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: May 6, 2025
One month ago, my car experienced an failure and the warnings on the dash reported to check the electrical supply and then to stop driving the car immediately. I had it towed to a dealership who reported the ICCU failed and it'd take 1-2 weeks to get replacement parts and repair. A month later, I was just told the part is on indefinite back-order and they have no ETA when a replacement part will... Read more
Incident date: Apr 17, 2025
2019 GMC SIERRA 1500 AT4 2019 VIN: [XXX] On 10/31/2023 the transmission was replaced at Mileage: 72,875. The transmission at Jim Ellis Buick, GMC, after the truck would not drive over 40 miles in speeded. 12/23/23, 86788215, Engine Oil Cooler Hose had to be changed. Truck had to be towed from a public parking lot to the mechanic. The engine is burning oil, the warning messages say add oil, I hav... Read more
Incident date: Apr 17, 2025
2019 GMC SIERRA 1500 AT4 2019 VIN: [XXX] On 10/31/2023 the transmission was replaced at Mileage: 72,875. The transmission at Jim Ellis Buick, GMC, after the truck would not drive over 40 miles in speeded. 12/23/23, 86788215, Engine Oil Cooler Hose had to be changed. Truck had to be towed from a public parking lot to the mechanic. The engine is burning oil, the warning messages say add oil, I hav... Read more
Incident date: Oct 31, 2024
Was running errands in town, truck was on and off a few times over 2 hours. Started up leaving restaurant, I had no power steering. Completely gone, the (service power steering) light and warning popped up on my dash. The power steering has been intermediate loss for the past 5 days now. Works when it wants. Took a local shop to get the code read, lost communication to the EPS. Some times when I s... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2025
This is a safety concern regarding the emergency breakaway switch, to engage the electric brakes upon a hitch disconnect senerio. I understand the breakaway switch is to be powered directly from the onboard battery with no fuses or disconnects. I found my disconnect switch is powered through the AUX power connection of the 7 pin wire harness, and it is both fused and behind the disconnect switch... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2025
While driving at 60mph, the vehicle became unresponsive and electronically shifted into park unexpectedly. No warning lights were present, and the dealership's service department could not replicate the issue.
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
My truck is currently experiencing the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components that may have manufacturing defects that has lead to engine damage and engine failure. My truck is currently being looked at a shop for this exact issue. GM recently recalled more than 597,000 vehicles due to engine failures, according to you, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall how... Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2025
El motor de mi camioneta falló por completo empezó a hacerle unos ruidos muy fuertes dentro del motor con solo 80,000 millas es del 2021 la compré el año pasado no llegó ni un año de uso una camioneta que supuestamente era muy buenas Estaba en el momento de lo sucedido estaba con mi mujer y mi hijo en el auto regresábamos de un restaurante acá en Miami y la camioneta se paró de pronto L... Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2025
El motor de mi camioneta falló por completo empezó a hacerle unos ruidos muy fuertes dentro del motor con solo 80,000 millas es del 2021 la compré el año pasado no llegó ni un año de uso una camioneta que supuestamente era muy buenas Estaba en el momento de lo sucedido estaba con mi mujer y mi hijo en el auto regresábamos de un restaurante acá en Miami y la camioneta se paró de pronto L... Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2025
Back up camera is showing up distorted black on the screen with a magnifying glass. I can not see to backup.
Incident date: May 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed, the vehicle stalled, and the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the heavy fuel consumption warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that the fault code had been reset. ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2024
Rear viewing camera does not display when vehicle is placed in reverse.
Incident date: Aug 31, 2024
Rear viewing camera does not display when vehicle is placed in reverse.
Incident date: May 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Seltos. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V099000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Two local dealers were made aware of the issue, and it was confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall... Read more
Incident date: May 3, 2025
Currently have my vehicle in for a recall notice and mentioned to the Ford service staff that the transmission makes a jerking motion when engaged in a low gear but no warning lights are lit up. Technician states I need an entire new transmission and my vehicle is just barely out of the powertrain warranty. Ford refuses to replace transmission on their dime because its out of warranty. However,... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
The MMI system in car will shut down and reboot many times while driving. If in the process of backing up or parking, it will disable the parking sensors as well. I have taken into dealership and they claim it is an iphone update issue. I have contacted Apple, they are not aware of any such issue.
Incident date: May 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (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 stated ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 30, 2025
When in a dark area with little to no lights the backup camera is unusable. The taillights/reverse lights do not put off enough light to provide the camera with the lighting it needs to see behind the vehicle in dark situations. If I am in an urban area with a lot of light pollution the camera works fine, but not when I am in a rural are with no lights.
