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: Feb 24, 2026
The paint on my make and model vehicle has a widespread paint adhesion defect, not isolated to road debris damage. I have reported the issue to my dealer and to Hyundai Customer Care and I have been told that it would not fall under a warranty repair. The paint delamination is extensive enough to lead to structural rust if it is not repaired.
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
ICCU failed at ~27,000 miles. Loud pop came from the under the vehicle. Afterwards, car could only accelerate to 35 mph. Dashboard error message told driver there was an electrical issue and advised us to pull over. Car had to be towed. Currently at the dealer awaiting a replacement. Dealership said it could take "weeks or months" to get a replacement part. Sudden loss of propulsion is a safet... Read more
Incident date: Feb 18, 2026
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Xterra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled inadvertently on several occasions. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road on several occasions. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact continued driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was dia... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
I have had many issues with this vehicle. Most concerning is that the other night while driving down the road at night, my car blacked out and I had no lights inside or headlights outside while driving in the dark. My back hatch button only works when it wants to. My screen freezes every once in awhile and also makes horrible noises very frequently. I’ve had one case of my screen freezing on a l... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted, but was sputtering and making abnormal sounds. The contact stated that the floorboard became very hot. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and i... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2025
I noticed the CV axle grease coming out of the boot onto the wheel a few days from taking delivery from dealership at around 400 miles. In a few weeks the CV joint started making noise. I have an appointment at the dealership currently. I am ASE certified and know what a CV axle failure looks and sounds like.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that the headlights had become intermittently inoperable while driving at night. The contact personally replaced the fuses and undisclosed parts, per the information found online; however, the failure persisted. The odometer was inoperable. The dealer was contacted and informed that the vehicle had been previously repaired for the fai... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
My 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe LS has experienced repeated service issues within the first year of ownership. The vehicle has been in the repair shop five separate times and out of service for approximately five months total. Due to extended repair periods, the mileage remains extremely low. A primary concern involved the steering system. The steering wheel was noticeably off-center while driving straig... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
On January 30, 2026, I was driving with my daughter from Kansas City to Platte City when the vehicle experienced a sudden and catastrophic mechanical failure. As we approached our exit, the engine unexpectedly revved and the vehicle rapidly decelerated to approximately 30 mph. When I attempted to accelerate, the vehicle was unable to properly gain speed. Upon reaching the top of a hill at an inter... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle shut off while driving to the residence from the dealer. The vehicle was restarted and operated normally. Prior to the failure, several software updates were performed under recall. The contact was referred to an out-of-state dealer to perform the software updates. No further informatio... Read more
Incident date: Dec 16, 2025
While driving on the interstate the top part of the grill flew off into following traffic.
Incident date: Dec 30, 2025
ABS System Module/System Brake Failure Unsafe and Can not drive anymore The problem was produced December 5, 2024 and they have refused to fix the recall. The problem has been inspected by several local dealerships as well as team Dodge ram and Chrysler Corporation There is warning lights that actually accelerate and go off every 60 seconds as you’re driving. This has been going on for years ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2025
The instrument cluster has gone black.
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
When driving at normal speed, my truck completely shut down with no warning. The instrument panel went dark and the engine shut off. I do not believe I was able to steer, though I think the brakes allowed me to slow the vehicle to a stop. I was near an intersection, so I was lucky to not have been hit from the rear or run in to traffic in front of me. The vehicle was unresponsive and would not tur... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
When driving at normal speed, my truck completely shut down with no warning. The instrument panel went dark and the engine shut off. I do not believe I was able to steer, though I think the brakes allowed me to slow the vehicle to a stop. I was near an intersection, so I was lucky to not have been hit from the rear or run in to traffic in front of me. The vehicle was unresponsive and would not tur... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2023
The vehicle previously experienced a steering wheel locking issue and was taken to the dealer for repair. The dealer stated the issue was repaired on December 11, 2024. On February 24, 2026, while driving on a public street, the vehicle hesitated or jerked slightly during acceleration and then appeared to operate normally. After a few minutes, multiple warning messages suddenly appeared on the da... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2023
The vehicle previously experienced a steering wheel locking issue and was taken to the dealer for repair. The dealer stated the issue was repaired on December 11, 2024. On February 24, 2026, while driving on a public street, the vehicle hesitated or jerked slightly during acceleration and then appeared to operate normally. After a few minutes, multiple warning messages suddenly appeared on the da... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2023
The vehicle previously experienced a steering wheel locking issue and was taken to the dealer for repair. The dealer stated the issue was repaired on December 11, 2024. On February 24, 2026, while driving on a public street, the vehicle hesitated or jerked slightly during acceleration and then appeared to operate normally. After a few minutes, multiple warning messages suddenly appeared on the da... Read more
Incident date: Dec 12, 2025
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: Aug 15, 2025
I visited Car Pros Kia Tacoma for a wheel alignment on my 2025 Kia Niro EV. After the service, I was told the alignment was completed correctly and I was given a printout showing all values in the green. However, the vehicle did not feel stable or safe to drive afterward. The steering felt off, and the car did not track straight. Because the vehicle felt unsafe, I took it to Firestone the next da... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2026
Oil consumption takes several quarts of oil before next oil change. Erratic and harsh shifting and sudden hard downshifts.
