Consumer Safety Complaints

Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 deaths.

2,215,138 Total Complaints

138,663 Reported Crashes

56,255 Reported Fires

8,561 Reported 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 2,215,138 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

How to Read NHTSA Consumer Complaints › How NHTSA Investigations Work › Used Car: 7 Recall Checks to Run First › The Takata Airbag Recall: Full Story › OBD-II Codes Explained › All Articles ›

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Showing 63,375 complaints for GMC

Incident date: Aug 1, 2025

The engine system in the 2021 Ford F-150 is malfunctioning due to excessive oil consumption, in the 5.0L Coyote V8 engine. This is leading to no oil registering on the dipstick; the vehicle and its engine remain available for inspection upon request as they are in the owner's possession and have not been disassembled or repaired. This issue puts the safety of the driver, passengers, and other ro... Read more

Incident date: Mar 13, 2026

My 2020 BMW 530i caught fire while I was driving on March 13th. The car showed no signs of smoke. Another driver alerted me about smoke, I exited the vehicle, and within minutes the car was fully on fire. The vehicle is currently at a tow yard.

Fire

Incident date: Mar 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Lincoln Corsair. The contact stated that unknown parts fell of the vehicle and were replaced by dealer, the contact was informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V091000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was... Read more

Incident date: Mar 2, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while in reverse, the image on the back over cam... Read more

Incident date: Mar 9, 2026

I own a 2023 Ram 2500 equipped with the 6.7L Cummins diesel and 68RFE automatic transmission. The vehicle has experienced ongoing transmission malfunction issues including extremely harsh shifting, intermittent RPM flare during gear changes, delayed engagement, and sudden lurching during acceleration and deceleration. The issue occurs most commonly during low-speed acceleration and normal driving... Read more

Incident date: Mar 9, 2026

The DEF tank failed making the exhaust system malfunction. This puts the vehicle in limp mode.

Incident date: Mar 15, 2026

Error code RCM_a021 front left safety restraint system fault. An issue that arises purely due to poor seat design. It is the fault of the seat pinching a wire from moving back and forth. This safety issue is an inevitability and not a one off chance. This issue is publicly noted on forms throughout all the years of this car’s production. This error results in airbags not being properly deployed ... Read more

Incident date: Mar 10, 2026

The issues I am experiencing for approximately the past five to six months include:- Forward Collision System showing the message “Forward Collision System Unavailable.” Adaptive Cruise Control displaying “Adaptive Cruise Temporarily Unavailable.” Rear parking safety system applying sudden braking even when there is no pedestrian, vehicle, or object nearby. Even when the system is set t... Read more

Incident date: Jan 14, 2026

While driving in a busy area with pedestrians and other vehicles, my car hard braked out of nowhere to a complete stop for no reason. I was nearly rear ended. The adaptive cruise control shuts off completely after 15 minutes in use. Says to take it to the nearest dealership. Turning off and restarting the car gets rid of the notification.

Incident date: Mar 3, 2026

While pulling into a parking spot of a business and approximately 6 feet from the curb, the automatic emergency brake engaged forcing my whole body forward, slamming my head on the visor/roof of the car very forcefully/painfully. I was not in traffic, I was getting ready to park. My front seat passenger slammed against her seatbelt and I had a child in the back seat who slammed forward as well. N... Read more

1 injured

Incident date: Jun 19, 2025

The battery had an electrical system failure warning after 5900 miles and has been in the shop for over a month.

Incident date: Mar 13, 2026

The vehicle is experiencing a failure of the dual-zone HVAC system where the passenger side consistently blows hot air while the driver side is set to cold. This indicates a failure of the HVAC blend door actuator (servo motor), which is a known issue for this model year. This failure poses a safety risk as it can prevent proper defrosting and defogging of the windshield during inclement weather, ... Read more

Incident date: Mar 13, 2026

Incident date: Mar 7, 2026

The vehicle triggers the braking system when there is nothing in the road, this has happened when turning across traffic, into parking lots, and when just driving on a road. Luckily this has not caused a crash yet but it has a high likelihood of causing a crash if not properly fixed by Audi. Occasionally the sensors stop working and the seatbelts tighten aggressively. This is especially risky beca... Read more

Incident date: Mar 14, 2026

After going through a touchless car wash with undercarriage spray and clean, the vehicle stalled 5-10 minutes later. This occurred after the wash was completed and driving away. Suddenly the engine began to lose power, stumbled, and then died while driving. If I had to guess this was a sensor or some electrical component that may have been affected by the water spray from underneath. There were no... Read more

Incident date: Jan 15, 2026

Vehicle “wobble” under moderate acceleration and in corners, can be felt in the seats and steering wheel.

