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: Aug 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the oil level was lower than expected. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle vibrated while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); and the engine was replaced under the recall in September 2020. The contact stated that 5 years after the rec... Read more
Incident date: Apr 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 BMW 430I. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the low coolant warning light was illuminated, and the message "Engine Overheating" was displayed. The vehicle was parked at the place of employment. The coolant level was checked an hour later by the contact’s husband, and the coolant level was low. The contact stated that her husband added coolant to the reservoir and o... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2025
I was driving on [XXX] and I heard a really loud sound like a Gun Shot in my Car I couldn't just pull over I had to get off at the next exit when I did I checked myself and then I checked my Windows then I opened my back door on the passenger side and saw that behind the seat had swollen up. I drove to work and call KIA where I purchased the car and told them what happened my husband carried the ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2025
I have a 2019 GMCAcadia Denali with less than 60000 miles. The problem I have with the vehicle is I get a error that say "Park to Shift. I don' know if it is in park or not. I am afraid that it isn't in park and will create a safety issue and injuries. It is my understanding that the same problem with the 2020+ GMC Acadia and is listed in a RECALL. Why isn't 2019 not included in this recall?
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
BCI (Back-up Collision Intervention) Malfunction. It's random when this comes up on the dashboard warning lights. It lights up several other things as well. It doesn't allow you to use the cruise control, or the 4-wheel drive. It disables the ABS and traction control. I don't know how this is not a recall, because I see several forums talking about this issue for this vehicle specifically in ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
BCI (Back-up Collision Intervention) Malfunction. It's random when this comes up on the dashboard warning lights. It lights up several other things as well. It doesn't allow you to use the cruise control, or the 4-wheel drive. It disables the ABS and traction control. I don't know how this is not a recall, because I see several forums talking about this issue for this vehicle specifically in ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Sep 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact stated that the traction control, engine oil, and TPMS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the power steerin... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528XI. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The contact was informed that the recall repair had been performed. The contact stated that upon driving off the parking lot at the dealer and coming to a complete stop at the traffic ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
Brakes on a relatively brand new vehicle are squealing and creating a metal on metal sound. I am worried that the brakes on this vehicle are going to fail and cause a serious safety issue.
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Active Air DAM System fault detected" was displayed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the driver's Side Active Air Dam Motor Actuator. The contact was informed that the part displayed signs of external damage as if the ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 23, 2025
While driving the car on 2 separate occasions, the breaks failed and the car would not stop completely. Twice I have taken the car to the dealer to be repaired and the car is currently at the dealer.
Incident date: Dec 12, 2024
The speedometer inside the vehicle is off by 4-5 mph at speeds higher than 55 mph. I have timed several miles with my cruise set at 60mph, at 65 mph, and at 70 mph. All miles were off by 4-5mph. To confirm, I used numerous GPS apps to confirm the VW Taos speedometer is indeed off. Digital radar devices on highways have confirmed this as well. I have reached out to the dealer and my local VW dealer... Read more
Incident date: Dec 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the transmission became stuck in second gear. The contact pulled over the right side of the road and turned off the vehicle for two minutes. The vehicle was then restarted and there was an abnormal banging sound coming from the gear shifter. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and dete... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
A 2020 vehicle with 80K miles is in need of a new transmission, after having hard shifting problems a few months previous. Rarely used for any towing. Appears to have a defective transmission.
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
I was driving down the interstate traveling 75 mph and with any warning the vehicle shifted into neutral. I made my way to the side of the interstate with any ability to accelerate on a busy stretch of highway. I had my children in the car with me. After making my way off the road, I shifted car to park and it wouldn’t go back into drive. I turned the car off, in an effort to put the car back in... Read more
Incident date: Mar 29, 2025
This issue closely resembles Audi recall campaign 97CB (NHTSA campaign ID 16V642000), with details available at [XXX] . In my case, the marker light itself is functioning properly, but the vehicle is displaying a false error message: "Front Right Side Marker Light Defective." This poses safety risks because the erroneous warning distracts drivers from the road and could lead to the system failing ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 11, 2025
THIS IS A STRUCTURE COMPLAINT. Paint is peeling off of my 2015Toyota Corolla. see attached pictures. Per the Toyota Dealer in Logan Utah, they referred me to you on this issue. I was not made aware of the paint recall that ended in January 2025. I hope this complaint will reopen another recall.
Incident date: Feb 11, 2025
The seatbelt/passenger seat fails to recognize a passenger is occupying the seat and turns off the airbag. This issue has been reported many times to BMW and on vehicle forums. This is an expensive fix ($2800) that should be issued a recall by the manufacture and not passed onto the owner of the car.
