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 28,307 complaints for BUICK
Incident date: Jul 15, 2026
It was in the shop 9/19/24 for the screen going blank while driving causing a safety concern as was unable to tell how fast was going, screen slowly came back on and they found had internal fault and replaced telematics control module. All was fine until July 2026. Picked up from Glen Polk GM in Gainesville Texas 7/15/26 they state reprogramed radio, and USB file. The screen went out 7/19, 7/21... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2026
It was in the shop 9/19/24 for the screen going blank while driving causing a safety concern as was unable to tell how fast was going, screen slowly came back on and they found had internal fault and replaced telematics control module. All was fine until July 2026. Picked up from Glen Polk GM in Gainesville Texas 7/15/26 they state reprogramed radio, and USB file. The screen went out 7/19, 7/21... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2026
It was in the shop 9/19/24 for the screen going blank while driving causing a safety concern as was unable to tell how fast was going, screen slowly came back on and they found had internal fault and replaced telematics control module. All was fine until July 2026. Picked up from Glen Polk GM in Gainesville Texas 7/15/26 they state reprogramed radio, and USB file. The screen went out 7/19, 7/21... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2026
CAR BEGAN GIVING AN ALERT THAT SAID "SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN VEHICLE WAS CLEARLY IN PARK BUT CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I CALLED BUICK CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SAID TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP & HAVE THE PROBLEM CONFIRMED WITH THE SERVICE DEPT. & THEY WOULD OPEN A CASE FOR ME. (THEY DID NOT TELL ME NOT TO HAVE IT FIXED). I KNEW THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE, YET NO RECALL AS OF YET... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2026
Fuel pump module
Incident date: Aug 13, 2026
The contact owns a 2005 Buick LaCrosse equipped with Venom Power Tires, Tire Line: Ragnarok GTS, Tire Size: 235/35/VR20, DOT Number:1WP2CTPWL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear driver’s side tire became flat. The contact exited the vehicle and became aware that the sidewall of the tire had separated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The tire ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2020
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera image was inverted. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25E052000 (Back Over Prevention), and the vehicle was taken to a dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall and referred the contact to the m... Read more
Incident date: Jun 27, 2026
Just started the car and the whole dashboard went blank, no speedometer, gas tank, nothing is showing like the whole dashboard died on us while driving
Incident date: Jun 8, 2026
I purchased my vehicle in March 2026 from the.dealership with a known active recall from November 2025 with fire risk, now there is an additional fire hazard recall and my vehicle is currently undriveable due to these recalls.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2026
On August 3, 2026, a 2008 Audi A6 was traveling on the George Washington Parkway in Virginia when the driver encountered a large tree branch in the roadway and swerved to avoid it. The vehicle struck a curb, became airborne, rolled, and went down an embankment before coming to rest. The driver was wearing a seat belt. The driver’s frontal airbag in the steering wheel deployed, but none of the si... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jul 31, 2026
I am writing to formally express my serious concern and disappointment regarding my Kia Carnival Hybrid. Shortly after purchasing the vehicle, with only approximately 6,000 miles on the odometer, the vehicle suddenly stopped operating while I was driving on the freeway. This created a dangerous situation for my family and other motorists. The vehicle had to be towed to an authorized Kia dealershi... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V607000 (Seat Belts); 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 ex... Read more
Incident date: Aug 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving over 10 MPH with her husband inside the vehicle, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated, and the brakes independently engaged. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be rep... Read more
Incident date: Jul 30, 2026
My 2016 Hyundai Sonata (VIN: [XXX]) has a serious safety issue involving excessive engine oil consumption. The vehicle loses oil rapidly between changes and requires frequent top‑offs to avoid engine damage. This creates a risk of sudden engine failure while driving. The dealership, South Charlotte Hyundai (10518 Cadillac Street, Pineville, NC 28134), refused to perform Hyundai’s official oil... Read more
Incident date: Jul 30, 2026
My 2016 Hyundai Sonata (VIN: [XXX]) has a serious safety issue involving excessive engine oil consumption. The vehicle loses oil rapidly between changes and requires frequent top‑offs to avoid engine damage. This creates a risk of sudden engine failure while driving. The dealership, South Charlotte Hyundai (10518 Cadillac Street, Pineville, NC 28134), refused to perform Hyundai’s official oil... Read more
Incident date: Jul 30, 2026
I am writing to report a life-threatening, sudden-onset mechanical defect in my vehicle’s Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). While driving in heavy traffic, my son experienced a complete and sudden loss of motive power without any warning or dashboard lights. The vehicle abruptly stopped accelerating in a live lane, nearly causing a catastrophic rear-end collision. At just 70,000 miles,... Read more
Incident date: Aug 5, 2026
Auto transmission is failing to shift when taking off from a stop or hesitating to shift to next year causing traffic behind me to get close to rear bumper.
