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: Apr 15, 2026
The check engine light came on at 101000 miles. I took it to the shop and the mechanic said there was no oil on the dipstick and he put in oil and said we need a new engine because it is knocking. We have noticed the vehicle has a rough idle now.
Incident date: Apr 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled and was idling roughly. The message “Stop Driving” was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate and lost automotive power. The failure had occurred several times. On one occasion, the vehicle had to be towed. The vehicle was able to ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 6, 2026
I am submitting this complaint regarding Hyundai Motor America’s denial of my request for engine replacement assistance. I own a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid with approximately 106,000 miles. The vehicle experienced sudden engine failure while driving which put my daughter, in danger and is now inoperable. I still have a remaining loan balance, and the cost to replace the engine is significant. I ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2026
My 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T (Theta II 2.0L GDI Turbo engine) has been diagnosed with burned exhaust valves requiring a complete engine replacement. This is the second catastrophic powertrain failure on this vehicle in under two years. In July 2024, I paid $2,754 to replace the turbocharger at an authorized Hyundai dealership (Wright Hyundai, [XXX] ). The burned valves are consistent with c... Read more
Incident date: Feb 15, 2026
Around Feb 15, 2026, at ~85,000 miles, the oil pressure warning light began illuminating at idle and extinguishing above idle speed. The vehicle had also been experiencing intermittent hard starts and occasional shuddering at idle — symptoms too subtle for a typical owner to connect to imminent engine failure. An independent mechanic performed a manual oil pressure test: 4 PSI (Hyundai minimum s... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
The 3rd row power seats do not always recognize something or someone sitting there and will continue to fold down. After seeing the reports of a little girl passing away we wanted to test our 3rd row power seats. We placed a car seat in the 3rd row and it did recognize that and stopped folding. Next, I sat in the seat and my husband pushed the fold button and it kept trying to fold down on me un... Read more
Incident date: Feb 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at a full stop, the brake pedal was released, and the vehicle surged forward before the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. Th... Read more
Incident date: Feb 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at a full stop, the brake pedal was released, and the vehicle surged forward before the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. Th... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel and the infotainment screen display went black. The contact stated that the failure had progressively worsened and was a daily recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the Heads-Up Display (HUD) harness needed to be ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the instrument panel and the infotainment screen display went black. The contact stated that the failure had progressively worsened and was a daily recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the Heads-Up Display (HUD) harness needed to be ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
This complaint concerns a 2023 Hyundai Palisade subject to two active safety recalls that remain unresolved, creating an ongoing safety risk. The first involves noncompliance with FMVSS 226 (Ejection Mitigation), identified in a January 2026 recall. The manufacturer has acknowledged the vehicle may not meet federal occupant protection requirements but has provided no remedy and no timeline for re... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
This complaint concerns a 2023 Hyundai Palisade subject to two active safety recalls that remain unresolved, creating an ongoing safety risk. The first involves noncompliance with FMVSS 226 (Ejection Mitigation), identified in a January 2026 recall. The manufacturer has acknowledged the vehicle may not meet federal occupant protection requirements but has provided no remedy and no timeline for re... Read more
Incident date: Mar 29, 2026
Car charged as scheduled overnight 3/28/26 but was dead the morning of 3/29/26 and when it was jumped gave error "Battery overheated, please stop and exit vehicle" and "check electrical system" - vehicle has been in shop for 16 days, no diagnosis except that it "probably" needs a HV battery.
Incident date: Mar 29, 2026
Car charged as scheduled overnight 3/28/26 but was dead the morning of 3/29/26 and when it was jumped gave error "Battery overheated, please stop and exit vehicle" and "check electrical system" - vehicle has been in shop for 16 days, no diagnosis except that it "probably" needs a HV battery.
Incident date: Mar 29, 2026
Car charged as scheduled overnight 3/28/26 but was dead the morning of 3/29/26 and when it was jumped gave error "Battery overheated, please stop and exit vehicle" and "check electrical system" - vehicle has been in shop for 16 days, no diagnosis except that it "probably" needs a HV battery.
Incident date: Apr 12, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The vehicle was restarted. The contact shifted to reverse and pulled into a parking lot. The message that the transmission had overheated was displayed. The contact used a scanner and diagnosed the vehicle with clutch actuator failure. The local dealer was contacted. The ve... Read more
Incident date: Apr 10, 2026
*Engine failure-needs a new engine *The car turned off while I was driving it on the freeway, I managed to steer the car to the shoulder, almost caused an extremely dangerous accident due to traffic and speed limit. *Took it to a Hyundai dealership in Irving, TX 3x about 3 years about excessive oil consumption, they ignored the requests for a solution. I stopped going to the dealership due to ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2026
P245/45/21 pirelli scorpion AS NCS sidewall on 3 tires has large bubble after 14,600 miles. Hyundai dealer advised of findings. Replaced tires at my cost. Many problems reported on this issue for the Hyundai Santa Fe 2025 Calligraphy model. No other tires options available to fix this on going problem.
