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: Mar 25, 2026
Power steering stops working causing to the wheel to jerk and almost lock up while driving.
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Power steering stops working causing to the wheel to jerk and almost lock up while driving.
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Front facing camera, located in front grill, has inadequate water proofing, which eventually shorts out the camera and causing it to become inoperable. This creates a blind spot when backing up or driving in tight spaces with such a large truck. When the front camera blacks out, you lose visibility in front of the vehicle. This is a safety issue, because the size of the truck, how high it sits f... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
My 2021 ford bronco sport had a very dangerous issue on April 4th 2026. Nearly run over by a huge semi. Traveling at 70 miles per hour on I- 5 my vehicle had a sudden loss of power and wrench light went on, no prior signs. Semi traveling behind me nearly crashed into semi in the next lane as he slammed on his brakes and veered to the left to avoid running me over. Caused a big problem with t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
The power steering system failed and numerous other electrical systems showed as broken as a result. The dealer service dept said: "We found corrosion on connector C1467A meaning that water is getting inside the connector somehow which caused the module to short out. The steering rack is not the failure, it is the module. However, the module is built into the steering rack. Can't replace it separ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the child in the second-row seat became trapped after the seat belt seized. The seat belt was cut to free the child. Additionally, the contact reported that the infotainment system was inoperable, failed to power on, and malfunctioned while driving, preventing the use of hands-free feature. The... Read more
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the child in the second-row seat became trapped after the seat belt seized. The seat belt was cut to free the child. Additionally, the contact reported that the infotainment system was inoperable, failed to power on, and malfunctioned while driving, preventing the use of hands-free feature. The... Read more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2026
I was traveling to Kentucky from NYC in December 2025 and while in Pennsylvania a sign on my dash stated your safety equipment was out because of a build up on the front lens outside of the car and it stated to stop and clean it off, so I pulled off to the side of the highway and stopped my car and when I stiffed it into park there was a griming noise from the transmission. When I went into the... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
I was traveling to Kentucky from NYC in December 2025 and while in Pennsylvania a sign on my dash stated your safety equipment was out because of a build up on the front lens outside of the car and it stated to stop and clean it off, so I pulled off to the side of the highway and stopped my car and when I stiffed it into park there was a griming noise from the transmission. When I went into the... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V212000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amoun... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
See attached document for complaint.
Fire
Incident date: Feb 9, 2026
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The vehicle was a dealer sale. The contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, the odometer mileage was 60,248. The contact stated that upon applying for extended warranty services, the contact was informed that the odometer was last reported at 155,000. In addition, the contact purchased a Carfax Report, which indicated that ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
The contact owns a 2010 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly shut off. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle was shipped back to the contact's home state, where the contact also experienced the failure while driving at undisclosed speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, wh... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
The contact owns a 2010 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at various speeds, the vehicle unexpectedly shut off. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle was shipped back to the contact's home state, where the contact also experienced the failure while driving at undisclosed speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, wh... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering and was losing automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that it was the second transmission failure in... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 2500 equipped with Lexani Tires, Tire Line: Terrain Beast AT, Tire Size: LT285/60/R20, DOT Number: 1TBF2FA5C1624. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the contact's girlfriend driving behind the contact, the contact’s girlfriend became aware of an abnormality with the front passenger’s side tire. The contact's girlfriend called the cont... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
See attached document for complaint. To Whom It May Concern: This letter is submitted as a formal pre-packet notification to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It is not a cover letter and it is not the evidentiary submission itself. Its sole purpose is to formally notify NHTSA that a certified, multi-issue dispute packet has been prepared and is being distributed concur... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
See attached document for complaint. To Whom It May Concern: This letter is submitted as a formal pre-packet notification to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It is not a cover letter and it is not the evidentiary submission itself. Its sole purpose is to formally notify NHTSA that a certified, multi-issue dispute packet has been prepared and is being distributed concur... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2024
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Jul 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver’s seat became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the driver’s seat hydraulic function failed to operate properly, causing the contact to adjust the seat several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions; however, the vehicle ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2025
The contact owns 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that after the State Inspection was completed, the State Inspector informed the contact that the vehicle had failed the inspection due to an inoperable driver's side tailgate light. The contact was also informed that there was moisture inside the tailgate lid light assembly, and that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V259000 (Ex... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2023
Happens frequently. While it has not yet caused the vehicle to fully slam on the brakes, it will occasionally flash the brake warning and apply the brakes even when there are no obstacles present. Additionally, when backing out of the driveway, the vehicle sometimes detects the road surface as an obstruction and abruptly applies the brakes. This occurs consistently in the same location, likely due... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
My mother's vehicle caught fire while in park and it’s listed under a fire-risk recall. Another car got damage with the fire. I want to open a claim.
