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 384,293 complaints for FORD
Incident date: May 11, 2026
When accelerating, the RPMs surge unusually high before the transmission shifts. After the delayed shift, the vehicle jerks hard forward and feels like it is being hit from behind. The shifting feels aggressive and inconsistent, especially during acceleration. In addition, the A/C system was completely rebuilt but continues to intermittently shut off and stop blowing cold air. The infotainment/i... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2026
When accelerating, the RPMs surge unusually high before the transmission shifts. After the delayed shift, the vehicle jerks hard forward and feels like it is being hit from behind. The shifting feels aggressive and inconsistent, especially during acceleration. In addition, the A/C system was completely rebuilt but continues to intermittently shut off and stop blowing cold air. The infotainment/i... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2026
The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) failed on my 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5. The vehicle stopped charging prematurely overnight via AC Level 2 charging and then refused to charge again at all. The ICCU is responsible for maintaining the 12V battery by topping it up during normal operation. No warning or check engine light came on, I was only made aware when I attempted L2 charging and the car wo... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2025
Rear glass window on convertible soft top is prematurely separating/delaminating from top assembly on 2020 Mercedes-Benz E350 convertible with under 8,000 miles. Glass is integrated into the convertible top and failure may lead to reduced rear visibility, possible glass detachment, water intrusion, and safety hazard while driving. This appears premature and inconsistent with expected vehicle life.
Incident date: Jan 20, 2025
Rear glass window on convertible soft top is prematurely separating/delaminating from top assembly on 2020 Mercedes-Benz E350 convertible with under 8,000 miles. Glass is integrated into the convertible top and failure may lead to reduced rear visibility, possible glass detachment, water intrusion, and safety hazard while driving. This appears premature and inconsistent with expected vehicle life.
Incident date: Jan 20, 2025
On Saturday 16th Oct 2026 around 10 AM EST, while driving down the ramp from Parking Floor 2 to Parking Floor 1 in the JFK Terminal 4 Short Term Parking garage (John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York), the Tesla vehicle suddenly accelerated forward very fast on its own without any input on the accelerator pedal. Either I was not pressing the gas pedal at the time, or I was slowing pressin... Read more
Crash
3 injured
Incident date: May 15, 2026
Engine code p1326. The engine went into limp mode it was only able to drive about 15 miles then check engine light came popped on and the vehicle stopped and I had the get the vehicle towed. Yes Route 60 of Hyundai in Vero Beach was aware of the issue and also I took the vehicle to Hyundai in Fort pierce where they also was well aware of the engine issue. When I received a recall letter in the mai... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2026
Engine code p1326. The engine went into limp mode it was only able to drive about 15 miles then check engine light came popped on and the vehicle stopped and I had the get the vehicle towed. Yes Route 60 of Hyundai in Vero Beach was aware of the issue and also I took the vehicle to Hyundai in Fort pierce where they also was well aware of the engine issue. When I received a recall letter in the mai... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2026
I was driving on M 53 south bound approximately 11:30 am when I heard two consecutive soft “tick” tick” sounds and immediately noticed the stress cracks appearing on my windshield top drivers side. I will be taking it for inspection as there was not any type of object to cause these cracks.
Incident date: May 11, 2026
Reporting a severe hydraulic/mechanical braking defect on a 2023 Nissan Altima with only 26,820 miles. Vehicle experiences persistent 'spongy' brake pedal feel, premature metal-on-metal rotor gouging, and severely darkened/degraded brake fluid, indicating a systemic hydraulic component failure or electronic brake-dragging defect. This is a severe safety hazard causing unpredictable stopping dis... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2025
vehicle had a strong odor of gasoline then started spuddering and then caught fire while driving.
Fire
Incident date: Feb 3, 2026
Vehicle was brought to Volkswagen dealer on 4/2/26 for recall service/software update. Prior to service, rear camera and safety assistance systems operated normally. During recall procedure, update reportedly failed and vehicle was returned with rearview camera, parking sensors, and multiple driver assistance/safety systems inoperative. Vehicle has remained unrepaired for approximately seven weeks... Read more
Incident date: May 18, 2026
The car stopped at a light on a busy street in [XXX] (in the middle lane), then the engine stopped, and my wife could not restart it. I went as fast as possible and met her. I was eventually able to get it started. This is the third time we have had problems like this. I did the same thing for me and another time for my wife. I believe it is the stop-start capability, but I can't say for sure. We... Read more
FORD
F-150 HYBRID
(2022) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
May 19, 2026
Incident date: May 12, 2026
Coolant Control Valve
Incident date: Mar 23, 2026
3rd row seats do not want to lock into position, there is also broken plastic pieces from the locking mechanism area. Seats do not want to engage or disengage when trying to lay them flat. This had been a reported problem on other highlanders. This has been an issue since we purchased the vehicle in 2024. This is a safety issue because I fear they would fail in a crash.
