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.
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
Showing 76,133 complaints for HYUNDAI
Incident date: May 20, 2026
3 incidents of same braking component. Once while exiting a parking lot, the car slams breaks so hard while accelerating that car slams to hard stop with no warning. Once while driving through an intersection brakes engaged for no reason. Once after stopping at Red light, then when moving with traffic, car stops so hard with no warning that we were almost rear ended and seat belt left marks and b... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2026
3 incidents of same braking component. Once while exiting a parking lot, the car slams breaks so hard while accelerating that car slams to hard stop with no warning. Once while driving through an intersection brakes engaged for no reason. Once after stopping at Red light, then when moving with traffic, car stops so hard with no warning that we were almost rear ended and seat belt left marks and b... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2026
Tire Brand Name Kuhmo HP71 23560R18103H DOT Number 000CMYA8E 5225 The contact stated that while driving 30 mph and accelerated the passenger right rear tire on the 3 diameter hole, punctured in side wall. The tire is the original equipment. The dealer was notified of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 150.
HYUNDAI
VELOSTER N
(2021) — STEERING
May 20, 2026
Incident date: May 17, 2026
I was driving when my power steering suddenly failed while the vehicle was in motion. I pulled into a plaza, turned off the vehicle, and after restarting it the power steering appeared to function normally again. The component that malfunctioned appears to be the power steering system, and this component along with the vehicle itself is available for inspection upon request. When the failure occur... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V893000 (Trailer Hitches); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that a recall repair appointment was scheduled with the dealer and the vehicle was taken... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2026
While driving the vehicle information system (speedometer, tach, fuel, etc.) goes dark for several minutes. It comes back then it goes out again.
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
Recall 272 - ICCU Ioniq 6 : ICCU fuse and update were required. Dealership ONLY did update. Did not replace fuse. Vehicle was "updated" for Recall 272 on 2/19/2025. Jenkins Hyundai Service Mgr, Savannah, confirmed on 5/18/2026 that this information is correct. In March 2026, the power seating failed to operate. This is directly related to Recall 272. However, when the vehicle was taken in for ser... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
Vehicle frequently and quietly stalls while driving in active traffic, creating an immediate safety hazard. Vehicle is a 2019 Kona with the 2.0L Nu MPI engine, which is the exact subject of NHTSA Safety Recall 21V301 (Recall 209). Hyundai Motor America (Case #42541672) is actively refusing to honor or inspect the vehicle under the safety recall mandates, claiming a lack of dealership service histo... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2026
The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) failed on my 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5. The vehicle stopped charging prematurely overnight via AC Level 2 charging and then refused to charge again at all. The ICCU is responsible for maintaining the 12V battery by topping it up during normal operation. No warning or check engine light came on, I was only made aware when I attempted L2 charging and the car wo... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2026
The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) failed on my 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5. The vehicle stopped charging prematurely overnight via AC Level 2 charging and then refused to charge again at all. The ICCU is responsible for maintaining the 12V battery by topping it up during normal operation. No warning or check engine light came on, I was only made aware when I attempted L2 charging and the car wo... Read more
Incident date: May 18, 2026
Driving car at low rate of speed when ICCU unit blew. The car threw a check Electrical system and then went into limp not traveling over 35 mph. In a mile car gave another warning to pull over and stop driving. car was towed to Hyundai dealer
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
The vehicle trunk doors pops open. This has been happening for several months. We’ve taken it to the dealership. They said that it was not covered and there has been no recall on this, but it’s still happening and it’s very dangerous. It’s happened on the freeway on the back roads at night it doesn’t matter it just when it feels like it wants to open up it beeps loudly and light comes on... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