Fire
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
My mother's vehicle caught fire while in park and it’s listed under a fire-risk recall. Another car got damage with the fire. I want to open a claim.
Fire
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
My mother's vehicle caught fire while in park and it’s listed under a fire-risk recall. Another car got damage with the fire. I want to open a claim.
Fire
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
The car has signs of current recall in other Cx-5 Models. Hesitation with acceleration or driving at high speed, reduced power, not responding appropriately when accelerating or would accelerate on its own, strong smell of gas after the car has been driven and is parked. I know there is currently a recall for a gas pump failure. There is no engine light on.
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
Lane departure assist, adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, adaptive high beam, forward collision warning system became unresponsive while driving on highway during trip. Had to take vehicle into GM dealership for ADAS camera replacement.
Incident date: Mar 10, 2026
The component that failed is the cowl panel weather stripping/seal located at the base of the windshield on my 2022 Subaru Outback. The material is visibly peeling and deteriorating despite the vehicle having only approximately 23,000 miles. The defective component is still installed on the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. While this issue has not yet caused a direct accident... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2026
ABS module/brakes system goes into limp mode randomly, which causes brake malfunction, throwing codes c1233, c1234 and c1236. There was a recall repair performed by Hyundai about two years ago, however there was two options on NHTSA recall 23V651000/campaign 251. One was to replace a safety plug fuse issue, TSB 23-01-054H . That is the recall they performed. The other recall repair which they did ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2026
I own a 2023 GMC Yukon Denali. In Nov. 2023, at about 4,000 miles, the vehicle suffered a complete engine and electrical failure at highway speed while I was traveling with my husband and three small children. It suddenly lost all power in the fast lane, including acceleration and engine function. Steering became extremely heavy, consistent with loss of power steering assist, and the electronics s... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
I own a 2023 GMC Yukon Denali. In Nov. 2023, at about 4,000 miles, the vehicle suffered a complete engine and electrical failure at highway speed while I was traveling with my husband and three small children. It suddenly lost all power in the fast lane, including acceleration and engine function. Steering became extremely heavy, consistent with loss of power steering assist, and the electronics s... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2026
The Power Electronics Control Unit (ECM), Part No. A453-900-72-11, and the DC-to-DC converter have both failed, rendering this all-electric vehicle completely inoperable. There is no backup propulsion system. The DC-to-DC converter powers safety-critical systems including lighting, turn signals, and hazard flashers — its failure could cause loss of safety-critical functions while driving. Total ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
While driving my 2013 Toyota Prius, the red brake warning light, traction control, and ABS warning light suddenly illuminated on the dashboard. The brake pedal became spongy and required significantly more effort to stop the vehicle, indicating reduced braking power. The vehicle was diagnosed with code C1391 — abnormal leak in the brake booster accumulator assembly — a known manufacturing defe... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
Oil is leaking onto my spark plugs and fouling them out. Also took my car into dealership and parts are not available for the recall for the rear toe links.
