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 125,830 complaints for HONDA
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
Was traveling down the interstate at 75mph. The steering wheel jolted left and would not allow driver to turn the wheel back to the right causing a single vehicle accident. The vehicle left the roadway and hit the cable barrier in the median and traveled approximately 50 yards before stopping.
Crash
Incident date: Jul 28, 2026
On June 20, 2026, while the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport was being driven on Richardson Highway near Mile 155 in Alaska, smoke and flames developed from the engine compartment without any collision. The driver stopped and both occupants exited before the vehicle became fully engulfed. The fire created an immediate risk of serious injury or death and blocked the northbound lane. There were no known... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jul 28, 2026
On June 20, 2026, while the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport was being driven on Richardson Highway near Mile 155 in Alaska, smoke and flames developed from the engine compartment without any collision. The driver stopped and both occupants exited before the vehicle became fully engulfed. The fire created an immediate risk of serious injury or death and blocked the northbound lane. There were no known... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jul 28, 2026
On June 20, 2026, while the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport was being driven on Richardson Highway near Mile 155 in Alaska, smoke and flames developed from the engine compartment without any collision. The driver stopped and both occupants exited before the vehicle became fully engulfed. The fire created an immediate risk of serious injury or death and blocked the northbound lane. There were no known... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Sep 13, 2023
While driving on a road with a round about as I entered into the round about turn the vehicle lane keeping assist pulled the wheels and caused me to slam into the curb damaging the passenger side front and back wheel. It shoved the front wheel back into the inner fender wheel well and made the vehicle unable to be driven. I tried to counter steer to prevent slamming into the curb but there was no ... Read more
HONDA
ACCORD HYBRID
(2020) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Jul 28, 2026
Incident date: Jun 2, 2026
I was dropping off my fiancée to her doctor appointment and while driving to park the car started to smoke profusely. I was unable to tell at first, but I quickly realized that there was a flame spouting from between the front windshield and underneath the hood of the car. I jumped out of the car and grabbed both my [XXX] and [XXX] out of the car and immediately started running towards the office... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Feb 26, 2026
While driving, my dashboard warning lights on my 2019 Subaru Crosstrek—AT OIL TEMP, EyeSight, and Lane Assist—illuminated simultaneously with a sudden onset of transmission slippage and erratic shifting, with no prior warning symptoms. The vehicle experienced a sudden mechanical failure of the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) torque converter clutch solenoid valve, which was diagnosed ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 26, 2026
Purchased this 2023 Honda Passport on January 31, 2026 as a certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle from Venice Honda, Venice Florida. On July 15, 2026, I noticed condensation inside the entire lens of my left headlight. The attached pictures will show no damage at all to the headlight. Venice Honda examined the vehicle and headlight on July 27, 2026 and upon completion the service tech stated that the ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 26, 2026
Car fails to move while in reverse, the rpm’s accelerate but the car doesn’t move the transmission seems to not be griping when in reverse i get a reading from diagnostic saying P2723
Incident date: Jul 28, 2026
Car shuts off at highway speeds and in stop and go traffic like it has a fuel delivery issue. Car sputters and then loses all power. I know there was a previous recall on this vehicle but I’m curious whether it was actually fixed on my car specifically.
Incident date: Jul 15, 2026
ABS module has failed. Causing a number of other safety systems to be deactivated. Power steering, traction control, drive mode selection, and braking. All these lights are illuminated on dash. Independent auto repair shop verified this ABS module has failed and there is no replacement parts from Ford.