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
While driving on April 11, 2026 at approximately 1:30 PM on [XXX] , the vehicle experienced a loss of steering response while the roadway curved to the right. The driver turned the steering wheel normally in order to follow the curve. The steering wheel moved freely and felt normal. However, the vehicle did not respond to the steering input and instead continued traveling straight. As a result, th... Read more
HYUNDAI
ELANTRA HYBRID
(2025) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 15, 2026
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
While being driven on a residential street, the vehicle suddenly displayed a 'Stop Safely' warning on the dashboard. Upon an attempted restart, the vehicle suffered a total electrical blackout and complete loss of propulsion power while in the middle of a live roadway. All internal and external lights, steering assistance, and power systems failed simultaneously. The vehicle was manufactured in 20... Read more
HYUNDAI
ELANTRA HYBRID
(2025) — POWER TRAIN
Apr 15, 2026
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
While being driven on a residential street, the vehicle suddenly displayed a 'Stop Safely' warning on the dashboard. Upon an attempted restart, the vehicle suffered a total electrical blackout and complete loss of propulsion power while in the middle of a live roadway. All internal and external lights, steering assistance, and power systems failed simultaneously. The vehicle was manufactured in 20... Read more
HYUNDAI
ELANTRA HYBRID
(2025) — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 15, 2026
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
While being driven on a residential street, the vehicle suddenly displayed a 'Stop Safely' warning on the dashboard. Upon an attempted restart, the vehicle suffered a total electrical blackout and complete loss of propulsion power while in the middle of a live roadway. All internal and external lights, steering assistance, and power systems failed simultaneously. The vehicle was manufactured in 20... Read more
HYUNDAI
SONATA HYBRID
(2017) — ENGINE
Apr 15, 2026
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
2/25/2026 vehicle was put in service for a safety warranty recall. 2/26/2026 Hyundai approved the replacement of the engine, but there were costs involved that I was responsible for (approx. $800). 3/9/2026 I was informed by Hyundai the vehicle was complete, and would now last "for another 200,000 miles". I picked up the vehicle and only drove 5+ miles from the dealership when the vehicle’s moto... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
I am filing this complaint to formally report that Hyundai’s finalized remedy for the power seat safety recall (Recall 296) is entirely inadequate, introduces secondary safety hazards, and constitutes a fundamental breach of express warranty regarding the vehicle’s advertised capabilities. Rather than engineering a physical hardware fix to add the necessary anti-pinch sensors that were omitte... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE HYBRID
(2025) — AIR BAGS
Apr 15, 2026
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
Any of the airbags failed to deploy during a significant crash. It is not available for inspection due to it being investigated by insurance. The driver and passengers' safety were affected in that more bodily damage could have occurred if they had hit the steering wheel or any other part of the car. I do not know if the problem has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer, as i have tried to reac... Read more
Crash
3 injured
Incident date: Jan 28, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V607000 (Seat Belts) and 26V034000 (Air Bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 28, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V607000 (Seat Belts) and 26V034000 (Air Bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2024
During my state inspection it was noted that my high beams were not properly functioning. The garage tested my bulb and said it appeared to be a malfunction of the flap assembly in the headlamps. We checked online for information on how to proceed and noted a recall campaign T5G that was aimed at the exact problem we noted. I called our local Hyundai dealer (Woodall Hyundai; Danville,VA) to schedu... Read more
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V034000 (Air Bags); 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 dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer w... Read more
Incident date: Dec 11, 2025
Defective rear self-leveling shocks/suspension. Unstable going over even small bumps. No replacement parts available. Took service technician on a ride along to confirm issue. Tech stated itis a know issue with a formal TSB published with 20-22 models but is also affecting newer models.
Incident date: Apr 13, 2026
Known ICCU issue: the 12v battery died for no reason rendering the car undrivable.