The vehicle trunk doors pops open. This has been happening for several months. We’ve taken it to the dealership. They said that it was not covered and there has been no recall on this, but it’s still happening and it’s very dangerous. It’s happened on the freeway on the back roads at night it doesn’t matter it just when it feels like it wants to open up it beeps loudly and light comes on... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2014) — POWER TRAIN
May 19, 2026
Incident date: Sep 16, 2025
Engine code p1326. The engine went into limp mode it was only able to drive about 15 miles then check engine light came popped on and the vehicle stopped and I had the get the vehicle towed. Yes Route 60 of Hyundai in Vero Beach was aware of the issue and also I took the vehicle to Hyundai in Fort pierce where they also was well aware of the engine issue. When I received a recall letter in the mai... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2014) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
May 19, 2026
Incident date: Sep 16, 2025
Engine code p1326. The engine went into limp mode it was only able to drive about 15 miles then check engine light came popped on and the vehicle stopped and I had the get the vehicle towed. Yes Route 60 of Hyundai in Vero Beach was aware of the issue and also I took the vehicle to Hyundai in Fort pierce where they also was well aware of the engine issue. When I received a recall letter in the mai... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2014) — ENGINE
May 19, 2026
Incident date: Sep 16, 2025
Engine code p1326. The engine went into limp mode it was only able to drive about 15 miles then check engine light came popped on and the vehicle stopped and I had the get the vehicle towed. Yes Route 60 of Hyundai in Vero Beach was aware of the issue and also I took the vehicle to Hyundai in Fort pierce where they also was well aware of the engine issue. When I received a recall letter in the mai... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2026
On my 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS, both rear tail lights have melted to the point that the lightbulbs cannot be extracted and the brake and tail lights no longer work. When I looked into this, I found out this is a common issue on 2011 Hyundai Sonatas. It is almost always caused by excessive heat from the standard incandescent bulbs, which damages the wiring harness and deforms the plastic housing. Wh... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2026
On my 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS, both rear tail lights have melted to the point that the lightbulbs cannot be extracted and the brake and tail lights no longer work. When I looked into this, I found out this is a common issue on 2011 Hyundai Sonatas. It is almost always caused by excessive heat from the standard incandescent bulbs, which damages the wiring harness and deforms the plastic housing. Wh... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2026
On my 2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS, both rear tail lights have melted to the point that the lightbulbs cannot be extracted and the brake and tail lights no longer work. When I looked into this, I found out this is a common issue on 2011 Hyundai Sonatas. It is almost always caused by excessive heat from the standard incandescent bulbs, which damages the wiring harness and deforms the plastic housing. Wh... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
I am submitting a complaint regarding a turbocharger failure on my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe VIN [XXX] . The vehicle experienced turbocharger-related failure symptoms including loss of power and drivability concerns. This created a potentially dangerous situation because the vehicle was unable to accelerate normally and could have caused difficulty merging into traffic or maintaining safe roadway spe... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
I am submitting a complaint regarding a turbocharger failure on my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe VIN [XXX] . The vehicle experienced turbocharger-related failure symptoms including loss of power and drivability concerns. This created a potentially dangerous situation because the vehicle was unable to accelerate normally and could have caused difficulty merging into traffic or maintaining safe roadway spe... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2026
I have a Hyundai Sonata 2017 one year after I bought the car I started having acceleration problems. I have had the throttle changed and the valve gasket cover repaired. On April 15, 2026 the check engine light came on. On April 29th I got theta 2 emissions update installed at Hyundai Auburn, Al. I took it too auto zone the same day the code P1326 was showing up and P0014. On May 5th my car enter... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2026