Incident date: Jan 15, 2026

I was driving to the store and suddenly the steering wheel got hard, and I almost hit another car, but fortunately nothing happened. And from then on, the power steering in my car stopped working.

Incident date: Jan 15, 2026

Engine failure. Less than 150,000 miles and engine has gone bad. Burning oil, and loud noise when car starts. Had multiple mechanics look at the car whom said the motor went bad. I’ve been consistent with oil changes, tune ups, etc. maintained the car well so I don’t know why or how this happened.

Incident date: Jan 26, 2026

Since owning the vehicle, I have experienced a range of serious transmission issues. These include harsh or delayed gear shifts, inconsistent downshifts, and transmission slipping. The vehicle also frequently jerks or lurches during gear changes. Of particular concern is the vehicle’s behavior during downshifting. At times, the transmission downshifts abruptly and causes the vehicle to lunge for... Read more

Incident date: Mar 12, 2026

I own a 2025 Audi Q7 and have experienced repeated malfunctions related to the vehicle’s driver assistance and safety systems. The vehicle frequently displays warnings such as “Driving Assist Not Available” and other safety system errors. These issues started while the vehicle was still relatively new and have continued intermittently. The warnings appear while driving and indicate that imp... Read more

Incident date: Feb 13, 2026

The vehicle produces a ratcheting / clicking sound from the front axle area when turning the steering wheel, especially during low-speed turns such as pulling out of a parking space or making sharp turns. The sound appears to originate from the front drive axle or CV joint area. The noise is repetitive and occurs when the vehicle is under light acceleration while the wheels are turned. This prob... Read more

Incident date: Feb 13, 2026

I have owned this car for a year have taken it to multiple mechanics to get the overheating issue fixed. Well the most recent time my car had overheated my whole car had smelt like it was on fire. I've had to fix this issue 5 times in the last year and mechanics are not cheap

Incident date: Mar 14, 2026

The driver's side headlight does not illuminate the center of the road. There is a dark spot. The headlight was replaced but the issue still persists. This is dangerous and cannot see the road adequately.

Incident date: Mar 14, 2026

This has nothing to with the door other than camping world forced it to fit and then forced me to accept it. The aftermarket screen door is a severe tripping hazard. Across the entire entry is a channel. Unsafe for anyone. They also forced me to accept someone else’s feces in the black tank. Myrtle beach location. They replaced the battery with a less used battery.

Incident date: Mar 14, 2026

The rear speed sensor on my 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid is fused to the differential due to corrosion. The failure disables safety systems (ABS/Traction Control), and the design requires a $800+ partial teardown of the drivetrain to fix a basic sensor. This is a design defect that prevents safety-critical repairs.

Incident date: Mar 13, 2026

My 2010 Volkswagen CC became completely inoperable because of the active fuel pump control module recall (NHTSA 17V509). The vehicle stalled and nearly caused an accident. The check engine light came on just before I noticed a burning smell coming from the backseat of my car immediately after smelling that the car suddenly stalled out in the middle of a busy intersection and the engine would not s... Read more

Incident date: Mar 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was slipping. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Incident date: Apr 20, 2025

Transmission failure when driving. Car was towed to dealership and diagnosed. Transmission and torque converter replacement required under factory warranty. Very long lead time for dealer to acquire replacement parts, about 4 months.

Incident date: Mar 28, 2024

open recall for paint peeling on the gas tank, could cause a fire. No Ford dealers in my area can take care of the problem.: I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding a Ford dealership’s failure to properly support and address a safety recall on my vehicle. As you know, safety recalls are issued to protect consumers and ensure that potentially dangerous vehicle defects are corrected prom... Read more

Incident date: Mar 6, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC300. The contact stated that the rear-view camera was not functioning properly. After restarting the vehicle, the camera operated as needed; however, several days later, the camera became inoperable. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V354000 (Back Over Prevention, Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer ... Read more

Incident date: Feb 3, 2026

The contact owns a 1999 N/A Chevrolet Suburban 1500. The vehicle was inspected, and the contact was informed that there was an open recall associated with the VIN. The contact was provided the information for NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V122000 (SEAT BELTS). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who refused to complete the recall repairs. The contact was informed that the part for the recall repair wa... Read more

Incident date: Feb 3, 2026

Headlights are recessed and snow can pack in the recess which blocks the light. The snow renders the headlights useless and makes for unsafe driving conditions.

Incident date: Mar 10, 2026

On June 9, 2025, I was involved in a motor vehicle accident while driving my 2016 Honda Accord. During the crash, the seatbelt system failed in a way that caused severe force to my body rather than restraining me properly. The seatbelt detached and violently pulled my body, resulting in significant injuries. The force from the seatbelt failure ruptured my right breast implant, which required surg... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Feb 23, 2026

Windshield cracking on new Kia EV6 with only 2700 miles. Was 53 degrees outside so no defroster excuse. Seems to be a stress crack and looking online in KIA EV6 Forums, I've noticed it is not a one-off problem as many owners have had to deal with this.

