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: Jan 1, 2026
I’m frustrated with the seatbelt recall. The dealership has been amazing at assisting us, but it’s Hyundai that’s dropping the ball with only release 2 seatbelt buckles per week, per dealership. I have 2 seatbelts in my vehicle that are randomly coming unbuckled. I’ve had a few appointments trying to get it fixed, but they can’t get the parts in. Then to receive a letter in the mail abou... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2026
I was sitting inside my parked car when I heard a loud pop sound from around the back trunk area, like a computer chip exploded. The car alerted me to check the ECS or battery management system and told me to pull over to safe location and don’t drive anymore. I relocated the car to another location and parked it but when I tried to start it again, nothing would power up. It appears the 12V batt... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2022
The paint is chipping and cracking and just falling off. It started on the hood now it’s going to around the windows seals and part of the roof.
Incident date: Apr 1, 2022
The paint is chipping and cracking and just falling off. It started on the hood now it’s going to around the windows seals and part of the roof.
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
The vehicle experienced a sudden failure of the 12V battery while on the road. The car stopped completely and became inoperable. At the time of failure, there were no tail lights or proper warning indicators working, which created a very dangerous situation, especially in traffic. I was stuck on the road for about one hour waiting for a tow truck. During that time, other vehicles were honking and ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
The vehicle experienced a sudden failure of the 12V battery while on the road. The car stopped completely and became inoperable. At the time of failure, there were no tail lights or proper warning indicators working, which created a very dangerous situation, especially in traffic. I was stuck on the road for about one hour waiting for a tow truck. During that time, other vehicles were honking and ... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2018) — ENGINE
Mar 19, 2026
Incident date: Feb 27, 2026
I drove 2.5 hours north to a Marine brother's father's funeral, who unexpectedly passed. I started my drive home and made it to Yorktown in about 15 minutes, and the engine light came on, started flashing, and went into limp mode. I pulled over on I-69 to shut it off, pulled the dipstick, and the oil level was full. I pushed the Bluelink button on my rearview mirror, and HMA sent a tow truck to to... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2026
ICCU failure causing the car to go into low power mode. Tow required to get the car to the dealership for repair.
Incident date: Feb 13, 2026
I’d like to file a complaint regarding Hyundai Recall#290, a potential fire hazard with my cars “trailer wiring harness accessory module”, which Hyundai has not offered a remedy at this time. I spoke to Hyundai’s customer service representative yesterday (3/18/26) about this recall that’s now over a month old, and asked if I could get reimbursed for my out of pocket costs to remove the h... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
Backing out of driveway on 3/13/26, warning message appeared on dashboard- "Stop Vehicle and Check Power Supply." Had car towed to dealership (Ourisman Hyundai, Bowie, MD). On 3/16/26, service department advised the ICCU needed to be replaced, part was on back order with no ETA.
Incident date: Jan 2, 2026
I have been fighting this issue now for 2 years, vibration while driving interstate speeds, especially right rear seat. I have had tires replaced twice trying to fix balance issue only to find out that one rim will not road force balance correctly, even with tire matched it only reduced road force balance to 20lbs (30lbs with out match). I have had it at discount tire and Gettel Hyundai of Lakewoo... Read more
Incident date: Mar 6, 2026
ICCU Failure. Vehicle underwent deal TSB for ICCU failure resolution prior to still failing months later.
Incident date: Oct 10, 2025
The ICCU failed after completing all required recalls. The car stopped working while driving. The car losing power while driving could have created an accident had I not pulled over in time. The part was replaced by Hyundai under warranty and is now fixed.
