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 78,021 complaints for HYUNDAI
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
After recall-related software updates were performed on my 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, the vehicle began experiencing repeated electrical and climate control failures. The heating and defrost system stopped working, leaving the vehicle without heat and causing the windows to fog, which reduces visibility in cold weather and creates unsafe driving conditions. The vehicle has been taken to multiple a... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2025
The DC to DC converter Failed. It is part of the mild hybrid system. Multiple cars in my state and globally have reported the same failure around the same time. Supposedly these failures are due to the cold weather. At the 1st start up of the day a warning message displayed "Stop safely Electrical fault detected" the it disappeared after 1minute. After the 2nd start up the message reappeared and s... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2025
[XXX] [XXX] , [XXX] [XXX] 2/7/26 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally express my concern regarding ongoing, critical safety issues with my vehicle, which have been increasingly dangerous while driving. These issues appear to be interconnected and involve multiple components, including the valve body, transmission, TCM, ABS module, ECM, and throttle body. These problems have posed s... Read more
Incident date: Feb 28, 2025
[XXX] [XXX] , [XXX] [XXX] 2/7/26 To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally express my concern regarding ongoing, critical safety issues with my vehicle, which have been increasingly dangerous while driving. These issues appear to be interconnected and involve multiple components, including the valve body, transmission, TCM, ABS module, ECM, and throttle body. These problems have posed s... Read more
Incident date: Dec 19, 2025
Incident took place 1/31/26. I was pulling into my driveway at approximately 5 mph. Normally, as I approach the wooden driveway gate, sensors would begin to beep and I would be prompted to stop.The car normally would stop itself if a collision was imminent. This did not take place. Instead, the car picked up speed, smashed through the gate proceeded up the driveway, smashed through the garage door... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 19, 2025
Incident took place 1/31/26. I was pulling into my driveway at approximately 5 mph. Normally, as I approach the wooden driveway gate, sensors would begin to beep and I would be prompted to stop.The car normally would stop itself if a collision was imminent. This did not take place. Instead, the car picked up speed, smashed through the gate proceeded up the driveway, smashed through the garage door... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 19, 2025
Hard down shift while driving locking up rear wheels almost cause an accident has happen 3 times now no trouble code can’t figure out what causing engine to down shift extremely hard have not driven truck long distances because of incidents lucky all three times it has happend no one was behind me the most recent time on 1/3/26. I ended up in the ditch with no damages to truck
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
-I had just exited from the highway and was driving into my town. While doing so, I had both hands on the steering wheel and suddenly the car started beeping and flashing warnings/ alerts indicating that my hands were not on the steering wheel, which they were. Within seconds the car began to deaccelerate and pull me off the road to my right hand side. I initially had no control over the vehicle. ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2025
-I had just exited from the highway and was driving into my town. While doing so, I had both hands on the steering wheel and suddenly the car started beeping and flashing warnings/ alerts indicating that my hands were not on the steering wheel, which they were. Within seconds the car began to deaccelerate and pull me off the road to my right hand side. I initially had no control over the vehicle. ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 4, 2026
Connecting rod/bearing failure.
Incident date: Oct 9, 2025
On Friday Jan 30 around 3pm, this Rav 4 entered the short drive way in front of the garage. The car stopped, the automatic garage door was engaged. Suddenly, the car advanced, passing through the opening garage door and into and through the back wall of the garage. This is a sustaining way for the second storey. The front of the car displaced the counters inside, demolished the kitchen, almost top... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
I live in Canada.While driving, my 2017 Ford F-150 with the 6R80 automatic transmission suddenly shut off without warning. The vehicle lost power while in motion, creating a dangerous situation. The incident was accompanied by multiple powertrain fault codes (5 P-codes). This appears to be related to sudden transmission faults and loss of gear position. No prior warning lights before shutdown.