Incident date: Mar 30, 2025
INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FLICKERS ON AND OFF. NOW HAVE A BLANK SCREEN. I CANT SEE MY INFORMATION FOR THE JEEP. GAS GAUGE , NOTHING AT ALL. NOW ITS AFFECTING THE RADIO.
Incident date: Feb 5, 2025
I have a 2018 GMC Acadia that is now displaying " shift to park " while the vehicle is in park. Upon extensive research I see GMC did issue a recall however, my particular VIN was not included. Its NOW displaying the error message which would lead me to believe it IS part of the recall. I called my local GMC dealership (Langhorne, PA.) and they said this was not covered since my VIN was not issues... Read more
Incident date: Feb 5, 2025
I have a 2018 GMC Acadia that is now displaying " shift to park " while the vehicle is in park. Upon extensive research I see GMC did issue a recall however, my particular VIN was not included. Its NOW displaying the error message which would lead me to believe it IS part of the recall. I called my local GMC dealership (Langhorne, PA.) and they said this was not covered since my VIN was not issues... Read more
Incident date: Dec 25, 2024
The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the air pressure was set at 55 PSI and the air pressure levels caused the vehicle to bounce too high while driving over bumps or uneven roads. The contact lowered the pressure to 45 PSI, which caused the vehicle to run smoother however, the tire pressure light remained illuminated. The contact stated that while looking online, the contact b... Read more
BMW
R 18 CLASSIC
(2021) - ENGINE
May 5, 2025
Incident date: May 3, 2025
Vehicle randomly shuts off during normal operation. Same as if the Start / Stop button were activated. Vehicle coasts until it self applies the emergency brake at about 3mph causing a sudden, jerky complete stop. Switches itself to Park. Dash indicates “sterp on brake to restart”. Vehicle restarts normally but may randomly shut down again. Safety risk is loss of steering, loss of power brake c... Read more
Incident date: Apr 22, 2025
The coolant leaked, causing the need for a total engine replacement at only 68,000 miles. This has essentially totaled my vehicle, with the cost of repair exceeding the value of the car. It also placed my family and me at risk if the car had overheated. The vehicle has been inspected and the issue confirmed by my Ford dealer.
Incident date: Apr 30, 2025
The sunroof in the Audi Q3 leaks and the water drops from the ceiling INTO the cabin. Water also comes through the passenger side panel and drips onto the floor causing flooding of the floorboards. This is a KNOWN issue and Audi has released a TSB (technical service bulletin) to attempt to fix these, but it’s just a band aid. It keeps coming back over and over. Water intrudes into the center lig... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear passenger's side door made an abnormal sloshing sound. Upon inspection, the contact discovered water inside the door. The contact unplugged the rubber seal under the rear passenger door to release the water. The contact was concerned about corrosion of the door and an electrical system fail... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The low oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, where an oil consumption test was performed. The contact stated that the oil consumption test was ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2024
1) Brakes consistently 'softer' than normal. Sometimes require pumping the pedal to stop at all. Can be difficult to start car, brake pedal may not move at all to get starter button to light up. **Every time after sitting over night, when the car starts the pedal 'mushes' to the floor. It must be pumped to get any resistance. 2) Lack of reliable brakes poses real safety risk for everyone. I just ... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2025
On [XXX], the vehicle overheated during a commute, resulting in a blown radiator cap and an empty engine coolant reservoir. Coolant levels had been properly maintained up to that point. The following day, engine coolant was again low, though no visible leaks were found. On April 12, I requested warranty service but was told “services aren’t rendered on Saturdays” despite the service departme... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the contact rolled over a bump and the vehicle started to shudder and sway to the left and right violently. The contact slowed down to 20 MPH and regained control of the vehicle. The contact stated there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred two years prior. ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2024
While driving, power steering system quits providing power assist. This problem is intermittent and can occur at any time without any warning and at any speed. This is a safety concern since no warning is given as to when the power steering system will fail. Have contacted local GMC dealer and was told there is a recall for the 2025 model but not the 2016. Contacted General Motors and was told... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2025
ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL OF MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING: BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK VCS SYSTEM, ABS, ALL OF THE EXCLAMATION LIGHTS, ETC.. IVE BEEN VERY DILIGENT ABOUT THE MAINTENACE ON Y VEHICLE AND HAD THE CODES READ AND RESET, BUT THEY KEEP COMING BACK ON. THE MAJOR ISSUES ARE THE ABS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER EROR CODE & THE ABS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BREAK. IVE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND THE MECHANICS ARE SA... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2025