Incident date: Nov 28, 2025
Two safety incidents occurred (October and November 2025) involving the power-folding second-row seats. A child was seated in the second-row captain’s chair when a sibling activated the seat from the third row. The seat failed to detect the occupant and continued moving forward, creating a crushing hazard. In one incident, my daughter (approx. 40 lbs, 46 inches tall) was partially trapped and sc... Read more
2 injured
Incident date: Nov 28, 2025
Two safety incidents occurred (October and November 2025) involving the power-folding second-row seats. A child was seated in the second-row captain’s chair when a sibling activated the seat from the third row. The seat failed to detect the occupant and continued moving forward, creating a crushing hazard. In one incident, my daughter (approx. 40 lbs, 46 inches tall) was partially trapped and sc... Read more
2 injured
Incident date: Jan 16, 2026
After hearing a sudden loud pop, my car lost all power. I was able to pull to the side of a busy 2 lane road. It was dangerous and scary to be stranded alone on a very busy road. The car had to be towed to the dealership. It took 48 days to replace the ICCU, fuses and the coolant. The service manager said this is a known issue.
Incident date: Jan 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V607000 (Seat Belts) and scheduled an appointment with a local dealer. The contact had not experienced a failure, but the dealer took the vehicle and refused to release the vehicle because parts were not available for the recall repair. The contact recently received notification of NHTSA Campaig... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V607000 (Seat Belts) and scheduled an appointment with a local dealer. The contact had not experienced a failure, but the dealer took the vehicle and refused to release the vehicle because parts were not available for the recall repair. The contact recently received notification of NHTSA Campaig... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2026
My 2020 Hyundai Kona (VIN: [XXX] ) has a persistent engine stalling safety defect that matches Recall 203 (22-01-042H, NHTSA Campaign 21V301000 – Nu 2.0L Atkinson Engine Inspection and Replacement). The recall addresses improperly heat-treated piston oil rings causing cylinder bore scuffing, accelerated oil consumption, abnormal knocking, and potential engine stall while driving (increasing cras... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2026
My 2020 Hyundai Kona (VIN: [XXX] ) has a persistent engine stalling safety defect that matches Recall 203 (22-01-042H, NHTSA Campaign 21V301000 – Nu 2.0L Atkinson Engine Inspection and Replacement). The recall addresses improperly heat-treated piston oil rings causing cylinder bore scuffing, accelerated oil consumption, abnormal knocking, and potential engine stall while driving (increasing cras... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2026
My 2020 Hyundai Kona (VIN: [XXX] ) has a persistent engine stalling safety defect that matches Recall 203 (22-01-042H, NHTSA Campaign 21V301000 – Nu 2.0L Atkinson Engine Inspection and Replacement). The recall addresses improperly heat-treated piston oil rings causing cylinder bore scuffing, accelerated oil consumption, abnormal knocking, and potential engine stall while driving (increasing cras... Read more
Incident date: Sep 26, 2024
I purchased my new vehicle in June or July of 2024. I had to replace my windshield on September 26, 2024, then again on December 13, 2025 due to a crack. I recently have received another chip in my windshield on or about March 18, 2026. I am unsure whether all of these were due to rocks, but it seems unbelievable that a windshield would need to be replaced so often. I have safety concerns that ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 16, 2026
Loss of power leaving driver stranded
Incident date: Jan 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 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 unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, and the seat belt was rel... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 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 unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, and the seat belt was rel... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 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 unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, and the seat belt was rel... Read more
Incident date: Jan 12, 2026
COMPONENT FAILURE: The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) failed on a 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 AWD Limited with fewer than 3,000 miles on the odometer. The ICCU controls AC onboard charging and DC-DC power conversion. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and available for inspection upon request. SAFETY RISK: The ICCU failure caused a complete loss of vehicle propulsion, rendering the vehi... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V034000 (Air Bags) and 25V607000 (Seat Belts); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V034000 (Air Bags) and 25V607000 (Seat Belts); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
Car shut off multiple times while driving including coming to complete stop on the freeway in traffic
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
I was driving and the car gave an electrical system warning, slowed, and thereafter would not go above about 20mph. Fortunately this happened on a local, low speed limit street. I'd rather not think about what might have happened if this had happened on a highway. The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) is no longer working as it should. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer/manuf... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
