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: Jul 10, 2026
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Car fire, originating under the hood. Unknown if vehicle is available for inspection. Last reported by Insurance company to be at IAA; [XXX]; PH#: [XXX]. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - Car fire began while in the car after moving through an intersection with a stop lig... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jul 10, 2026
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Car fire, originating under the hood. Unknown if vehicle is available for inspection. Last reported by Insurance company to be at IAA; [XXX]; PH#: [XXX]. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - Car fire began while in the car after moving through an intersection with a stop lig... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jul 10, 2026
Failing head gasket that had to be replaced. Car stationary at the time warning lights came on. Car driven to dealer for assessment and repair.
Incident date: Jun 26, 2026
Starter engine failure. Car failed to start multiple times. Major safety hazard that can cause a short circuit, melt wiring harnesses, and spark an engine bay fire posing an immediate threat to life. Problem was inspected and confirmed by a dealer. Multiple waring lamps and messages appeared. Dealer report stated: STARTER MOTOR FAULTY. ENGINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONCERN: C/S: REPEAT START ATTEMPT IN... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2026
When an adult passenger is in the vehicle passenger seat, the passenger airbag light shows "airbag off" Approximate weight 130 pounds
Incident date: Jul 8, 2026
how this vehicle has not been recalled is hard to comprehend how can no one care about safety ? I purchased (8/24)this vehicle used from Carvana. Since then I have had issues first the jeep death wobble (google it we’ll know to keep general public and i am certain you) When the vehicle reaches speeds over 55mph it shakes uncontrollably feels like vehicle is going to fall into pieces on the road... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2026
how this vehicle has not been recalled is hard to comprehend how can no one care about safety ? I purchased (8/24)this vehicle used from Carvana. Since then I have had issues first the jeep death wobble (google it we’ll know to keep general public and i am certain you) When the vehicle reaches speeds over 55mph it shakes uncontrollably feels like vehicle is going to fall into pieces on the road... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2026
COMPONENTS FAILED & EVIDENCE: 4 dry-rotted Kumho Crugen Premium tires, size 225/60R17, DOT 272A YANH 1319. Replaced due to hazard. High-definition photo proof of the severe dry rot defects, deep tread cracking, and the 2019 date stamps discovered upon removal is fully preserved and available.SAFETY RISK & CONCEALMENT: Operating on 7-year-old structurally compromised rubber posed a severe blowout l... Read more
Incident date: May 21, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the transmission shuddered. No warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure did not occur once the vehicle speed exceeded 45 MPH. The contact stated that the failure was persistent. ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 6, 2026
On at least 6-8 occasions car engine has shut off and car is automatically placed in emergency brake. This then requires you to place car in park, then restart vehicle. This happens while driving on interstate and when car slows down for traffic car engine without warning, will shut off, car will then automatically turn on emergency brake forcing sudden stop in interstate hwy traffic. Very dangero... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2026
Bridgestone tires were out at 18 k. The tires were roared by Toyota and aligned. This is a safety item and a fleet defect
Incident date: Jul 9, 2026
Total electric power steering failure... alerts for lane keeping assistance... braking.... hill descent... traction...see attached photos...
Incident date: Jan 20, 2002
I've had many issue's with this vehicle's transmission: Harsh and erratic shifting. Shuddering when accelerating. Slippage. On several occasions not able to go in reverse. Issue's started at 45k miles. Had it in the shop on several occasions to address problem. I've had to replace faulty transmission at 70k miles. This is a faulty transmission due to incompetent CDF Clutch drum. This is NOT a sa... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2002
While driving on the on ramp to [XXX] the car completely stopped and all systems shut off. There were two dash lights that flashed quickly with one being the check engine light but I did not see the other long enough to identify it. The dealership could not reproduce the issue but has the car now and is doing a more thorough evaluation. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2002
While driving on the on ramp to [XXX] the car completely stopped and all systems shut off. There were two dash lights that flashed quickly with one being the check engine light but I did not see the other long enough to identify it. The dealership could not reproduce the issue but has the car now and is doing a more thorough evaluation. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2026
Leased vehicle 7-25-24. Driver’s rear tire had ongoing slow leak beginning several months after start of lease. We filled with air and reset stored tire pressure. This would last a couple months and same tire would begin to lose some pressure again. Finally at our 20,000 mile scheduled checkup, Polestar service advised to purchase a new tire, which we did, 3/19/26. The car was delivered back to ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2026
Leased vehicle 7-25-24. Driver’s rear tire had ongoing slow leak beginning several months after start of lease. We filled with air and reset stored tire pressure. This would last a couple months and same tire would begin to lose some pressure again. Finally at our 20,000 mile scheduled checkup, Polestar service advised to purchase a new tire, which we did, 3/19/26. The car was delivered back to ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2026
DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 81-20 INTERNAL CIRCUIT FAILURE. CLEARED DTC. ROAD TEST VEHICLE, 81-20 DTC RETURN REPLACE VSA MODULATOR W/BRAKE FLUSH, STARTER MOTOR INTERMITTENTLY SEIZING UP, FRONT ENGINE MOUNT LEAKING, BOTH FRONT SWAY BAR END LINKS LEAKING GREASE, VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKING. HIGH MILEAGE AND NO HISTORY. RECOMMEND VALVE ADJUSTMENT, SPARKPLUGS AND VALVE COVER GASKET, RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT WOR... Read more
Incident date: Jul 4, 2026
The issue with truck is the rear window has a large mirror tint reflection. Causing a safety hazard when driving as the reflection leaves other drivers light blinded. Leaving a flash blindness.