Incident date: Jan 26, 2026
I have taken my vehicle to the dealership, Preston, Hood Chevrolet, Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The problem I’m having is the avoidance system! Not getting warning nor will the vehicle stop an emergency situation where I’m going forward in a vehicle stops quickly in front of me nor will it work if a person is walking behind my vehicle or if there’s a vehicle behind my vehicle when I’m back... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2022
During acceleration it feels like the transmission is shifting hard and when slowing down something is shifting hard, you can feel it cause you cringe when it bangs into gear. One day my rear tires were skidding driving forward. The shop told me my rear end locked up. I couldn't get a new rear end cause of tarrifs so they rebuilt. Also, there has been squealing coming from under the truck so they... Read more
Incident date: Dec 17, 2025
Frequently, my vehicle would not start. It would crank for a lengthy period of time but the engine would not turn over to start. Internet searches show that this is a widespread, known problem with Chrysler vehicles, yet only a small number of recalls have been issued. Unfortunately, my vehicle does not fall under the recall for unknown reasons. I have been advised that the fuel pump and auxili... Read more
Incident date: Dec 17, 2025
ICCU failure at 3889 miles not charging and 12v battery failure
Incident date: Dec 17, 2025
Description of the Defect: While driving with Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged, the vehicle's primary computer shuts down and reboots, causing a sudden loss of all safety features, including Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, and the driving visualization. The cameras go black while the vehicle is in motion. The Trigger: The failure is triggered by high elect... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2026
Description of the Defect: While driving with Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged, the vehicle's primary computer shuts down and reboots, causing a sudden loss of all safety features, including Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, and the driving visualization. The cameras go black while the vehicle is in motion. The Trigger: The failure is triggered by high elect... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2026
Description of the Defect: While driving with Full Self-Driving (FSD) engaged, the vehicle's primary computer shuts down and reboots, causing a sudden loss of all safety features, including Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, and the driving visualization. The cameras go black while the vehicle is in motion. The Trigger: The failure is triggered by high elect... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2026
Since December my car has been burning oil at a fast rate. My husband has already had to add an additional 4 quarts since my last service 3000 miles ago. I have read and heard from others with a Santa Fe that they are having to replace their engines because of this. They are under warranty. Unfortunately I am not. I’ve already dealt with a white paint issue with Hyundai. I called couple weeks a... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2025
Since December my car has been burning oil at a fast rate. My husband has already had to add an additional 4 quarts since my last service 3000 miles ago. I have read and heard from others with a Santa Fe that they are having to replace their engines because of this. They are under warranty. Unfortunately I am not. I’ve already dealt with a white paint issue with Hyundai. I called couple weeks a... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2025
The ICCU on our 2024 IONIQ 5 (VIN: [XXX] ) failed on January 4, 2026, along with the 12‑volt battery. The vehicle had only 5,034 miles on it and was just 12 months and 14 days past our purchase date of December 21, 2024. At the time of the incident, the car was charged to 79% when it suddenly entered turtle mode. We were close enough to home to return safely, but the following day the vehicle h... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2025
The ICCU on our 2024 IONIQ 5 (VIN: [XXX] ) failed on January 4, 2026, along with the 12‑volt battery. The vehicle had only 5,034 miles on it and was just 12 months and 14 days past our purchase date of December 21, 2024. At the time of the incident, the car was charged to 79% when it suddenly entered turtle mode. We were close enough to home to return safely, but the following day the vehicle h... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2025
The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) has intermittent failures. During the last failure, my wife was on a busy freeway (Interstate 5 near Hwy 120 northbound) in heavy but fast moving traffic. She was driving in the #2 lane (of 4 lanes) when she experienced sudden loss of propulsion. The vehicle slowed to 5 MPH in traffic that was moving 70 to 80 MPH. She had to traverse through the #3 a... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2025
I have a faulty electric power steering, it prevents the steering wheel to return to center.
Incident date: Dec 31, 2025
My family and I was I involved in a hit and run accident. My minor child is still suffering from shoulder/rotator cuff injuries. Hewas in the process to start conditioning for football. The seatbelt on the day of the accident did not lock. GM sent a criminal investigator not a trained engineer for the vehicle. The seatbelts needs to be inspected. The motor/transmission is making a ticking sound.
Incident date: Jan 8, 2026
At about 70,000 miles, my truck's transmission began to shift extremely hard in the low gears, between first and fourth, and at times of sudden acceleration (from a stop sign or on ramp) the transmission would fail and I would need to put the vehicle in neutral then back into drive. This happened a few times before I had to have my transmission replaced at a cost of about $9,000. I read that th... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
See uploads for detailed information.
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
See uploads for detailed information.
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
See uploads for detailed information.
Incident date: Jan 21, 2026
The windshield washer fluid does not come out of the nozzles. On a wintry day, there was a lot of dirt and grime kicked up from other vehicles and I was unable to see out of the windshield and it caused a very dangerous situation. Acura knows this is an issue but does not want to accept responsibility. There is plenty of fluid in the reservoir and I made sure the nozzles were clear of debris. The ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 5, 2026
While driving down the road, my 2023 Yukon 6.2L engine shut down, shifted to neutral, and a message on the screen said “press start again” leaving my family in a powerless vehicle in the middle of the road in moving traffic. There were no warning signs nor is my vehicle included in a current recall. The vehicle will be taken to the dealership tomorrow morning.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
I purchased my 2020 gmc sierra 1500 6.2L in September 2024 with 80,000 miles. 9 months later the lifters gave out. Had them replaced and 6 months later, the lifters again were bad and was knocking. They are now replacing the lifters and cam. I am so disappointed that this is happening. I hear that the 2019 and 2020 was not included in this recall! Why not!! If it’s still doing the same thing and... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2016) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Feb 6, 2026
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
Windshield cracked approximately 2” from the bottom all the way across while using the defroster to clear ice from it. I was still parked at the time. I am unsure how long it will stay water tight or become worse. One concern is the crash avoidance and the automatic high beam sensor are both attached to the windshield and don’t want them to fail. I also don’t want the entire piece of glass t... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2016) - VISIBILITY/WIPER
Feb 6, 2026
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
Windshield cracked approximately 2” from the bottom all the way across while using the defroster to clear ice from it. I was still parked at the time. I am unsure how long it will stay water tight or become worse. One concern is the crash avoidance and the automatic high beam sensor are both attached to the windshield and don’t want them to fail. I also don’t want the entire piece of glass t... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2016) - BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
Feb 6, 2026
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
Recall issue: The vehicle failed and became disabled due to the shift cable bushing while in a parking lot on private property, with driver in the vehicle. The gear would not shift or go into park and continued to roll forward until either I hit the curb or applied the brake. Ford will not pay for the tow or diagnostic fee to have the problem diagnosed at another body shop (before I knew of the r... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
While driving under normal conditions, the vehicle suddenly became unstable and difficult to control. Steering response was abnormal, and the vehicle did not behave as expected, creating a loss of stability and control. The incident occurred without warning and required the vehicle to be towed. This event raised serious safety concerns, as the vehicle appeared prone to instability and unsafe oper... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 3, 2026
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The failure had occurred while taking a minor child to school. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with an electric power steering... Read more
Incident date: Feb 3, 2026
Duval Ford in Jacksonville, Florida claims they will not have the part until April of this year which means my child and I are in danger until that time. I will seek a remedy at another dealership but I do not believe it is reasonable to have this part on backorder for 3+ months after a recall notice has been sent out.
