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: Feb 25, 2026
While driving the vehicle I received dash warnings of temperature rise. Pulled over and saw a large coolant leak coming from right side of engine compartment. Towed to dealership. Dealership informed me that coolant hose coming from heater core was routed by the manufacturer so that it rubbed on the frame. Dealer indicated problem persists on all vehicles and no given, other than replacing the hos... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
ICCU failure at 5308 miles. heard a loud pop while driving and 12v warning system errors
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
ICCU failure at 5308 miles. heard a loud pop while driving and 12v warning system errors
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
On 8/14/24 I had the rear springs replaced due to a broken spring. Now today 2/25/26 I was inform that I have a broken front spring. This vehicle is only 9 years old and we have had spring break in the front and back. This seems like a premature failure of a critical suspension component. Though fortunately nothing happened in the way a bodily injury the failure could very well lead to an inabilit... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
Sudden loss of acceleration. This occurred while making a left turn across traffic from a stop. At approximately 7mph the car would not accelerate any further. I was luckily able to coast the vehicle into a center turn lane. Upon coming to a stop I was unable to get any acceleration. The vehicle was turned off and turned back on again and operated normally. There were no trouble codes displayed.
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
Sudden loss of acceleration. This occurred while making a left turn across traffic from a stop. At approximately 7mph the car would not accelerate any further. I was luckily able to coast the vehicle into a center turn lane. Upon coming to a stop I was unable to get any acceleration. The vehicle was turned off and turned back on again and operated normally. There were no trouble codes displayed.
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
ICCU failure. The vehicle would no longer charge via AC and tripped the circuit breaker whenever plugged in. All necessary software updates related to the ICCU issue were completed timely before its failure.
Incident date: Jan 13, 2026
While driving, the instrument cluster/odometer intermittently flashed and became difficult to read for ~15 minutes. After parking, the odometer continued flashing for ~10 additional minutes. After the flashing stopped, the vehicle displayed “ParkSense Unavailable – Service Required.” On a separate date, with no trailer connected and without pressing steering wheel buttons, the cluster displa... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 KTM 390 Adventure. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the throttle was applied, and the motorcycle stalled. The contact stated that when the motorcycle was restarted, the check engine and ECU warning lights illuminated on the instrument cluster. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back to the residence but had experienced several other stalling eve... Read more
Incident date: Feb 27, 2025
Description of the Problem: •Component/system that failed: The engine starter, which is subject to an open recall issued September 23, 2025. The starter was not replaced during a service visit. The vehicle no longer exists due to the fire, but the VIN and service records are available for inspection. •Safety risk: The starter malfunction caused the vehicle to catch fire while parked, creating ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Feb 9, 2026
NHTSA SAFETY DEFECT REPORT Target: Waymo LLC / Alphabet Inc. Subject: Suspected ADS Perception Defect – Wheelchair Users Location: Chicago, IL (60611, 60601, 60602, 60610, 60654) Waymo’s Automated Driving System (ADS) appears to exhibit a defect in Object and Event Detection and Response (OEDR) performance concerning pedestrians using power wheelchairs and other mobility aids. Wheelchair use... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2026
I took my car in for a safety recall for the bushing on the transmission. A short time after getting it back my cabin filled with smoke when I used the remote start. I had never had this problem until it came back from the dealer. so I stopped using the remote start! but after that the car's cabin began filling with acrid smoke whenever it idled for more than a minute. It now fills with smoke wh... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Ridgeline. The contact stated that while starting and driving the vehicle, the driver became aware that the engine was knocking. The vehicle was driven to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
The stirring wheel consistently sticks and jerks in speeds 35 and over. The steering wheel constantly has to be adjusted to drive in a lane. It is unsettling situation. While driving my 2019 Honda Civic , the steering wheel frequently sticks or feels like it slips when making slight adjustments or turning. This is especially noticeable at highway speeds and during low-speed turns. It requires addi... Read more
Incident date: Feb 18, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control and the 4WD features were inoperable. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exc... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH over a bump on a snowy road, there was an abnormal popping sound coming from the rear suspension, and the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated that upon decelerating to 5 MPH, the contact was able to regain control of the vehicle and to pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed t... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
I am submitting this complaint to report a safety defect involving a 2018 Audi Q5 (Premium Plus, Technology Package). The vehicle’s MMI infotainment/navigation system intermittently shuts down or reboots during operation. When this occurs while the vehicle is in in reverse, the rearview camera display immediately goes blank and remains unavailable until the system completes its reboot cycle. Thi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2025
Recently, while my boyfriend was driving my vehicle, the engine suddenly lost power without warning. He had the accelerator pedal fully depressed, yet the vehicle would barely move. He was fortunate to safely maneuver the vehicle off the road. Upon inspection, he discovered there was no oil present in the engine. Critically, neither the low oil warning light nor the check engine light had illumina... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
The ICCU of my vehicle failed and couldn't charge using AC power which also caused my 12V battery to fail. The car has had the old recall completed month prior to this failure so Hyundai didn't replace the defective part just updated software in hope the defect wouldnt happened. Regardless the defect happened and the car while still under warranty has not been fixed in 57 days. Hyundai states my v... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
EBP light comes on dash while driving. Codes have been determined by dealership but refuse to fix unless light is active. To get light off - must stop vehicle and turn on and off EBP switch and light goes off. Switch or sensor not working causing the problem.
