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: May 11, 2026
Dash said look for safe place to pull over. When turned engine off, it would not start again. Had to wait hours to get it towed to dealership. Been there over 5 weeks and they still don't know what's wrong but suspect hybrid battery problem. Only about 21k miles and 18 mo old. No loaner provided.
Incident date: May 11, 2026
Dash said look for safe place to pull over. When turned engine off, it would not start again. Had to wait hours to get it towed to dealership. Been there over 5 weeks and they still don't know what's wrong but suspect hybrid battery problem. Only about 21k miles and 18 mo old. No loaner provided.
Incident date: May 11, 2026
Safety recall NHTSA 25V093, vehicle at dealership Cutter Ford, Aiea, Hawaii, for appointment to correct recall defect with the seat restraint bolts and the technician determined the center two rear seats failed the inspection and the bolts were defective. Cutter Ford invoice #XXX, dated January 15, 2026. Repair and correction not completed, stated back order the parts needed. On February 26, 202... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission independently downshifted. In addition, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The power train failure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, however the diagnostic testing was not completed. The contact rece... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2026
I've had a creaking noise in my back suspension since I bought the vehicle. Took it back to the dealership for inspection year after year and they said that my Springs were fine and they were not included in the recall. I come to find out that back coil springs or fractured and I've been driving on them for a while now because I guess everyone that has inspected my car has missed it at the dealers... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2026
Manufacturer Recall NumberR24B2 NHTSA Recall Number24V-700 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available Summary AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE LITHIUM DEPOSITS WITHIN BATTERY CELLS, INCREASING THE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FLUCTUATION IN THE STATE OF CHARGE. WHILE AN AFFECTED VEHICLE IS LEVEL 3 QUICK CHARGING, THE INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE COULD ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
While traveling at 75MPH on the highway, the vehicle shut down. No propulsion at all and the error message "Pull Over Safely - Vehicle Will Shut Off Soon" was displayed. Was able to coast to a nearby exit and have the car taken to a dealer for service. Very unnerving at 75MPH and a significant safety hazard to me and other drivers.
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
See attached letter for complaint
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
The contact owns a Ford F-150 and received notice of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train). The contact stated that on several occasions while driving, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted, causing the rear tires of the truck to slide. The contact stated that the powertrain warning light illuminated when the failure occurred, but when the vehicle was turned off, the warning light turned o... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2026
Transmission bearing failure. Whining noise started about 2 months ago and continually got worse before complete transmission failure.
Incident date: Apr 17, 2026
I was driving on a main road at 55-60 mph with my daughter and grandchildren in the car and had a sudden loss of power. I was almost hit from behind. The check engine light started blinking. And the car went into limp mode. I had to limp it to the nearest place to safely get off the road so as not to put my family in any other danger.There is not enough shoulder on the road to pull over safely. It... Read more
Incident date: Apr 17, 2026
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Subaru Outback. The owner located a torn receipt with the discrepancy located in the vehicle. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 91,000 and at the time of it being discovered the mileage was 148,234. A Carfax report was received. The Sherriff was notified about the matter in Oregon.
HYUNDAI
IONIQ HYBRID
(2020) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
May 12, 2026
Incident date: Apr 30, 2026
The ICCU unit failed. The message "Check Electrical System" appeared on the instrument cluster. Low-voltage battery voltage was 12.0V and vehicle speed was limited to 60 mph. Maximum speed was gradually reduced to 30 mph over a period of 40 minutes (voltage was 11.5 V) with minimal 12V loads. I pulled over and called a tow truck to the nearest service center. Kia confirmed the ICCU was defective ... Read more
HYUNDAI
IONIQ HYBRID
(2020) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
May 12, 2026
Incident date: Apr 30, 2026
The ICCU unit failed. The message "Check Electrical System" appeared on the instrument cluster. Low-voltage battery voltage was 12.0V and vehicle speed was limited to 60 mph. Maximum speed was gradually reduced to 30 mph over a period of 40 minutes (voltage was 11.5 V) with minimal 12V loads. I pulled over and called a tow truck to the nearest service center. Kia confirmed the ICCU was defective ... Read more
HYUNDAI
IONIQ HYBRID
(2020) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
May 12, 2026
Incident date: Apr 30, 2026
The vehicle all shut off as I slowed down for a stop sign. Put in Park turn the key off restarted it got to the next stop sign same thing. Also the red light same had to shut it off put it in put in Park shut off and then restart and step on the gas so I can get through before a car hit me. Happened several times till I finally got the car home done it started knocking loudly and shut off just as ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 21, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Honda. The contact stated that while driving the steering wheel became "sticky" making it stiff. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Incident date: Mar 21, 2026
