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: Jul 1, 2025
On the day after taking delivery of my 2026 Tesla Model Y, FSD reversed into a visible stationary garage pillar while backing into my garage. The vehicle did not stop before impact and stopped only after contacting the pillar, resulting in more than $6,000 in vehicle damage. The following day, while FSD was attempting a left turn at an intersection, the vehicle nearly entered the opposing-traffic... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the vehicle with the engine warning light illuminated. The contact used a diagnostic machine to retrieve DTC: P0136, P0172 system, to the rich bank, and P1326 control module which indicated that the knock sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, and the contact was in... Read more
Incident date: Jul 30, 2026
I was sitting at a traffic light with my foot on the brake waiting to turn left onto Lee Highway from Fairfax County Parkway. Car jerked forward TWO times in a row, both times hitting the car in front of me. Our lane was at a dead stop waiting for the left hand arrow. The cars to the right of us had the green and were moving forward. I felt like I had no control over the car during this time.
Incident date: Jul 30, 2026
This vehicle was purchased new in 2021 with 4 original miles. Today it has 58,000 miles and has been maintained, per manufacturer recommendations, a certified Toyota dealership. At around 56,000 miles we noticed a slight whine in first gear. This was attributed to normal noise that we simply had not noticed. by 58,000 miles the while had extended to all gears and become more prominent. Research o... Read more
FORD
F-150 HYBRID
(2022) - BACK OVER PREVENTION
Jul 30, 2026
Incident date: Jul 24, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while the vehicle was shifted into reverse, the rear-view camera displayed a black screen. The image in the rear-view camera was not visible, specifically in areas where there were reflective lights. The dealer was contacted and assisted the contact with the brightness options on the rear-view camera and stated there was no failure with th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 26, 2026
While actively moving at highway speeds on July 13, 2026, the vehicle suffered an instantant, total loss of all 12V electrical auxiliary power. The dashboard flashed 'Hybrid System Malfunction' and 'Drive-Start Control Malfunction' before all digital instrument clusters, center infotainment displays, and cabin lights went completely dark. Power steering and braking assist dropped to emergency back... Read more
Incident date: Jul 26, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the transmission was slipping and there was a delay while the transmission was shifting gears. The vehicle was sputtering and jerking while driving. While turning out of a driveway and driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The local... Read more
Incident date: Jul 26, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that the transmission was slipping and there was a delay while the transmission was shifting gears. The vehicle was sputtering and jerking while driving. While turning out of a driveway and driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The local... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2025
I received a factory recall notice from Volkswagen regarding the high-voltage battery in my ID.4 (Recall 93EA). I brought the vehicle to Volkswagen South Coast ([XXX]) for the recall repair on XXX completed XXX where the dealer found the battery testing "not OK" and replaced Modules 1, 5, and 12. On XXX — less than three months later — a battery warning light returned. The dealer found fault c... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2019) - AIR BAGS
Jul 30, 2026
Incident date: Jul 19, 2026
The contact owned a 2007 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, there was an area where the pavement was incomplete and caused the vehicle to go off-road and into the woods, and the vehicle crashed into the trees, where it came to a stop. The ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The steering wh... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jul 22, 2026
The contact owned a 2007 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, there was an area where the pavement was incomplete and caused the vehicle to go off-road and into the woods, and the vehicle crashed into the trees, where it came to a stop. The ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The steering wh... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
car taken to Hutchenson Kia of Macon for Kia recall Campaign SC356. I heard loud pop a few days before appointment. The dealership stated the gas tank failed structural inspection and has already expanded. This put me and my children in danger. The dealership kept my vehicle and will not give me me a loaner. They left me stranded without a way to get home or pick up my kids from daycare. the 1800... Read more
Incident date: Jul 30, 2026
I have needed to replace my spark plugs multiple times because of an issue where, apparently when in eco mode, the pistons in the third cylinder flood with oil that causes the spark plugs to misfire. I was informed this is an issue common to Honda Odysseys on or about May 19th, when I was experiencing a misfiring engine and brought it to AAA Reynoldsburg on E Broad Street in Reynoldsburg, OH. Hond... Read more
Incident date: Jun 8, 2026
The vehicle has experienced an issue with its power conversion system (PCS2) that leaves AC charging unavailable. Based upon online forums and social media, this issue is clearly widespread amongst early VIN model Cybertrucks. The scope of the issue has lead to delays with repair. My vehicle has experienced this issue since early June 2026, and I am still awaiting repair. This is a safety concer... Read more
Incident date: Jun 8, 2026
The A/C vent actuating solenoids under the dash have all failed. They don't allow the cool air to be routed properly. We have had the dealers service center check each time as they would fail, and they found replacement is needed at each visit. The actuators began failing at 6,000 miles, and continued dropping off one by one at various mileage until all three are now not functioning. My car has 11... Read more
Incident date: Jul 14, 2026
Vehicle has a known defect in which a safety module is faulty in it that disables all safety features in the vehicle. Nissan has been very defensive in addressing less, despite the fact of acceptance that it is a known defect that is putting peoples lives at risk
Incident date: Jun 11, 2019
Went in to get a service done for my vehicle and all the highlighted areas were the problem. They stated models from 2019-2022 The Camrys all have had transmission issues. I still have my car and it’s working, but I don’t want to pay for a new transmission when Toyal manufacturing has been aware of these models and issues.
