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: Apr 13, 2025
Three alerts appeared on my dash after starting my car. These alerts are “Pre-Collision Assist Not Available,” “Service AdvanceTrac,” and “4WD Fault Service Required.” This has been an ongoing issue with this vehicle which directly affects the safety of drivers. After discussing with other consumers, this system failure is happening more and more. While these alerts are displayed, the ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2026
Pirella extra load radial tubeless R85133 255/45 R20 105v M+S I have had two tires from this same line that has sidewalk bubbles and two tires that have completely been blown out all within one year... four tires in one year with problems.
Incident date: Apr 10, 2026
Tire sidewalk had a bubble in it after 6 months of use and normal wear and tear. Pirella extra load radial tubeless R85133 255/45 R20 105v M+S
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
I received a "do not drive" recall for my vehicle in the mail because of defective air bags. The recall letter claimed that there have been twenty-eight confirmed deaths in relation to this recall. I entered Priority Toyota of Chesapeake, VA to address the issue. That was on Monday, April 6th, 2026. Even though there was a "do not drive" order on the recall, Priority Toyota of Chesapeake refused t... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
I received a "do not drive" recall for my vehicle in the mail because of defective air bags. The recall letter claimed that there have been twenty-eight confirmed deaths in relation to this recall. I entered Priority Toyota of Chesapeake, VA to address the issue. That was on Monday, April 6th, 2026. Even though there was a "do not drive" order on the recall, Priority Toyota of Chesapeake refused t... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE HYBRID
(2025) - POWER TRAIN
Apr 13, 2026
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
Currently at 113k miles. VIN # is not on the recall or extended warranty list for transmission issues, shift lag has been noticed way before 100k miles. vehicle is making squealing noise on drive, and when gas petal is press. Since no recall, but per research, I may have a faulty transmission that is left out of the Customer support program zjc, t-SB-0160-18.
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE HYBRID
(2025) - STEERING
Apr 13, 2026
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
The steering wheel got stiff and impossible to turn. I had to use extreme force to be able to make a left turn. It happened in a large intersection. No warning appeared.
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE HYBRID
(2025) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 13, 2026
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
“My 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 is subject to NHTSA recall 26V073 involving a high-voltage battery defect that may cause a fire. The manufacturer has instructed me to limit charging to 80% and to park the vehicle outside due to fire risk. This significantly reduces the vehicle’s usable range and creates safety concerns. Due to this 80% charging limitation, the vehicle no longer provides suffici... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2026
I had stopped and put gas in for a full tank. Pulled out onto the Hwy heading towards Houston TX and was accelerating up to speed limit of 50MPH when the warning on the instrument panel displayed HYBRID SYSTEMS DISABLED pull over and stop immediately. Which I did, but I could not accelerate and was losing speed in traffic. I got safely parked and turned the vehicle off. I let the car sit for a few... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2026
While cruising on the freeway at approximately 70 miles per hour with no vehicles or objects ahead. The vehicle suddenly made a loud warning sound and flashed a message on the dash. The emergency brakes were automatically applied and nearly stopped in the middle of the freeway. The car behind had to swerve to avoid a collision. The vehicle then resumed driving forward. I was using the adaptive cru... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2026
While cruising on the freeway at approximately 70 miles per hour with no vehicles or objects ahead. The vehicle suddenly made a loud warning sound and flashed a message on the dash. The emergency brakes were automatically applied and nearly stopped in the middle of the freeway. The car behind had to swerve to avoid a collision. The vehicle then resumed driving forward. I was using the adaptive cru... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2014) - STEERING
Apr 13, 2026
Incident date: Feb 23, 2023
I was driving the vehicle and a warning message came on related to the power steering module not functioning correctly. Immediately after the steering column locked up and was stiff and to tough to continue driving. I looked into repairs and notice a recall # 19S26 was issued in 2019 with my specific vehicle in the list by year, brand and model for the exact problem described. When I contacted For... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2014) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 13, 2026
Incident date: Feb 23, 2023
The recall letter advised that for the time being, I should set software to limit charge to 80%. The car is noncompliant with the prescribed settings. If there is a danger to having settings no prescribed, I am in danger. I did set the settings in the car and in the Android app to 80%. Sometimes the 80% limit is respected, but often it charges to 100%. Even though the Android app always reports... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE HYBRID
(2024) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 13, 2026
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
The 2010 Subaru Forester when the Subaru was in reverse while being parked it accelerated (lunged) forward at a high speed and I DID NOT put the gear shift in forward! The 2010 Subaru Forester crashed into the back of a neighbor's Honda. My personal safety was put at risk due to without me doing so, the Subaru accelerated forward causing damage to both the Subaru and my neighbor's Honda. Had thi... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 13, 2026
Paint failure - rear roof panel. Paint chips flaking off. NOT a gradual failure, clear coat in good condition. No skuff marks or damage prior. Large paint chips pealing off exposing bare metal. Paint color : Modern steel metallic
Incident date: Apr 13, 2026
I am reporting a serious engine defect with my 2017 Ford Escape EcoBoost. Coolant has leaked into cylinder number 4, causing engine damage and failure. The dealership confirmed this diagnosis and stated that a full engine replacement is required, with an estimated cost of $9,000–$10,000. I purchased this vehicle new in 2016 and have been the sole owner. This issue is consistent with known defe... Read more
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
I received the recall notice, dated August 2025, regarding the rear camera on my 2021 Lincoln Corsair. To date, the vehicle has not been repaired. I have received no notice from Lincoln or from any Lincoln dealer regarding the parts for this issue. This is unacceptable. Please advise. Thank you for your assistance.
