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: Jul 28, 2026
I suspect the automatic emergency braking suddenly activated while backing into my driveway. The truck abruptly stopped as if i crashed into something. The driveway was completely empty there was no reason for the vehicle to activate that system if that's even what happened. The dealer was no help i figuring out the issue they made no attempt to even try and diagnose it. I've since deactivated aut... Read more
Incident date: Jul 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and attempting to make a left or right turn, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver, with an abnormal clicking sound coming from the steering wheel. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the result was unknown.... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
On XXX, at approximately 2:47:42 PM, I was driving a 2020 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD VIN [XXX] on a two-lane road in the Adirondacks with Full Self-Driving (Supervised) active. The vehicle was traveling approximately 50–52 mph. An oncoming SUV moved toward or across the double-yellow centerline while passing a bicyclist. FSD reacted with a sudden and aggressive steering maneuver to the right. ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufac... Read more
Incident date: Jul 23, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse(R), the rearview camera displayed a blank image on the screen. In addition, the camera unexpectedly turned on while driving at various speeds, displaying a blank image with the message "Service Camera" displayed at the top of the screen. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V... Read more
Incident date: Jul 25, 2026
While driving my 2025 Mazda CX-50, the entire center-dash climate control panel (HVAC module) suffered a sudden, spontaneous, and total electrical power blackout. The unit completely loses power and goes dark exactly as if the power button was pressed. This is a recurring failure that occurs after only a few minutes of vehicle operation. This electrical failure immediately cuts all airflow and A/C... Read more
Incident date: Jul 25, 2026
While driving my 2025 Mazda CX-50, the entire center-dash climate control panel (HVAC module) suffered a sudden, spontaneous, and total electrical power blackout. The unit completely loses power and goes dark exactly as if the power button was pressed. This is a recurring failure that occurs after only a few minutes of vehicle operation. This electrical failure immediately cuts all airflow and A/C... Read more
Incident date: Jun 3, 2026
While driving my 2022 Volkswagen Atlas, the infotainment system began malfunctioning. The audio stopped working intermittently, the touchscreen went black and displayed corrupted graphics, and the backup camera repeatedly cuts in and out or fails to display anything. Pressing the backup camera button can cause the infotainment system to shut down completely. I attempted to reset the system through... Read more
Incident date: Jul 25, 2026
I was traveling on the highway at approximately 75 mph, in TX with my wife, mother in law, and my two pets when the emergency breaking system triggered suddenly. There were no cars or obstacles in front of me. But there was a long line of vehicles, including 18 wheelers right behind me. The vehicle went from about 75 mph to about 55 in less than a second or so it seemed. This was terrifying for ev... Read more
Incident date: Jun 21, 2026
Erratic uncontrolled phantom touches on the primary console screen create severe driver distraction, alter settings whuke driving, and that multiple dealer replacements (screen + head unit) failed to remedy the issue under warranty.
Incident date: Jun 21, 2026
Coolant intrusion with eco boost engine.
Incident date: Jun 21, 2026
The infotainment touchscreen in my 2018 Subaru Outback has developed severe internal delamination and persistent phantom or ghost touches. The screen randomly changes navigation routes, places telephone calls, changes audio selections, and moves between menus without driver input. These events create substantial distraction while the vehicle is moving. The condition has now progressed to the poin... Read more
Incident date: Jun 12, 2026
225/65/r17 Side wall blew out on me tire pressure system did not let me know . I had to sweave to miss oncoming traffic
Crash
Incident date: Jun 12, 2026
225/65/r17 Side wall blew out on me tire pressure system did not let me know . I had to sweave to miss oncoming traffic
Crash
Incident date: Jun 12, 2026
225/65/r17 Side wall blew out on me tire pressure system did not let me know . I had to sweave to miss oncoming traffic
Crash
Incident date: Jul 8, 2026
Three original equipment Hankook Dynapro HT tires developed belt-related failures at approximately 6,000 miles of use during a road trip in June 2026. On [XXX], while driving in Tennessee, we noticed a vibration that gradually increased in intensity. We stopped for inspection at C&D Tire & Service in Athens, TN, which found a "bad belt" in the left-front tire at an odometer reading of 5,649 miles... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2026
The power steering light is on and will not steer properly. The vehicle is well maintained with only 70k. I have read some other issues with steering.