Incident date: Feb 23, 2026

The vehicle is experiencing "unintended left turn signal activation". When a right hand turn signal is activated, and the steering wheel is corrected after completing the turn, the left turn signal activates spontaneously. This miscommunicates intent to other drivers, causes dangerous assumptions on the road and increases collision risk. Ford has acknowledged this is a known issue and a "great saf... Read more

Incident date: Mar 7, 2026

While driving down the highway experienced a partial loss of engine power causing jerky/rough operation, harsh shifting, and unpredictable behavior. Was told by the dealer service manager that it was likely a misfire in one of the cylinders. After diagnostics and servicing that included changing spark plugs, wires, and a full engine service it was later confirmed to most likely be due to a stuck l... Read more

Incident date: Mar 7, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Kenworth T680. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle and pressing the wiper fluid button, the wiper fluid did not immediately spray, and the contact was unable to immediately clean the front windshield. The contact stated the after several attempts the wiper fluid sprayer operated normally. Later, the front windshield wipers malfunctioned. The contact stated t... Read more

Incident date: Mar 7, 2026

Incident date: Mar 12, 2026

The brake booster vacuum pump, in the words of Meineke, massive failure. The pump locked up and exploded, there are parts of at least under the valve cover. The failure resulted in the ruining of the camshaft, as this pump is controlled by the camshaft. The end of my camshaft looks like a mushroom head. This failure is currently in the investigation part of a class action law suit in which I am ad... Read more

Incident date: Mar 12, 2026

Perhaps 1 year into owning this car the apple carplay connection started going in and out-- it takes perhaps 10 to 15 seconds for it to start working again. I've tried different phones and cords. This issue is getting worse, sometimes 6 times in a 20 minute drive. Now it goes out very frequently (though it is rare in the mornings for some reason). I have brought the car into a dealership and they ... Read more

Incident date: Mar 3, 2026

Vehicle experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure characterized by a percussive "shotgun blast" noise from the rear chassis, followed by an immediate, total loss of braking power (pedal to the floor) and a violent loss of directional stability. This incident represents an aggravated safety failure of known GMT900 platform defects. The technical chain of causality began with the factory exhaust... Read more

Incident date: Mar 3, 2026

I purchased a 2025 Chevy Equinox EV last year out of the local Chevy dealership It is my first brand new vehicle and I’m the only owner, I have only had this vehicle for a few months and it has already showed me significant issues with the Electronic components Main issues I’ve experienced are: Randomly shutting off Randomly phantom braking On star capabilities not working No access to W... Read more

Incident date: Mar 3, 2026

Incident date: Jan 2, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Acura ILX. The vehicle was taken to be inspected, and the contact was informed that the VIN might be associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V859000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available, and the part was on back order. The contact stated that the manufactur... Read more

Incident date: Dec 31, 1969

* Sudden shutdown while driving * Dash failure * “Vehicle not in park” message * RF hub failure * Recall references While driving at highway speeds and without warning the entire dashboard shut off and the vehicle lost power. The message “Vehicle Not in Park” appeared. My son was forced to coast off the highway to safety. Once the vehicle stopped, it shifted itself into park. The truck res... Read more

Incident date: Mar 8, 2026

Vehicle shut-off while driving on the expressway, around 70-75mph. Upon vehicle turning off, I had no option but to "coast" off to the left side, which thankfully, freed me from traffic for the most part. If anyone who have been a foot over, they would've hit me. I have had numerous electrical issues with this vehicle and have taken it to the dealership but they have been "unable" to duplicate the... Read more

Incident date: Mar 8, 2026

See attached document for complaint.

Incident date: Mar 8, 2026

See attached document for complaint.

Incident date: Feb 27, 2026

My 2021 Chevy blazer Lt v6, has a service bulletin extending warranty on thermostat malfunction, that also causes the fans to run after the car is off. My vechicle was experiencing this issue, went into my local dealer, they claim thats not my issue, I need a new radiator, that has never leaked, or the car running hot. Beyond that the radiator has a service bulletin, they can fail, do to poor qu... Read more

Incident date: Mar 5, 2026

My Toyota hybrid AWD vehicle experienced corrosion of the rear traction motor cable, which Toyota has acknowledged in Service Campaign 25TD01. This corrosion affects the electrical connection to the rear drive motor and can result in loss of AWD propulsion capability. Loss of rear-wheel propulsion significantly reduces traction and stability, particularly in snow, ice, and wet conditions. Drivers ... Read more

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Consumer Safety Complaints

What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?

How to interpret what you read

If you've experienced a defect

Read more from our blog