Incident date: Apr 12, 2026
The issue involved a failure of the 12V battery system in my Hyundai Ioniq 5, which powers essential electronics and allows the vehicle to operate. The battery suddenly lost charge while I was driving, causing the vehicle to become inoperable. The car was towed to a dealership, and the battery and related systems are available for inspection. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk bec... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2026
The check engine light came on while driving. Vehicle was assessed by mechanic with strange diagnostic code; full oil and filter change done. Check engine light still on and engine stalled while driving on freeway. Took to dealer and was advised the car requires CVVTS (which is essentially a new engine), serpentine belt and spark plugs (approx $3600). There is a known engine defect with the 20... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side bucket seat’s seat belt became inoperable and failed to latch properly. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V607000 (Seat Belts) and 26V034000 (Air Bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The vehicle was tak... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side bucket seat’s seat belt became inoperable and failed to latch properly. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V607000 (Seat Belts) and 26V034000 (Air Bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The vehicle was tak... Read more
Incident date: Jan 18, 2026
The same incident has occurred 4 times ( [XXX] While driving on the freeway in light traffic and no vehicles in front. The forward collision sensor triggered dropping the vehicle in speed approx 30 mph almost instantaneously. This is San Diego so no snow, rain or sleet and we were driving eastbound each time with the sun at our back. Hyundai kept the car for a week for diagnostics and found nothi... Read more
Incident date: Jan 18, 2026
The same incident has occurred 4 times ( [XXX] While driving on the freeway in light traffic and no vehicles in front. The forward collision sensor triggered dropping the vehicle in speed approx 30 mph almost instantaneously. This is San Diego so no snow, rain or sleet and we were driving eastbound each time with the sun at our back. Hyundai kept the car for a week for diagnostics and found nothi... Read more
Incident date: Jan 18, 2026
The same incident has occurred 4 times ( [XXX] While driving on the freeway in light traffic and no vehicles in front. The forward collision sensor triggered dropping the vehicle in speed approx 30 mph almost instantaneously. This is San Diego so no snow, rain or sleet and we were driving eastbound each time with the sun at our back. Hyundai kept the car for a week for diagnostics and found nothi... Read more
Incident date: Apr 10, 2026
Safety Concern – Lack of Air Conditioning Ventilation in Third Row Seating I am writing to formally report a safety concern regarding a vehicle that lacks adequate air conditioning and ventilation in the third-row seating area. The third row of this vehicle does not receive sufficient airflow, resulting in significantly elevated temperatures compared to the front and middle seating areas. This... Read more
Incident date: Nov 14, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the caus... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2026
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver’s side seat belt unexpectedly detached. Several attempts were needed to secure the seat belt while driving. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the driver’s seat belt became inoperable and failed to latch properly. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicl... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
I am less than 8 months into a brand new vehicle that has had and has major safety recalls with no remedy in sight. I bought this car for safety and driving it while seatbelts and ejection mitigation have all failed NHTSA standards is horrifying for me and my family.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
I am less than 8 months into a brand new vehicle that has had and has major safety recalls with no remedy in sight. I bought this car for safety and driving it while seatbelts and ejection mitigation have all failed NHTSA standards is horrifying for me and my family.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
Safety recall on seatbelts and no remedy big safety issues with minor children in the back
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE HYBRID
(2024) — SEAT BELTS
Apr 14, 2026
Incident date: Oct 22, 2025
The contact owned a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. The contact stated that while stopped in highway traffic, the vehicle was rear-ended as part of a multi-vehicle collision. The contact's vehicle was identified as the fourth vehicle in the crash sequence. The entire rear bumper area sustained significant damage. The first vehicle that originated the crash was distracted by his phone, which ca... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Feb 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the horn was inoperable and inaudible when pressed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.
Incident date: Apr 12, 2026
The constant and on and off "Consider Taking a Break" warnings are VERY distracting. I'm driving safely and attentively, and these even come on sometimes when I'm JUST starting to drive (why do I need to take a break if I haven't driven in over a day?). Unnecessary alarm that does NOT do when it says it does and overrides any other sound or alarm I should actually be listening to.
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
5-6 weeks ago my seatbelt began unbuckling itself up to six times in a 25 minute commute. I called Crain Hyundai of Bentonville to schedule the repair as this is a recall issue. I was told since I was experiencing issues I’d be bumped up the list and they were anticipating parts the following week. I called back 2 weeks later after not hearing from them and spoke to a different person who con... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
I am submitting a vehicle safety complaint regarding a vehicle purchased on March 5, 2026. Within days of purchase, the vehicle exhibited multiple safety-related issues despite reportedly passing a Virginia safety inspection on February 27, 2026. The safety concerns identified include: - Driver-side headlight partially inoperable, which resulted in a traffic stop on March 15, 2026 - Front hood not... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
I am submitting a vehicle safety complaint regarding a vehicle purchased on March 5, 2026. Within days of purchase, the vehicle exhibited multiple safety-related issues despite reportedly passing a Virginia safety inspection on February 27, 2026. The safety concerns identified include: - Driver-side headlight partially inoperable, which resulted in a traffic stop on March 15, 2026 - Front hood not... Read more