I have also been experiencing jerking or hesitation when applying pressure... Read more
Incident date: Jun 16, 2025
Steering becomes "sticky," and it becomes difficult to turn the steering wheel. This happens after about 45 minutes of driving and at speeds of 50 miles per hour and higher. The steering wheel sticks in one position and it takes greater effort to unstick it. This is a safety issue, because turning and lane changes take longer and could lead to a crash. This issue hasn't been confirmed by a dea... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2025
The ABS module was diagnosed as the cause of multiple warning lights appearing on the dashboard, including the ABS light, parking brake light, and traction control light. According to an ASE certified technician, the failure of the ABS module disabled the antilock braking system as well as the cruise control feature. This issue resulted in loss of antilock braking function and reduced overall vehi... Read more
Incident date: Jun 12, 2025
Complete rear tire assembly came loose from the unibody frame from rust. Not a drop of rust on the body of the car.Thank god we weren’t on the highway. they told me it was unfixable.Thank you Honda.And the recall stopped at 2011? Honda obviously doesn’t care about safety and human life.
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving uphill at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle failed to upshift and hesitated to maintain automotive power. No warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the road and had the vehicle towed back to the residence. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failu... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
My vehicle has experienced recurring water intrusion due to a clogged sunroof drain, causing significant moisture buildup, mold growth, and persistent odors inside the cabin. I purchased the vehicle in February 2024 and brought it in for this issue three times during the warranty period a few months later, where fixes were proposed each time. The fourth visit, five months past the warranty period ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 3, 2025
Two weeks before the accident, a warning message appeared on my car’s dashboard stating: “FORWARD COLLISION SYSTEM REDUCED.” Naturally, I was concerned. I immediately contacted the dealership, but they failed to return my call. I followed up a few days later, and they told me to bring the car in the next day. When I went in, I explained my serious concerns. They told me they would need to k... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jun 11, 2025
My charger was a michigan state patrol vehicle all its maint. Kept up on and all recalls fixed and repaired properly, yet driving at 45mph and my front driveshaft gives out and ends up smashing off my transmission and transfer case and it hit and almost went through the passanger side floor board right under the passanger seat which if it had it would of messed my passanger up bad ,so now 12k + in... Read more