I have a Hyundai Sonata 2017 one year after I bought the car I started having acceleration problems. I have had the throttle changed and the valve gasket cover repaired. On April 15, 2026 the check engine light came on. On April 29th I got theta 2 emissions update installed at Hyundai Auburn, Al. I took it too auto zone the same day the code P1326 was showing up and P0014. On May 5th my car enter... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2026
I have a Hyundai Sonata 2017 one year after I bought the car I started having acceleration problems. I have had the throttle changed and the valve gasket cover repaired. On April 15, 2026 the check engine light came on. On April 29th I got theta 2 emissions update installed at Hyundai Auburn, Al. I took it too auto zone the same day the code P1326 was showing up and P0014. On May 5th my car enter... Read more
Incident date: May 18, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine shuddered and the engine stalled. In addition, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was seized in the middle of the road. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle started. The failure reoccurred. The veh... Read more
Incident date: May 18, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine shuddered and the engine stalled. In addition, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was seized in the middle of the road. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle started. The failure reoccurred. The veh... Read more
Incident date: Aug 10, 2025
In August 2025, my car went into "limp mode" (go no faster than 40 MPH and it was lurching and speed dropping) on the freeway, which was scary and dangerous. Once home, I called a certified mechanic. When this mechanic tried to start the car, it made a terrible clacking noise. He told me it sounded like the main bearings were going out. He discovered that there was a recall on this particular ... Read more
Incident date: May 17, 2026
Unintended acceleration, brakes unable to stop vehicle. Almost hit a car stopped at red light. I was able steer right avoiding hitting the stopped car and quickly put the car in neutral and then applied the brakes again. I was able to drive home another 10 miles. I had the car towed on 5/18/2026 to the car dealership for inspection. This put the car stopped and me and my wife at risk of injur... Read more
Incident date: May 17, 2026
Unintended acceleration, brakes unable to stop vehicle. Almost hit a car stopped at red light. I was able steer right avoiding hitting the stopped car and quickly put the car in neutral and then applied the brakes again. I was able to drive home another 10 miles. I had the car towed on 5/18/2026 to the car dealership for inspection. This put the car stopped and me and my wife at risk of injur... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2023
For the past several years, this vehicle has experienced a recurring and unresolved engine malfunction that creates a safety hazard. The problem manifests as follows: Symptoms when check engine light illuminates: • Idle RPM elevation to approximately 1500 RPM (normal idle: 800 RPM) • Sudden unintended forward acceleration when foot is removed from brake pedal • Significantly reduced accelera... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2023
For the past several years, this vehicle has experienced a recurring and unresolved engine malfunction that creates a safety hazard. The problem manifests as follows: Symptoms when check engine light illuminates: • Idle RPM elevation to approximately 1500 RPM (normal idle: 800 RPM) • Sudden unintended forward acceleration when foot is removed from brake pedal • Significantly reduced accelera... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2023
For the past several years, this vehicle has experienced a recurring and unresolved engine malfunction that creates a safety hazard. The problem manifests as follows: Symptoms when check engine light illuminates: • Idle RPM elevation to approximately 1500 RPM (normal idle: 800 RPM) • Sudden unintended forward acceleration when foot is removed from brake pedal • Significantly reduced accelera... Read more
Incident date: Oct 14, 2024
I purchased my 2022 Hyundai Kona on August 28, 2024, and I am the first registered owner. Only 48 days after purchase, the vehicle suddenly broke down without warning while stopped at a red light in [XXX] after traveling from [XXX] . The vehicle had to be towed. Since then, the vehicle has repeatedly experienced dangerous engine and timing-related issues despite major repairs, including an engine... Read more
Incident date: Mar 25, 2025
My 2013 Hyundai Sonata suffered engine failure consistent with Hyundai Theta II engine defects. The vehicle became inoperable/unsafe. Hyundai denied warranty coverage despite my maintenance records and documentation.