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
For the past few days, our 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 (approx. 83,000 miles) has been unable to charge using AC charging (Level 1 or Level 2). The failure is repeatable and consistent across multiple chargers: two separate home Level 2 chargers, the Hyundai-provided Level 1 charger, and a neighbor’s Level 2 charger. In each case, charging either fails to start or stops shortly after initiating. DC fas... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V544000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact ha... Read more
Incident date: Oct 9, 2021
Vehicle shifts hard between 3 and 5th gears. The dealer currently has the vehicle in for repairs and there are metal shavings in the transmission reservoir
Incident date: Oct 4, 2025
During my last wash of my cybertruck I noticed the cast aluminum wheel has a spoke that was completely cracked through. There was no violent pothole incident or collision to cause the crack. As an engineer I researched the method of manufacture and material of the rims. It is my opinion that the proper knock down factors were not used when designing these wheels for the 7,000 pound vehicle. Castin... Read more
Incident date: Oct 4, 2025
I am filing a safety defect complaint regarding a 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona (400V electric vehicle platform) that suffered a catastrophic high-voltage system shutdown at approximately 1,261 miles. The vehicle had charge remaining and was being prepared for charging when it experienced a forced EV system shutdown and would not restart. The vehicle displayed partial state-of-charge but became compl... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Oct 4, 2025
I am filing a safety defect complaint regarding a 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona (400V electric vehicle platform) that suffered a catastrophic high-voltage system shutdown at approximately 1,261 miles. The vehicle had charge remaining and was being prepared for charging when it experienced a forced EV system shutdown and would not restart. The vehicle displayed partial state-of-charge but became compl... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 21, 2025
After realizing that my issue is not isolated; I decided to report it. I have a 2018 Ford Escape SE with a 1.5L ecoboost engine. From day one, the car had a "ticking" sound - which we were told was normal. Originally, it was leased. Due to Pandemic, there was a shortage of cars. Lease was extended 4 months x 2. Repair facilities not open during most of Pandemic/ we were not working/ so the c... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
Driver Side and Passenger side CV Joints are failing. Severe grinding clicking sound when turning and accelerating. Honda told me this was normal when it was brought in for service
Incident date: Nov 17, 2025
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2014 Nissan Sentra. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. However, the seller had an LLC. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 96,642. It was later discovered that the mileage on the title was 229,347 on January 6, 2026. When the vehicle was registered in Florida, the mileage was 96,642 on Februa... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2026
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Infinity QX80. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. The seller had an LLC. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 90,743. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 175,074 on January 6, 2026. The third-party warranty company that the contact hired discovered the discrepancy an... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE) and 15V608000 (SUSPENSION). The contact stated that while approaching a traffic signal and driving slowly, the vehicle shook, and the engine shifted. The contact stated that the engine shifted to the right. In addition, the contact lost control of the steering wheel. The conta... Read more
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
Recall remedy unavailable for 8+ months causing financial loss
Incident date: Jan 23, 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
ICCU unit failed on 1/27/26, vehicle entered limp mode and is unusable. This is affecting thousands of Hyundai Ioniq 5 autos, and probably others as well. Due to the widespread problem, Hyundai is unable to give an estimate on finding a replacement part.
