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: Apr 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Airstream Basecamp. The contact received notice of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V932000 (Visibility, Equipment). The contact stated that while parked in storage, he observed the rear entry glass window was shattered but was still holding together. The contact added that when he opened the rear entry door the glass window separated and fell to the floor shattering in pieces. Th... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2025
Purchased a 2020 Cadillac Escalade Suburban about three months ago from GMC dealership at 8155 Interstate 35, San Antonio, Texas 78224. This vehicle had about 50,000 miles when we bought it. We were not driving the Escalade everyday, we use it occasionally and about a month after we purchased it the battery went dead. Before the battery went completely dead we were on the road one day and we rol... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2026
Vehicle has active safety recall A0C/NHTSA 25V-674 for transmission shift cable, but the manufacture states remedy is not yet available. recall notice was recived in October 2025, and no repair has been offered. Vehicle is now experiencing worsening symptoms including transmission slipping/skipping gears and shutting off while driving. Most recently vehicle begun overheating and heater started blo... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2026
Transmission, drive shaft and rear axle "grenaded" and shut down the vehicle. Symptoms included erratic shifting at highway speed, clunking sounds, hard downshifts at low speeds, mis-shifting gears causing performance issues. No warning lights. Codes appeared in FordPass app after vehicle shut down.
Incident date: Apr 29, 2026
The SOS Module failed three times and was replaced three times under warranty. The failure mode is a battery that cannot be ordered due to manufacturer issues. The failed module limits crash reporting. I have attached the three work orders for this vehicle.
Incident date: Apr 29, 2026
The SOS Module failed three times and was replaced three times under warranty. The failure mode is a battery that cannot be ordered due to manufacturer issues. The failed module limits crash reporting. I have attached the three work orders for this vehicle.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
The contact owns a 1998 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while The vehicle was park in the son's driveway the neighbor alerted the son that the vehicle on fire. The son rushed to the vehicle and discovered flames coming from the cabin of the vehicle. The Fire Department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident the vehicle was destroyed. The cause of t... Read more
Fire
Incident date: May 6, 2026
The 2.0L engine catastrophically failed during normal highway driving, consistent with a thrown connecting rod. The vehicle suddenly lost power on a roadway with tractor-trailer traffic. The driver and a child passenger narrowly avoided being struck by a semi-truck before the vehicle could be brought to a safe stop. No prior warning lamps, no check engine light, no abnormal noises, and no indicati... Read more
Incident date: Jan 12, 2024
Vehicle was driven for 5 minutes before alerting that it was overheating. While attempting to pull into a safe location off of a main road, the vehicle would not allow me to accelerate. This left our family stranded in the turn lane. I was unable to restart the engine or shift into drive.
Incident date: Apr 19, 2026
Vehicle was driven for 5 minutes before alerting that it was overheating. While attempting to pull into a safe location off of a main road, the vehicle would not allow me to accelerate. This left our family stranded in the turn lane. I was unable to restart the engine or shift into drive.
Incident date: Dec 24, 2024
Vehicle was driven for 5 minutes before alerting that it was overheating. While attempting to pull into a safe location off of a main road, the vehicle would not allow me to accelerate. This left our family stranded in the turn lane. I was unable to restart the engine or shift into drive.
Incident date: Feb 3, 2026
Parked on incline. Vehicle off. Vehicle automatically locked doors without operator intervention. Returned to vehicle. Vehicle beeped with associated lights flash when operator touched driver's extenal door handle. IMMEDIATELY the vehicle began rolling backwards downhill towards oncoming traffic. I was able to hop on running board, jump into driver's seat, press brake and start vehicle. The brake... Read more
Incident date: May 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Harley-Davidson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the motorcycle failed to accelerate as intended and independently shifted into Limp. In addition, the contact stated that the motor vehicle self-diagnosed itself for failure codes: P1100C, PAC1511C, or C1100H. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Th... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2026
The contact's daughter owns a 2020 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal, squeaking sound would emit from the vehicle without warning. The contact called the service center where they gave the contact an estimate for a diagnostic. The contact was also informed that the vehicle may be covered under a goodwill warranty. The vehicle several parts of the f... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2026
About a month ago, I started my Pilot and the dash lit up. The adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, lane keeping assist, Lane departure, forward collision warnings all flashed on the dash- no previous warnings. Subsequently, the cruise control will not work at all. I had the system scanned by a Honda certified mechanic and it showed and internal cameral failure. This is a known issue ac... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2026
About a month ago, I started my Pilot and the dash lit up. The adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, lane keeping assist, Lane departure, forward collision warnings all flashed on the dash- no previous warnings. Subsequently, the cruise control will not work at all. I had the system scanned by a Honda certified mechanic and it showed and internal cameral failure. This is a known issue ac... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
My 2019 Dodge Durango R/T began experiencing drivetrain and warning system issues after collision/body repairs were completed by a repair facility. The original repair work involved suspension/body-related repairs and did not originally include documented transfer case or internal drivetrain damage. At the time I picked the vehicle up from the repair facility, the tire pressure monitoring system ... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2026
Runaway vehicle, police was called after car stopped and I was able to safely park it on the side of the freeway.also a police officer on motorcycle came the the scene to make sure I was able to get a towing scheduled. Dealership currently confirmed gas pedal accelerator needing to be replaced.
