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 72 complaints for IC BUS
Incident date: Jul 7, 2026
Exhaust system failure,terible exhaust leaks AT EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. Pipes wrapped in insulation and metal causing high temps which are distoring pipe shapes and colapsing systems. Also a fire hazard if any fluids leak on them. These units are 2021's thru 2023's We have been in touch with International Dealer with no avail or help. They give all kinds of why's but no answers. They tell us to... Read more
Incident date: Jun 5, 2026
Vehicle: 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe | Current Mileage: 140,000 Description of Safety Defect: While operating a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe at speed, the vehicle suffered a sudden, complete, and catastrophic loss of motive power in the middle of a live, active roadway without any prior warning or dashboard indicator lights. The transmission abruptly dropped out of gear and the engine shut down entirely, trap... Read more
Incident date: Mar 21, 2024
Failure of the ICCU during normal driving conditions. The vehicle was controllable, and driver was able to bring the vehicle to a safe location as vehicle performance deteriorated. The failure left the driver and passenger without power during a storm in an unfamiliar area. After about 45 minutes of waiting for roadside assistance, the vehicle lost all auxiliary power and no functions were availab... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2026
While driving, the vehicle repeatedly displays “Check Hybrid System – Stop Safely”, followed by loss of acceleration and shutdown of the 12V system, rendering the vehicle unable to drive. These incidents occurred on both freeways and local roads. To avoid a collision, I was forced to activate hazard lights, pull over, shut the vehicle off, and attempt recovery using the 12V reset procedure o... Read more
Incident date: Nov 21, 2025
Our vehicle had 145,000 miles and all maintenance and repairs performed at Hyundai dealerships. Joseph Airport Hyundai in Vandalia, Ohio replaced the timing chain at a cost of $3500. After replacing the timing chain our vehicle began consuming large amounts of oil (9 quarts over 5000 miles). The dealership has tried several repairs and the vehicle still continues to consume the same amount of o... Read more
Incident date: Oct 23, 2025
Dear NHTSA Safety Division, Please find attached my formal letter regarding an urgent safety concern related to Safety Recall D041 (Front Suspension Knuckle Crack) – NHTSA Recall No. 25V-514, affecting my 2016 Land Rover Range Rover. It has been nearly a year since the initial recall notification, and the defect has now rendered my vehicle unsafe to drive. Despite repeated attempts to seek ass... Read more
Incident date: Jul 30, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the back over prevention camera intermittently failed to operate as needed while the vehicle was shifted into reverse(R). The contact stated that the camera image either displayed a blank image or the camera displayed an inaccurate distance between objects. As a result, the contact stated that while reversing into the driveway at approx... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Sep 22, 2022
Rear subframe rusted out at only 85,000 miles
Incident date: May 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that the vehicle went into LIMP Mode while attempting to accelerate. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated during the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was coasted to the side of the road, and the contact waited for a while before continuing to drive. The contact stated that the failure was intermitt... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that the vehicle went into LIMP Mode while attempting to accelerate. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated during the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was coasted to the side of the road, and the contact waited for a while before continuing to drive. The contact stated that the failure was intermitt... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the engine oil light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed and the contact was advised that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of oil; however, the contact was informed that there was no repair available because the oil consumption had not met the requi... Read more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2025
The electronic tailgate randomly opens on it's own/fails and opens when it has not been pushed to open. The vehicle is available for inspection. The tailgate opens randomly and can be unknown that it is open. No warning of it at all. It has happened multiple times, the most recent being today 4/7/2025. I know that a recall has happened with other models for this exact same issue.
Incident date: Mar 27, 2025
My wife and I were traveling westbound on [XXX] just outside of Durkee Oregon, when while going up a hill with Cruse set to 72, the truck began to slow down drastically. When I looked down I was then going 60 and showing down fast. I was able to get to the side of the road and then the truck stopped, it shut off. At that point the truck has not be back on. It would not turn on and Onstar repor... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2025
I have an ongoing problem with this vehicle that KIA will not address. My alternator was replaced under warranty last April 30 and when I got it back, the CV boot was leaking grease all over the underside of the car. It took 6 weeks to get them to replace the cv boot (June 14). After that it continued to spray grease all over the underside of my car and there is an increasing amount of vibratio... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2022
It’s starting raining and the brake system light came on and hasn’t went off.
