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 60,583 complaints for KIA
Incident date: Jun 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 BMW 530I. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with motor mount failure. There was an abnormal pulling sound detected. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact spoke with two experts and was informed that the failure should not ha... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2025
The issue appears to involve the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) system or the transmission fluid/lubricant pump. The vehicle jerks or hesitates when accelerating from a stop, as if struggling to shift properly. The check engine light comes on repeatedly. This issue is ongoing, and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The jerking and hesitation when trying to drive, espec... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Yukon XL Denali. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-35 MPH, the engine and oil warning lights illuminated, and the contact pulled over. There was no indication of oil leaking on the ground. The contact had her son-in-law, an independent mechanic to check the oil and it was determined that the oil level was low. The contact stated that oil was added; howev... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2025
The car overheated while driving and my wife and daughter had to pull over to side of road. Engine Coolant was spilling everywhere. Car was towed to Raceway Kia in Freehold NJ. The dealer advised my wife that the radiator needs to be replaced and it was NOT covered under warranty. They claim that debris from the road must have damaged the radiator and therefore it was "third party damage". I ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the RPM increased; however, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. Additionally, there was a whining sound coming from the engine compartment while attempting to accelerate and the vehicle was jerking and vibrating abnormally. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and man... Read more
Incident date: Jun 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the RPM increased; however, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. Additionally, there was a whining sound coming from the engine compartment while attempting to accelerate and the vehicle was jerking and vibrating abnormally. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and man... Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2025
On [XXX], our 2025 Rivian R1S lurched forward while stopped at a red light, waiting to make a left turn. The driver, [XXX] , had her foot off the accelerator when the vehicle suddenly surged forward. She slammed on the brake, and the vehicle briefly bounced back — but then lurched forward again, striking the stopped vehicle in front a second time. There were no warnings or alerts on the dashboa... Read more
Crash
Incident date: May 31, 2025
This car is going to kill me! It randomly hits the brakes on the highways! I am literally driving a deadly weapon. I turn the emergency brakes off and had it checked and STILL brakes. It break everytime I pass a shade spot on the road and even highway going over 60 miles per hour! It hits the breaks while I am in traffic making the driver behind me almost hit my car. It breaks whenever I go under ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 27, 2025
While exiting the highway from 70MPH my truck quit running on the exit ramp as I approached the end of the ramp. The truck would not restart and blocked traffic until I was able to get a tow truck. After the truck was towed back to my home I was able to scan the truck and found P129F code reporting (Fuel Pump Driver Control Module Fuel Pump Speed Signal Incorrect) (see attached report). Only ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2025
Coolant leak in the 3# cylinder mechanic said I need a new engine
Incident date: Jun 13, 2025
When vehicle stopped at red light, foot on break. The whole car shut down and locked up and I was unable to move. I had to turn the car off and back on and jerk the wheel to get it to respond again. This happened twice in one drive. This is right after getting my car back from dealership for parts that had to be replaced due to a re-call.
Incident date: Jun 13, 2025
I am reporting a serious manufacturer defect in my 2018 Infiniti QX30. The headliner has detached and is sagging, obstructing rear window visibility and presenting a potential distraction while driving. This impairment significantly reduces rear visibility and has created an ongoing safety risk, especially when changing lanes or reversing. Infiniti Consumer Affairs has acknowledged the defect a... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2025
I am reporting a serious manufacturer defect in my 2018 Infiniti QX30. The headliner has detached and is sagging, obstructing rear window visibility and presenting a potential distraction while driving. This impairment significantly reduces rear visibility and has created an ongoing safety risk, especially when changing lanes or reversing. Infiniti Consumer Affairs has acknowledged the defect a... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2025
Seems as if the gas tank has expanded and caused the rear fender plastics to pop out of the clips and can see fender body gaps larger than before.