Incident date: Mar 23, 2026
My 2022 Mazda CX-5 Signature began producing a loud whirring/rattling noise from the driver-side front headlight assembly. After investigation, the noise was identified as coming from the internal cooling fan located inside the LED headlight unit. The cooling fan, which is integrated into the bi-LED headlamp assembly, appears to be failing prematurely due to bearing wear. This is a known widesprea... Read more
Incident date: Mar 23, 2026
The front and rear brake system has repeatedly malfunctioned across at least 7 dealer visits since 2022 on my 2021 Ford Bronco Sport (VIN: [XXX] ). Brake squealing and grinding (particularly in reverse at low speeds) have persisted despite multiple repair attempts. Ford's own SSM 52515 acknowledges engineering was working on a fix and that rotor resurfacing is "not a guaranteed fix." TSB 23-2308 ... Read more
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2022) - ENGINE
May 8, 2026
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Thermo Control Valve Failure- Contact Subaru of Cherry Hill, NJ for Inspection 177,4XX Miles P26A5 code Check engine Light on, Disabled Safety Systems (Eyesight System), Car may have overheated if not pulled over and turned off. Part of warranty extension but did not qualify due to mileage.
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2022) - POWER TRAIN
May 8, 2026
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Thermo Control Valve Failure- Contact Subaru of Cherry Hill, NJ for Inspection 177,4XX Miles P26A5 code Check engine Light on, Disabled Safety Systems (Eyesight System), Car may have overheated if not pulled over and turned off. Part of warranty extension but did not qualify due to mileage.
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2021) - STEERING
May 7, 2026
Incident date: Jan 28, 2026
While driving at highway speeds (55–65 mph), the steering intermittently sticks or resists movement during turns. It feels like the steering binds or hesitates before responding, requiring additional force to correct the turn. This occurred multiple times on a Reno–Sacramento trip on 5/7/2026. This is a serious safety concern because it affects the ability to maintain lane control at highway s... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2026
Phone calls constantly get dropped using hands free Android Auto, requiring me to use my phone manually on the call. This is a major safety issue requiring attention to be pulled away from the road. I see online in numerous forums and in other NHTSA complaints that this is an issue with Solterra models and the use of CarPlay and Android Auto. It is not my phone as the situation does not occur in o... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2026
The car in front of me was about a two car's lengths away. It was very cold and that car's exhaust plume was larger than normal. The exhaust plume was highlighted by sunlight, and I believe my car thought it was an object. The auto braking system alerted and immediately slammed on the brakes in the middle of heavy traffic. There was no time for me to respond. Thankfully no one hit me. If I'd been ... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2026
The car in front of me was about a two car's lengths away. It was very cold and that car's exhaust plume was larger than normal. The exhaust plume was highlighted by sunlight, and I believe my car thought it was an object. The auto braking system alerted and immediately slammed on the brakes in the middle of heavy traffic. There was no time for me to respond. Thankfully no one hit me. If I'd been ... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2026
The car in front of me was about a two car's lengths away. It was very cold and that car's exhaust plume was larger than normal. The exhaust plume was highlighted by sunlight, and I believe my car thought it was an object. The auto braking system alerted and immediately slammed on the brakes in the middle of heavy traffic. There was no time for me to respond. Thankfully no one hit me. If I'd been ... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2026
The car gives two messages, "Front Camera Fault Service Required" and "Pre-Collision assist not available." The cruise control does not work, however, the front camera does work. I had the vehicle scan done at the Ford dealer and was told it needs a 7 hour software update, after which it may need cables replaced. I do not understand how software goes bad. I do understand something may have hap... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2026
The car gives two messages, "Front Camera Fault Service Required" and "Pre-Collision assist not available." The cruise control does not work, however, the front camera does work. I had the vehicle scan done at the Ford dealer and was told it needs a 7 hour software update, after which it may need cables replaced. I do not understand how software goes bad. I do understand something may have hap... Read more
FORD
MUSTANG MACH E
(2021) - POWER TRAIN
May 7, 2026
Incident date: Apr 20, 2026
I bought my 2018 Toyota CHR back in November from a Mitsubishi dealership. When I first test drove it, it was making a weird whining noise, I was told it was the bearing and that they will fix it before I pick the vehicle up. They kept the car for several days to repair it and inspect it. A few days after picking the car up I started to hear a very low noise. I couldn’t describe the sound becaus... Read more
FORD
MUSTANG MACH E
(2021) - STEERING
May 7, 2026
Incident date: Apr 20, 2026
Steering wheel feels sticky when making slight adjustments to the left or right, causing me to have to overcorrect to shift.
