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: Jan 2, 2025
The screen has completely glitched out. It is unusable and I have researched and found this to be a very common issue. These are not old vehicles and this should be covered under a recall.
Incident date: Jan 2, 2025
The collision system is too sensitive. Regularly when I’m backing into a parking spot the car will slam on the breaks even though there aren’t any objects in the way. This will also happen on occasion while driving forward normally potentially causing someone behind me to rear end the car
Incident date: Jan 2, 2025
The collision system is too sensitive. Regularly when I’m backing into a parking spot the car will slam on the breaks even though there aren’t any objects in the way. This will also happen on occasion while driving forward normally potentially causing someone behind me to rear end the car
Incident date: Oct 22, 2024
I brought y car to the ford dealer in NOv 2024 for the open recall of reprogram integrated trailer relay module #22V193 and then they called me that the fuel pump needed to be replace because the truck al of the sudden stop working i spend over 12,000 to get the car fix and now i see the open recall for the fuel pump defective #24V-957 i would like to get a refund for the money i paid
Incident date: Oct 22, 2024
My Land Rover, Range Rover has a confirmed cracked knuckle but dealership is unwilling to fix it.
Incident date: Oct 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted and jerked abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,505.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
High pressure fuel pump failed while driving towing a trailer. Was able to pull over safely, entire fuel system needs to be replaced. Unknown if anything else was damaged yet. Vehicle is still in for repairs, estimate is between 9-13k parts and labor. I hope it didn't destroy the entire engine.
Incident date: Jan 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2009 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently accelerated upon releasing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that recently upon entering the garage, the vehicle suddenly accelerated after releasing the brake pedal, almost causing the vehicle to crash into the residence. The struck other materials inside the garage, c... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2025
Dashboard message "power steering assist failure - service required" appeared when vehicle was started. It worked fine the day before. We drove it to a local car repair place which advised they did not know what caused the problem and recommended we take it to Ford dealer. We drove it about 30 miles to the Ford dealer, with difficulty since there was no power steering. The dealer says it needs ne... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2024
MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT 2 TIMES. ONCE IN THE MIDDLE OF A INTERSECTION. ALMOST GOT REARENDED. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 4 MONTH, AND THEY CANNOT GET IT RIGHT. NO WARNING LAMPS OR MESSAGES. JUST HESITATES, AD NO POWER, THEN THE TRANSMISSON BLOWS UP, AND YOU CANNOT MOETHE VEHICLE . I HAVE SEVERAL REPAIR ORDERS
Incident date: May 14, 2024
The Power Steering Rack Assembly had to be replaced on my vehicle because the sensors that notify the safety systems of the direction the steering wheel is pointing failed while I was driving my son to school. The result of this failure caused a multiple system failure resulting in an inability to steer the car at speed. The Lane Keep Assist system was actively fighting against my driver input as ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
As stated in the current 2019 Ford Flex recall; the rear camera system either flickers intermittantly or does not work at all - leaving a significant blind spot at the rear of the vehicle. NHTSA Recall ID Number :24V951 Manufacturer :Ford Motor Company Subject :Rearview Camera Image May Not Display MakeModelModel Years FORDFIESTA2019 FORDFLEX2019 LINCOLNMKT2019
BMW
S 1000 RR US
(2024) - STRUCTURE
Jan 1, 2025
Incident date: Dec 31, 2024
After reading of other owners of similar and identical models like mine having frame cracks, I made a point to inspect my trailer’s I beam chassis and I discovered horizontal cracks within the I beam, one on each side, over the suspension area. Every picture I have seen looks just like mine, a rusty L shaped crack adjacent to a crossmember welded on the backside of this area. You can see the sha... Read more
BMW
S 1000 RR US
(2024) - ENGINE
Jan 1, 2025
Incident date: Dec 31, 2024
When driving, I get random flashing lights on the Dashboard with a Warning indicator: ”Check Hybrid system. Stop safely”. It happened at least on 7 occasions while driving at high speed on a highway and while stopped at a traffic light. When the issue happens, the car triggers aggressive Warning sounds forcing me to stop on the side of the road, placing the car into Park and having to turn the... Read more
Incident date: Nov 27, 2024
Truck loses power when you accelerate at any various moments. Forces you to put it in park and then I'll have to restart the engine and then it'll drive normal like nothing happen. Power steering is a little hard which cruise control doesn't work when this is happening.