Incident date: Jul 4, 2026
Vehicle received federal recall 01A service (high pressure fuel pump replacement) at an authorized Chrysler/Jeep dealership on 05/14/2026 at 97,055 miles. I drove the vehicle normally for approximately two weeks (roughly 950 miles), then parked it in my garage awaiting a separate warranty part for the intake manifold. On 07/03/2026, during that warranty repair at the same dealership at approximate... Read more
Incident date: Jul 4, 2026
The safety incident occured on April 20, 2026, when my 2016 Expedition EL failed to stay in park on a flat level parking lot causing significant safety concerns for my vehicle and all other vehicles with the same components. My car was parked for 4-5 minutes in front of the school my son attends and because he was sick the morning I parked my vehicle in front of the main entrance of the schol in a... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jul 9, 2026
While I'm driving, the engine will still be running, but the entire dash shuts down. The radio turns off. The needles for the speedometer, shift gauge, gas gauge, wont work. The ac turns off, but the engine will still run. The warning ignition turned to off please pull over carefully comes up before everything but the engine, turns off completely
Incident date: Jul 9, 2026
On June 15, 2026, my check engine light came on. On June 17, 2026, I took it to Auto Zone, they checked the code for the check engine light, and it indicated P0016 and P0017–crankshaft issues. On June 19, 2026, while driving down the highway, my vehicle failed to accelerate. I exited the highway, and my vehicle completely decelerated and ultimately shut down. I was unable to get my engine runnin... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2026
On June 15, 2026, my check engine light came on. On June 17, 2026, I took it to Auto Zone, they checked the code for the check engine light, and it indicated P0016 and P0017–crankshaft issues. On June 19, 2026, while driving down the highway, my vehicle failed to accelerate. I exited the highway, and my vehicle completely decelerated and ultimately shut down. I was unable to get my engine runnin... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2026
I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding my 2023 Kia K5 and the unacceptable experience I have had following a dangerous brake system failure. On Wednesday June 24th, while driving on Route 22 in New Jersey, my vehicle's brakes suddenly became extremely hard, making it incredibly difficult to stop. There were no lights on indicating an issue, neither any concerning sounds prior to this ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2025
During a family road trip, my 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 (~9,000 miles, less than one year old) suddenly showed red "Check Electric Vehicle System" and 12V battery warning lights and then completely lost power. The 12V system failed entirely - the vehicle could not be driven or shifted, and the doors and the rear hatch could not be locked or unlocked. It had to be flat-bedded to a Hyundai dealer because... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
The airbag sensor is on in the car. When I told the dealership they stated that the sensor is not covered under the warranty even though it was over by a fe hundred miles. None of the airbags will deploy if there is an accident. I don't see why a safety issue is not covered by the warranty. For the dealership to fix it, it is going to be over $800.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
The airbag sensor is on in the car. When I told the dealership they stated that the sensor is not covered under the warranty even though it was over by a fe hundred miles. None of the airbags will deploy if there is an accident. I don't see why a safety issue is not covered by the warranty. For the dealership to fix it, it is going to be over $800.
Incident date: May 10, 2025
Vehicle makes strange sounds from the fuel fill inlet and proceeds to stall shortly after while driving and most of the times fails to restart based on my own research it looks like purge valve issues My safety was put at risk by almost being rear ended multiple times from stalling on the expressway and red lights The problem has not been reproduced yet by the dealer it will be looked at on 07/1... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2026
The car will be placed in park but keeps saying shift to park. Then I have to turn the car on and off clicking the shift button till it will finally shut off. One time it took ten minutes. This needs to be a recall!!! Specifically since it seems to be affecting many of the cars!!!
Incident date: Jul 9, 2026
The car will be placed in park but keeps saying shift to park. Then I have to turn the car on and off clicking the shift button till it will finally shut off. One time it took ten minutes. This needs to be a recall!!! Specifically since it seems to be affecting many of the cars!!!