Incident date: May 11, 2022
I have a 2015 Kia Optima never had any problems. Last Sunday it starting rattling from the engine, changed the oil the following Saturday and drove it to see if it made it any better. Within 20 mins the noise in the engine from knocking was so bad, my car was trying to die on me at red lights. Luckily, I was able to make it home. Checked the oil that was just changed and drove maybe 25 mins is ful... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2024
The rear main seal for the engine fails because of a clogged PCV valve. This was a problem on previous years for the Terrain and other vehicles that carried a similar type of engine. There was a recall for those previous years (2011-2014). My vehicle is a 2015 GMC Terrain, and I am currently experiencing the same issue. I took my vehicle to a licensed dealership and they quoted me a price of close... Read more
Incident date: Sep 20, 2023
235/45R18 94S M+S I originally purchased these tires because they were rated #2 on top 10 anti-hydroplaning lists. After receiving the tires I realized the anti-hydroplaning characteristics are due to an unusually deep tire tread. After driving them a bit I realized that the tire compound had excessive lack of grip on lightly wet surfaces and often on dry surfaces. So they may be good for anti... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2022
K Neal International delivered an unsafe school bus to me. The bus leaks when it rains; onto the seats and students. The stop arm malfunctioned; staying in the open/on position, causing confusion for other drivers. This turned out to be an electrical relay problem. The driver side window has a gap in it large enough for a small animal to get through. When it's windy out, the entry door opens o... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2022
New car with less than 1800 miles. Multiple times where The car will frequently and unexpectedly slam on the brakes while in autopilot on the highway. Almost caused an accident twice and I was terrified. Did not know about this problem but this can cause an accident.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2022
K Neal International delivered an unsafe school bus to me. The bus leaks when it rains; onto the seats and students. The stop arm malfunctioned; staying in the open/on position, causing confusion for other drivers. This turned out to be an electrical relay problem. The driver side window has a gap in it large enough for a small animal to get through. When it's windy out, the entry door opens o... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would not properly accelerate. While attempting the accelerate from being stationary, the vehicle would not immediately accelerate. The cause of the failure was not yet available. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after shifting to the park position the massage "shift to park" had displayed and the vehicle could not be turn completely off. Also and the doors could not be locked and the vehicle would roll. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 18... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and coming to a green light with no vehicles nearby, the Eyesight Driver Assist camera malfunctioned and the vehicle came to an abrupt stop. The Collision Prevention braking system activated with the warning light displayed on the instrument panel. The contact immediately deactivated the fuel saving button and depresse... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2021
The contact's school district owns a 2020 International 3000 school bus. The contact stated that the seat belt buckles were broken. The vehicle was repaired by the dealer on 5/17/2021, when 15 seat belt buckles in the first 3 rows were broken and replaced, and on 1/6/2021, when 16 seat belt buckles in the first 3 rows were broken and replaced. However, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not rep... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2021
The contact's school district owns a 2021 International 3000 school bus. The contact stated that the seat belt buckles were broken. The vehicle was repaired by the dealer on 10/20/2020, when 18 seat belt buckles in the first 3 rows were broken and replaced. However, the failure recurred with 40 broken seat belt buckles. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2021
The contact's school district owns a 2019 International 3000 school bus. The contact stated that the seat belt buckles were broken. The vehicle was repaired by the dealer on two separate occasions, on 11/202020, when 18 seat belt buckles in the first 3 rows were broken and replaced and on 12/17/2020, when 15 seat belt buckles in the first 3 rows were broken and replaced. The failure recurred. The ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2021
THE BUS WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GETTING UP TO SPEED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN ELECTRIC COMPONENT FAIL AND THAT CAUSED THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITH NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AND HAD NO WAY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AT ALL. WE HAVE SISTER BUSES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALSO BUT IT HAS BEEN AT A PARKING LOT OR IN OUR LOT WE HAVE 5 MORE OF THESE BUSES. IF THIS HAPPENS IN AN INTERSE... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2021
THE BUS WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GETTING UP TO SPEED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN ELECTRIC COMPONENT FAIL AND THAT CAUSED THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITH NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AND HAD NO WAY TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AT ALL. WE HAVE SISTER BUSES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALSO BUT IT HAS BEEN AT A PARKING LOT OR IN OUR LOT WE HAVE 5 MORE OF THESE BUSES. IF THIS HAPPENS IN AN INTERSE... Read more
Incident date: Nov 5, 2018
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LOST COMPRESSION DURING A SCHOOL ROUTE.
Incident date: Mar 12, 2019
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LOST COMPRESSION DURING A SCHOOL ROUTE.
Incident date: May 3, 2019
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LOST COMPRESSION DURING A SCHOOL ROUTE.
Incident date: Apr 3, 2019
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LOST COMPRESSION DURING A SCHOOL ROUTE.
