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.

2,245,377 Total Complaints
140,173 Reported Crashes
56,794 Reported Fires
8,580 Reported 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

How to Read NHTSA Consumer Complaints › How NHTSA Investigations Work › Used Car: 7 Recall Checks to Run First › The Takata Airbag Recall: Full Story › OBD-II Codes Explained › All Articles ›
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Showing 62,191 complaints for KIA

KIA EV6 (2025) - VISIBILITY/WIPER Sep 2, 2025
Incident date: Aug 27, 2025
The window has little specs between the glass it’s very hard to see when the sun is blaring on it .its not anything on the window Sheild or on the inside glass it’s between the glass.
KIA EV9 (2025) - AIR BAGS Sep 2, 2025
Incident date: Aug 29, 2025
SRS air bag system needs to be checked Alert on
KIA FORTE (2012) - POWER TRAIN Sep 2, 2025
Incident date: Sep 2, 2025
Automatic Return To Park safety feature failed to stop vehicle from forward rolling causing vehicle to crash into open garage. The drivers door hit side of garage frame, closing onto my left leg causing calf muscle pain and bruising.
Crash 1 injured
KIA FORTE (2016) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM Sep 2, 2025
Incident date: Sep 2, 2025
My cruise control will not work. Lane departure is not working. All my lights are on in my new vehicle I just purchased. BAD FUEL INJECTORS seem to be the problem. Honda should recall these bad fuel injectors before a serious accident occurs.
KIA FORTE (2016) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL Sep 2, 2025
Incident date: Sep 2, 2025
My cruise control will not work. Lane departure is not working. All my lights are on in my new vehicle I just purchased. BAD FUEL INJECTORS seem to be the problem. Honda should recall these bad fuel injectors before a serious accident occurs.
KIA FORTE (2017) - POWER TRAIN Sep 2, 2025
Incident date: Jun 3, 2025
Excessive oil consumption, Full synthetic Oil last less than 2000 miles. Transmission takes some time to respond when start driving from a stop. Car shake a bit.
KIA SELTOS (2021) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM Sep 2, 2025
Incident date: Mar 31, 2025
fuel pump control module failure Very dangerous truck stalled in middle of road and was almost hit by 18 wheeler Internet is full of module failures Someone is going to get killed
KIA SELTOS (2022) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Sep 2, 2025
Incident date: May 2, 2025
Instrument cluster failed. Jeep required me to send them the entire cluster (Vehicle Dash) in order for us to order new part. Submitting the cluster means I do not have access to the manual gages (speed, warning lights, and fuel gage). You also cannot hear your blinker signal or know if your high beams are on or off. You do not know how much gas in your tank and can run out at any given point (I ... Read more
KIA SORENTO (2022) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING Sep 2, 2025
Incident date: Oct 22, 2024
Car has, on more then one occasion, applied the emergency stopping breaks at times that may have caused an accident by themselves. Most often in heavier city traffic that can be unpredictable. Ie cars merging in quickly where they generally shouldn't
KIA SORENTO (2022) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER Sep 2, 2025
Incident date: Oct 22, 2024
My Ford currently has 80K miles on it with no accidents and all recalls fixed by the dealer. This morning when I was driving my kids to school, a light I've never seen appeared on the bottom right hand side of the drivers screen. The light was a red triangle with an exclamation point inside of it. Not long after I noticed the light, we started to smell something burning and our car began loosing p... Read more
KIA SORENTO (2012) - SERVICE BRAKES Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
[XXX] 2017 Subaru Impreza VIN [XXX] Cruze control error. Will it make brake lights fail if not repaired? go look in your database and see if Impreza has more than normal rear end collisions? What else is on bus that might be damaged by spike? Braking? Antilock? Lights? Why is this NOT a recall? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
KIA SPORTAGE (2023) - LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
While driving at highway speed, all of a sudden I lost all power steering and multiple system failure warning lights appeared on the center dashboard including power steering failure, brake system failure and collision mitigation system failure, among others. With great difficulty I was able to steer the car off the highway and was towed to an Acura dealer. The car was 5 months old with just ove... Read more
KIA K4 (2025) - SEAT BELTS Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Jul 1, 2025
The driver's side seat belt latch does not automatically latch when you put the seat belt into it. I have to press the release button to get it to latch. If I don't press the release button to latch it, the seat belt won't stay latched. The dealership said they can repair it for $700 but I don't feel that I should have to pay for a safety device that is supposed to work especially since it has not... Read more
KIA K4 (2025) - ENGINE Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Jul 1, 2025
Complete engine failure on July 17, 2025, related to current recall for defective engine parts on 6.2L V8 L87 engine. Towed to dealer same day. Dealer continues to report no ETA available on replacement engine. Dealer has had possession of my unrepaired truck for 46 days now and counting.