Incident date: Jul 28, 2026
Repeated Check Engine light issue Ford failed to diagnosis and follow service bulletins regarding a defect in the engine block. Now Ford tells us that the engine block is cracked and wants us to pay full price for their faulty engine. Car was purchased with 31,388 on Dec. 4, 2020 as a Certified Pre-Owned Ford vehicle from a Ford dealership. 12/10/2022 with 46,728 miles Levittown Ford serviced t... Read more
Incident date: Jul 28, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the brakes independently activated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving on a busy highway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was in... Read more
Incident date: Jul 28, 2026
Multiple door actuator locks are faulty and broken, conveniently just out of warranty. The first right passenger door lock broke/faulty in October 2025, leading me to discover a class action lawsuit was filed against Toyota for faulty actuators. This can be found here: [XXX]. This faulty door lock was fixed as a goodwill gesture from Toyota; The same issue occurred recently for the front driver ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 17, 2023
See attached letter
Incident date: Sep 22, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake vacuum pump failed to operate as needed and caused the brake pedal to become firm. The message "Service Brake Assist" was displayed. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was diagnosed and determined to have the brake vacuum pump had disintegrated, and a part had fallen into the ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 22, 2022
This 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid has a severe and recurring history of catastrophic high-voltage hybrid powertrain and transmission failures that cause a sudden loss of motive power while driving, presenting an immediate safety hazard. The vehicle has already required two full automatic transmission (eFlite EVT) replacements under factory warranty due to internal failures. It has experienced mul... Read more
Incident date: Jun 25, 2026
I own a 2010 Subaru Outback. While parked at a college in Medford, Oregon, it suffered a spontaneous electrical fire that originated inside the driver's door. This is the exact failure described in Subaru Safety Recall Campaign WQE-41. The NHTSA website states the recall was completed on this VIN, meaning the recall repair itself has failed and caused a total loss of the vehicle at this time as we... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jun 25, 2026
Turned AC on blew out cool air all of sudden the air went out hot air blowing, smelt burning and saw smoke on passenger side (not a lot,but enough to raise concerns) turned AC shut climate off, turned car off tried it again no air just heat blowing. brother in law put it on machine , gave a sensor code, replaced sensor put a can of air in, still blowing out hot air. and if ran too long it will sm... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2024
Component: Suspension: Front: Control Arm: Left Lower Arm Description: While operating the vehicle at approximately 5 mph, the left (drivers' side) front lower control arm suffered a catastrophic structural material failure, snapping completely into two parts by the ball joint without warning. The structural failure caused the front wheel assembly to collapse outward, ripping the axle out of the... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2024
Component: Suspension: Front: Control Arm: Left Lower Arm Description: While operating the vehicle at approximately 5 mph, the left (drivers' side) front lower control arm suffered a catastrophic structural material failure, snapping completely into two parts by the ball joint without warning. The structural failure caused the front wheel assembly to collapse outward, ripping the axle out of the... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2024
I am the first owner of a Toyota 2013 Prius that I purchased in Baltimore, MD, in 2013. I moved Georgia in 2014. The car currently has 130000 miles. I heard there were recalls on this vehicle type few years ago, but I was never notified. The brake has failed recently with code C1391. I spent $3,500 recently and the car is still in the repair shop.
Incident date: May 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Flex. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V829000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera was inoperable. Additionally, the driver's side door B-Pillar trim had detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine and TPMS warning lights illuminated. The message that the vehicle should not be driven was displayed. The lane assist feature was inoperable. The contact disconnected the battery, and the warning light disappeared. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The ma... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine and TPMS warning lights illuminated. The message that the vehicle should not be driven was displayed. The lane assist feature was inoperable. The contact disconnected the battery, and the warning light disappeared. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The ma... Read more
Incident date: Jul 17, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact stated that the transmission had seized in first gear. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact stated that the fail... Read more
Incident date: Jul 17, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact stated that the transmission had seized in first gear. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact stated that the fail... Read more
Incident date: Jul 17, 2026
I Purchased the vehicle on May 29, 2026 and it stated the 6.2 liter engine recall had been fixed and that I have extended special coverage for the exact issue of the recall until 150008 miles on this vehicle. On July 14, 2026 the vehicle was being driven and stalled out at a traffic light and restarted, yet within a quarter mile it stalled again at the next traffic light and became completely disa... Read more
Incident date: Jun 23, 2026
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an unknown warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a failure in cylinder #3. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinder #3. The contact was informed that the engine ne... Read more
Incident date: Jun 23, 2026
I was driving on the freeway in traffic, thankfully going about +/- 25 mph and had to stop/slow down. When I tapped the breaks, they completely failed. All warning lights in the car immediately came on including the warning 'Stop Safely Break Failure'. I pressed the breaks as hard as a I could and pulled off the shoulder to slow the car and not rear-end someone. When the car finally came to stop I... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. While the contact’s son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed from the scene of the failure. The dealer was contacted and diagnosed the vehicle with a transmission module failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact associated the failure with an unknown recall associated with the powertrain; however, the VIN was not... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2026
While the carseat is installed in forward facing position with a seat belt my 30lb [XXX] old is able to push the buttons to uninstall the car seat while car is in motion. The click tight buttons become loose when she is in the seat. We do have two Britax poplar car seats so this is not isolated to a single seat. She is able to lift the fabric and lightly press both buttons separately uninstalling ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 20, 2026
Chest clip loose with no audible click, not secure and easily opens with a slight pull. Model number 3641198
Incident date: Jul 20, 2026
1. High Pressure Fuel Pump 2. All safety is good 3. It has been taken to the dealership and blaming it on the water separator (water/rust in fuel) The codes thrown are towards the High Pressure Fuel Pump 4. No there were no warning lights or messages prior to the failure. 5. Dealership did not provide the inspection report
Incident date: Jul 26, 2026
The Steering Assembly is faulty in the vehicle. I purchase this vehicle as a used Certified preowned vehicle from Hart Infinity in Connecticut. I looked at several one year old Infiniti's as I had an accident in my 2019 and it was totaled. As I was looking, I notices that several of the vehicles had curb rash on the front rims as well as the one I purchased. After I bought mine in July 2024 I ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2026
My 2017 Kia Niro exhibits a dangerous low-speed engine surging hazard matching Safety Recall SC276. An authorized Kia dealership technician inspected the vehicle under RO #6115244 and formally documented 'seeping fluid residue' inside the clutch actuator housing. However, the dealership and Kia Corporate are refusing to honor the recall remedy and have released the car at a $0.00 balance while exp... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2026
Upon visual inspection of the car. Noticed driver’s side headlight outter light not working with no warning indicator. Have been pulled over since issue was first discovered by police. I believe it’s called daytime driving light part of the headlight.
