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 1,421 complaints for GENESIS
Incident date: Jun 29, 2018
ON 6/29/18, APPROXIMATELY 9:30AM, TEMP 85. GOING SOUTH ON I-25, AT 70MPH, I EXPERIENCED A RAPID EXPLOSION OF MY SUNROOF. IT EXPLODED OUTWARD, ALTHOUGH SOME GLASS CAME INTO THE CABIN. NO ONE WAS INJURED.
Incident date: Feb 20, 2018
1)AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) WITH PEDESTRIAN DETECTION - LOOKS LIKE IT IS WORKING IN 20-30% OF CASES, NEVER WORKING WITH PEDESTRIANS. SERVICE DECLARED EVERYTHING FINE, BUT REJECT DEMONSTRATE THIS. 2)LINE KEEP ASSISTS - PERIODICALLY DEPARTURE CAR FROM THE LINE, IT HAPPENS DURING PERFECT WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ROAD MARKUP. 3) VIBRATION IS AT THE VERY HIGH LEVEL, PERIODICALLY INCREASED AND... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2018
1)AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) WITH PEDESTRIAN DETECTION - LOOKS LIKE IT IS WORKING IN 20-30% OF CASES, NEVER WORKING WITH PEDESTRIANS. SERVICE DECLARED EVERYTHING FINE, BUT REJECT DEMONSTRATE THIS. 2)LINE KEEP ASSISTS - PERIODICALLY DEPARTURE CAR FROM THE LINE, IT HAPPENS DURING PERFECT WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ROAD MARKUP. 3) VIBRATION IS AT THE VERY HIGH LEVEL, PERIODICALLY INCREASED AND... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2018
1)AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) WITH PEDESTRIAN DETECTION - LOOKS LIKE IT IS WORKING IN 20-30% OF CASES, NEVER WORKING WITH PEDESTRIANS. SERVICE DECLARED EVERYTHING FINE, BUT REJECT DEMONSTRATE THIS. 2)LINE KEEP ASSISTS - PERIODICALLY DEPARTURE CAR FROM THE LINE, IT HAPPENS DURING PERFECT WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ROAD MARKUP. 3) VIBRATION IS AT THE VERY HIGH LEVEL, PERIODICALLY INCREASED AND... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2018
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO TIRE SIDEWALL FAILURES (RIGHT FRONT AND REAR) RESULTING IN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE AND THE NEED TO REPLACE BOTH TIRES (CONTINENTAL PROCONTACT TX). ONE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE OTHER WAS DETECTED WHILE PARKED. THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE OR INJURY. THERE WAS LESS THAN 6000 MILES ON THE TIRES.
Incident date: May 18, 2018
SEE UPLOADED LETTER ATTACHED
Incident date: May 18, 2018
SEE UPLOADED LETTER ATTACHED
Incident date: Apr 22, 2018
TRANSMISSION CAN POP OUT OF GEAR WHEN THE SHIFT HANDLE IS INADVERTENTLY NUDGED WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR WHEN STOPPED, THE TRANSMISSION WILL REVERT TO NEUTRAL (POP INTO) IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION UNLESS YOU HOLD THE HANDLE FORCEFULLY AND IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. EVEN WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. BOTH HAVE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION. GENESIS HAS NO RESPONSE.
Incident date: Apr 22, 2018
WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT FROM A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO RESPOND AT TIMES...IT SLOGS DOWN AND WILL NOT SHIFT TO ACCELERATE IN A LOWER GEAR...AN EMERGENCY SITUATION COULD KILL SOMEONE. THE DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION. GENESIS HAS NO RESPONSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE 7/2017.
Incident date: Mar 19, 2018
THE 2018 GENESIS G80 SPORT COMES WITH THE CONTINENTAL PRO CONTACT TX TIRES. THESE TIRES HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE SIDEWALLS. I HAD MY NEW CAR FOR LESS THAN 1000 MILES AND I ALREADY HAD TO CHANGE TWO OF THE TIRES.