KIA K4 (2025) - ENGINE Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Jul 1, 2025
I purchased a brand-new Hyundai vehicle on [XXX] from Dublin Hyundai. Since purchase, the vehicle has exhibited repeated, serious defects that compromised the safety of my [XXX] baby and family. Timeline of Events: [XXX] – Vehicle purchased new. Safety concerns arose within weeks of ownership. July 16, 2025 – Vehicle dropped off for major issues: camera display failures, heads-up display malf... Read more
KIA K4 (2025) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Aug 17, 2025
While driving at highway speed, all of a sudden I lost all power steering and multiple system failure warning lights appeared on the center dashboard including power steering failure, brake system failure and collision mitigation system failure, among others. With great difficulty I was able to steer the car off the highway and was towed to an Acura dealer. The car was 5 months old with just ove... Read more
KIA K5 (2024) - POWER TRAIN Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Apr 1, 2024
Problem #1: Trailer brakes failed while pulling 40' fifth wheel trailer. Was driving at about 50MPH on a 55MPH road and was approaching a stop light. I went to apply my truck and trailer brakes simultaneously and quickly found out I had "lost" my trailer brake. This happened another two times within the next 10 mile trip to my house. I immediately disconnected my trailer and took my truck to the s... Read more
KIA OPTIMA (2020) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Aug 23, 2025
Good Morning. I am the victim of a lemon of a car, a 2019 Subaru Outback and no one, I mean no one wants to get involved with exposing this disgraceful uncaring car manufacturer. I am forwarding the 10, yes 10 issues with this dangerous piece of junk I am unfortunately driving putting our lives at risk!! Please see the information below and my hope is that you will care enough to expose and help ... Read more
KIA SEDONA (2012) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Oct 22, 2024
Around Aug. 3, I noticed that when I drove, the interior lights would not turn off. When the car was off, they went out as they should. But every time I started the car they came on and would not turn off. It made it very difficult to drive went it was getting dark. The dealership confirmed that it wasn't the knobs inside the car that were causing this problem. Later, I took it in for them to fin... Read more
KIA SEDONA (2012) - ENGINE Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Oct 22, 2024
I have a 2018 Honda Accord EX with 104,000 miles. Head gasket blew and coolant is leaking. Upon further research this is a common problem that is now being discovered once the car drives past 60,000 miles. There is an internal memo asking dealers to let them know if they are seeing this too online. Honda has several class action law suits regarding this being a design flaw of the 2018 with th... Read more
KIA EV9 (2024) - STEERING Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Jun 2, 2025
Rotor seems to have worn out much quicker than expected. When I break, I can feel certain vibration / bumps. When breaking while going down on a hill, front break also has made screeching noise. Steering feels stiff at times. generally, I have always been topping up gas more than the advertised mileage performance / EPA
KIA EV9 (2024) - ENGINE Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Jun 2, 2025
For a fourth time this year, the vehicle suddenly loses power while travelling on the freeway. It completely shuts off acceleration for 30-60 seconds and then picks back up by itself. The last two ocassions it happened was between 8:10 am and 8:12 am on August 18,2025. It happened on the freeway again on August 22 at about 8:13 am. I fear for my safety and life driving on the freeway
KIA EV9 (2025) - ENGINE Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
The engine stalled unexpectedly during operation. I noticed a sudden loss of power, and the vehicle shut off without warning. This has happened more than once, posing a safety concern.
KIA TELLURIDE (2020) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Aug 31, 2025
Parasitic draw in battery that Ford can't find reading for. Paid almost 1k in parts they suggested ' may' work along. Did not work and told us not to call corporate because they'll just tell us to go back to dealer. Then engine throws a p0303 code. Cylinder 3 seems to have the death sentence these cars are facing. We still owe 9800 on this car. It has 70k miles. The battery issue has been problem ... Read more
KIA TELLURIDE (2022) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Sep 1, 2025
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Phantom braking at speed: I have experienced more than one alarming instances of "phantom braking at speed" where the vehicle unexpectedly brakes, all wheels locked, and violently skids on the pavement. This is a very alarming occurrence to driver and passengers as well as to drivers of other nearby vehicles. Specifically, this first occurred without warning on [XXX] on [XXX], traveling at 30 mp... Read more
KIA TELLURIDE (2020) - SERVICE BRAKES Aug 31, 2025
Incident date: May 14, 2025
The jeep has an ABS module that went bad. I have been waiting months- perhaps over a year, and there is still no estimate on the part coming in. It is an essential part, one with no generic replacement. It is illegal for jeep to just leave all of us hanging.