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
All normal sounds completely stop working, no audio or volume at all: no turn signal, no collision warning, no GPS audio, no radio; no hands-free phone volume. Hyundai Service department advised they have never heard of this type of incident. All warning systems are completely silent.
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
All normal sounds completely stop working, no audio or volume at all: no turn signal, no collision warning, no GPS audio, no radio; no hands-free phone volume. Hyundai Service department advised they have never heard of this type of incident. All warning systems are completely silent.
Incident date: Dec 16, 2025
The contact's daughter owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an independent mechanic for an oil change, the contact was informed that there was a mixture of oil and fuel in the oil pan. The contact stated that while checking the engine compartment later, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor coming from the engine compartment. Several unknown warning lights ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2025
The instrument cluster has gone black.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power and came to a stop in the middle of traffic. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a misfire and the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign: 18V524000 (Electrical Sy... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
I’ve had the vehicle two months and it has the black screen of death. Although there is a massive recall due to this my car is not on the recall list. Why is Toyota allowed to continue selling vehicles that they have known to have this issue since 2023? The car is not safe to drive at all. I didn’t spend 40k for a paper weight. Unacceptable they’ve been allowed to continue to sell vehicles w... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. There was an oil-burning odor coming from the vehicle. There was a misfire coming from the engine before the vehicle stalled. The Auto START/STOP was activated while driving. The feature was turned off, but quickly reactivated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicl... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2023
Driving 30 mph down a city street when heard a pop and vehicle completely lost power at speed. Engine turned off and I coasted to a stop, which was unfortunately at an intersection and due to traffic could not get over safely. All accessories were still on however I could not restart the vehicle or put the vehicle into neutral, which left me stranded in the middle of a busy intersection. Hazard... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2023
Catalytic converter and oil leak which is causing the vehicle to lose power. The catalytic converter was replaced in 2024 and now is bad again in 2025. Oil consumption has been a problem since 2024. Hyuandi is refusing to repair the vehicle. Despite the engine making a knocking noise and the check engine light is flashing the vehicle is still under the 150,000 power train warranty
Incident date: Apr 4, 2023
Catalytic converter and oil leak which is causing the vehicle to lose power. The catalytic converter was replaced in 2024 and now is bad again in 2025. Oil consumption has been a problem since 2024. Hyuandi is refusing to repair the vehicle. Despite the engine making a knocking noise and the check engine light is flashing the vehicle is still under the 150,000 power train warranty
Incident date: Dec 12, 2025
I was driving on the highway and experienced what felt like a brief power outage where my vehicle instantly dropped speed. I estimate it was approximately 10-15 mph. Everything appeared to return to normal at the time until approximately 5 minutes later when I exited the highway and it began making a loud noise. I drove a couple miles before getting concerned and thinking I don't want to risk b... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2025
We own a 2016 Jeep Cherokee and have been experiencing ongoing issues with the transmission and acceleration. The vehicle will sometimes hesitate or lag when pressing the gas pedal. There are situations where you try to accelerate and the vehicle does not respond right away. This has created safety concerns while driving. There have been multiple instances where the vehicle did not move as expecte... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2026
I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding my Mercedes-Benz Metris serviced at Mercedes-Benz Coconut Creek (Florida) under Recall VS2LAS561 – 9789VMCRC (Customer Service Case #20781216). On February 12th, I delivered the vehicle for recall service. It was returned on February 23rd without the recall properly completed. Invoice no. 328897 – tag T9514 lists replacement of four Continental... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
This is a brand new 2025 Wagoneer S Launch edition. On one occasion the vehicle lost all electric power while being driven. No electronic component worked on the vehicle including hazards. Had to leave the vehicle wear it died on the middle of the road. Was towed for repairs and remained int he shop for 28 days. I was told the delay in repair was due to a specialist from Stellantis being required... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
During level 2 AC charging the circuit breaker in the house tripped. Tried again on a level 1 charger that came with the car and again it tripped the home circuit. Again, the car overloaded the house electricla system to a point it tripped the circuit breaker. Car taken to dealership for repairs. Dealership trouble shooting identifed failed ICCU with burnt connecter pins. HyundaiCase Management ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 9, 2021
On 2/17/2026 , while driving to work at 55 mph , the engine quit and dash board said to restart engine. Could not restart engine and had Cadillac Escalade towed to Gerry Lane Cadillac in Baton Rouge, Louisiana . Today 2/24/2026 , we received a call from dealership stating that it needs a new engine. (6.2 liter engine ) It may be a month before we get our Escalade back.