1 injured
Incident date: Apr 8, 2025
In January 2025, we had issues with the transmission not shifting smoothly while out of town. While driving on the freeway at around 65MPH, in traffic, the transmission suddenly downshifted from 10th to either 3rd or 4th gear immediately slowing the vehicle. We almost got rear ended and tried to get over to the shoulder. By the time we could get over, which took about a minute, the transmission re... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2025
I was entering 4-lane highway from a side street. While accelerating, the engine suddenly stopped. The dashboard went black, except for a red outline of the car. In the second or two that I was looking for a place to get off the highway, the car restarted, and all indicators returned to normal on the dash. I completed my errands without incident. Since the original incident on Monday, [XXX], I ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jaguar I-Pace. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V633000 (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 failure. The contact was ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2025
The contact’s mother owns a 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Velar. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. There was white smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle due to the engine overheating. The failure occurred within 10 minutes of driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to dealer, who diagnosed that the auxiliary radiator, cooling system hos... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V754000 (VISIBILITY). The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle started to lose power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact towed the vehicle to a dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The transmission and the clutch pack were replaced; however, the v... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V754000 (VISIBILITY). The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle started to lose power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact towed the vehicle to a dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The transmission and the clutch pack were replaced; however, the v... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 328I. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with a fuel pressure low warning message displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (En... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2025
I bought this car brand new and a couple of weeks after purchasing it, I would notice a creaking noise and/or a slight bump when I would put on the brakes. I have a lot of paperwork where I contacted the dealer to tell them about this noise over the years. They continued to tell me they didn’t hear or feel anything when I would take it in to be checked. I even had one of their mechanics to get i... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2025
Component Turbocharger, power train Safety vehicle would not restart so was stranded on highway Unknown if others have had similar issues Components have not been examined at this time but are available Warnings, 1st check engine, 2nd power reduced, 3rd engine was dead Going uphill on the interstate, the check engine light came on. I then observed the turbo boost climbing to 30 PSI, dark smoke ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 21, 2019
Component Turbocharger, power train Safety vehicle would not restart so was stranded on highway Unknown if others have had similar issues Components have not been examined at this time but are available Warnings, 1st check engine, 2nd power reduced, 3rd engine was dead Going uphill on the interstate, the check engine light came on. I then observed the turbo boost climbing to 30 PSI, dark smoke ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 10, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V148000 (POWER TRAIN); 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 had not exper... Read more
Incident date: Nov 23, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound emanating from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the water pump bearing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and re... Read more
Incident date: Aug 24, 2024
My vehicle has a persistent shift to park issue. My vehicle cannot be safely turned off. My vehicle needs to be restarted multiple times and the gearshift moved to the park position for the chance that it will register being in the parked position so the vehicle can be safely turned off.
Incident date: Aug 24, 2024
I had a crack in my windshield. I called Safelite to come out and replace my windshield tape got left behind on the windshield and the roof of my car. I removed the tape and it brought the paint with it. I’ve been contacted safe flight and they told me that there was a recall on the white paint for the Kia forte coupe 2015 therefore they are not liable for any repairs on the vehicle. Now the roo... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2025
ABS module failed, locked up the brakes and almost caused and accident
Incident date: Feb 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined there was coolant intrusion into various cylinders, resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the low oil pressure warning light and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that messages indicating Emissions, Lane Assist failures, and other unknown messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the vehicl... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2025
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
I've gotten my car fixed multiple times and nothing has worked. My car is leaking coolant severely it overheats constantly I get the red and the yellow message. My heater is self stopped working and my car on the freeway has stopped from going 75 to 80 miles dropping all the way to 20 miles.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while shifting from reverse(R) to drive(D) or from park(P) to drive(D), the vehicle jerked before shifting into the intended drive mode. While driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle was shaking abnormally while accelerating. The check engine warning light had illuminated intermittently. The wrench symbol was displayed on the instr... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while shifting from reverse(R) to drive(D) or from park(P) to drive(D), the vehicle jerked before shifting into the intended drive mode. While driving at approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle was shaking abnormally while accelerating. The check engine warning light had illuminated intermittently. The wrench symbol was displayed on the instr... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2025
Service side detection system came up on the display while driving on the freeway at 65MPH.
Incident date: Apr 9, 2025
I am filing this complaint to report a seemingly common ongoing and worsening transmission issues in my 2015 Jeep Cherokee, which persist and have become significantly worse after receiving the U90 recall update and a subsequent TCM/PCM software update offered by Jeep. My vehicle shifted regular before the update After the update, the vehicle began exhibiting: •Harsh and delayed shifting •Sud... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2025
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
1) The engine began making unusual noises. I had the vehicle towed to the dealer. It is currently at Zimbrick Eastside in Madison Wisconsin. 2) The problem was noticed prior to my family being put at risk only because I noticed the noise happening while we were parked. 3) The problem has been confirmed. The dealer is doing a complete engine replacement. However, as of today, it has been a... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
Steering sticks while cruising down the highway
Incident date: Aug 18, 2024
Vehicle engine ceased operation suddenly at highway speed on busy interstate highway making it very difficult for operator to safely get vehicle to shoulder of interstate and creating a dangerous situation for vehicle occupants and everyone involved in transporting occupants and removing the vehicle from interstate shoulder dealer service repairing vehicle indicated problem was fuel control module... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2024
Rear suspension cradle attachment points at the frame corrode. This is common on all pilots in northern climates. Honda has recalled both the Ridgeline and CRV models for corrosion issues related to suspension attachment point corrosion but refuses to recall the pilot. While they claim you will not lose control when the suspension disconnects from the frame the vehicle cannot pass inspectio... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2025
Vehicle has many fault codes that will not clear. Took to dealership and the state they believe its a wheel speed sensor and vehicle is safe to drive. Flashing warnings include AWD system problem, electric parking brake problem, brake system problem, brake hold system problem, electric power steering problem, antilock brake system problem, vehicle stability assist problem, hill start assist prob... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2025
Vehicle has many fault codes that will not clear. Took to dealership and the state they believe its a wheel speed sensor and vehicle is safe to drive. Flashing warnings include AWD system problem, electric parking brake problem, brake system problem, brake hold system problem, electric power steering problem, antilock brake system problem, vehicle stability assist problem, hill start assist prob... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2025
Audi Pre-Sense failure warning came on. I took it to Audi Fairfield CT and it was diagnosed as having a bad camera/sensor in the windshield. This could have resulted in a collision. the repair would have cost almost $3000. I bought a used one and went to an independent shop for calibration.
Incident date: Apr 8, 2025
Audi Pre-Sense failure warning came on. I took it to Audi Fairfield CT and it was diagnosed as having a bad camera/sensor in the windshield. This could have resulted in a collision. the repair would have cost almost $3000. I bought a used one and went to an independent shop for calibration.