Incident date: May 1, 2026
Internal failure of the gearbox as diagnosed by the Honda dealer. Repair completed July 24, 2026. Car has less than 36,000 miles. Steering was binding and sticking. Unable to steer vehicle properly.
Incident date: Jul 24, 2026
MIC Hardtop is cracking and honeycomb
Incident date: Jul 23, 2026
I am writing to formally express my concern regarding a safety issue with my 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport. The driver’s seat has become loose, and upon inspection, I discovered that a bolt has come out of the seat frame assembly. This creates noticeable movement in the seat while driving and raises serious concerns about the structural integrity and safety of the seating system. What is particula... Read more
Incident date: Jul 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving over a bumpy road surface, the message "See Dealer" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V717000 (Parking Brake). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and inf... Read more
Incident date: Jul 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving over a bumpy road surface, the message "See Dealer" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V717000 (Parking Brake). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and inf... Read more
Incident date: Jul 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota C-HR. The contact stated that while driving over a bumpy road surface, the message "See Dealer" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V717000 (Parking Brake). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and inf... Read more
Incident date: Jul 23, 2026
Vehicle suddenly seemed to shift while driving causing a loud sound, jerk and caused a loss of control suddenly.
Incident date: Jul 23, 2026
2018 Ford escape ecoboost coolant leak and engine overheating. If not repaired, will destroy the entire engine.
Incident date: Jul 23, 2026
2018 Ford escape ecoboost coolant leak and engine overheating. If not repaired, will destroy the entire engine.
Incident date: Jun 25, 2026
My 2018 dodge ram has an open recall since December 2024. There are no parts/no fix. My truck has been dinging and pinging with the break light/traction light/engine light/ABS light since 6 months after I got it. ALL of these things are related to the open recall. VIN [XXX]. Manufacturer Recall Number C4B, NHTSA Recall Number24V-896. "The loss of ABS/ESC/Traction control may cause a vehicle crash... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2026
Subject of Complaint: Severe odometer fraud, mileage tampering, and title misrepresentation by the selling dealership: Phenix Motors, LLC ([XXX]), operated by [XXX]. The Discrepancy: The vehicle was sold to me with a falsely represented odometer reading. Subsequent electronic diagnostics and vehicle history reports reveal that the actual mileage is severely discrepant from the mileage disclosed on... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2026
The contact owns a 2006 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver’s side exhaust manifold shield fell into the steering linkage and caused the vehicle to run over a bush. There was no crash or injuries reported. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic, but there was no diagnostic information provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The... Read more
Incident date: Jul 5, 2026
My 2017 Porsche Macan has a Timing Chain Cover Bolt Failure which has caused leaking oil and may lead to total loss of oil and engine failure. This is a known documented design and manufacturing defect affecting the 3.0L and 3.6L engines. The manufacturers original aluminum bolts for the cover suffer from premature failure leading them to break. Porsche has recognized this widespread defect and pr... Read more
Incident date: Jun 28, 2026
Unable to put car into park, stuck in reverse
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
I bought this car brand new and since I purchased it in December of 2021. Every summer this car leaves me stranded everytime I shut the car off and its hot outside I took it to several kia dealerships while in warranty but because it was not showing a code they couldn't fix it. The warranty ran out and this car still won't start if its hot outside but has no issues in the winter. After 3 yrs of de... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2026
SAFETY DEFECT REPORT: Sudden Power Loss & Falsified Records 1. INCIDENT & 5-HR TOWING (XXX): On XXX at ~16:30, while executing a low-speed (<10 mph) left turn in Cambridge, MA, the vehicle had a sudden, total high-voltage failure mid-turn, losing all motive power and power steering without warning or error codes. Photos/videos were taken on-scene confirming ZERO physical impact or undercarriage c... Read more
Incident date: Jan 12, 2026
multi-component engine failure while being operated under normal driving conditions. Despite rigorous, routine, and fully documented preventive maintenance performed in accordance with manufacturer specifications, the vehicle suffered an instantaneous breakdown of its core mechanical systems. A diagnostic assessment confirmed that a sweeping array of vital engine components—including the cam ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 21, 2026
I bought replacement Front struts from Oready autoparts on Ebay (M2C Auto parts Inc) [XXX]. 9-20-2023. Order #XXX. I installed the struts 9-24-2023. Coming back from a short trip the car started pulling and shacking in 06 -2026. Upon getting home I looked at what happened I found out the nuts on the upper control arm bolts had fallen off. The struts had a lifetime warranty. I contacted the company... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