Incident date: Oct 4, 2025
I had went to the store which is about 3 minutes from my house and on the way back my truck started running hot all of a sudden we were almost home and it was boiling hot from the temperature gauge we pulled in we get out and we look and my vehicle is pouring antifreeze out so my partner looked and he thought it was the crush washer and bolt he replaced the crush washer we drove to Morganton NC ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 4, 2025
"CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE & INEFFECTIVE RECALL REMEDY (NHTSA 19V-204): While traveling at highway speeds, with my two children and boyfriend, the vehicle went completely black. Car loss complete power, going into a limp mode( 'Loss of Motive Power') The Check Engine Light began flashing before going solid. When I was able to pull to the shoulder, I tried to start the car and noticed the radi... Read more
Incident date: Oct 4, 2025
"CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE & INEFFECTIVE RECALL REMEDY (NHTSA 19V-204): While traveling at highway speeds, with my two children and boyfriend, the vehicle went completely black. Car loss complete power, going into a limp mode( 'Loss of Motive Power') The Check Engine Light began flashing before going solid. When I was able to pull to the shoulder, I tried to start the car and noticed the radi... Read more
Incident date: Nov 21, 2025
Right side rear lower control arm failed while driving due to excessive corrosion. I nearly lost control of the vehicle as the right rear wheel is no longer properly aligned. If this had happened on the highway it could have killed us. Dealer service dept, Nissan service campaign department and nissan consumer affairs department all insisted my VIN does not qualify for repairs detailed under nhts... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
Fuel gage read incorrectly staing we had gas and estimated fuel for 70 miles. We stalled while driving. Several error lights came on, car would not start. After researching we saw alot of complaints about fuel Guage issues so we were able to get 2 gal of gas and then make it to a gas station. Took car in for diagnostic, no known problem. ????
Incident date: Nov 17, 2025
Pulling off from a stop sign on a hill, the car wouldn't accelerate and rolled back hitting a pedestrian and then jerked forward aggressively burning rubber on the tires. I smell the transmission burning. Luckily the lady didn't want to press charges.
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Sonata. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V796000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had n... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
The drivers side locking mechanism doesn’t work with the key fab all of a sudden and I have to climb in through my passenger side door
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
While driving down the highway, my engine completely turned off. I was able to get to a safe location. When I tried turning the car back on, it would not turn back on. I took it to Kia, and they said I was covered under warranty due to their settlement. However, due to the salvage title of the car, they will not replace the engine, even though that is what their recall settlement covers.
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
The vehicle has two open safety recalls. Recall 26V034000 – the vehicle does not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 226 for ejection mitigation. There is currently no remedy available. Recall 25V607000 – seat belt buckle may not latch properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. The vehicle also had a powertrain fault that triggered the check engine light and it has been ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
The vehicle has two open safety recalls. Recall 26V034000 – the vehicle does not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 226 for ejection mitigation. There is currently no remedy available. Recall 25V607000 – seat belt buckle may not latch properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. The vehicle also had a powertrain fault that triggered the check engine light and it has been ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2026
Previous on board charger (GHCA) failed and was replaced in January of 2026. In February I noticed the car was charging slowly on a 48A home charger (car showed 5.4kw at 22A). I unplugged the charger, waited a minute, and plugged it back in. The car then reinitialized charging and showed 11kw at 48A. The car then started making audible electrical crackling noises. I have a video in which you can h... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2024
The vehicle has developed a pronounced knocking noise that was diagnosed by your authorized dealership as “piston slap.” I was informed by dealership staff that this is a known issue with this vehicle. However, because the vehicle is outside of warranty by time and mileage, I was told no repair assistance would be provided. My primary concern is safety. While there are currently no warning l... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 73 MPH with two children inside the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle decelerated and failed to respond as needed. The contact was able to move over to the right side of the road, where the vehicle was turned off and restarted, and operated as intende... Read more