I was driving and the car gave an electrical system warning, slowed, and thereafter would not go above about 20mph. Fortunately this happened on a local, low speed limit street. I'd rather not think about what might have happened if this had happened on a highway. The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) is no longer working as it should. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer/manuf... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
I was driving and the car gave an electrical system warning, slowed, and thereafter would not go above about 20mph. Fortunately this happened on a local, low speed limit street. I'd rather not think about what might have happened if this had happened on a highway. The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) is no longer working as it should. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer/manuf... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
NHTSA 20V-061 (Hyundai 188): ABS/HECU Module NHTSA 15V-100 (Hyundai 127): Electric Power Steering (EPS) NHTSA 13V-113 (Hyundai 110): Brake Light Switch
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
NHTSA 20V-061 (Hyundai 188): ABS/HECU Module NHTSA 15V-100 (Hyundai 127): Electric Power Steering (EPS) NHTSA 13V-113 (Hyundai 110): Brake Light Switch
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
NHTSA 20V-061 (Hyundai 188): ABS/HECU Module NHTSA 15V-100 (Hyundai 127): Electric Power Steering (EPS) NHTSA 13V-113 (Hyundai 110): Brake Light Switch
Incident date: Mar 10, 2026
On March 10, 2026, my 2017 Hyundai Tucson entered 'Limp Home Mode' while driving, a known safety defect that causes a sudden loss of engine power. Diagnostic testing confirmed error code P1326 (Knock Sensor Detection System - KSDS). Despite this vehicle being covered under the Theta II Engine Class Action Settlement (Recall 209), which provides a 15-year/150,000-mile extended warranty for this spe... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was unrepairable, and there was no further information provided. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, and a case was filed. The manufac... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
Beginning about a month ago, I noticed a rattle upon the engine start up that lasted for a 1-2 seconds then stopped and everything sounded normal. I thought it could be b/c of the cold weather. I went in to get a routine oil change on 03/11/2026 and they said the oil looked fine, but it was about a quart low, indicating it was burning some oil somehere. They said to check in in a few months and th... Read more
Incident date: Dec 17, 2025
The ICCU failed while 300 miles from home. I was unable to charge the car with level 2 charging to get home. Luckily level 3 charging still worked. The ICCU breaking can also disrupt propulsion, so I'm lucky it didn't break to that degree while driving. The dealership ultimately replaced my ICCU. There were no warning signs. In fact, the car didn't even throw a code or error. It simply would... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
On March 16, 2026, my wife was driving our 2025 Hyundai Tucson westbound on Immokalee Rd in Naples, FL. She was traveling at a speed of 35mph, with no vehicles in front of her, but the Emergency Braking system engaged without warning and caused our car to come to a screeching stop. Several cars behind my wife's car had to avoid slamming into to our car. There are no bridges, overhanging tree lim... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt warning light intermittently illuminated with an audible chime while the driver’s and passenger's side seat belts were properly buckled. Additionally, on two separate occasions, the horn was inoperable, and the anti-collision warning light illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer an... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt warning light intermittently illuminated with an audible chime while the driver’s and passenger's side seat belts were properly buckled. Additionally, on two separate occasions, the horn was inoperable, and the anti-collision warning light illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer an... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Sonata. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the seat belt warning light intermittently illuminated with an audible chime while the driver’s and passenger's side seat belts were properly buckled. Additionally, on two separate occasions, the horn was inoperable, and the anti-collision warning light illuminated while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer an... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
The ICCU on my Ioniq 5 failed about a year after getting the software update that supposedly addressed the issue. I am very concerned about the reliability of my car going forward as it doesn't appear Hyundai has addressed the issue and I have no reason to think the replacement ICCU component won't fail as well.
Incident date: Feb 7, 2026
The ICCU failed. The car makes a loud pop sound and then the dashboard lights up. You are stranded wherever it fails because the car isn’t drivable after it happens. The car was inspected by the dealership. There were no warnings before it happened.
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
The ICCU has failed for the 2nd time in a year requiring lengthy repairs. The car cannot be driven with a faulty ICCU. The ICCU is responsible for converting AC power to DC for and stepping it up to 800 volts to charge the primary battery. It is also responsible for keeping the secondary 12 volt battery charged.
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
The ICCU electrical system failed for the 2 nd time owning the car. Resulting in another 2 month wait to get it repaired. The dealer says they put the same part in, that may fail again.