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: Apr 10, 2024
I drive in the standard one pedal driving mode which allows for the car to brake and come to a complete stop using the regen system by simply releasing the accelerator. The issue is that I had come to a stop behind another car at traffic lights with my foot of the accelerator. In one pedal driving there is no need to hold the brake pedal as the car should so this itself. After a few seconds of ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
Power trunk latch failed. Unable to open trunk. Inside trunk manual safety release latch failed to open trunk. If a child got trapped inside trunk they would be unable to escape. Dealer advised the power trunk release latch failed. Advised thr repair part # 81230-B1010 Latch assembly trunk lid $637.90. Repair labor cost $540.00 The dealer stated they accessed the trunk by removing the rear seat o... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
Rear Display (1875931-00-D) glass breaking without any impact. Tesla Service Center refused to honor warranty repair.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
The check engine light came on and we brought it to the shop where they said the code is for the electronic brake system modulator. It is also causing the ABS to malfunction and be hypersensitive. There is a recall for the same make/model/year of vehicle, except the month before her car was manufactured. I believe this is a safety issue that needs to be looked into and that her car should also be ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a fa... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2025
The headlight and tail light went out unexpectedly. I brought my vehicle to a shop and they told me that my headlight got water inside of it. The shop informed me that this is a known issue with multiple BMW models. The headlight seal will slowly fail allowing moisture inside the housing which damages the electronics. The taillights have to have their electronics replaced due to some defect form t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2025
The headlight and tail light went out unexpectedly. I brought my vehicle to a shop and they told me that my headlight got water inside of it. The shop informed me that this is a known issue with multiple BMW models. The headlight seal will slowly fail allowing moisture inside the housing which damages the electronics. The taillights have to have their electronics replaced due to some defect form t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the driver's side air bag warning light continued to blink on and off. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V521000(AIR BAGS, ELECTRIC... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, he heard the sound of the tailgate opening independently. When the contact stopped the vehicle, he observed that the tailgate was open and he was able to raise and secure the tailgate. The contact stated that later he was starting the vehicle and saw that the tailgate was again open, however, he was not abl... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving the transmission would randomly downshift into 1st gear causing the vehicle to abruptly reduce speeds. Also, the speedometer had intermittently malfunctioned and did not properly display. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that the vehicle was previously serviced und... Read more
Incident date: Dec 4, 2024
Rear glass shattered spontaneously. There are many reports of this issue over a wide range of model years and no acknowledgement from Ford. Vehicle was parked with engine running and rear defrost on, no prior damage to the rear window. The drivers side rear glass shattered suddenly with a loud bang and rained small glass slivers down on rear occupants. Was quoted $1080 by a glass installer for... Read more
Incident date: Dec 9, 2024
On January 9, a little after 12:30 pm, on Indian Head Highway (MD route 210) northbound near the Manokeek exit, after limiting drive power owing to battery degradation and cold weather (about 30 F) drive power and power steering failed entirely. There was no warning to pull over so I suspect this is an undocumented failure mode. After the car was towed home, it would not charge when plugged in unt... Read more
Incident date: Dec 9, 2024
On January 9, a little after 12:30 pm, on Indian Head Highway (MD route 210) northbound near the Manokeek exit, after limiting drive power owing to battery degradation and cold weather (about 30 F) drive power and power steering failed entirely. There was no warning to pull over so I suspect this is an undocumented failure mode. After the car was towed home, it would not charge when plugged in unt... Read more
Incident date: Oct 24, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving at approximatel... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Oct 31, 2024
Due to an unresolved issue that Ford motor company is aware of with the Transmission “Molded Lead Frame” the truck will drop down into 1st gear from highway speeds and causes a huge safety concern if there should be someone traveling behind me. The speedometer will stop working as well as the mileage will disappear off the screen/all other information will go blank. I will have to stop the tru... Read more
Incident date: Oct 8, 2024
All of the car's cameras have gone dead since November 2024. The car has been collecting water in the truck area and inside panel of the car by the door frame.