Incident date: Jun 15, 2025
ABS warning system on dashboard is intermittent. I hear computer noises near the front driver tire. Then the warning light goes out or reappears on dashboard. Issue is the expensive diagnostic fee that may not unearth the cause, and if cause identified the diagnostic fee cannot be applied to the expensive repair. That’s a hard pill to swallow —and not affordable given economy, and I just had ... Read more
Incident date: May 25, 2025
First, this Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4XE is a disaster! It has broken down 4 times so far. And it has been towed to the dealership 3 times. The safety issues is that is has literally stopped in the middle of the road or highway 3 times so far. It has been to shop 4 times to get fixed with no solution at all. I have talked to others who have or had this vehicle with many of the same issues. They ha... Read more
Incident date: Jun 9, 2025
Put vehicle in park while waiting at a gas station. It won't come out of park. Managed to get it to the pump, and used a screwdriver to bypass the shift lock control, and was able to drive home. With the bypass enabled, it puts my family at risk while driving. The car can shift without the brake being applied. I looked this problem up and it is extremely common with Kia Sorento (the BCM fails, an... Read more
Incident date: Dec 26, 2024
The center console from the ceiling above the rear view mirror (that has the lights and the sunroof controls) broke and fell, making it hang by the cables. This happened while I was driving on the highway and I got startled. I had to hold it up with one hand since it blocked my rearview mirror and I had to pull over to see what had happened. All of the 4 screws were still in place but the plastic ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 3, 2024
The MMI randomly restarts, starting in March of 2025. This includes when you are reversing, and there is no camera mid-reverse, along with a complete screen shut down. There will be a clicking sound, then a restart on the MMI at any point, typically multiple times while driving. Then it will log you out, have multiple pop-ups, and say technical error at times (then reboot again). It is available ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2025
Got an oil change, and they advised that it was low on oil. (I had just replaced it recently) I took it to the dealer and they advised a part was bad, that they replaced. I was driving and the check engine light and oil light came on . I had to tow car. Dealer said the engine was burning oil, and that the engine is covered, but I would have to drive it until it got worse.
Incident date: Jun 14, 2025
I was driving my car to the post office in Waikii Ranch in Kamuela Hawai’i no or around [XXX] When all of a sudden my steering went out and my car could hardly turn without great effort from me and I am [XXX] I noticed a warning light stating my power steering was not working and to drive with caution This was a horrible drive home as I live where there are many turns and hills Once I made i... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2025
Driving on interstate doing 65 and suddenly warning pops up and car dies immediately. I was lucky to get over to the edge and not wreck or cause an accident. Found that the 12 volt battery was not being charged without warning until failure. Found a 15 amp fuse blown in the high voltage relay module.
Incident date: Feb 7, 2023
In February I was driving to an appt. when the side panel on driver's door broke & started flying around & hitting car. (It has the numbers to enter the car without a key.) So I had to roll down window 1/2 way, grab the broken part & drive 18 miles to town, holding the part so it wouldn't fly off (in 30 degree weather!) So I drove by the Ford Dealership where I got my car. They thought there ... Read more
KIA
SPORTAGE HYBRID
(2023) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jun 14, 2025
Incident date: Jun 10, 2025
The side rails that come out when door is opened to assist with getting inside the truck does not work properly. It has come out and will not go back in. The door is closed and I have to drive the truck with the rails hanging down. That is a hazard.
Incident date: Jun 5, 2025
Hello - I'm having extreme Inner tire wear on rear tires due to a bad camber arm design on my Tesla model X. The negative chamber is way outside of normal standards. I had an issue recently where my tire blew out. I did not notice until I had to replace it. I have changed tires three times in the last year. That's just egregious.
Incident date: Jun 14, 2025
My Kia has a feature called "Downhill Brake Control". The manual states it will control the downhill speed of the car without using the brake or gas. I have used this on hills near my house and when I get down the hill to a flat-ish area, I manually turn the control off. Most times it works fine. Sometimes, the car bucks and then comes to a complete stop or close to it. I feel this is a safet... Read more
Incident date: Jun 9, 2025
Rear Trailing Arm Rusted Out, Car Can not be repaired per two citified mechanics.
Crash
Incident date: Jun 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V025000 (Suspension); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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 stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclos... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2025
Driving the vehicle at highway speeds the large orange “Brake” warning illuminates and flashes, and the brake activates. This has happened approximately 5-6 times since I have owned the car. This started within 2 months of purchasing the vehicle. The dealer has tried replacing the front camera and I have changed the battery. None of this has fixed the issue. According to my Innova 5610 code re... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the screen was black or displayed a blue screen. The failure impeded the driver's visibility, preventing the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The message "Rearview Camera Unavailable" was displayed during the failure. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repa... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2025
Driving on interstate 10 in Arizona transmission suddenly shifted down hard and then into limp mode with Check engine light. Took to Auto Nation Gilbert Az May 10th they diagnosed valve body failure. Safety was at risk to to vehicle suddenly slowing down in heavy traffic.