KIA TELLURIDE (2020) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING Aug 31, 2025
Incident date: May 14, 2025
The jeep has an ABS module that went bad. I have been waiting months- perhaps over a year, and there is still no estimate on the part coming in. It is an essential part, one with no generic replacement. It is illegal for jeep to just leave all of us hanging.
KIA TELLURIDE (2020) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Aug 31, 2025
Incident date: May 14, 2025
This stalling issue has occurred three times so far, most recently on [XXX], while exiting [XXX] . Each time, the stall happens when I attempt to accelerate after coming to a complete stop in traffic, at a light, or at a stop sign. When it occurs, the vehicle will not move forward, and multiple rapid warning messages appear on the dashboard. The only way to recover is to shift into Park, power the... Read more
KIA OPTIMA (2014) - ENGINE Aug 31, 2025
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
Sometimes when starting from a stop or slowing down to make a turn the engine revs up like I was pushing the gas pedal. When this happens ( 4 times in the last 6 months) luckily I was covering the break to slow down or going very slow from a stop. Each time I was turning left or right. I was able to push the shifter into neural. After applying the breaks the engine slows down
KIA OPTIMA (2014) - SERVICE BRAKES Aug 31, 2025
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
Bought 2024 Traverse end of June 2024 from show room at Flow Cheverolet in Salem, NC. In Sept 2024, took it in for glitchy screen/radio black and colorful lines displayed, squeeky brakes, and dashboard rattling when hitting 60+ miles. Chevy fixed the screen but said they could not do anything about brakes or the rattling of the dashboard. March 2025- brakes still squeeked and brake failure messag... Read more
KIA SORENTO (2019) - POWER TRAIN Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Feb 10, 2023
Bien,mi auto tuvo varios problemas al mismo tiempo: 1-falla en todo el sistema eléctrico,aire acondicionado,control de tráfico ambas partes, Power steering,ABS,Pérdida de potencia en el motor,problemas con el receptor de la llave remoto,tiene un problema eléctrico sin precedente todo ocurrió de la nada,todo ocurrió un mismo día cuando íbamos camino a una excursión mi familia y yo estuvimo... Read more
Fire
KIA SORENTO (2019) - SUSPENSION Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Aug 30, 2025
2014 Audi rear subframe is rusted through. 92,000 Mi. My independent mechanic found the problem when performing suspension work. It has not been inspected by the dealer yet but will be soon. With the history of the subframe failures on these models and years, there is a danger to the public driving these vehicles on the road. Audi needs to fix these problems
KIA SORENTO (2019) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Aug 30, 2025
Twice, the car has autonomously braked when there was no threat to the car. The first time we were subsequently rear ended, though fortunately at low speed. There was cosmetic damage to the bumpers of both cars and the occupants were shaken up, but not injured. The second time the were driving at about 35mph when the car slammed on the brakes. Fortunately the following vehicle was not close and ... Read more
Crash
KIA SORENTO (2019) - ENGINE Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Aug 30, 2025
Had a lot of knocking in the engine on startup and sometimes driving down the road. Engine check light went on, used code reader to diagnose and it said misfire on cylinder 2. Replaced spark plugs and ignition coils to solve problem. Ran well for about a week, week and half before had the same issues pop up again. Then all of the sudden I’m driving down the road and the temp spikes in the en... Read more
KIA SORENTO (2018) - VISIBILITY/WIPER Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Aug 18, 2025
The fluid dispenser is virtually useless. It seems that instead of coming from the bottom of the windshield and squirting upwards on the windshield, it comes from the blades. This causes the washer fluid to squirt almost everywhere except where it's needed. This causes an instruction of vision if the windshield is exceptionally dirty. Seems like a terrible design flaw that Honda doesn't seem to ac... Read more
KIA SORENTO (2018) - ENGINE Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Aug 18, 2025
My engine failed while i was driving on a busy street almost causing cars to hit me there were no warning signs about the engine, my battery also died as well that is the only sign that appeared.