Incident date: Sep 4, 2019
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LOST COMPRESSION DURING A SCHOOL ROUTE.
Incident date: Oct 2, 2019
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LOST COMPRESSION DURING A SCHOOL ROUTE.
Incident date: Nov 14, 2019
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LOST COMPRESSION DURING A SCHOOL ROUTE.
Incident date: Jan 23, 2019
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LOST COMPRESSION DURING A SCHOOL ROUTE.
Incident date: Nov 5, 2018
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LOST COMPRESSION DURING A SCHOOL ROUTE.
Incident date: Aug 22, 2019
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LOST COMPRESSION DURING A SCHOOL ROUTE.
Incident date: Oct 2, 2019
ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LOST COMPRESSION DURING A SCHOOL ROUTE.
Incident date: Jan 8, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 IC BUS CE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SECURE THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT THE CLIP FRACTURED. THE LOCAL DEALER RUSH INTERNATIONAL (537 IRLEN DR GEROME ID) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT SIMILAR FAILURES WERE ALSO EXPERIENCED ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2010
ROAD CALL TECHNICIAN WAS PICKING UP BUS, COMPLAINT: ABS INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASHBOARD MALFUNCTION. PARKING BRAKE PRESSURE INDICATOR ON AND WARNING, MECHANIC REPORTED FLAME AND SMOKE FROM THE EHCU COMING FROM HYDRAULIC UNIT AT CONNECTOR TO ECU BRAKE MODULE. MECHANIC DISCONNECTED BATTERY CABLES. NO INJURY REPORTED. BUS WAS TOWED TO THE LANCASTER (NH) SHOP. THERE WAS NO FIRE EXTENSION TO THE BODY ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Mar 24, 2011
THIS VEHICLE HAS AN INTERNATIONAL DT466 EGR MOTOR. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DURING THE MORNING ROUTE AT 55 MPH, THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND IT IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN ON HER. THIS LEFT THE BUS FULL OF KIDS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS FAR ONTO THE SHOULDER AS THE DRIVER COULD COAST. THE CAUSE WAS A BLOWN HIGH PRESSURE OIL LIN... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2010
ON NOVEMBER 12, 2010 BUS 05-14 WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON US-23 JUST PAST THE YPSILANTI EXIT. ALL OF A SUDDEN A WARNING BUZZER WENT OFF. WHEN THE DRIVER LOOKED DOWN AT THE DASH EVERYTHING ON THE BUS SHUT DOWN. SHE PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE NEXT TO THE GUARD RAIL. IT WAS A VERY TIGHT SHOULDER AND THEY HAD TO EXIT THE BUS FROM THE REAR EMERGENCY DOOR. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP AND HAD TO ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 IC CE300 INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BUS. WHILE TRAVELING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE CONTACT WHERE HE OBSERVED THAT THE OIL LINE WAS SPLIT, CAUSING HOT ENGINE OIL TO SPRAY ONTO THE ENGINE. THE OIL LINES WERE REPLACED BY THE CONTACT. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,690. AN ADDITIONAL FAILURE ON A SISTER ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 INTERNATIONAL MAX 47 SCHOOL BUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE, FUEL WOULD LEAK INTO THE CRANK CASE WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE BUS WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Incident date: Jan 27, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 INTERNATIONAL MAX 47 SCHOOL BUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE, FUEL WOULD LEAK INTO THE CRANK CASE WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE BUS WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Incident date: Oct 3, 2011
AS YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE MIL LAMP (ENGINE EMISSIONS CONTROL MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP) COMES ON AND THE BUS WILL GO TO IDLE AND YOU CAN NOT ACCELERATE. YOU MUST STOP SHUT THE ENGINE KEY OFF AND RESTART AND THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND THE BUS RUNS FINE UNTIL THE MIL LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. THIS IS INTERMITTENT. SOME TIMES IT DOESN'T DO IT AT ALL AND SOME TIMES IT WILL COME ON ONE TO FOUR... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2010
OWNER OPERATOR OF SCHOOL BUS STATES THAT FOUR (UPPER-LOWER-RIGHT-LEFT) DUAL PANE DOOR WINDOWS HAVE FOGGED DUE TO WATER ENTRY BETWEEN THE PANES. OWNER HAS REMOVED THE PANES IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT AND FOUND THAT (AT LEAST ONE OF) THE PANES HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE PANE "SANDWICH." OWNER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE COATING FROM THE GLASS WITH SOLVENTS, ETC. THIS OWNER IS PART OF A GROUP OF EIG... Read more