Incident date: Jul 7, 2026
Backup camera goes in and out and then blue.
Incident date: Jul 25, 2026
Failure of the forward-looking multipurpose camera after a simple battery change. Many safety features are now inoperative including emergency braking, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, among others. Ultimately, a routine maintenance item (battery replacement) is causing the failure of vehicle safety systems.
Incident date: Jul 26, 2026
Headlights vibrate/jiggle (as if they are loose within the housing) when going over normal road surfaces at night. This is distracting for the driver and probably for oncoming traffic as well. This is a known issue with this model.
Incident date: Jul 26, 2026
On July 25, 2026, while driving my 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid at high speeds on the freeway, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of drive power accompanied by a check engine light and a severe hybrid system error warning. The failure occurred without any prior warning or degradation in performance, forcing an immediate emergency maneuver through traffic to reach the shoulder. The vehicle was... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 4MATIC. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the driveshaft felt loose, with an abnormally loud knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V216000 (Power Train). The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or... Read more
FORD
ESCAPE HYBRID
(2021) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
Jul 30, 2026
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message “Engine Power Reduced” was displayed. The failure was a persistent failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with turbocharger failure. The contact was informed that the turbocharger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact refer... Read more
FORD
ESCAPE HYBRID
(2021) - BACK OVER PREVENTION
Jul 30, 2026
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while shifted in reverse(R), the rear-view camera failed to display a clear view image as intended. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exc... Read more
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2022) - AIR BAGS
Jul 30, 2026
Incident date: Jul 16, 2026
The driver-side frontal airbag/restraint system may have failed to operate during a collision involving a significant impact to the front driver’s side of my 2026 Honda CR-V. The vehicle was declared a total loss, but the driver’s airbag did not deploy. The seat belt locked and appeared to function properly. The insurance company has already taken possession of the vehicle, so its present avai... Read more
Crash
3 injured
Incident date: Jul 29, 2026
While driving on the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost power and would not accelerate beyond approximately 60 mph. This created a safety risk because I could not maintain normal highway traffic speed. I brought the vehicle to an authorized dealership, where a recall repair was performed. However, the same loss-of-power issue occurred again. After further inspection, the dealership informed me th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2026
When the car is cold and driving around town the electric power steering is fine. But once the car heats up and especially when driving on the highway there is a noticeable issue with the steering. When trying to maintain my position in the lane or making a gradual turn on a curve, the steering sticks for an instant. This continues for the entire trip. It is difficult to have a smooth drive with ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera went blank, and the vehicle crashed into a fence. The contact stated that the trunk was dented, and the rear-view camera was damaged. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was informed that parts were unavailable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechani... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jul 16, 2026
The Jeep case involves a 2015 Grand Cherokee Overland with both front seat belts requiring replacement under Jeep's 15-year seat belt warranty extension. One seat belt is completely inoperable and the other is compromised. Despite opening Jeep Case #96537928 in May 2026, Jeep has been unable to obtain replacement parts due to supplier shortages and repeated backorders. Rental assistance was init... Read more
Incident date: Feb 19, 2026
The second row passenger side seat belt continues to give an alert that there is a rider but the belt is not buckled, even though the belt is buckled. The wire running alongside the belt latch can be jiggled to get the alert to stop. Then the alert restarts. Sometimes the alert continues to trigger several times over. Sometimes there will be no alert for several minutes. A local auto shop lo... Read more
Incident date: Jun 9, 2026
My 2026 Ram 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab After vehicle startup, approximately five seconds, after initiating forward,, the vehicle experience and abrupt engine shut down while in motion. Concurrently the vehicles, electronic parking brake forcefully self engages without driver command due to an automated safety conflict. This severe powertrain, and electrical failure completely strands the vehicle and ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 13, 2026
Day Running Lights in headlights fail. The side LED fails completely requiring the entire headlight housing needing to be replaced. This is a common failure and Ford is not doing anything to help the thousands of customers this is affecting. This failure is widely reported online, in forums and chat rooms. Dealer acknowledges it is a part failure but Ford will not pay for replacement even though i... Read more
Incident date: Jul 11, 2026
The vehicle randomly stalls and shuts down. This can happen while pulling out in traffic. It has happened 5 times or more.