Incident date: Mar 3, 2026
Vehicle: 2026 Ram 1500 Limited I am filing a safety complaint regarding a brand new vehicle that experienced a dangerous failure in live traffic and continues to have unresolved issues. The vehicle was purchased on March 31, 2026. On April 3, 2026, just three days after purchase, the truck broke down in active traffic. The situation was serious enough that local police had to respond to direct... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Edge. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V124000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); 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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not exp... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2026
While driving the car, several warning lights turned on all at once, saying that the following components were disabled: Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic High Beams, and Collision Mitigation Braking System. Not being able to use these features is more dangerous, not to mention that the warning lights associated with their disabling are distracting (making it likely that, if ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2026
While driving the car, several warning lights turned on all at once, saying that the following components were disabled: Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic High Beams, and Collision Mitigation Braking System. Not being able to use these features is more dangerous, not to mention that the warning lights associated with their disabling are distracting (making it likely that, if ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
The 2022 R1Ts has a welded subframe that is prone to cracking due to the vehicles weight. The symptoms are a metal on metal clunking and creaking sound from the front end. In 2023 Rivian replaced the welded subframe on the R1T with a cast subframe that is stronger. I raised this issue to Rivian on 3 separate service appointments over the course of 3 years while my vehicle was under warranty, eac... Read more
Incident date: Dec 16, 2022
The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that upon returning to the vehicle while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, the sunroof front glass panel had shattered without impact. The contact was able to slowly drive to the residence. The contact then contacted a mobile auto glass technician who cleaned the vehicle and covered the sunroof with plastic. Additionally, the contact was... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2024
Rod went through the the back of the engine causing smoke and vehicle locked up.
FORD
C-MAX HYBRID
(2015) - BACK OVER PREVENTION
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Sep 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that while shifted in reverse(R) on several occasions, the rear-view camera did not operate as intended and the screen was black. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 3, 2026
I am reporting a recurring defect involving the sunroof drain system in my 2023 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum that has caused multiple interior flooding incidents. The vehicle has flooded three separate times due to failure of the sunroof drainage system. Water enters the cabin during rain events and accumulates inside the vehicle, causing damage to the interior and raising concerns about potential ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2025
My car is experiencing the starting issue that is listed as auto start/stop feature. However, since I almost always have the AC on or start/stop disabled because the car will not start when hot after a few stops and was scared it would do it in traffic. So far I can get it started again but need to completely turn car off and try again, sometimes more than once. Had been going on for a year and t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 25, 2026
The struts for the tailgate appear to be a problem for these cars. Mine are failing intermittently and so if the technicians don’t witness it, they refuse to cover it under warranty. If I crash and the trunk is the only way out, I willl die. The trunk gets stuck and won’t open or close unless forced. This is a disaster and should be recalled. I see multiple complaints all over the internet abo... Read more
Incident date: Jan 31, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The independent mechanic replaced the transmission fluid; however, the failure reoccurred. The v... Read more
Incident date: Jan 31, 2026
I will take 10k$ for the car or a new engine and steering, damages fixed. . I also need a rental by April 10th and $300 for inconvenience thus far. The engine stalled twice when driving over 2 months! The lawyer won't be forgiving.
Crash
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost automotive power and unexpectedly came to a stop. The message that the transmission was hot was displayed. The vehicle was restarted and driven back to the residence, but then failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with fuel sy... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to immediately start-up after refueling the vehicle. The accelerator pedal needed to be depressed to the floorboard before the vehicle would start-up. Additionally, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate after starting the vehicle. The check engine light illuminated several weeks after the initial failure. The vehic... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2026
My 2019 jeep cherokee latitude 2019 has a failure in the power transfer unit ( PTU ) the dealership diagnosed code C14A7-97 and quoted $4600 for repair. My vehicle is included in recall 01C/NHTSA 25V-011, but the dealer stated the recall cannot be completed because the PTU has already failed. Chrysler has not covered the repair even though the failure appears directly related to the recall compo... Read more