Incident date: Jul 9, 2026
"I was not notified of Campaign 974 and later experienced engine problems/failure. I am requesting review of whether the campaign was completed and whether the failure is related to the condition the campaign was intended to detect. My engine failed while pulling up to a house, stopping, then preparing to move again the car stalled, car stalled, car would not start for several times tried, then ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 28, 2026
Major electrical issues, including rear view camera not working, vehicle starting when no key fob is in or near the vehicle, tail lights burning out even after replacement, one taillight blinking faster than the other, screen for infotainment not turning on, all of a sudden vehicle not starting with complete battery drainage even after vehicle was just charged. And too many other issues to name, m... Read more
Incident date: Jul 27, 2026
Back up camera is STILL not working as intended. When backing up camera goes blank. This already an existing recall, but its been a long time since its been issued and I dont think they are trying to remedy it.
Incident date: Jul 27, 2026
Back up camera is STILL not working as intended. When backing up camera goes blank. This already an existing recall, but its been a long time since its been issued and I dont think they are trying to remedy it.
Incident date: Jul 27, 2026
Back up camera is STILL not working as intended. When backing up camera goes blank. This already an existing recall, but its been a long time since its been issued and I dont think they are trying to remedy it.
Incident date: Jul 27, 2026
adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist system problem, collision mitigation system problem, road departure mitigation system problem and auto high beam problem
Incident date: Jul 25, 2026
We are the sole owners of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata. Over the years the dashboard has deteriorated and developed cracks along the entire length, including over the area of the passenger airbag. We are currently concerned as to what would happen in the event of an accident that would trigger the air bag causing the dashboard to explode and send splinters all over the place, possibly causing severe ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 25, 2026
We are the sole owners of the 2015 Hyundai Sonata. Over the years the dashboard has deteriorated and developed cracks along the entire length, including over the area of the passenger airbag. We are currently concerned as to what would happen in the event of an accident that would trigger the air bag causing the dashboard to explode and send splinters all over the place, possibly causing severe ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 25, 2026
Purchased this car used in July of 2025 with 77,000 miles. When we went in for the first complimentary oil change at ~5,000 miles, there was no noticeable oil on the dipstick. The dealership continued with the oil change and advised us to come back every 500miles for an oil consumption test. We did this three separate times and each time we were at least a full quart low each time. It was determin... Read more
Incident date: Jun 9, 2026
We were notified there was a recall and to schedule an appointment to get the update. We did and it was updated. It hesitated when we drove it the next day and everyday after. WE took it in a second time and was told by our dealer that following the completion of service campaign 9c2 certain vehicles may exhibit a brief hesitation or rough shifting conditions and to let it warm up for 1-3 minutes... Read more
Incident date: Jul 27, 2026
these cars require a seat calibration after a deer collision. they say your seat sensors are shot and want $900 to fix your seat and recalibrate the system. they also say your passenger airbags will not work without fixing the seat. pure safety for ransome. two seat belts also exploded and the deer walked away. zero body damage to car. this stuff is a joke.
Crash
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
I am submitting this complaint regarding Ford Recall 26S28 (NHTSA Recall 26V237). My truck exhibited the dangerous unintended downshift condition described in this recall for several weeks before the repair remedy became available. A few weeks weeks before April 27, 2026, the truck began unexpectedly downshifting from approximately 5th or 6th gear into a much lower gear while driving. Each event ... Read more