Incident date: Mar 20, 2018
MY CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT WHEN I DISCOVERED THE RIGHT FRONT CONTINENTAL PROCONTACT TX OEM TIRE HAD A 21/2" GASH IN THE SIDEWALL. I THOUGHT THIS STRANGE, BUT I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED. WHEN I RETURNED HOME AND DID SOME RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT SIDEWALL FAILURES ARE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE TIRES. I WILL SAY THAT I HAD HIT A POTHOLE, WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR, WEEKS BEFORE MY TIRE FAILED. I ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2017
SINCE TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE, THE AUTO-LEVELING HEADLIGHTS DO NOT STAY IN ADJUSTMENT, LEADING TO THE LOW 'BEAM' OF LIGHT BEING EITHER WAY TOO LOW, AND THEREFORE NOT ILLUMINATING THE ROADWAY SAFELY, OR BEING TOO HIGH (MOST RECENTLY THE LOW BEAMS WERE HIGHER THAN THE HIGH BEAMS). THE DEALER HAS CONSULTED WITH HYUNDAI, AND THEY FREELY ADMIT TO ME THAT THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 21, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI GENESIS G80. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INITIALLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) FEATURE DID NOT ACTIVATE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE "CHECK AEB SYSTEM" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFAC... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Feb 21, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI GENESIS G80. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INITIALLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) FEATURE DID NOT ACTIVATE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE "CHECK AEB SYSTEM" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFAC... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 3, 2018
I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND PUT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THE CAR CRASHED THRU THE GARAGE DOOR. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, BUT IT DIDN'T RESPOND. IT TOOK ABOUT 5 SECONDS FOR IT TO ENGAGE. THEN ONCE IT ENGAGED IN REVERSE, IT WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL, AS THE CAR SHOT BACK AT A HIGH SPEED, BOUNCED UP A CURB AND HIT THE NEIGHBOR'S DECK. AGAIN, THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING TO... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 3, 2018
I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND PUT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THE CAR CRASHED THRU THE GARAGE DOOR. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, BUT IT DIDN'T RESPOND. IT TOOK ABOUT 5 SECONDS FOR IT TO ENGAGE. THEN ONCE IT ENGAGED IN REVERSE, IT WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL, AS THE CAR SHOT BACK AT A HIGH SPEED, BOUNCED UP A CURB AND HIT THE NEIGHBOR'S DECK. AGAIN, THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING TO... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 24, 2018
THE OWNER HAS HAD TWO BLOWOUTS IN ABOUT 6 WEEKS. HE GOT THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2017. THIS IS JANUARY 25, 2018 THE CAR CAME WITH CONTINENTAL PROCONTACT 19" 245-45R/19" THE LOAD IS 98W. HIS 2017 G70 HAD ITS TIRES RECALLED. AND CHANGED. I FIND IT VERY SUSPICIOUS THAT ONE CAR HAD TWO BLOWOUTS. I LOVE MY HUSBAND AND I FEEL THAT THIS FACT HAS ENDANGERED HIS LIFE AND I AM ALERTING YOU TO A POTENTI... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2017
12/31/2017 1000 AM NEBRASKA TEMPERATURE AROUND -1, WINDCHILL -25-30, LEFT HEATED GARAGE DROVE 40 MILES PARKED THE CAR, FRONT OF THE CAR INTO THE WIND AT A PARKING LOT, RETURN ABOUT 1.5 HOURS LATER AND THE STEERING ASSIST WOULD NOT WORK. APPEARS THE COLD TEMPS EFFECTED THE STEERING SOMEHOW ALSO RECEIVED AN IMMEDIATE WARNING AT START UP TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND POSSIBLE REPAIR. ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI GENESIS G80. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS DID NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HUFFINES HYUNDAI IN MCKINNEY (LOCATED AT 1301 N CENTRAL EXPY MCKINNEY, TX 75070 844 339 2699) WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND I... Read more
Incident date: Jun 24, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HYUNDAI GENESIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE FROM THE AREA OF THE SUN ROOF, THE SUN ROOF FRACTURED WITH GLASS EMITTING ON THE OUT SIDE AND INNER AREA OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE SCHEDULED FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH (TIPTON HYUNDAI, 450 MORRISON RD, BROWNSVILLE, TX 7852... Read more