Incident date: Jul 11, 2026
On or around XXX a my 2021 Silverado started making a rattling sound from the engine. The truck began to stall and the engine shut off three times while driving. I attached scanner the next day and the track showed P00011 and P00016 codes. Those codes are for the Camshaft Sensor and the Crankshaft Sensor. I went online and did research about the two codes and discovered there had been a couple re... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2026
I am reporting a catastrophic engine failure and engine-compartment fire involving my 2017 Lincoln MKZ Select, equipped with a 2.0L EcoBoost engine, VIN [XXX]. The vehicle had approximately 99,864 miles when the final failure occurred. Shortly after I purchased the vehicle, the original engine developed severe overheating, loss of cabin heat, white exhaust smoke, misfiring, and coolant intrusion.... Read more
Fire
1 injured
Incident date: Jul 29, 2026
I had purchased these tires P225/50R17 for my son‘s car in 2022. They have an 85,000 mile tread life warranty in April of this year. He had a blowout on the left rear tire where the tread separated from the tire and in late July this year is preparing for a 3500 mile trip as I was inspecting his car before his trip. I noticed the tire on the right rear looked to be defective. It looks like the t... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2026
On XXX, while traveling to [XXX], I experienced serious fuel system problems after filling my vehicle. The fuel gauge fluctuated from full to empty, and a loud pop caused the rear seat, where my two children were sitting, to lift upward. The vehicle would not accept more fuel despite the empty reading. I called AAA, but before the tow arrived, the gauge returned to normal, so I continued my trip. ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2026
On XXX, while traveling to [XXX], I experienced serious fuel system problems after filling my vehicle. The fuel gauge fluctuated from full to empty, and a loud pop caused the rear seat, where my two children were sitting, to lift upward. The vehicle would not accept more fuel despite the empty reading. I called AAA, but before the tow arrived, the gauge returned to normal, so I continued my trip. ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 25, 2026
Annotated § 55-24-101 et seq. that my 2026 Toyota Camry is a "lemon" due to a substantial safety defect that remains unremedied. Specifically, the vehicle is subject to a safety recall regarding "loss of drive power while driving at higher speeds or a vehicle fire could increase the risk of a crash or an injury.", which substantially impairs the safety and use of the vehicle. As of the date of th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 27, 2026
Subject: Vehicle Safety Incident Report – Fuel Pump Disconnection and Oil Leak To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Date: July 27, 2026 I am submitting this report to detail a recent vehicle malfunction that posed significant risks to my safety and that of others on the road. While driving to work, I experienced a situation where my vehicle was unable to shift gears properly or... Read more
Incident date: Jul 28, 2026
I was driving on a road around 30 mph when the engine cut off and shifted itself into park. No warning, no power, no movement. Car was dead in the road and I was unable to move it to the curb. I tried to press the drive button. Nothing. i pressed the starter button. Nothing. Parkway Honda said they could find nothing wrong other than replacing the battery. Car is brand new. Bought used at 6,000 mi... Read more
Incident date: Jul 28, 2026
I was driving on a road around 30 mph when the engine cut off and shifted itself into park. No warning, no power, no movement. Car was dead in the road and I was unable to move it to the curb. I tried to press the drive button. Nothing. i pressed the starter button. Nothing. Parkway Honda said they could find nothing wrong other than replacing the battery. Car is brand new. Bought used at 6,000 mi... Read more
Incident date: Jul 28, 2026
No warning lights, only noticed a new noise like a whirring sound that matches car speed, not acceleration. Had the car looked at and determined it was likely the same CVT transmission bearing failure most CHR owners are experiencing. Toyota is no help and estimates for repair are $6k to $10k from private transmission repair places. Now we have a dud of a car that we still owe money on that isn't ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 13, 2026
Brake system failure at less than 50 miles. Dealer providing minimal information Red Brake Warning lamp, Brake fluid low error message, and "Braking Power Low" Message being "Stop in a Safe Place"
Incident date: Jul 13, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the rearview camera was inoperative. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer wa... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2026
engine failure, i was driving home from work and i went to accelerate from 0 to 20 miles and the car hesitated and didn't want to move. I took the car to the dealer three days later and it was confirmed that i needed a new engine. I was told by the dealership i was outside of my warranty but i just found out that i was covered up to 120k miles. No lights came on at the time and there wasn't any pr... Read more
Incident date: Feb 8, 2026
On February 17, 2026, around 4:20 pm, as I was departing my agency's parking garage structure, my 2023 Tesla Y uncontrollably and un-prompted accelerated at a very high speed. I applied the brake and it would not stop. I nearly killed the security guard at the garage who was trying to direct my vehicle to the correct exit lane. The vehicle ran across a sidewalk adjacent to the garage, ran across ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while stopping at a red light, the vehicle idled and automatically turned off while stopped and then the vehicle restarted but the vehicle stalled. The electronics on the vehicle were not operating as designed. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to start. The contact's brother was able to jumpstart the... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Magnum. The contact stated that while the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side air bag deployed without a crash. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure. In addition, the contact was informed that an unknown recall repair with a similar failure description was performed on the vehicle in 2016. Th... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2021) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Jul 29, 2026
Incident date: Jul 22, 2026
On July 24, 2026, while driving on a marked city street with no vehicle, pedestrian, or obstruction ahead, the Forward Collision-Avoidance system on our 2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited AWD applied emergency braking on its own, three to four separate times, each lasting one to two seconds. Traffic behind us nearly struck our vehicle. My family was in the car. This is the latest event in a progressive ... Read more