Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 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 2,215,138 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 1,850 complaints for FISKER
Incident date: Jul 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear, and the gauges started operating erratically. The power train warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle failed to shift into 4th throug... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2024
Coolant bypass valve failure The issue has been confirmed by a service center and was told a very common failure in my make & model of car. Warning light came on dash board and immediately had checked at service center. The fix is $900, which is frustrating because a class action lawsuit is being gathered for this same defect in my same model of car.
Incident date: Mar 13, 2024
My ABS break module light stayes on - Cadillac stop making the part for the 2015 SRX. This is a safety concern and also reduce the trade in value.
Incident date: Jun 6, 2024
Less than 74,000 miles and coolant hoses split. According to service department they have had an increase in hoses rupturing indicating a fault in the hoses.
Incident date: Jun 6, 2024
The lab belts and harness belts on the car seat are fraying at the edges on both sides of the belt in the front and around the thighs
Incident date: Jul 23, 2024
The automatic emergency braking system malfunctioned on 7/18/24. I was driving approx. 20 mph on a local road and there was no vehicle, pedestrian, or other object in front of the car when unexpectedly the orange warning to brake came on and an instant later the car braked on its own and came to a complete stop in the middle of the road. Given the sudden and forceful stop, I went forward into the ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 24, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 BMW R 1200 RT. The contact stated while at a red light, the engine was making an abnormal sound. There was no warning light illuminated. The motorcycle was ridden back to the residence. The contact inspected the motorcycle and noticed that there was an excessive amount of metallic particles attached to the drain plug. The motorcycle was not repaired. The manufacturer was no... Read more
Incident date: Jul 18, 2024
Check engine light on. Test results: Positive Crankcase Ventilation Regulator Valve Performance CODE : P052E
Incident date: Jul 18, 2024
I was driving the car, towards the end of about a 40-minute drive the car, I can best describe, lost its mind. Without any prior signs of symptoms, in about the span of 5-10 seconds, the check engine light came on, then eyesight warning came on, then traction system error appeared and I lost all power. It started braking on its own and completely acting on its own. I could still steer, but I had n... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the speedometer fell to “0” MPH, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the vehicle was not responding and failed to exceed 30 MPH. The contact stated that the "Wrench" symbol was illuminated. The contact pulled over and stopped the vehicle. The vehicl... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the lighting control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 19, 2024
Driver sun visor does not stay up. This is a VERY common occurrence with ALL Jeep Renegades, of all years. This is a safety issue because it either hangs in the line of sight of the driver, or, the driver is blinded by the sun. Jeep quotes the repair from $600-2800. How can they request this of every Renegade driver and NOT issue a recall?
Incident date: Dec 6, 2023
The car starts when it wants to and doesn't when it wants to. Sometimes a few hours later it will start others a day or 2... nothing comes up when scanning, no codes. What is the deal?
Incident date: Jun 20, 2024
There have been times when we've been stuck inside the vehicle and haven't been able to get out. Additionally, the dashboard displays a variety of safety warnings.
Incident date: Jun 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V631000 (Suspension, Structure) where a coating was sprayed on the passenger side lower control arm and the area was drained. After receiving the recall repair, the contact became aware that the vehicle was pulling to the right and the steering wheel was tilted to the left. Th... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V631000 (Suspension, Structure) where a coating was sprayed on the passenger side lower control arm and the area was drained. After receiving the recall repair, the contact became aware that the vehicle was pulling to the right and the steering wheel was tilted to the left. Th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 12, 2024
Engine miss fire cylinder number 4 and coolant leak with no visible leak anywhere but now adding half gallon of coolant every couple days. Was told about possible recall of ecoboost 2.0l engine on 2017 ford edge with a coolant leak/miss fire of engine causing destruction of the engine and or causing a fire with the car.