Incident date: Jul 23, 2026
The factory paint on my 2015 Toyota Highlander, Blizzard Pearl (Toyota code 070), is delaminating from the primer. The base coat lifts and peels in sheets, starting on the roof, fender, and pillars — the panels with the greatest UV exposure. There has been no collision, repaint, or chemical damage; this is spontaneous adhesion loss between the factory base coat and primer. First noticed 5/5/2026... Read more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle went into the death wobble. The contact pulled over to the side of the road to inspect the vehicle before driving to the residence. The failure had occurred three times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the f... Read more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2026
Component or system that failed/malfunctioned: Frontal Airbag Deployment System / Airbag Control Module (ACU). The vehicle is currently towed and available for inspection upon request before any insurance salvage disposition. Safety risk: The non-deployment exposed the driver to severe direct impact forces against the steering wheel and cabin structure during a high-force frontal collision, ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Aug 3, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact scanned the vehicle and retrieved a fault code associated with the high-pressure fuel pump failure. The vehicle was towed to dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with misfires in cylinders #1 and #4... Read more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact scanned the vehicle and retrieved a fault code associated with the high-pressure fuel pump failure. The vehicle was towed to dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with misfires in cylinders #1 and #4... Read more
Incident date: Jun 22, 2026
Intermittent hard downshifts when going from 3rd to 2nd gear. When merging onto the highway or periods of brief acceleration the transmission fights to find the correct gear.
Incident date: Jun 22, 2026
My fiance went out to start the car. The car wouldn't start, but the starter kept clicking for around 5 minutes even when she was out of the vehicle with the door shut. During that 5 minutes the car started to smoke really bad and you could smell an electrical fire. She ran in the house to get me. We started moving our other cars away from the Lincoln. As I was getting ready to call 911 the starte... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jun 20, 2026
I am the original owner of a 2023 Mazda CX-30 AWD (VIN: [XXX]), purchased new on XXX from Mazda of Clearwater, [XXX]. This vehicle has experienced four separate warranty failure events involving critical safety systems within approximately 32 months and 44,530 miles of ownership. In June 2026, at approximately 44,500 miles, my 2023 Mazda CX-30 AWD exhibited sudden RPM lock and inability to shift... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2026
On 7/16/2026 exactly 1 week after i purchase the vehicle after fueling i drove about 1 mile when the car started to misfire, when attempting to accelerate. Check engine light flashes a few times and then went off. I then attempted to reverse into my driveway and when attempting to do so the vehicle shut off completely. But started right back up. I then called the dealership and was asked to bring ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2026
Center row seat back unexpectedly fell back and seat would slide back and forth. It is dangerous because the seatbelt is attached to the seat. I have a 2018 Ford Expedition expedition and you have a recall on the chrome trim on the center console. I think the seat problem is a lot more serious than that. If you search the Internet, there are a lot of people that have the same problem. Don’t unde... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2026
Problem was Oil Filter housing made of plastic. It was cracked and no warning light that oil had leaked out. Car SUDDENLY DECELERATED as I was merging into traffic on freeway causing vehicles coming up behind to brake rapidly including a semi truck which had been 200 yards back. I rolled onto shoulder with warning lights activated. Pure luck it was not a major accident. Had it fixed at local ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
I have a flat tire the other day, and I try to put the spare tire on but it's gone. The spare tire's cable holds the spare tire under the car got corroded and broke. The spare tire is gone. It has lost some where on the road that I have not aware. I checked there is a recall for this. I called the toyota service but they said the VIN number is not on the recall list.
Incident date: Jul 23, 2026
The torque converter on my 2019 Nissan Titan PRO-4X failed at approximately 60,000 miles. Symptoms began as cold-start shudder lasting several minutes, progressing to pronounced shudder under light throttle acceleration between 25–50 MPH, erratic shifting at the 3-4 and 4-5 gear transitions, and TCC (torque converter clutch) slip. These symptoms created unpredictable drivetrain behavior at highw... Read more
Incident date: Jul 23, 2026
The torque converter on my 2019 Nissan Titan PRO-4X failed at approximately 60,000 miles. Symptoms began as cold-start shudder lasting several minutes, progressing to pronounced shudder under light throttle acceleration between 25–50 MPH, erratic shifting at the 3-4 and 4-5 gear transitions, and TCC (torque converter clutch) slip. These symptoms created unpredictable drivetrain behavior at highw... Read more
Incident date: Jul 26, 2026
Car accident and all left side airbags deployed but not the drivers airbag which we had the recall repaired on.
Crash
Incident date: Jun 26, 2026
Cracked Engine Head- The vehicle is around 165,000 miles and the engine has cracked. No collisions or crashes or any fault of owner. At around 100,000 miles ALL four doors had the actuators stop working within 1 week. All doors now must be manually locked and unlocked.