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE HYBRID
(2025) - SUSPENSION
Apr 13, 2026
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
Following a professional suspension repair at a Tesla Service Center, critical underbody fasteners (bolts) became loose, causing the aero shield to sag and creating a potential road hazard. Upon inspection, the service technician confirmed the bolts were unsecured. The failure of these fasteners on a safety-critical system poses a risk of parts detaching while in motion or loss of vehicle control.... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE HYBRID
(2025) - SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Apr 13, 2026
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
See attached document for complaint. I am submitting this complaint regarding an unresolved safety recall on my vehicle and the continued lack of an available remedy. I own a 2018 Ram 2500 affected by Stellantis/FCA Safety Recall C7B (NHTSA 24E-100) involving the ABS hydraulic control unit (HCU). I received the recall notice on or around January 2025. I took my vehicle to Dodge of Tampa Bay and ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
While making sweeping turns, but predominantly left-hand turns, the steering wheel will get momentarily stuck in a turning position. Sometimes it is more difficult to get the wheels to straighten out than other times. Also, it normally only happens at higher rates of speed, more than 30mph. The steering getting "stuck" in a turning position, especially at elevated speeds, poses serious risks of ge... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
I have a 2024 Mazda CX-90. I want to report that about two years ago I was contacted regarding a recall (or possibly multiple recalls). The steering would become stiff while turning on curves. I took the vehicle to the dealer, and they reprogrammed something, which fixed the issue for a few months (I don’t remember exactly how long). However, the same problem happened again about three times. I... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
I have a 2024 Mazda CX-90. I want to report that about two years ago I was contacted regarding a recall (or possibly multiple recalls). The steering would become stiff while turning on curves. I took the vehicle to the dealer, and they reprogrammed something, which fixed the issue for a few months (I don’t remember exactly how long). However, the same problem happened again about three times. I... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
There are no lights on the dash or any kind of notification of this issue. The issue is the “sticking” of the steering wheel. It sometimes gets stuck while driving and applied force to the wheel in any direction is the only thing to fix it. It is a very dangerous defect of the car and can cause serious injury to the driver and or others around. It has been an ongoing issue. There is already a ... Read more
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2015) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Apr 13, 2026
Incident date: Mar 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH and attempting to activate the right turn signal, the indicator failed to operate as intended. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware of water inside the taillight assembly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was determined that the taillight assembly needed to be replaced due to condensation. ... Read more
HYUNDAI
ELANTRA GT
(2018) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 13, 2026
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
While driving, a deer entered the roadway. I applied the brakes to avoid hitting the deer and lost traction due to icy road conditions. The vehicle spun out and struck a utility pole. I later became aware of an open recall involving the ABS and/or electronic stability control (ESC) system for this vehicle. There were no warning lights, messages, or alerts before or after the incident. The vehicl... Read more
Crash
HYUNDAI
ELANTRA GT
(2018) - STEERING
Apr 13, 2026
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
While driving, a deer entered the roadway. I applied the brakes to avoid hitting the deer and lost traction due to icy road conditions. The vehicle spun out and struck a utility pole. I later became aware of an open recall involving the ABS and/or electronic stability control (ESC) system for this vehicle. There were no warning lights, messages, or alerts before or after the incident. The vehicl... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Ram Promaster 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention); 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 contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera displayed an upside-down or dis... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
The daytime running light on the passenger side is out. The entire headlight assembly and bumper have to be removed to repair this. It will cost $1400 to repair. This is a safety issue and should be covered by Volkswagen.