Incident date: Feb 9, 2026
Purge pump failure occurred at 15000 miles , no lights were active on dash prior. now have a persistent check engine light .
Incident date: Dec 22, 2024
Brakes have been squealing since 6500 miles. The dealer resurfaced the rotors and cleaned the pads only for the brakes to be squealing again. The dealer has cleaned the brakes and applied "squeak stop" only for the brakes to continue to squeal. The service guide from GM says if brakes are making any noises they need to be "inspected immediately" however I'm being told there's nothing further to be... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
VW recall on ID 4 for battery range dropping under the listed battery range. Know recall on battery without any solution. Local VW dealership in Thousand Oaks, CA without any solution. Driving 45 miles with 100% charged battery will drop the battery by 60+ miles. Battery range drops an average of 3-4 miles per 1 mile driven. Notified dealership of issue 1 day after vehicle purchase.
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
My 2021 GMC Yukon suffered the same engine failure that is the subject of the recall. It has just over 70,000 miles. I'm now told I need a new engine. The dealer confirmed that this is the same issue that has impacted other similar vintage Yukons.
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 BMW X3. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle began to shake with the message, "Pull Over Engine Oil Pressure Low Pull Over Stop Driving to Avoid Engine Failure". The contact immediately pulled over to the side of the road, inspected the vehicle, and became aware there was no issue with the oil. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic... Read more
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
My torque converter was worn out due to improver down shifting by my transmission, causing me to have a complete transmission replacement. All work was inspected and then replace by a transmission expert.
Incident date: Dec 30, 2025
I was driving on a residential street, traveling about 25 miles per hour. I heard a loud popping sound from the back of the car and within seconds I started to lose power. I pulled over to the side of the road and my car was dead. No electrical system, I couldn't even power the locks. I waited for several hours to have it towed to the dealer where it sat for 29 days waiting for the part. It's the ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2025
I was driving on a residential street, traveling about 25 miles per hour. I heard a loud popping sound from the back of the car and within seconds I started to lose power. I pulled over to the side of the road and my car was dead. No electrical system, I couldn't even power the locks. I waited for several hours to have it towed to the dealer where it sat for 29 days waiting for the part. It's the ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 BMW X3. The contact stated that several attempts were needed while cold-starting the vehicle. The contact stated that prior to receiving notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); the battery was replaced; however, the vehicle was still difficult to start. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the remedy was not yet ava... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
Cooling fans running continuously after the car is turned off, which drains the battery. The dealership has identified that this is due to a faulty fan relay that will need to be completely replaced. The battery has been replaced once and the issue continued indicating that it was not a battery issue. The car ran out of battery in a busy location and caused risk to the passengers that were then e... Read more
Incident date: Nov 10, 2025
No changes to the car happened before the airbag system went out.
Incident date: Nov 12, 2025
"Emissions system problem" engine warning light has been on for quite some time. I know there is a service bulletin related to this issue, but my VIN is not covered. There are also several other warning lights that occasionally pop up, and my Honda dealer believes these are all related to the initial warning light. They mentioned that sometimes these systems start shutting down so the vehicle runs... Read more
Incident date: Feb 21, 2026
The engine failed and had to be replaced with less than 70,000 miles on it. There has already been a recall associated with these vehicles where a part is either replaced or special oil has to be used. It does not seem that the fix prevents the engine from failing.
Incident date: Oct 4, 2025
On Sunday January 18th 2026, my daughter and I were involved in a multi-car accident in St Paul, MN on WB I-94. The weather was very cold and windy and it was snowing lightly. Traffic was moving slowly at about 40-45 miles per hour due the possible icy road conditions. A 2020 GMC Terrain, driven by a [XXX] male, was driving at excessive speeds and weaving in an out of traffic when he struck th... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Feb 9, 2026
When driving, the car has stopped 4 times in the last 3 years. Last week the car came to a red light and the inside lights started flashing. There was a warning that read "transmission not in park." The car's power steering and brakes went out and the car went through the red light. Three other times the car was on the expressway and it died with the same warning. Fortunately, the car was in the s... Read more