Incident date: Nov 27, 2024
My Honda Pilot has a previous recall for the infotainment system. Recall # 20V439000 or Honda recall # T89. I purchased this vehicle used in June 2024 with the knowledge this recall had been repaired. After driving the vehicle for a short time, the infotainment system started having an issue again. We have taken the vehicle to the dealership 3 more times to get this corrected, but it is still an o... Read more
Incident date: Nov 27, 2024
My Honda Pilot has a previous recall for the infotainment system. Recall # 20V439000 or Honda recall # T89. I purchased this vehicle used in June 2024 with the knowledge this recall had been repaired. After driving the vehicle for a short time, the infotainment system started having an issue again. We have taken the vehicle to the dealership 3 more times to get this corrected, but it is still an o... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2024
There is a recall on 2017 Ford Fusion's torque converter. I currently have a 2017 Ford Fusion. After inspection at a Ford service dealership, the "torque converter clutch internally failed filling the transmission filter with metal debris and starving the pump for fluid causing debris to go throughout the transmission." The problem with this, is that even though it's list as a recall for ,y specif... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2024
There is a recall on 2017 Ford Fusion's torque converter. I currently have a 2017 Ford Fusion. After inspection at a Ford service dealership, the "torque converter clutch internally failed filling the transmission filter with metal debris and starving the pump for fluid causing debris to go throughout the transmission." The problem with this, is that even though it's list as a recall for ,y specif... Read more
Incident date: Oct 31, 2024
MY SONS 2020 FORD F150 FELT LIKE IT WAS LOSING POWER. AS I TURNED ONTO HIGHWAY. THE TRUCK SHIFTED FROM THE FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR SMOOTHLY, ASTHE TRUCK SHIFTED FROM 2-3 , THE TRUCK REVED AND DID NOT ENGAGE INTO 3RD GEAR. I LET OFF THE GAS, THINKING IT WILL CATCH THE NEXT GEAR AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE SPEED. BUT IT DID NOT, IT AGAIN REVED AND DID NOT ENGAGE INTO 3RD GEAR. NOW THE TRAFFIC WAS FLY... Read more
Incident date: Nov 6, 2024
During a U-turn, when I turned the steering wheel my vehicle suddenly accelerated unexpected. I suspect there may have been a malfunction in the vehicle's electronic control system that caused this sudden unintended acceleration. I did alert Honda North America to study the problem. On [XXX], while driving on a narrow street at a speed of less than 5 miles per hour, my vehicle suddenly acceler... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 31, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of coolant. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that coolant was leaking into the engine and could cause engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was n... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2024
Audible warnings for turn signals, Blind Spot monitoring and lane monitoring periodically quits along with all sound from radio and Bluetooth system. Haptic feedback on lane change seems to not function at this time as well. Warning lights function. This has occurred 7 times since Oct 22 2024 when the vehicle was purchased. MFG has been unable to repair.
Incident date: Dec 31, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated while accelerating, the vehicle stalled. While driving at slow speeds, the vehicle began to sputter. While driving 65 MPH and accelerating, while attempting to pass a tractor-trailer, the vehicle hesitated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasolin... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
Vehicle caught on fire while parked. Firefighter stated that this was the “third or fourth” of the same make and model he has dealt with. A google search stated that this year make and model had recalls for fires in Florida and other states. I had searched the vin for recalls prior to this happening to ensure this vehicle was safe and there were no recalls associated with the vin.
Fire
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
The contact's mother owns a 2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that his mother observed the message "Stop Safely - Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon" and immediately after the warning light was illuminated the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to the residence and wa... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
Front low beam headlights are dangerously dim.
Incident date: Dec 23, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); 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 failure. Parts distribution... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2024
ENGINE PISTON FAILURE cannot get it fixed new engine on order 5 weeks now chevy will not even talk about it
Incident date: Dec 7, 2024
I was driving on the Thruway and suddenly my check engine light came on and a large plume of black smoke came from the exhaust. The car was misfiring badly. I nursed it home and the next day took it to my mechanic, hoping it was a coil or plug. I had almost zero compression in cylinder #2. I then took vehicle to his engine repair shop. The owner told me the next day that I needed a new engine. I p... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
Rear latch not locking or latching correctly leading to liftgate opening while driving. Has happened repeatedly, will latch some days and not other dealer said no recalls available but seems to be common problem on online forums.