Incident date: Apr 13, 2026
One day the trucks transmission started to struggle to find the next gear after taking off from a light. The next morning it did it again and that night did it a third time. The third time it about brought the truck to a stop at 30 mph and made a bang noise, in which a check engine light came on and a message saying speed limited and drive with caution. The truck only has 20,000 miles and already ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Mazda CX-90. The contact was informed about a previous recall associated with the steering that was repaired prior to owning the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds and turning, the steering wheel jerked in the opposite direction, then became soft, and then more difficult to steer. The vehicle was ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Mazda CX-90. The contact was informed about a previous recall associated with the steering that was repaired prior to owning the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds and turning, the steering wheel jerked in the opposite direction, then became soft, and then more difficult to steer. The vehicle was ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the roof rail detached while the vehicle was being blow-dried at an automated car wash. The roof rail was manually pressed back into place, but was no longer secure and was easily detached. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V316000 (STRUCTURE); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was taken to a de... Read more
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
My vehicle gets shuts off the auto theft when I'm driving it. Is that normal? If you need more details the 2000 Ford f150 XLT V8 5.4
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
Passenger side ocs control unit has failed .
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
My car gave a “power steering fault” message on the dash while my son was driving on I-95 on April 12. The steering wheel locked up making turning impossible and could have been fatal. He had pull over and have the vehicle towed home.
Incident date: Apr 12, 2026
There is a clicking sound coming from what I’m told is the cv joint/axel. It is a loud and more noticeably louder and especially troubling when reversing. Purchased this vehicle less than 3months ago with only 12,000 miles on it.
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
The Powershift for the transmission is the issue. Got two notices about a software update and followed through with updates. When done my Ford dealership said they couldn’t do anything else and that I was just going to be like it was. I never received any more recalls or even a Class Action letter! I recently called Ford motor headquarters and they found my information and could not confirm any ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
Car started winding while driving and jerking for no reason.
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
I unlocked the door, got in the car and closed the door and then the back windshield cracked and shattered.
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
On April 9, 2026, my daughter came in from school and parked her Honda Pilot at about 5:10PM. At about 7:03PM, my wife and I were sitting outside and heard a loud POP, it sounded like a car backfiring. I went to investigate and saw a little smoke and a small orange glowing piece of something on the ground under the vehicle towards the front of the vehicle. I grab a fire extinguisher from my work ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
On April 9, 2026, my daughter came in from school and parked her Honda Pilot at about 5:10PM. At about 7:03PM, my wife and I were sitting outside and heard a loud POP, it sounded like a car backfiring. I went to investigate and saw a little smoke and a small orange glowing piece of something on the ground under the vehicle towards the front of the vehicle. I grab a fire extinguisher from my work ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Apr 12, 2026
The engine failed and requires a full engine replacement. The vehicle is currently at ALM Hyundai West, 1990 Thornton Rd, Lithia Springs, GA 30122, and is available for inspection upon request. Hyundai Motor America has already approved the engine replacement under a goodwill authorization, implicitly confirming the failure is manufacturer-related. The engine failure left the vehicle undrivable, f... Read more
Incident date: Apr 12, 2026
The engine failed and requires a full engine replacement. The vehicle is currently at ALM Hyundai West, 1990 Thornton Rd, Lithia Springs, GA 30122, and is available for inspection upon request. Hyundai Motor America has already approved the engine replacement under a goodwill authorization, implicitly confirming the failure is manufacturer-related. The engine failure left the vehicle undrivable, f... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2023
Since I purchased the vehicle brand new, none of the safety features have been functional. The following sensors are faulty and none of them have worked since I bought the vehicle: 1) Cross Traffic Alert; 2) Blindspot System Fault; 3) Pre-Collision Assist; 4) Front Camera Fault; 5) Parking Sensor Fault; 6) Lane Keeping Assistance. I tried to take the vehicle into the service department of the deal... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2023
Leaking from the roof and tail gate caused the electronic control modules in the sliding door and rear gate to fail.
Incident date: Apr 10, 2026
An error message appears every time my husband drives. Whenever he moves the driver seat backwards, “Front left safety restraint system issue” message appears on the display screen.
Incident date: Apr 10, 2026
My 2017 F150 5.0. The transmission shift sensor is intermittent. changing gears while driving at low speeds. The indication panel flashes like a Christmas tree.It locked up the brakes twice. Why isn't there a recall for it. The truck only has 73000. Miles.
Incident date: Apr 10, 2026
My 2017 F150 5.0. The transmission shift sensor is intermittent. changing gears while driving at low speeds. The indication panel flashes like a Christmas tree.It locked up the brakes twice. Why isn't there a recall for it. The truck only has 73000. Miles.
Incident date: Feb 3, 2025
The coating over the window up/ down controls is pealing and flaky. The coating is very sharp and brittle and has deeply gashed a couple fingers.
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
While sitting at a stop sign, the fuel supply line blue off the fuel filter under the hood. Straying diesel fuel all over. The white clip that hold the hose on had crumbled apart, It soaked the engine with fuel and we were lucky it did not start a fire. The fuel line was reattached and it then blew off again. I had to replace the entire fuel line at a cost of around $1000. Prior to the ... Read more