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 67,531 complaints for CHRYSLER
Incident date: Sep 1, 2023
After turning on to a 4 lane highway, my car lost power and would not run over 40 miles per hour. This put me into a very dangerous situation as you can imagine. I will be finding someone to look at it tomorrow, however, this exact issue is described in the recall CVT transmission recall but ironically, this car does not appear to be included in the recall. There were absolutely no warning lights... Read more
Incident date: Jun 6, 2023
My car has a detached tie rod ball joint and is causing a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash. My children are in danger yet your site says my vin has no safety recall after I reviewed the safety recall for my vehicle and noticed a connection. I can’t afford any repairs and I shouldn’t have to risk my life over a recalled problem with my make model and year vehicle.
Incident date: Jun 6, 2023
My car has a detached tie rod ball joint and is causing a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash. My children are in danger yet your site says my vin has no safety recall after I reviewed the safety recall for my vehicle and noticed a connection. I can’t afford any repairs and I shouldn’t have to risk my life over a recalled problem with my make model and year vehicle.
Incident date: Jun 6, 2023
Antilock brake light and traction control failed. Bad HCU
Incident date: Sep 6, 2023
The camera that controls all safety features in my vehicle has an “Internal Failure” this means all my sensors and my dash board is lit up like a Christmas Tree. I took it to the dealership paid for a diagnostic test and found out it was the front camera internal failure, which means all sensors (lane mitigation, braking system, cruise control, automatic dim lights etc), is all not working. HE... Read more
Incident date: Sep 30, 2023
The air bag light is on in my dashboard and this car has never been in an accident before and I’ve gotten it checked by a professional mechanic and the code is reading driver airbag resistance high codes B1346 and B1481
Incident date: Sep 30, 2023
Dear NHTSA, I am writing to report a serious safety issue with my 2023 Kia Sorento, purchased in February 2023 from Ken Garff Kia Avondale. In July 2023, I began experiencing alarming issues, including flashing lights, dashboard error messages, and malfunctions, despite the vehicle being unused for several days with no visible damage. The air conditioning system malfunctioned, blowing hot air eve... Read more
Incident date: Sep 30, 2023
Dear NHTSA, I am writing to report a serious safety issue with my 2023 Kia Sorento, purchased in February 2023 from Ken Garff Kia Avondale. In July 2023, I began experiencing alarming issues, including flashing lights, dashboard error messages, and malfunctions, despite the vehicle being unused for several days with no visible damage. The air conditioning system malfunctioned, blowing hot air eve... Read more
Incident date: Sep 29, 2023
Steering wheel is sticky at highway speed causing overcorrection to maintain the car in the lane. Especially concerning in rain.
Incident date: Sep 29, 2023
Coolant intrusion issue which is known to occur in this specific engine which is shared across many of Ford's automobiles. Customer Satisfaction Program 21N12 and 19B37 My car is just outside of the program guidelines- however it was in the dealership prior to it exceeding the program guidelines and I was never informed of the issue. Vehicle Model Year Assembly Plant Build Dates Escape 2017-20... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2023
Often times high beam lights will come on when left turn signal is applied. This can cause danger especially at night for on coming traffic if turning left.
Incident date: Sep 23, 2023
My rear window shattered on September 29th, 2023 on my 2023 Honda HRV Sport. My car had some frost on the windows early that morning, so I used the remote start to start my vehicle and let it run for about 5 minutes before leaving for work. I left the defrost on during my short 10 minute drive to work. When I came out to my car at lunch, the entire back window was completely shattered and had a la... Read more
Incident date: Sep 23, 2023
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Multiple components of our driver assistance software have failed, beyond what we can check in the fields above. Most recently, we have experienced two major failures. The first failure occurred when the car triggered the emergency parking brake on its own while we were driving in traffic at 30 mph. ... Read more
CHRYSLER
TOWN AND COUNTRY
(2010) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Sep 29, 2023
Incident date: Sep 25, 2023
The contact's daughter owned a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the vehicle was hesitating while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and discovered that the rear main seal was defective. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the rear main seal was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The veh... Read more
Incident date: Sep 28, 2023
drain water from AC leaking into cabin & flooding driver side & filling up under seat well where ECU is located & sloshing around
Incident date: Sep 28, 2023
Car went in for recall on start/stop issue a few months ago. Recently wife parked the car and turned it off. Several minutes later went to turn it on again and it was dead. Engine would not start and electronics did not work. Could not even put car in neutral to have towed. Had to get new aux. battery and unhook neutral on main battery just to get into neutral to be able to tow. Dealership in Mt. ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 6, 2023
i was involved in a collision on US30 3 miles west of Rainer Oregon. where I struck another Ford truck while cruising at 55 mph. The vehicle I struck pulled in front of me, my vehicle was severely damaged in the front end and the steering wheel and lower dash panel injured me.,
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Jul 6, 2023
Vehicle would not take in fuel from the gas pump. Fuel would leak from the rear, passenger side of the vehicle. Dealer replaced Fuel Tank, ACF Valve and Evaporative Emission Canister to fix the problem.