Incident date: Nov 8, 2023
Issues with shifting out of park. Random acceleration, stalling, lagging, & jerking while on the road & in full speed traffic. When took car to dealership was told issues with my PCM. PCM had been recalled & fixed with previous owner in 2017. Now the second time having a PCM issue, couldn't do anything with the already fixed recall so i was forced to pay almost 2,000. Now still leaving me with the... Read more
Incident date: Nov 8, 2023
Issues with shifting out of park. Random acceleration, stalling, lagging, & jerking while on the road & in full speed traffic. When took car to dealership was told issues with my PCM. PCM had been recalled & fixed with previous owner in 2017. Now the second time having a PCM issue, couldn't do anything with the already fixed recall so i was forced to pay almost 2,000. Now still leaving me with the... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2024
Instrument panel, the speedometer cluster screen behind the steering wheel blacked out for a couple of seconds on 3 separate occasions while driving, the lane keep assist stopped working a month ago, the traffic light warning stopped working 2 weeks ago, I have submitted several tickets and I got no response from Fisker, NONE of the recalls have been repaired, we continue to have issues with the... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2024
Lost brakes 11/20/23 and GM replaced vacuum pump per policy n182202780. Vehicle had 143522 miles on it. Lost brakes again on [XXX] and vehicle needed another vacuum pump. This is just six months after first repair and vehicle now has 152987 miles. GM denied repair because truck had gone past 150000 miles. Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2024
Transmission Failed at 65,000. Yes, inspection available upon request. Safety is when my family with little children are in the car, and erratic shifting takes place while traveling at high rates of speed. Car has not broken down, but was told by dealer that it could "run for ever or break down tomorrow" Issue for me is that it is VERY apparent through multiple resources that Toyota clearly is... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2024
Interior Lights Activation: During nighttime driving, the interior lights of the vehicle come on unexpectedly. Interior Light Activation is distracting and can be perceived as improper vehicle operation, potentially leading to a risk of being pulled over by law enforcement. Power Loss and Vehicle Shutdown: On July 2, 2024, while driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power and stopped ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2024
The electrical in my car is slowly failing, causing problems opening 3 out of 4 windows in the vehicle. My car is currently unsafe to drive (I am a mother with a young child and I will not risk their safety). I also fear the acceleration in the vehicle is also defective, as when I'm driving it will revv the engine and shoot the RPM meter up (even when my foot is off thr pedal). I do not believe my... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2024
The electrical in my car is slowly failing, causing problems opening 3 out of 4 windows in the vehicle. My car is currently unsafe to drive (I am a mother with a young child and I will not risk their safety). I also fear the acceleration in the vehicle is also defective, as when I'm driving it will revv the engine and shoot the RPM meter up (even when my foot is off thr pedal). I do not believe my... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2024
There are 3 major issues/concerns with this vehicle. 1. Sunroof/Roof - This rooftop does not seal completely. Initially this roof would rattle and you could hear squeaks and movement. Then the sunroof would only open on a half and then soon not at all. Because of this, the top is never fully sealed leaving water to leak inside in different areas potentially causing more issues to the electrical ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2024
Car is parked in front of the house no one has touch the vehicle. The car suddenly started the alarm, had to turn it off. Later on during the day I went to turn the vehicle on and it wont turn off after. I had to search for the fuel pump fuse and remove that to turn off the car.
Incident date: Jun 15, 2024
Car is parked in front of the house no one has touch the vehicle. The car suddenly started the alarm, had to turn it off. Later on during the day I went to turn the vehicle on and it wont turn off after. I had to search for the fuel pump fuse and remove that to turn off the car.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
My ABS light sporadically comes on and off. Dealership says it is the HCU module. It was replaced under warranty in 2020 and now has failed again. Wanting to file report so it is noted to help with initiating a recall on this failing part. I have read that the ABS module has also had similars issues with no recall as of to date either.
Incident date: Jul 9, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver’s side door keypad fractured in half leaving the wires exposed. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that the parts to fix the vehicle was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not mad... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2024
During hard acceleration the high-pressure fuel pump fails. I've never had to replace this part on any other car that I have owned. When I research the part for this car, I reviewed many forums and articles complaining about the failure of the high-pressure fuel pump on the Mercedes c250 sport or similar chassis. The vehicle performs normally until there is hard acceleration; then the engine lig... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine); 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 dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The m... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2024
The steering assist failed while driving. Causing near collision and very difficult to drive.