Incident date: Oct 10, 2025
I apologize if this does not meet the NHTSA bar of a safety hazard. It does reduce the ability for hands free navigation and acts as a distraction for drivers. Toyota Rav4s have very poor GPS tracking which makes the directions in the integrated head unit and guage cluster very distracting because they are consistently incorrect. There are dozens, maybe 100+, reports online of people having sim... Read more
Incident date: May 13, 2026
UNKNOWN I’m told the micro parking switch is the problem. This is an intermediate issue. This is a well known problem with the GMC Acadias. Their times when I try to turn off the engine, I get a shift to park error message. The car will not turn off, I’m unable to lock the doors and I’m concerned that the car is not in the park position thus and fearful, it can roll away. This has been ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 26, 2025
As a loyal GM customer who has purchased three Cadillac Escalades and had them exclusively serviced at Cadillac dealerships, , I am writing regarding my 2023 Escalade, equipped with the 6.2L V8 (L87) engine, affected by the recall (N252494000) impacting approximately 597,630 vehicles . I recently took my vehicle to a Cadillac dealership for the recall inspection, where it passed, received a switc... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2026
The engine will shut off completely while traveling a a normal rate of speed. The temperature gauge will malfunction and report high temperature (when there is none) and the engine will shut off. It cannot be restarted without putting the car in park and pressing the brake while in the midst of moving traffic. This has happened to me multiple times. At first, turning off the auto stop/start fe... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was at a stoplight, the fuel tank detached. The driver was able to reconnect the tank. No warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who confirmed there was no warranty coverage. The failure mileage was approximately 150,00... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle would lose automotive power and the steering wheel became difficult to veer in either the left or right direction. No warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the VIN not being included in any recalls. U... Read more
Incident date: Mar 22, 2026
After the installation of the Service Campaign 9C2 engine update, the car now seems to surge or rev up briefly at lower speeds like it can't find the right gear or is trying to briefly accelerate. It doesn't seem to be as noticeable at highway speeds, but in residential or low speeds, it's very noticeable and a little unsettling as the car feels like it wants to briefly lunge forward. No lights ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 22, 2026
After the installation of the Service Campaign 9C2 engine update, the car now seems to surge or rev up briefly at lower speeds like it can't find the right gear or is trying to briefly accelerate. It doesn't seem to be as noticeable at highway speeds, but in residential or low speeds, it's very noticeable and a little unsettling as the car feels like it wants to briefly lunge forward. No lights ... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Odyssey.. The contact stated that the rearview camera flickered, there is also a cracking and flickering sound. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the contact associated the issue The approximate failure mileage was 51,000.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
Prior to August 2024, this vehicle operated with zero check engine lights or drivetrain faults. In August 2024, BMW of Pittsburgh executed federally mandated Safety Recall 23V-707, which required opening the cylinder head. Immediately following this service, the Check Engine Light began illuminating persistently.On or about October 3, 2024, an independent diagnostic scan at Bobby Rahal BMW pulled ... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado LD Crew. The contact stated that while reversing the vehicle, the rear end locked up. Also, when accelerated, the vehicle jerked forward and stalled. When the vehicle is shutdown and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage. 64,900.
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
Car recently started clunking when changing from P to D or R. Took to dealer who broke down the transmission only to be told the torque converter was faulty and there’s “excessive damage” meaning I need a new transmission.
Incident date: Mar 10, 2026
We have owned the car for nearly 2 years and the rear cross traffic alert has never worked, even when cars and pedestrians are walking behind the vehicle. BMW says nothing is wrong. Many other drivers report the exact same issue with their BMW.
Incident date: May 14, 2026
2013 Jeep Wrangler. ABS module internal failure code C2200. 3 lights are constantly lit on the dashboard. No ABS on this Jeep, making it unsafe in the rain and snow. No way to have this part repaired anymore, nor does the dealership offer it. Shameful and shocking that MOPAR isn't dealing with this problem. Many, many Jeep owners are dealing with this problem. When will we see a recall??