I have had multiple problems with the AC on my 2019 Honda Civic now for some years. There have been leaks, issues of blowing hot air, replacing of parts, etc. The evaporator was replaced before (warranty extension) and then eventually the Freon 1234 leaked out. I've been told the expansion valve was leaking by one shop, and another tells me the evaporator core has a leak. The dealer wants $2,800 t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 21, 2026
OnStar module not working
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2017) - SEAT BELTS
May 12, 2026
Incident date: May 9, 2026
The seatbelts in the back row when uses occasionally lock up, when driver is not hitting the breaks and it let go, then as you try to loosen the seat belt it, it retracts more and more tightening more and more to the point that it feels like there is a rope going through your neck, the only way to make seat belt loosen is to completely take it off let it fully go back to place then put it back on ... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2026
This is a very known issue that has been reoccurring with GMC Acadia. The torque converter slipping. That cost alone is over $7.000 for the transmission. I am still making monthly payments for my 2021 Acadia. With rising cost above the board GMC could have resolved this issue before releasing this vehicle to the public for purchase. Only had this vehicle for 2 years and already a new transmission... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2026
Passenger sliding door failed to detect my son and closed completely on his arm. The doors will push the kids and don’t detect even adults at times. He now has a buckle fracture that they are concerned is a full fracture in both bone on his forearm. He is [XXX] old. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
1 injured
Incident date: May 9, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for a service appointment, the contact was advised that the batter was defective. The contact was informed that the battery was not large enough for the power of the vehicle. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the f... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2026
The contact owns 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated while his wife was driving 10 MPH, while depress the accelerator pedal and the vehicle failed to respond. The contact mention she put the vehicle gear shift in park and two mins later the vehicle began to work as intended. The contact mention once his wife returned to the residence depressing the accelerator pedal attempting to reverse th... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2026
I drove the vehicle stopped went to put the vehicle in reverse and it would not go into reverse. After further investigation the transmission throttle body failed and was not covered under warranty.
Incident date: Aug 28, 2025
The headlights have a shadow half way down the windshield making it very difficult to see at night. We don't feel safe driving when it is dark out. We took it to the dealer the end of January they saw what we were talking about. One of the foreman drove it home at night. He saw what we were talking about but gave no solutions. We took it in again the shop foreman adjusted the headlights up. We d... Read more
Incident date: Apr 30, 2026
Tesla was on Full Self Driving following a curve in the road were traffic lights. Lights were red Car should have stopped but did not. Ran red light with no attempt to stop or slow down.
Incident date: Apr 17, 2026
Steering sticks/locks while driving requires excessive input. Feels like the lane departure is controlling the steering and fighting you for control. There is a recall for the same issue but our VIN is not included. Honda needs to re-evaluate to expand RECALL as this appears to apply to more than the original recalled VIN’s.
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
Two issues here. First is that the car will give a danger warning when nothing is there. Sometimes goes as far as slamming on my breaks. Both in drive and reverse. Second is the lane keep assist. It’s like it is working backwards. I turned this all off because it would jerk me out of the lane and into the other lane or off to the sides of the road.
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
Car aggressively shakes and steering wheel shakes / jerks itself side to side when accelerating. Getting worse with time. GMC has it as a known issue but has been for months. Problem is getting worse the more it is driven. GMC says it is “safe”.
Incident date: Apr 24, 2026
The infotainment display glass on my 2017 Toyota Yaris iA has a known adhesive defect that causes white "spider cracking" around the edges of the infotainment display and "ghost touches," where the touchscreen registers inputs without being touched. This can change music, navigation, phone, or menu settings while driving, creating a distraction and safety hazard. The issue occurs unpredictably a... Read more
HYUNDAI
SONATA PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2017) - VISIBILITY/WIPER
May 11, 2026
Incident date: Dec 29, 2025
The paint on my 2014 Kia Sorento (Snow White Pearl) is peeling and delaminating across multiple areas of the vehicle, including the roof and side panels. In several areas the paint has detached completely, exposing bare metal, and rust has begun forming on the roof. The condition appears to be progressively worsening and does not appear consistent with normal wear or isolated paint damage. The af... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2026
Had to replace transmission at 133k miles. It was jolting sometimes providing a hard jolt at times will driving. There are also times of what feels like a cylinder misfire. Oil is constantly leaking and have to replace oil every 1k Miles. Have had multiple shops look at it and not able to find anything. Now during acceleration there is a huge grey smoke cloud coming from the exhaust. Looking at th... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2026
On April 13, 2026, at approximately 67,312 miles, my vehicle experienced a fuel system failure when the main fuel supply line leading to the high-pressure fuel pump cracked and began actively leaking raw gasoline onto the top of the transmission in the engine compartment. There were no prior dashboard warning lights or error messages; the only symptom leading up to the failure was a extremely st... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2026