Incident date: Feb 3, 2026
2015 Chevrolet Silverado complete engine failure. At 143,000 miles the engine failed because of the displacement on demand fuel injection system/lifters. Lifter failed without warning, destroyed the camshaft, cam bearing and crank and crank bearings. Chevrolet/GM were no help at all and took on responsibility for building defective engines they knew would fail after the warranty expired. I ended u... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2025
I experienced a sudden and unexpected water pump failure on my 2017 Ford Escape while driving in active traffic. The failure occurred without warning and resulted in rapid coolant loss and engine overheating, causing the vehicle to lose power while in motion. This created a hazardous driving condition and required me to pull over to avoid a potential collision. Sudden cooling system failure presen... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2025
In January 2025, my 2017 Ford Escape experienced a sudden and unexpected transmission failure at approximately 69,500 miles while the vehicle was in operation. The failure occurred without warning and resulted in an immediate loss of propulsion, making it impossible to accelerate or maintain speed in active traffic. This created a dangerous situation and nearly caused a collision with surrounding ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2025
The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of propulsion while driving at highway speed after normal operation. The transmission began slipping and then would no longer engage gears. The vehicle had to be pulled over and towed. This vehicle is subject to GM Recall N242454440 related to a known transmission control valve defect that can cause loss of propulsion. I was not notified of this recall by GM ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
The vehicle was returned to me after a manufacturer-authorized high-voltage battery replacement that was completed on December 10, 2025. Immediately after pickup, the vehicle began exhibiting safety-related issues. I experienced abnormal and hard steering operation, repeated low coolant warnings, and battery management system (BMS) and electrical warning messages. These warning messages appeared ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
The vehicle was returned to me after a manufacturer-authorized high-voltage battery replacement that was completed on December 10, 2025. Immediately after pickup, the vehicle began exhibiting safety-related issues. I experienced abnormal and hard steering operation, repeated low coolant warnings, and battery management system (BMS) and electrical warning messages. These warning messages appeared ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
The vehicle was returned to me after a manufacturer-authorized high-voltage battery replacement that was completed on December 10, 2025. Immediately after pickup, the vehicle began exhibiting safety-related issues. I experienced abnormal and hard steering operation, repeated low coolant warnings, and battery management system (BMS) and electrical warning messages. These warning messages appeared ... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2018) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Feb 6, 2026
Incident date: May 29, 2025
Driving down the interstate I noticed the steering wheel lightly jumping intermittently like it wanted to take control and turn itself. A few minutes later the power steering completely went out and the dash board display ESC OFF, Power Steering. I had no control of the vehicle. After turning the car off and then back on it would go away but happen later. Tried the recommended disconnect of the ba... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving across an intersection, a work vehicle ran across the intersection. As a result, the contact's vehicle T-boned the work vehicle, which came to a stop. The front driver's side air bag and the front passenger side air bag did not deploy. It was unknown if any warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the impact c... Read more
Crash
1 injured
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2017) - ENGINE
Feb 6, 2026
Incident date: Feb 5, 2026
On 5 Feb 2026 I was starting my 4-hour drive back home. 15 minutes into my drive my truck lost power, several lights and the engine light came on. Truck was sputtering and making harsh engine noises and shut off on me. I was forced to exit Loop 2 (a major highway). Once I was able to restate the truck I went straight to the dealership. This truck had the recall done 15 Oct 2025. However, this iss... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2026
Instar and Telematics module faulty! Click is 30 min behind, auto me time set will not work, manual time looses 1min a day. No onstar button, no Google Maps or compass. Others have had same issue- telematics module