Incident date: May 13, 2026
Our *2025* Hyundai Ioniq 5 experienced a complete failure of the ICCU (Integrated Charging Control Unit). The car displayed numerous warnings including "Check brake system", "Check 12V battery. Stop safely and engage parking brake", and "Check parking distance warning system". The car stopped working completely and would not turn on again. A towing company had to be called as the car was complet... Read more
Incident date: May 4, 2026
After the installation of the Service Campaign 9C2 engine update, the car now seems to surge or rev up briefly at lower speeds like it can't find the right gear or is trying to briefly accelerate. It doesn't seem to be as noticeable at highway speeds, but in residential or low speeds, it's very noticeable and a little unsettling as the car feels like it wants to briefly lunge forward. No lights ... Read more
Incident date: May 4, 2026
After the installation of the Service Campaign 9C2 engine update, the car now seems to surge or rev up briefly at lower speeds like it can't find the right gear or is trying to briefly accelerate. It doesn't seem to be as noticeable at highway speeds, but in residential or low speeds, it's very noticeable and a little unsettling as the car feels like it wants to briefly lunge forward. No lights ... Read more
Incident date: May 4, 2026
After the installation of the Service Campaign 9C2 engine update, the car now seems to surge or rev up briefly at lower speeds like it can't find the right gear or is trying to briefly accelerate. It doesn't seem to be as noticeable at highway speeds, but in residential or low speeds, it's very noticeable and a little unsettling as the car feels like it wants to briefly lunge forward. No lights ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
The following mandatory software update was performed on my vehicle: ECU SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THETA II EMISSIONS IMPROVEMENT (SERVICE CAMPAIGN 9C2). After this update my vehicle drivetrain is quite erratic. In particular when the engine is cold it appears to jerk even when in Parking gear position. When cold the drivetrain experiences erratic gear shifts. This provides little confidence when drivin... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
The following mandatory software update was performed on my vehicle: ECU SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THETA II EMISSIONS IMPROVEMENT (SERVICE CAMPAIGN 9C2). After this update my vehicle drivetrain is quite erratic. In particular when the engine is cold it appears to jerk even when in Parking gear position. When cold the drivetrain experiences erratic gear shifts. This provides little confidence when drivin... Read more
Incident date: May 13, 2026
I was trying to back up a few times and not being able to see some objects behind while looking at the rear view camera on my Hyundai Santa Fe 2024.
Incident date: May 13, 2026
I was trying to back up a few times and not being able to see some objects behind while looking at the rear view camera on my Hyundai Santa Fe 2024.
Incident date: May 13, 2026
I was trying to back up a few times and not being able to see some objects behind while looking at the rear view camera on my Hyundai Santa Fe 2024.
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
Our Hyundai has a powertrain problem that is intermittent and random, and manifests itself in a couple of ways: 1) It drops out of gear while you are driving; there is no forward propulsion at all; the engine will rev when you press the gas, but no forward movement at all. You have to coast to a stop (or panic stop if the traffic allows), put it in reverse, drive backwards, then the transmission w... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2025
Our Hyundai has a powertrain problem that is intermittent and random, and manifests itself in a couple of ways: 1) It drops out of gear while you are driving; there is no forward propulsion at all; the engine will rev when you press the gas, but no forward movement at all. You have to coast to a stop (or panic stop if the traffic allows), put it in reverse, drive backwards, then the transmission w... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2026
This is a well-known and widely reported issue: 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid car, which has recently experienced the following dashboard alert: "Hybrid system warning! Safely stop and do not drive." When the car is pulled over and shut down and sits for roughly 10 minutes, it starts up just fine and runs again for an undetermined amount of time, and then the alert will go off unexpectedly. This h... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2026
This is a well-known and widely reported issue: 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid car, which has recently experienced the following dashboard alert: "Hybrid system warning! Safely stop and do not drive." When the car is pulled over and shut down and sits for roughly 10 minutes, it starts up just fine and runs again for an undetermined amount of time, and then the alert will go off unexpectedly. This h... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2026
While driving on the freeway heard a loud boom and realized that the moonroof on the car had shattered.
Incident date: May 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Tucson. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V893000(TRAILER HITCHES); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer and local ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2026
Upon arriving at my condo after work, pulled into the driveway that goes to 2nd floor underground. Had my foot on the brake and when the garage door started to rise, I put foot on gas pedal to inch forward and the gas pedal went all the way down. Braking did not stop the car. The car crashed through the garage door but that did not stop car. It continued till the car hit a cement boulder which f... Read more
Crash
1 injured