CHRYSLER
PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2022) - STEERING
Sep 28, 2023
Incident date: Jan 10, 2023
Once I rolled 5k miles. Steering began to be sticky. Goes firm then soft then back to firm and so on; no matter what drive mode is selected and it happens at all speeds
Incident date: Aug 24, 2023
Antilock Brake System and Traction Control intermittent warnings while driving. Affects ability to use cruise control and Tow / Haul capability. If in tow/haul mod ABS warning flashes will also get Check Engine Light warning.
Incident date: Sep 12, 2023
The seat belt has been buckled but disconnects once I drive. It has trouble connecting when I get in car. I have to push it in and pull for it to connect. I asked Washington Honda about recall and they said none were issued. I've never spilled food in it as I rarely have food in car.
Incident date: Sep 28, 2023
Steering coupler is the issue. I have seen hundreds of complaints about Veloster's having issues with steering couplers but yet no recall. Ridiculous! This needs to be recalled and is a major safety issue.
Incident date: Aug 11, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Niro. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle started shaking and vibrating abnormally. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the message "Engine Overheating - Request Service Now" and "Engine Control System" was displayed. The contact had taken th... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle started shaking and with an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. The vehicle was diagnosed by a dealer and the contact was informed that the failure was due to a lack of maintenance and oil changes. The manufacturer w... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2023
ABS and Traction Control warnings cycling on and off randomly. Warnings are off only for short periods and are on most of the time. Cruise control is not working when the warnings are on which causes a sudden unexpected drop in speed on the highway when a warning cycle occurs. Two dealers have advised that the unit is faulty in manufacture and design but no replacement parts are currently availabl... Read more
Incident date: Sep 24, 2023
Vehicle with no warning or signs displayed a transmission fault while in cruise control on flat straight road and began to rev. Pulled off of main road into parking lot and attempted to back into space but vehicle would not reverse. There was no issue backing up 15 minutes prior and of course it happens shortly after the 100,000 mile mark.
CHRYSLER
PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2023) - ENGINE
Sep 28, 2023
Incident date: Sep 27, 2023
I'm writing to report a serious incident involving my Chrysler Pacifica with less than 70,000 miles. Recently, the engine light came on with error code P0303, leading to violent vibrations and power loss while I was driving my children to school. This hazardous situation nearly caused a major accident. A diagnostic at the dealer revealed a blown head gasket, raising concerns about the safety and ... Read more
CHRYSLER
PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2023) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Sep 28, 2023
Incident date: Sep 27, 2023
We were driving slowly in Los Angeles traffic, trying to pick up a little speed, when the car suddenly seized up -- as it seemed to slam its brakes. We nearly had heart attacks, because there was traffic behind us, and the car behind us could easily have slammed into us. We didn't notice anything on the dash. We don't believe the car was trying to warn us about an imminent forward collision, becau... Read more
Incident date: Sep 20, 2023
This warning light has been present since I test drove this car in March 2023. The dealership stated if I purchased the vehicle they would fix the issue before I took delivery after purchasing the vehicle in March 2023 the warring light came on several times within hours of picking up the vehicle. I took the vehicle back to the dealer at least twice within a week or so to have them fix the issue, ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 20, 2023
This warning light has been present since I test drove this car in March 2023. The dealership stated if I purchased the vehicle they would fix the issue before I took delivery after purchasing the vehicle in March 2023 the warring light came on several times within hours of picking up the vehicle. I took the vehicle back to the dealer at least twice within a week or so to have them fix the issue, ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2022
-Driver side front door/window trim flew right off while on freeway and almost hit another car. This is actually the 2nd time the trim came off after being repaired not even 5 months ago (I didn't file a complaint the first time). -It could hit another car or motorcycle while going high speeds and possibly cause a crash. -I haven't checked with my dealer but have read articles online how there ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2022
I was driving my vehicle when the transmission started shifting erratically. The shifts were not smooth but hard and the car was shuddering. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection. My safety and the safety of others were at risk due to the erratic behavior of the vehicle and how it affected my ability to focus on driving safely. Yes my vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer and the... Read more
CHRYSLER
TOWN AND COUNTRY
(2013) - POWER TRAIN
Sep 26, 2023
Incident date: Sep 25, 2023
Vehicle loses power while on freeway when 4WD, Pre-Collision Assist, Hill Start Assist, and other warning messages display. Vehicle lost power approximately 5 times while registering message, but messages have displayed approximately 40-50 times in the past week before being services. Vehicle dealership repair facility inspected and diagnosed a bad 4WD module.