Incident date: Jul 19, 2026
The charging system and alternator failed due to a known safety recall involving an oil leak from the front cylinder bank cover gasket. The oil leaked onto the alternator, causing the charging system to become inoperative and resulting in the engine stalling. The vehicle is currently at the Hyundai dealership and is available for inspection upon request. The engine stalled unexpectedly without any... Read more
Incident date: Jul 23, 2026
I was driving on the freeway in traffic, thankfully going about +/- 25 mph and had to stop/slow down. When I tapped the breaks, they completely failed. All warning lights in the car immediately came on including the warning 'Stop Safely Break Failure'. I pressed the breaks as hard as a I could and pulled off the shoulder to slow the car and not rear-end someone. When the car finally came to stop I... Read more
Incident date: Jul 22, 2026
DEF heater failure will cause increased emissions. The warning light flashes. I have seen details where there are issues with the wiring harness for the DEF heater.
Incident date: May 7, 2026
Vehicle Safety Complaint I am submitting this complaint regarding my 2025 Cadillac XT4 because of a serious transmission failure that created a significant safety hazard. While driving on the interstate at approximately 60 mph, the transmission suddenly malfunctioned and the vehicle lost its ability to operate normally. The transmission appeared to disengage unexpectedly, causing a sudden loss of ... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2026
On or around 6/20/26, I went to drive my 2014 mini countryman. When I got inside, I quickly realized that there was mold growing throughout the vehicle, on the carpet, and in the trunk. The vehicle started, but I was unable to use the drivers side window. I sent the vehicle in for service and was informed that a massive leak after a storm had clogged the drain tubes to the moon roof allowing water... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2026
On or around 6/20/26, I went to drive my 2014 mini countryman. When I got inside, I quickly realized that there was mold growing throughout the vehicle, on the carpet, and in the trunk. The vehicle started, but I was unable to use the drivers side window. I sent the vehicle in for service and was informed that a massive leak after a storm had clogged the drain tubes to the moon roof allowing water... Read more
Incident date: Jul 18, 2026
Radio does not emit sound also canceling all warning noises for fuel level, turn signals, seat belts, open door in motion. This problem is not only a saftey hazard for drivers its a major annoyance. Honestly find it quite distracting. Have reached out to gm multiple times and the issue hasn't been corrected. Really concerned this is going to plage my vehicle its whole life. This issue has happened... Read more
Incident date: Jul 18, 2026
Radio does not emit sound also canceling all warning noises for fuel level, turn signals, seat belts, open door in motion. This problem is not only a saftey hazard for drivers its a major annoyance. Honestly find it quite distracting. Have reached out to gm multiple times and the issue hasn't been corrected. Really concerned this is going to plage my vehicle its whole life. This issue has happened... Read more
Incident date: Jul 18, 2026
The radiator had a crack that nobody located even though I had been smelling antifreeze since I purchased it at 24,000 miles just over a year ago. I brought it in for an oil change today because I was leaving town for the weekend tomorrow and now a hole had blown through the bottom of the radiator. Had this happened when I was in a remote area of the mountains without cell service this could hav... Read more
Incident date: Jul 4, 2026
Entire vehicle got burned while driving on the highway, the car is available at the impound shop for inspection. I was driving the car on the highway during the hours of rush hour when the car started burning, there were many drivers around on the other lanes. The NY Fire Department battalion and the NYPD responded to the scene and we have reports. The car was inspected by the NY fire department ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jul 4, 2026
While accelerating having made a right turn from a stop at an intersection, the drive train lost power for several seconds and the car slowed before accelerating normally
Incident date: Jul 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop or while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the used car dealer where the vehicle was purchased, but the contact was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. T... Read more
Incident date: Jul 14, 2026
The car would not accelerate when pressing accelerator, they said the clutch assembly malfunctioned, confirmed by documentation. Myself and others had our safety at risk because the car could not be controlled properly while on the road. The car was taken to the dealer and they confirmed the problem. The dealer's service center gave inspection, and confirmed the problem. The warning message did no... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Unknown how it happened. After parking noticed back driver side tire was tilted. Took picture next morning under car to see that the cross arm was broken in half. Car was not drivable and was towed to a Ford dealership Seems like arm just snapped without notice.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
On XXX, while driving my 2024 Kia Telluride (VIN: [XXX]) with approximately 34,000 miles, the vehicle suddenly experienced a complete electrical failure without warning. The instrument cluster went completely black, I lost electric power steering assist, the transmission would not shift, and the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle lost motive power while I was driving, creating a significan... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that while driving and decelerating to merge onto the highway, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle felt as if the vehicle had been struck in the rear. The contact stated that the failure h... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2026
Rear left wheel busted off of car while driving. Flew up into the back end of car totaling the vehicle. We were very lucky no one was hurt.