Hankook 235/60 R18 103H A few months ago, one of my Hankook tires had a flat tire. At the tire shop, I was told my 3 remaining tires would need replacement soon as well. My car's odometer at this time was roughly 21,000 miles. The tires are originally the tires from purchase of the new car. I then went to a Honda dealership for further inspection. I was told that my remaining 3 tires were in "ye... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2025
My backup camera has started to glitch like the other 2015 fords that are in recall. The screen will get green lines through it, go black, flip horizontal/vertical, flash on and off, it creates more of a distraction than assistance and makes it very hard to back in/out of tight spaces. I have not taken it to the dealership. Right before the other recall was released I called the dealership and to... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2025
My backup camera has started to glitch like the other 2015 fords that are in recall. The screen will get green lines through it, go black, flip horizontal/vertical, flash on and off, it creates more of a distraction than assistance and makes it very hard to back in/out of tight spaces. I have not taken it to the dealership. Right before the other recall was released I called the dealership and to... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2025
When driving at any speed above 30mph the steering wheel sticks. This is quite scary and has cause some very close calls when driving down the busy highway. I have taken it to the dealership several times and they have yet to fix this dangerous issue.
Incident date: May 2, 2025
My truck rpm goes idle while driving also a loud knocking sound when accelerating
Incident date: May 2, 2025
I was driving and as I was going to make a left turn, the steering wheel forced itself to the right and locked. And the whole car completely shut down. So I had to slam on my brakes as they were also locking on me.
Incident date: Apr 28, 2025
Highway driving and lost power, started hearing engine rattle. 5.0L Cummins Diesel engine crankshaft is broken. Dealer verified it to be crankshaft. Insurance company denied a claim stating the crankshaft was manufacturer defect. Turns out that defective crankshaft was a known issue with the 2016 and 2017 Titan 5.0L engines that Cummins changed it for subsequent years. This should be a recall. ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 10, 2024
The remedy isn’t available yet. It been a year.
Incident date: Apr 2, 2025
Critical Issue: Gasoline leaks into engine. That causes increasing engine oil level significantly and mixed with engine oil. I dropped off me car (mileage: 11731) at Kia Pro in Glendale, CA on 5/1/2025 as soon as I confirmed that engine oil level exceeds the maximum (twice of max) and smelled Gasoline from the dipstick. The service advisor and a tech confirmed that the excessive engine oil level a... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2025
Critical Issue: Gasoline leaks into engine. That causes increasing engine oil level significantly and mixed with engine oil. I dropped off me car (mileage: 11731) at Kia Pro in Glendale, CA on 5/1/2025 as soon as I confirmed that engine oil level exceeds the maximum (twice of max) and smelled Gasoline from the dipstick. The service advisor and a tech confirmed that the excessive engine oil level a... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2025
The contact owned a 2021 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V581000 (Steering) through mail and email and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list because the vehicle was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted.
Incident date: Jan 8, 2025
Back up camera freezes or doesn't work when backing up- almost caused a accident!
Incident date: Jan 8, 2025
The warning light “Secure vehicle against rolling” appears when the gear is shifted into park. An additional message reads: “Transmission: Secure vehicle with parking brake when stopped. Consult service center.” It has been verified that the gear is indeed mechanically in the park position. Upon further investigation, I discovered numerous BMW X1 owners reporting this same issue on variou... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2025
I was passing a line of vehicles when a semi started over into my lane. I hit the gas, to avoid being hit by the truck. When I did warning light on my vehicle appeared on the display. I lost speed and immediately heard a loud knocking from the engine. I was on an open 4 lane highway and knew there was a dealer close by. I drove to the dealership, I left the vehicle running so they could hear it. T... Read more
Incident date: Aug 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The message "Power Reduction" was displayed, and the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact stated that the vehicle was able to restart; however, upon attempting to drive, the vehicle shuddere... Read more
Incident date: Aug 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH and attempting to complete a turn, the vehicle briefly lost motive power but continued running. The contact stated that shortly afterwards, the vehicle returned to normal functionality. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was in... Read more
Incident date: Aug 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH and attempting to complete a turn, the vehicle briefly lost motive power but continued running. The contact stated that shortly afterwards, the vehicle returned to normal functionality. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was in... Read more