Incident date: Jul 9, 2026
2024 Dodge Durango, purchased brand new. AC completely stopped working at 340 miles after buying. Vehicle has had 7+ dealership visits since purchase. Vehicle has been out of service for 40+days total. Currently, vehicle has been at dealer since June 24, 2026 and is still not returned as of July 9, 2026 — 16 days ongoing with no resolution. I request NHTSA look into this. Electrical/HVAC: Con... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2026
2021 BMW X3 M40i VIN# [XXX] Starter failed with the following BMW codes: [XXX] Starter Malfunction was displayed on the Dash and car took multiple attempts or waiting 10 seconds to start. I had the starter replaced by the Dealer, who confirmed the starter required replacing. I was told it was not part of the recall based upon VIN of car? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2026
OUR 2010 TOYOTA AVALON LIMITED WITH 126537 TOTAL MILES AS OF 07/09/2026, SITS IN OUR GARAGE ALL THE TIME EXCEPT WHEN IT SOMEWHERE. THE PROBLEM IS THE DASH IS CRACKING EVERYWHERE. I CAN UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE ALL THE TIME. BUT SITTING IN THE GARAGE. WE KEEP IT CLEAN AND EVEN THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE STILL CRYSTAL CLEAR WITH NO FADING. EVEN THE SEATS HAVE NO CUTS, SPLITS OR CRACKS AFTER... Read more
Incident date: Jul 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The engine turned over but failed to restart. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic shop and then to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine seized; ho... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed a trail of fluid leaking. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a warped oil filter. The contact was informed that the warped oil filter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact late... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that upon startup and while driving, the check engine and airbag warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the gear shifter became stuck when shifting into drive(D). The rearview camera flickered, displayed incorrect images, and the display screen intermittently froze or turned blue. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on ten occasion... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that upon startup and while driving, the check engine and airbag warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the gear shifter became stuck when shifting into drive(D). The rearview camera flickered, displayed incorrect images, and the display screen intermittently froze or turned blue. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer on ten occasion... Read more
Incident date: Jul 4, 2026
The Automatic transmission is making a whining noise when you press the accelerator. I took it to the dealer and they confirmed it needs a new transmission. the vehicle started making noise at 58,000 miles. When I was able to bring it in it had 60,200 miles on it. They would not cover it under warranty because the 5-year portion of the warranty was up a few month prior. I filed for a goodwill repl... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2026
I was making a right turn at an intersection while in 3rd gear with the clutch engaged, and the motorcycle stalled. I was able to restart the motorcycle while executing the turn and completed the turn without incident. Failure to do so would have put myself at risk from oncoming vehicles through the intersection. When this has happened the low oil pressure indicator illuminates. The oil sight glas... Read more
Incident date: Nov 27, 2025
The airbags did not deploy all the way my [XXX] is in the car as well and the driver side and passenger airbags did not deploy 100% it did cause me to end up having a cut on my face and abruzz eye I have pictures but I did not go to the ER but my [XXX] did cuz she had two cuts on her head it also shattered my windshield and something was leaking INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFO... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jul 6, 2026
For about a year now the front facing camera throw 5 warnings, my cruise dont work, and it cost 2200 to fix. I follow a honda group on fb and apparently this is the main complaint. Something needs to be done bc it is very un sage to have all these safety features and they may r may not work
Incident date: Jun 20, 2025
I bought a 2012 silver Acura MDX on March 3rd in 2022 from our local Acura dealership. Exterior paint was great, hardly any dings, scratches anywhere. I spent over $20,000 for this USED CAR and as of the past two years, the clear coat has worn out in various places on front hood, near the moon roof, near the rear side door windows, near the rack on top, near the back hatch window. It's absolutely ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2025
I was driving then I shut off like I shut the car off and restart it while I was driving then my electric power steering symbol keeps coming on.
Incident date: Jun 20, 2025
I was driving then I shut off like I shut the car off and restart it while I was driving then my electric power steering symbol keeps coming on.
Incident date: Jul 2, 2026
The handle on the sliding door and driver's side broke off. We have replaced it twice already and it keeps breaking. This has not happened to me with any of my other cars in the past or present until now. It's unkown to me and it shows the part was not done well. What caught my attention is that I saw another mazda5 minivan without a handle which made me think that this is a problem with this ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2026
My wife was in a crash that totaled my 2004 Camry. She swerved to miss a deer and was pulled off the road and into two utility poles and several areas of fence. None of the airbags deployed and the crash was well over the 14 mph speed limit suggested for the airbags to deploy. My wife was seriously injured and was lucky the seatbelt held her back. She spent time in a hospital and broken two ribs a... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: May 4, 2026
My Tesla's FSD turned off midway through a curve at highway speeds. I hit the guard rail and scratched the right side of the car. I could have run straight through the guardrail from the inertia or made the back car hit me due to the slowing down, though thankfully I took control of the vehicle to limit the damage. I visited a Tesla repair center, but they said they didn't address these types of i... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jul 8, 2026
1. COMPONENT FAILED / AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION: Rear A/C and its electrical control box under the master bed failed completely on night one. The box suffered a severe thermal event (melted plastic odor, scorched components, with some smoke). The melted box and vehicle are available for inspection in my driveway. 2. SAFETY RISK: My husband and I were sleeping directly on top of the bed when the bo... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2026
1. COMPONENT FAILED / AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION: Rear A/C and its electrical control box under the master bed failed completely on night one. The box suffered a severe thermal event (melted plastic odor, scorched components, with some smoke). The melted box and vehicle are available for inspection in my driveway. 2. SAFETY RISK: My husband and I were sleeping directly on top of the bed when the bo... Read more