At 63387 miles my backup camera on my 2020 KIA Soul EX stopped working without warning. It will blink on and off occasionally but is generally just a black screen when placed in reverse. All of the other screens work fine. This is concerning to me as it is an important safety feature. It seems like KIA would repair such an item at no charge. I called my local KIA outside of Dallas about the issue... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the gear shifter was shifted from neutral(N), to park(P), and then to drive(D) for the vehicle to accelerate as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact researched and became aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not a... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the gear shifter was shifted from neutral(N), to park(P), and then to drive(D) for the vehicle to accelerate as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact researched and became aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not a... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
Formal complaint that 2022 thru 2025 Toyota Sequoia equipped with the 3.4L twin-turbo V6 engine architecture (V35A-FTS) suffering from the notorious main bearing failure be included in the current recall of 2022 thru 2025 Toyota Tundra. If the engine block mechanically seizes, the entire drivetrain locks up, rendering the hybrid backup ineffective, creating a major safety issue. (NHTSA Campaign 25... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Starter System Failure" was displayed and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with ignition failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V604000 (Electrical System); however, the V... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
The vehicle experiences a sudden, violent drop into "limp mode" during active traffic acceleration. The internal Output Shaft Speed Sensor completely drops its signal, causing the vehicle to rapidly lose speed in active traffic lanes, creating an immediate and severe rear-end collision hazard.Diagnostic Evidence:Dealership (Crews Chevrolet) officially scanned the vehicle and documented history cod... Read more
Incident date: Apr 21, 2026
The front and rear brake pressure switch does not allow the brake light to come on unless the brake is pressed extremely hard. Slowing down without the brake light activating is extremely dangerous. I could get rear ended and killed. I called a KTM dealer, they told me that is was not under warranty
Incident date: Jan 30, 2026
The contact owns 2020 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, occupied with his wife in the vehicle, he heard a loud explosion noise coming from inside the vehicle, and as his wife leaning forward the seat belt deployed on his front passenger side of the vehicle causing his wife to sustain whiplash and brushing to her chest. A dealer or An Independent mechanic was not contacte... Read more
Incident date: Jul 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the 4WD message was displayed and the 4H warning light illuminated before the screen went blank, and the rear wheels locked up, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and drive into a ditch. The vehicle came to a stop after driving into the ditch. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was winched out o... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jul 20, 2026
The rear right coil spring and is available for inspection upon request. Spring failed while car was parked in driveway on flat ground, the car was driven with me and my 1 year old at highway speeds of 75mph. No warnings were displayed on dashboard. Never received an update of a recall and will not pull up when VIN is searched. Upon VIN search on MOPAR website original recall repair was done in 20... Read more
Incident date: Jul 20, 2026
The PTU UNIT HAS FAILED TWICE ALREADY ON MY VEHICLE! THE FIRST TIME IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND COVERED; THIS LAST TIME IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR IT, $3,186.02. Then a month or so later received a document in the mail stating that this is now a safety recall and if you have already had it fixed, once they find a remedy it will have to be fixed again, as it is st... Read more
Incident date: Jul 13, 2026
I have had to replace my rear brake pads and machine rotors at 15k and 28k miles. I’ve never had to replace my front brakes- the issue is not my driving. I was told not to use my lane assist b/c it wears brakes and have t ever used. In addition the seatbelt warning dings while driving with no person nor anything on the seat. I have to pull off the freeway, turn the car off and restart it to sto... Read more
Incident date: Jun 17, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Flex. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V829000 (Structure); however, parts for the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while in reverse, the back over prevention camera failed to... Read more
Incident date: Jul 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, there was an alert on the instrument panel that stating "Warning - System Overheating". The contact checked the coolant level, and the level was at the operational level; however, the A/C was not operating properly. While driving the vehicle, the external temperature gauge started lo... Read more
Incident date: Jul 17, 2026
purchased a brand new vehicle in 2022 Since purchase I have had multiple issues with said vehicle for which I will list. I understand vehicles will and can have issues but there is no excuse for all the problems I have had to deal with a new vehicle. A. Muffler has fallen off 3 times and replaced all 3 times During the leakage part of why it was not fully disconnected every time I was driving th... Read more
1 injured