FORD
MUSTANG MACH E
(2021) - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
May 7, 2026
Incident date: Apr 20, 2026
The contact stated that the vehicle stalled, the engine did not start, multiple warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle had an issue previously with loud noises and slow acceleration and the vehicle taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with a high pressure and low pressure fuel pump failure and was repaired at the time. The vehicle was taken to an ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated to 10 MPH with no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle following the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure milea... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2026
The transmissions down shifts extremely hard, causing an abrupt wheel speed reduction. It starts doing this after you have driven the vehicle about 15 minutes....before that it operates correctly but once you hit 15 minutes of drive time, it is neck jolting! Driver and Passenger Mirrors have a mind of their own. They will be in position, you start backing out of a spot and they start moving unti... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2015
1 week after the BMW dealer replaced the battery under the warranty (after the car was towed due to the power loss from drive train malfunction) Engine Check, Drive train malfunction, and Oil level measurement inactive signals popped up again.
Incident date: May 7, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received the recall notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V034000 (Air Bags) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V607000 (Seat Belts). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case and confirmed the remedy was not available. The contact had not exp... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received the recall notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V034000 (Air Bags) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V607000 (Seat Belts). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case and confirmed the remedy was not available. The contact had not exp... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2026
Vehicle is overheating, have had issues right after purchasing from carmax burbank and issues after the recall was worked on at van nuys jeep dealership.
Incident date: Jul 16, 2024
The check engine light came on with a warning that said "Steering assist reduced drive with care". The temperature gauge went to cold and the air condition quit working.
Incident date: Apr 17, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the front driver-side and passenger-side floors would get flooded with water. In addition, the contact stated that the water would leak from the AC while the Air-Conditioning was activated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the fa... Read more
Incident date: Jul 16, 2025
The headlights and dashboard lose power intermittently while driving at highway speeds, specifically triggered by using the turn signal. This is ongoing since January when I started having to take it for a recalls.More things kept happening. I kept having to have more repairs. Every time I went, I told them about this and it just keeps going on. Today I took a huge list of things they should check... Read more
Incident date: Jul 16, 2025
The headlights and dashboard lose power intermittently while driving at highway speeds, specifically triggered by using the turn signal. This is ongoing since January when I started having to take it for a recalls.More things kept happening. I kept having to have more repairs. Every time I went, I told them about this and it just keeps going on. Today I took a huge list of things they should check... Read more
Incident date: Apr 30, 2026
Automatic Emergency Breaking sometimes occurs while driving in rainy weather even when there are no obstructions in the front of the vehicle. This causes spinouts and exccessive wear and tear on break pads and rotors. Also, many shops and dealerships are having issues with putting 2022 year model outlanders in "maintenance mode" to be able to change rear ebs brakes. Due to this you cannot drive yo... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2025
Airbag light staying on dash and the passenger seat does not register a person sitting in it. The passage seat bag alert does not making a sound
Incident date: May 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who retrieved a diagnostic trouble code for the check valve. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), associated with the VIN; however, the contact ha... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2026
on 1/26/26 while driving my car started shaking. I felt unsafe driving and had the car towed to the dealership. They inspected the vehicle and could not notice the shaking but did perform recall service NTB25-05 as well as some additional items on the routine maintenance schedule. They said the recall was just an ECM software update and all should be well. 5 1/2 weeks later while driving out o... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2026
I purchased a 2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara (VIN [XXX] ) from Soliman Motors Inc., [XXX] (phone [XXX] ) on April 11, 2026. The vehicle is subject to active NHTSA stop-drive recall #19V-018 for the Takata passenger airbag inflator, issued January 15, 2019. This recall was not disclosed to me at any point before, during, or after the purchase. I was never informed of this active federal stop-... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2026
The car has had issues starting even with a brand new battery and will randomly not start. The driver side window does not go down, and the driver side door gets stuck and will not open from the outside. It’s been an ongoing issue for three years. The car will replace the batteries is dead, even though the battery we tested and fine and we randomly say a brake light is out even though the brake ... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2026
I own a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali equipped with the 6.2L L87 engine. On or around December 31, 2025, the vehicle developed a loud knocking noise from the engine that became worse with RPM increase. The truck was taken to a GMC dealership for diagnosis and repair under warranty/service contract coverage. The dealership initially diagnosed valvetrain-related failure and replaced multiple top-end ... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2026
The contact owns a 2026 Kia Sportage HEV. The contact stated that while approaching a traffic signal light at nighttime while it was raining, the brake pedal was depressed, and when the vehicle hit a pothole, the brakes failed to respond. To avoid colliding into the vehicle in front, the contact veered the steering wheel and pumped the brakes. After a few minutes the brakes functioned as intended.... Read more