Incident date: May 19, 2025
This vehicle has left my family along side of a high twice. First time from lifter failure the second time from bearing failure. The bearing failure caused the vehicle to shut off and made for an unsafe pull off of a major highway. Both times this has happened with no warning till it happened. Lost of power with the check engine light coming on at the same time. No warning of any issues ti... Read more
Incident date: Jun 10, 2025
My daughter almost killed herself in the car at [XXX]; the steering wheel and wheels got stuck. She's stuck at [XXX] close by [XXX] in the middle of the road, She's already called the mechanic and towing company and his assistant so I can get to work. The car is under my name [XXX] . Car was towed to a mechanic shop. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S... Read more
Incident date: Jun 10, 2025
My daughter almost killed herself in the car at [XXX]; the steering wheel and wheels got stuck. She's stuck at [XXX] close by [XXX] in the middle of the road, She's already called the mechanic and towing company and his assistant so I can get to work. The car is under my name [XXX] . Car was towed to a mechanic shop. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S... Read more
Incident date: Jun 7, 2025
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Jun 7, 2025
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Jun 6, 2025
Vehicle shakes roughly and vibrations on this 2024 Honda Accord hybrid when transitioning from electric to gas motor at idle. This occurs sporadically but generally when idling in traffic or a drive thru etc. The electric motor is working in this idle stage, but when the heater or AC is on and you are idling for a period of time, it will kick on the gas motor causing shaking of the vehicle. This ... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while his wife was attempting to turn off the vehicle, the vehicle failed to turn off. The message "Shift to Park" was displayed on the screen. The vehicle was left running for thirty minutes before the contact's wife was able to turn off the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The conta... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2025
I was driving on the road and an electronic parking error light came up, along with emissions error. I pulled over to the side and I could not start the vehicle and the gears won’t shift
Incident date: May 18, 2025
traveling approximately 45-50 mph on two lane road (speed limit 55...had just accelerated from a 4 way stop) I had only been on the road leaving my residence for about 7 minutes. the display showed the temperature gauge rise all of the way to the top, the error message stating "high coolant temperature' (along those lines) and the car jerked enough to cause a decrease in speed. I was almost rear ... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2025
Ford knows about a manufacturing flaw on their engine. I have a coolant leak that caused white smoke to come out of my exhaust while I warm up my car in the garage. I immediately had a mechanic look at it and was told my car is not drivable until I have a head gasket replacement. I am an avid backpacker, and could have been stranded in the middle of nowhere without cell service for a flaw they kno... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2025
On [XXX], my Kia Telluride received a warranty engine replacement at Greenway Kia East in Orlando, FL. Just two days later, on [XXX], the engine overheated while I was driving with my young child. The temperature warning light came on. I stopped immediately and opened the hood — there was no coolant in the system at all. This failure occurred immediately after a major engine replacement, sugge... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2025
While driving on the freeway the Traction control light, ABS light, Brake System Light and Brake light all came on. Fortunately I haven't had any issues but when I took it to the a dealership I was told that the Brake booster and pump need to be replaced as the master cylinder was leaking into the brake fluid and given an estimate of $3500 for the repair. People online have said that after having ... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2025
frame failure and structural issues
Incident date: Apr 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while her son was driving the vehicle at approximately 65 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to steer. The contact stated that the driver pulled to the side of the road. The contact stated after the driver turned off and restarted the vehicle several times, the steering wheel responded as needed. The contact stated that the message ... Read more
KIA
SORENTO
(2016) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:SENSOR
Jun 12, 2025
Incident date: Jun 2, 2025
The installation of Intoxalock for safety has caused the car to completely lose power while driving and it is safety device. The device drains the battery and causes complete interruption of an operable vehicle. This puts my safety at risk and other motorists. The component has had diagnostics and continues to cause safety issues. There are no warning signs during operation of the vehicle. The dev... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that coolant intrusion into the cylinder had caused the engine to fail. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. Th... Read more
Incident date: Jun 12, 2025
My vehicle just stopped, in the middle of a busy 95 South Cross Bronx Expressway.