KIA SORENTO (2018) - POWER TRAIN Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Aug 18, 2025
I was driving at about 65mph on the NJ Turnpike at 7:45pm on 8/28/25 when suddenly the accelerator pedal was non-responsive over a period of about 3-5 seconds. The RPMs dropped (engine did not stall) and the vehicle speed began to diminish. No warning lights showed and the dashboard remained lit as usual. The road was wet from a recent downpour. This was a very scary moment as my vehicle was surro... Read more
KIA K5 (2022) - POWER TRAIN Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Aug 30, 2025
NHTSA reported recalls on my vehicle which are now not being reported vin: [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
KIA NIRO PHEV (2025) - ENGINE Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Aug 24, 2025
On 8/26/25 I got the 88A recall fixed on this jeep at Duluth dodge in Duluth mn .. I left dealership and my ac stopped working brought it back they fixed and it and got it working now on 8/30/25 I’m at a stop light and my jeep stalls, it went to go start for me to drive and it died. The emergency brake came on and I couldn’t get it off the state trooper actually helped me get it off. Had to g... Read more
KIA NIRO PHEV (2025) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Aug 24, 2025
On 8/26/25 I got the 88A recall fixed on this jeep at Duluth dodge in Duluth mn .. I left dealership and my ac stopped working brought it back they fixed and it and got it working now on 8/30/25 I’m at a stop light and my jeep stalls, it went to go start for me to drive and it died. The emergency brake came on and I couldn’t get it off the state trooper actually helped me get it off. Had to g... Read more
KIA SPORTAGE (2020) - ENGINE Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Aug 7, 2025
Engine ticking,blind spot not working
KIA OPTIMA (2020) - VISIBILITY/WIPER Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Aug 30, 2025
I was driving in a torrential rain storm in Florida. My wipers were on as I have the Platinum edition which has numerous sensors. I heard a strange sound then nothing the wipers stopped and I could not see a thing. I was in traffic so i put my hazard lights on and I indicated to the right and pulled over. I could not drive the vehicle so I had to wait the storm out before I could drive. When I got... Read more
KIA OPTIMA (2020) - POWER TRAIN Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Aug 30, 2025
My 2013 Ford Escape, bought in September 2022 with a new engine, has been problematic. It initially worked well but lost transmission power less than a year later. I managed to drive it home, but it hasn't worked since. Two repair shops confirmed a needed new transmission, costing $6,000, and found metal shavings in the fluid. There were no warning signs before the failure. Before the transmission... Read more
KIA SELTOS (2022) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Aug 30, 2025
Incident date: Aug 29, 2025
Bien,mi auto tuvo varios problemas al mismo tiempo: 1-falla en todo el sistema eléctrico,aire acondicionado,control de tráfico ambas partes, Power steering,ABS,Pérdida de potencia en el motor,problemas con el receptor de la llave remoto,tiene un problema eléctrico sin precedente todo ocurrió de la nada,todo ocurrió un mismo día cuando íbamos camino a una excursión mi familia y yo estuvimo... Read more
Fire
KIA K4 (2025) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING Aug 29, 2025
Incident date: Jul 24, 2025
There is a problem with the car's headlights. They are having to be replaced every couple months. I have taken it to the dealership and they told me it would be several hundreds of dollars to diagnose, but cannot tell me anything upon inspection other than needs replacement. We are having to purchase new bulbs every 2-3 months. One side goes out, then the other. We are being careful when replacing... Read more
KIA K4 (2025) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER Aug 29, 2025
Incident date: Jul 24, 2025
* Initial Transmission Failure: -In February 2025 my vehicle began experiencing severe and rough shifting, which was quickly followed by a "Check Engine" light. I immediately took the vehicle to dealer for inspection. * Dealer Diagnosis and Repair: -The dealership diagnosed the issue as a worn-out transmission solenoid and valve body. They informed me that they had to install a newly redesigned ... Read more
KIA K4 (2025) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Aug 29, 2025
Incident date: Jul 24, 2025
* Initial Transmission Failure: -In February 2025 my vehicle began experiencing severe and rough shifting, which was quickly followed by a "Check Engine" light. I immediately took the vehicle to dealer for inspection. * Dealer Diagnosis and Repair: -The dealership diagnosed the issue as a worn-out transmission solenoid and valve body. They informed me that they had to install a newly redesigned ... Read more
KIA NIRO (2023) - ENGINE Aug 29, 2025
Incident date: Aug 15, 2025
Stopped at an intersection at approximately 2:40pm on August 28, 2025. The auto -stop/start stopped the engine and it would not restart.
KIA NIRO (2023) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Aug 29, 2025
Incident date: Aug 15, 2025
Stopped at an intersection at approximately 2:40pm on August 28, 2025. The auto -stop/start stopped the engine and it would not restart.
KIA OPTIMA (2015) - TIRES:TREAD/BELT Aug 29, 2025
Incident date: May 20, 2025
I purchased a set of Firestone Destination A/T2 tires from Firestone in Southaven, MS. I had the tires for less than 16 months. I took the tires in for inspection & was told the treat belts had separated from the tires. The tires are a hazard. the tires are 275/55R20. Driving on the interstate, I had to pull over as it felt as though the truck would overturn/rollover. They must be recalled. I cont... Read more
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