Incident date: Apr 30, 2026
The Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system activates unexpectedly and dangerously. Incident 1 5/7/2026: While driving approximately 2 mph in a drive-thru and rounding a curve, the vehicle suddenly applied full braking without warning. The braking force was severe enough that I struck my face on the steering wheel and my child was thrown forward in a secured car seat. Incident 2 5/19/2026: While ... Read more
Incident date: May 17, 2023
My son was driving the 2000 Toyota Tacoma across very smooth transition railroad tracks at about 25 mph and the right front ball joint failed, collapsing the suspension. He lost all control and the vehicle skidded to a stop. Had he been going any faster, the vehicle could have rolled over. I have reviewed the recalls for Toyota ball joints and found the there is a 50J recall for 2001-2005 Tacom... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2025
May 11, 2026 approx 9:35am. I was in a flat parking area at a gas station waiting for a friend. There were 2 other cars parked near me. No one was in them. Neither were moving. I backed out of my space into a large, empty, open area to turn my car around to have a better view. Because the audi pre-sense chronically malfunctions, I always turn it off before I drive. But I left it on this t... Read more
1 injured
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2026) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
May 19, 2026
Incident date: May 12, 2026
This is a well-known and widely reported issue: 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid car, which has recently experienced the following dashboard alert: "Hybrid system warning! Safely stop and do not drive." When the car is pulled over and shut down and sits for roughly 10 minutes, it starts up just fine and runs again for an undetermined amount of time, and then the alert will go off unexpectedly. This h... Read more
Incident date: Mar 9, 2026
My truck violently downshifted randomly and caused me to lose control for a little bit. I was lucky to narrowly avoid a crash. The truck is showing transmission range sensor codes after the truck downshifts harshly. My local Ford dealer did a diagnosis and confirmed that it has a faulty molded lead frame. However, they are refusing to cover the repair and are saying that I either pay them or stop ... Read more
Incident date: May 17, 2026
The White Diamond Tri Coat paint that General Motors applied to vehicles is sub par and defective. There is no reason why the paint should be this bad. It is not due to damage or anything the driver has done. This is a factory defect and should be addressed. Every single vehicle I have seen with this same Tri Coat paint is chipping, flaking and peeling. My truck is the LTZ model of Silverado and t... Read more
Incident date: May 17, 2026
While slowing down at normal speeds, my 2013 Ford F‑150 will suddenly and violently downshift into a much lower gear (appears to be 1st gear). When this happens, the rear wheels lock up briefly, causing the truck to skid and jerk forward. This creates a serious loss of control and a risk of collision. The issue is intermittent but recurring. It has happened multiple times under normal driving c... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2026
MY FORD EDGE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, THE TEMPERATURE WAS INCONSISTENT, AND IT WAS HAVING ISSUES STARTING. THE FINAL STRAW WAS THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. WE NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT WAS CONSISTENTLY LOW BUT THAT WAS AN ONGOING ISSUE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY CONFIRMED IT WAS A COOLANT LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AND IT NEEDED AN ENGINE REPLACEME... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stat3ed while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The steering assist failure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed rack and pinion. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not re... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2026
Excessive outer tire wear at 15,000 miles. Dealer advised that alignment was out of spec due to “Michigan roads” but I noticed this at 10,000 miles too and it’s still occurring.
Incident date: Jan 13, 2026
On January [Insert Date], 2026, my 2024 Ford Escape suffered a sudden turbocharger failure that saturated the vehicle’s internal HVAC system with toxic ethylene glycol coolant. The vehicle’s ventilation system subsequently pumped these toxic chemical vapors directly into the enclosed passenger cabin. The inhalation of these toxic chemical vapors posed an immediate, life-threatening risk to my... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2026
The low beams headlights, when you go over a bump they visibly shake, it is distracting. I checked forums and other owners are complaining of same problem with this model.
Incident date: Jan 8, 2026
ERROR WITH STABILTIY BAR DO NOT DRIVE OVER 20 MPH. NO KEYS DETECTED IN VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS NOW BACK AT THE DEALER FOR THE 4TH TIME FOR THE SAME REPAIR.
Incident date: Jan 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine oil warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and inspected the vehicle. The contact discovered that there was no oil in the engine; however, the vehicle previously had an oil change. The contact added oil to the engine. The failure persisted. Additionally, the vehicle made rattling... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2025
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The transmission is failing. Yes, it is available. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My safety was put at risk by the vehicle losing forward motion while traveling through an intersection. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Y... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2025
I was driving my 2024 Toyota Corolla SE gas model (with the convenience package) on the interstate in [XXX] during stop-and-go traffic. Traffic had been moving slowly for about 15 minutes, and I had Brake Hold turned on, cruise control was off, Proactive Driving Assist was on. I was behind a semi truck and was moving very slowly, getting ready to stop. I had maybe 3 or 4 car lengths between me an... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2026
The Jayco manufacturer cut structural support members (“X” supports) during assembly, allegedly to provide plumbing clearance. These modifications caused drainage problems and plumbing chafing issues. We were further advised that the rear tank itself may not require replacement, contrary to prior dealer diagnosis, but instead requires proper replumbing and structural repair including rewelding... Read more
Incident date: Oct 30, 2025
On multiple occasions (four) my 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max has failed to accelerate when I push the gas pedal. Once in traffic, which was extremely scary and a huge hazard. I have contacted the dealership about this issue and have not heard back from them. It has been almost 2 weeks. No warming lamps turned on and this issue lasted about 15 seconds each time. I press the gas, the ca... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2026
On going issue with many 3.5 EcoBoost engines having numerous oil leaks due to plastic manifold, valve covers, and oil pan. They heat up and crack over time causing oil leaks on both the top side and bottom of the engine. Being a serious fire hazard with a costly repair that is common in these F150 trucks. 03
Incident date: Mar 20, 2021
While driving at roughly 20 mph and executing a right turn, the power train partially lost power and the car slowed for several seconds before accelerating normally