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
My vehicle has a battery issue, we replaced the battery twice in two years still the issue might happened again and again. Once the battery start draining energy, everything start blinking and car stops all of a sudden in the middle of the road because of brake assistance problem. All the system errors come up. It is very scary to drive the vehicle with my kids inside. All system in car works w... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
This happened on [XXX] in Oakland CA, it was a rainy day. I drove off the freeway and then parked the vehicle in the parking lot. The car was in idle mode. After about 10 minutes the engine started to stall, and then shut off completely. I tried to restart the engine but it failed. The dashboard showed an error message "Engine Stopped, Steering Power Low". I suspected that rainwater entered in... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
This happened on [XXX] in Oakland CA, it was a rainy day. I drove off the freeway and then parked the vehicle in the parking lot. The car was in idle mode. After about 10 minutes the engine started to stall, and then shut off completely. I tried to restart the engine but it failed. The dashboard showed an error message "Engine Stopped, Steering Power Low". I suspected that rainwater entered in... Read more
Incident date: Sep 4, 2024
I am experiencing major frame failure. My propane doors on both sides have opened while towing. Gotten so bad i had to duct tape them shut. Not safe pulling over to do this. The main cause of this happening is Frame Flexing which i can confirm with a video i took. I can also see my frame flexing while hitching and unhitching trailer. My top floors are squeaking badly which is indicative to my fram... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2022 Grand Design Momentum. The contact stated that there was sawdust in the trailer and the frame was sinking. The contact stated that the cabinets were loose and were detaching from the frame. There was evidence that the frame was flexing. The contact noticed a lot of movement and bending with the frame. The contact stated that the front hitch and furniture were detaching from... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2024
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 local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the A-pillar trim on the passenger’s side of the windshield started to detach. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the A-pill... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2024
We have encountered two recalls (one that we are still expecting a fix for) and multiple issues with our VW Atlas that we purchased new in June 2022
Incident date: Dec 4, 2024
The airbag warning light came on the 2022 Pilot Special Edition. The vehicle just hit 50,000 miles and has never been in an accident. The Honda dealership stated the SRS Control Unit had failed and needed to be replaced. I was told it was not safe to drive as the airbags may not deploy in an accident. The vehicle stayed at the dealership until the repair was done. Vehicle taken in on December 26, ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the vehicle started coasting and stopped unintendedly. The contact stated that the vehicle drove for a while and then coasted and stopped. The message that the “Engine Power Reduced” was displayed. The contact stated that the brake system warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Terrain. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the vehicle started coasting and stopped unintendedly. The contact stated that the vehicle drove for a while and then coasted and stopped. The message that the “Engine Power Reduced” was displayed. The contact stated that the brake system warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 26, 2024
I received a letter in October 2024 about an inoperable fuel pump and a recall for the vehicle. However, after 3 months, the dealership does not have the fuel pump replacement pump and does not know when they will receive the part. As a result, I am still driving the car with the fuel pump issue.
Incident date: Oct 26, 2024
There are two outstanding recalls on my vehicle, and I have been unable to get scheduled for these repairs with Motorcars Acura in Bedford, Ohio. I have been told for almost a year, that I was on a waiting list, and that I should continue to call them for availability. I would like to know what type of resolution there will be going forward, if the dealer is unable to perform these repairs in a ti... Read more
Incident date: Oct 26, 2024
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Flex. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The service power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the Power Steering Control Modul... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
When an adult is riding in the front passenger seat the airbag on the passenger turns off and on randomly while riding. If in an accident I am worried that the airbag will not go off properly. I have not contacted a dealer about this issue yet. I have not seen any other warning lights other than the passenger airbag is off.
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Honda Accord. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V763000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); 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 and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
I am experiencing two safety issues with my Canyon 1) Forward collision alert system is triggered unnecessarily (e.g., when there isn't a car in front of me, when the car in front is far away and not posing a risk). I took it to GMC a few months back since there was a previous recall for this system and they said they stated it was fixed. It is not fixed. I turned off the automatic braking tied t... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
I was driving the car and suddenly the car started accelerating on it's own. No cruise control was on . My wife was in the passenger seat and it was lucky as I did not panic , just taped on the brakes to slow down. This happened many times until we got home and it is dangerous and scary, also this is a know problem with this model car. No lights or warnings came on. We could have easily crashed in... Read more