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
The front sensor to bumper coming up to check ok at every time you start the vehicle. In-between 30mph to 50mph It hesitates and feels like it's jumping in and out, if you do a hard acceleration you don't feel it, not sure if it's through the fuel system for the transmission. Check to see if codes were coming up with the machine and the vehicle shows no codes, With heartbreaking the front will shi... Read more
Incident date: Jan 10, 2024
Upon entering a light controlled intersection at a relatively slow speed (probably less than 20 mph} on wet pavement, an oncoming car suddenly made a left turn directly in front of me. I applied the applied the breaks hard and slid into the passenger side of the turning vehicle. The ABS system did not function. The air bag did not deploy. At the moment of the collision my speed was reduced and ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 10, 2024
Upon entering a light controlled intersection at a relatively slow speed (probably less than 20 mph} on wet pavement, an oncoming car suddenly made a left turn directly in front of me. I applied the applied the breaks hard and slid into the passenger side of the turning vehicle. The ABS system did not function. The air bag did not deploy. At the moment of the collision my speed was reduced and ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Fit. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact discovered that the paint all over the vehicle was delaminating and rusting. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle needed to be repainted. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer wa... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2025
Complaint Regarding Unresolved Recall #24V-763 and Persistent Defects – 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid Dear NHTSA I am filing a formal complaint regarding an unresolved recall (#24V-763) and persistent defects with my 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid EX-L. Since purchasing this vehicle in December 2023, it has exhibited numerous defects and abnormal behavior Recall pertains to a defect in the high-pressure fu... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2025 Mini Countryman. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V104000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experi... Read more
Incident date: Sep 30, 2024
Injector cup started leaking damaging injectors and causing cross contamination between fuel and coolant. This is a know problem for the isx and cummins should pay for the repair
Incident date: Sep 30, 2024
Injector cup started leaking damaging injectors and causing cross contamination between fuel and coolant. This is a know problem for the isx and cummins should pay for the repair
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
On December 26th 2024, I was travelling 5 mph or less while pulling into a parking space at a restaurant. As I let the steering wheel return to center, my hand hit the Resume button on the left side of the steering wheel and the vehicle immediately began to accelerate. I was able to step on the brake to prevent the vehicle from hitting the wall of the restaurant. The next day on December 27th, 20... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving on the highway at 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that her daughter was able to pull over onto the side of the road and restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle was driving at a reduced speed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence and then w... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the power steering assist became inoperable. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V167000 (STEERING). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the electric power steering ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving 70-74 MPH, the message "Loss of Power" was displayed, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a high-pressure fuel pump failure. The dealer determined that the high-pressure fuel pump needed to be rep... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was a loud sound coming from the exhaust and there were exhaust fumes entering the cabin of the vehicle while starting the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while reversing the vehicle, the display screen failed to display an image and was instead displaying a blue screen. The backover prevention system warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure milea... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2023
Breaks fail to operate correctly 4% of the time and when they fail the vehicle aggressive shakes. This has happened multiple times.We have reported this to the dealership upon service.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
Roof Membrane separating from nose cap, nose cap separating from roof membrane. 5th wheel pin box sinking up into rv upper deck when lowering onto the truck. Cargo and main doors open during transport. Sawdust on dresser in nose of the RV. Lag Screws unscrewing and/or loose in the upper deck. Stress fractures in fiberglass on the cap of RV. Pinch molding coming loose from underside of 5th Wheel sk... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Honda CT125 Motorcycle. The contact stated that while riding at undisclosed speeds, debris from the wood trail was entering the skid pan near the exhaust. The contact was concerned about the potential fire risk. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the motorcycle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failu... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Honda CT125 Motorcycle. The contact stated that while riding at undisclosed speeds, debris from the wood trail was entering the skid pan near the exhaust. The contact was concerned about the potential fire risk. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the motorcycle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failu... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
In my 2019 Ford Ranger, which has 75,570 miles, on [XXX], I was at a stop sign on [XXX] , at [XXX] , near Statesboro, GA, waiting for a break in traffic to safely cross. When a safe break occurred, I proceeded to cross, and at about the halfway point of crossing, the transmission bucked, and the truck began to slow to a halt. As a tractor trailer was bearing down on me broadside, the transmission ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
added information: the issue is the piston, it went off due to a bad part. Mercedes Benz knew about the issue with the type of engine M247. there is a class action lawsuit pending. But I'm reporting this because i didn't know and it happened to me just a month out of warranty. Now, the dealership is asking me to pay for the labor. the dealership is House Of Imports in Buena Park. This has to do wi... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormal odor coming from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with an internal coolant leak into the cylinder. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufa... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2024
I was in the middle of driving on the freeway and my motor started to get loss in power. Moments later a malfunction engine sign popped up. The codes I was able to pull from the vehicle were pointing towards a recall that already exists for BMW but for some reason my vehicle was not a part of the recall. The recall I am reffering to is 23V707000. It shows that there are 11 open recalls for 2011 33... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2024
On [XXX] I was driving in the City of Tampa. Stopped the vehicle to make a left turn, waiting for oncoming traffic to clear. Without any warning the vehicle sped off at a high speed at crashed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash
Incident date: Sep 15, 2024
On [XXX] I was driving in the City of Tampa. Stopped the vehicle to make a left turn, waiting for oncoming traffic to clear. Without any warning the vehicle sped off at a high speed at crashed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash
Incident date: Jan 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The contact stated while parked at the gas station, the fuel gauge became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel sending unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that recalls... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The contact stated while parked at the gas station, the fuel gauge became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel sending unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that recalls... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, a warning chime sounded. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated while the chime was sounding. The contact slowed down and heard an abnormal sound underneath the vehicle before the wheels locked up. The vehicle stopped on the roadway independently without the brake pedal being depresse... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle's transmission locked up, the transmission would not budge and so the engine proceeded to shut down. No warning lights had illuminated. The contact proceeded to restart the vehicle however again upon attempting to shift the transmission into gear the engine proceeded to shut down. The... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2025
Initially when buying the vehicle in 2021, it had 30k miles. Car continued to give me a "cylinder 2 misfire code" after numerous trips to different garages and then the car beginning to start up rough and anti freeze missing i came across a "service bulletin" regarding it being a faulty ring in the engine. I took the vehicle to Ford and they replaced the engine. My car just hit 100k miles All of t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
The power steering just stops working. I find a safe place to stop and turn the truck off. It must reset and when restarting the power steering comes back. You never know when the will happen as there is no warning. Making a turn at speeds is unsafe. You are driving with the power steering and halfway through the turn it just gets super hard to turn. A smaller person would have a very hard time tu... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
We have taken our 2013 Honda Odyssey several times to the shop because the brakes don’t feel safe. They seem to work fine but the brakes pedal is spongy. Keeping the brake pedal slightly pressed with the engine running, the pedal continues to sink almost to the floor. So far we have spent over $1000 for a new brake booster, new master cylinder, brake fluid flush and brake bleeding. The shop bled... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 528I. The contact stated that while driving 30-35 MPH, the inside of the cabin filled up with smoke and exhaust fumes. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over safely. The contact was able to continue driving to the residence and parked the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure ... Read more