CHRYSLER
TOWN AND COUNTRY
(2012) - POWER TRAIN
Sep 24, 2023
Incident date: Sep 24, 2023
Excessive play in transmission. Clunking sound when driving all the time..Seems loose in park mode also.
Incident date: May 1, 2023
The contact's wife owns a 2022 Ford Maverick. The contact stated that while driving 65-68 MPH, the vehicle decelerated independently to 40 MPH. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond and lost motive power. Additionally, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he used physical strength to st... Read more
Incident date: Sep 21, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon starting or while driving the vehicle, the front camera screen image was black or gray before going blank. Additionally, the navigation system was inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. While driving at undisclosed speeds, the transmission was slipping. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnos... Read more
Incident date: Sep 21, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon starting or while driving the vehicle, the front camera screen image was black or gray before going blank. Additionally, the navigation system was inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. While driving at undisclosed speeds, the transmission was slipping. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnos... Read more
CHRYSLER
TOWN AND COUNTRY
(2010) - POWER TRAIN
Sep 21, 2023
Incident date: Aug 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model X. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH and other various speeds, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was notified of the failure and info... Read more
Incident date: Sep 10, 2023
Vehicle is burning thru coolant. Has to be topped off multiple times a week. Have had the to replace the coolant bypass valve twice.
Incident date: Sep 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that after reversing and then shifting into drive (D), the vehicle failed to respond as needed and continued to reverse even though the gear shifter was in drive (D). The contact allowed the vehicle to reverse into a safe space, and attempted to shift into park (P), but the gear shifter was stuck. There was no warning light illuminated. The c... Read more
Incident date: Sep 10, 2023
Volkswagen cannot address my recall 93P7. I have called multiple dealerships and the battery cannot be addressed.
CHRYSLER
PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2020) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Sep 21, 2023
Incident date: Aug 2, 2023
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the coolant level was low. The contact added coolant to the reservoir. The contact stated that the coolant reservoir burst open. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who replaced the coolant and hose. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2023
Started to notice water marks on the driver and passenger side rear window. According to online forms it is a common problem with 2019 and 2020 silverados with a sliding rear window. The dealer claimed it wasn't a safety issue, which I argued it was due to the mold. Chevy knew about the manufacturing problem before they even sold me the vehicle and did nothing to fix it
CHRYSLER
PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2020) - SEATS
Sep 20, 2023
Incident date: Sep 10, 2023
The passenger safety restraint system fault message pops up when driving normally. The diagnostic came up to replace the whole airbag after communicating with service center.
CHRYSLER
PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2020) - SEAT BELTS
Sep 20, 2023
Incident date: Sep 10, 2023
The passenger safety restraint system fault message pops up when driving normally. The diagnostic came up to replace the whole airbag after communicating with service center.
CHRYSLER
PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2020) - AIR BAGS
Sep 20, 2023
Incident date: Sep 10, 2023
The passenger safety restraint system fault message pops up when driving normally. The diagnostic came up to replace the whole airbag after communicating with service center.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2020
Makes a noise and oil was low with no leaks
Incident date: Aug 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started shaking violently. There was no warning light illuminated. The following day upon start the vehicle, the "high engine temperature, stop safely" message was displayed. The contact stated that thick white smoke was coming from the tailpipe. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dea... Read more
Incident date: Aug 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started shaking violently. There was no warning light illuminated. The following day upon start the vehicle, the "high engine temperature, stop safely" message was displayed. The contact stated that thick white smoke was coming from the tailpipe. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the dea... Read more
Incident date: Sep 16, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Enclave. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound and the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the engine and TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unkn... Read more