On April 13, 2026, at approximately 67,312 miles, my vehicle experienced a fuel system failure when the main fuel supply line leading to the high-pressure fuel pump cracked and began actively leaking raw gasoline onto the top of the transmission in the engine compartment. There were no prior dashboard warning lights or error messages; the only symptom leading up to the failure was a extremely st... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2026
My 2019 Ram 1500 equipped with the eTorque system experienced a sudden failure involving the eTorque/hybrid system at approximately 88,000 miles. The failure caused the vehicle to become disabled and left my [XXX] daughter and me stranded on a busy roadway, creating a serious safety hazard. The vehicle required towing and diagnosis by an authorized Ram dealership. I was informed that the failure... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
6.2L V8 engine. 2020 build, GMC Sierra 1500 series. Same engine in the existing recall for 2021-2024 models. Received a call from the service department of the dealership that after changing the oil and restarting the truck to reset the oil change indicator the engine shut down. Assistant service manager, Stephen Poulson [XXX] ) called and provided information that the engine seized and that th... Read more
HYUNDAI
VELOSTER N
(2022) - ENGINE
May 11, 2026
Incident date: May 1, 2026
I am the original owner of a 2013 Hyundai Sonata (under 90K miles). In April 2026 the engine suddenly locked up without warning. The vehicle was towed to Massey Hyundai (Hagerstown, MD) and a claim was submitted to Hyundai Motor America for an engine replacement under Hyundai’s lifetime engine warranty program for affected 2.4L and 2.0L Theta II engines. I provided records I could obtain. Some o... Read more
HYUNDAI
VELOSTER N
(2022) - POWER TRAIN
May 11, 2026
Incident date: May 1, 2026
I am submitting this complaint regarding Ford Recall 26S28 involving my 2015 Ford F-150. Ford has acknowledged a defect serious enough to issue a formal safety recall; however, there is currently no repair remedy available and no clear timeline for when repairs will be completed. As a result, affected owners are left operating vehicles with an acknowledged defect or are left without reliable trans... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Grand Design Recreational Trailer. The contact stated that while the trailer was parked, an inspection of the trailer revealed that the front passenger-side door was inoperable and failed to properly open and close. The contact also noticed sawdust present in the bedroom area of the trailer. Additionally, the generator compartment was inoperable and failed to lock properly.... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
In the middle of driving car stuttered, engine light went on, and car stalled. Unable to restart, Engine cranks but would not turn over. Had car towed for repair. Diagnostic shows engine coil short causing blown fuse. Subaru has an active recall for this identical issue for my same year and model 2019 Crosstrek but the recall does not cover my VIN.
Incident date: May 11, 2026
Car crash on 01/26/2026, and the airbags did not deploy
Crash
Incident date: May 10, 2026
I was driving down the highway when I lost all power to my engine and had to coast off and exit. Prior to the incident there was no indication of a problem. White smoke began coming out of my exhaust. I brought the car to a dealership and they told me that I would need a timing job and a new turbo. They said that my car was starved for oil, regular maintenance had been kept up with on the vehicle.
Incident date: May 1, 2026
My cars check engine light keeps coming on and the first time it came on with an engine under boost failure and I took it to a 3rd party shop to get fixed and they had to replace the turbo charger. I paid $2500.00 for that. 2 weeks later the same light came on and they had to replace it again. Well now the light came on again after a month for the same thing and I am taking it back into the shop ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 28, 2026
Ignition key not releasing after turning engine off. Put shifter in park, foot on brakeii, turn Ignition key off. Key will not release. Have to cycle multiple times to get key released.
Incident date: May 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated that several warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed engine, lane departure modular and the brake master cylinder. The contact was informed that the engine, lane departure modular and the brake master cylinder needed to b... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2026
Fuel pump failure
Incident date: May 11, 2026
When using cruise control, there has been 4 times that the car has engaged in “phantom braking”. We were driving on highways going the posted speed limit of 70 mph, when the car suddenly slammed on the brakes and decelerated to less than 30 mph – all four times we were thankfully not being closely followed by another vehicle or we would’ve had a devastating crash. One time when we looked ... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2026
My 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe (VIN [XXX] ) is experiencing severe engine instability, including rough idling, hesitation upon acceleration, and intermittent stalling. These symptoms align with TSB 26-FL-001H regarding defective GDI fuel injectors. The vehicle has stalled in traffic, creating an immediate risk of a rear-end collision. Despite being within the 100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty, the manufa... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
am writing to report an incident involving my vehicle. While entering my driveway, the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated and did not recognize that the garage door was closed. As a result, the vehicle collided with the closed garage door and subsequently struck the structural beam on the wall near the garage entrance. The impact was significant, and all six airbags deployed. At the time of the inci... Read more
Crash
2 injured