Incident date: May 13, 2024
1.“Brake system failure “ warning has been com By on since I received the vehicle in November 2023, Fisker techs have been out 4 times to fix but it keeps happening. 2.Door locks- I have been trapped in the car and another incident that my [XXX] son was trapped in the car, on video my sons incident. Again, Fisker had been out 4 times to ny house and the doors are still malfunctioning I can’... Read more
Incident date: May 13, 2024
Battery drain Bought new battery Got dcm update Pulled dcm fuse Still battery goes dead Thousands of vehicles involved Suburu knows the cause To expensive to fix Please help3/3
Incident date: May 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. After several days, while driving, the contact became aware that the engine was misfiring, and the coolant fluid was low. The contact was able to inspect the fluids, and immediately after opening the coolant reservoir, the coolant level went up. The vehicle was ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2024
My Fisker Ocean One was non-responsive when I tried to unlock it with the key fob and Fisker app. After researching on social media sites, I found out that if the battery for the key fob is too low, the vehicle will not respond. From the Fisker Owner's manual, it states the key fob battery should last 1 year. Once I changed the key fob battery, the vehicle responded. We were only provided one ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 4, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing, the back over prevention camera screen display was inoperable. The contact stated that a blue screen was displayed creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V342000 (Back Over Preventio... Read more
Incident date: Dec 25, 2023
Reported faults with vehicles resulting in unintended reverse movement and an inability to move forward while in drive on a slight slope. Car would roll back even when the accelerator was nearly floored on a slight incline. Car was rolling backwards towards the edge of a cliff on a very narrow road despite multiple attempts of accelerating in drive. Reported and logged with company. Numerous co... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jun 26, 2024
Reported faults with vehicles resulting in unintended reverse movement and an inability to move forward while in drive on a slight slope. Car would roll back even when the accelerator was nearly floored on a slight incline. Car was rolling backwards towards the edge of a cliff on a very narrow road despite multiple attempts of accelerating in drive. Reported and logged with company. Numerous co... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jun 26, 2024
Repeated warning messages that the daytime running lights are unavailable
Incident date: Jun 26, 2024
FOB battery has to be replaced every few weeks. I have also had instances where Iock the car and it repeatedly locks and unlocks for several minutes.
Incident date: May 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V344000 (Back Over Prevention, Equipment, 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 dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts w... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V344000 (Back Over Prevention, Equipment, 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 dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts w... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2024
The manufacturer has not contacted me regarding the two earliest open recalls, campaign 24V404000 and 24V405000. I have made multiple attempts to contact the manufacturer to patch my vehicles software and have not received a response. These issues are in addition to other problems previously reported with my vehicle.
Incident date: Jul 10, 2024
The radiator was replaced under PI1513F in 2020. I am currently experiencing the same coolant leak and thermostat issues. Coolant leaked into 4th cylinder and blew head gasket
Incident date: Jul 10, 2024
The radiator was replaced under PI1513F in 2020. I am currently experiencing the same coolant leak and thermostat issues. Coolant leaked into 4th cylinder and blew head gasket
Incident date: Jul 10, 2024
DOORS DOSEN'T UNLUCK FROM THE INSIDE, WATERPUMP ISSUE, BREAK ISSUE, SUDDEN AXCELARATION WITHOUT PUSHING THE GAS PADDLE, KEY FOB ISSUE NOT OPERATING AT TIMES,
Incident date: Jul 10, 2024
The power steering is intermittently heavy ("sticky"). It's hard to stay in your lane, especially at higher speeds on the highway. On and off, the steering briefly feels like "manual steering" (no power), then feels normal. The driver (me) has to be constantly vigilant and use extra effort to keep the car under control. It's worse a higher speeds and is not as bad at lower speeds. Safety is at ... Read more