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 30, 2025
While traveling on vacation April 15, my 2025 F150 truck suffered a total loss of forward momentum on the highway and in city of Los Angeles —a severe safety failure. The repairing Ford dealership, diagnosed a factory-born "OPEN" in the main wiring harness (#14A005) behind the dash (DTCs P2128/P2138). To rectify this assembly-line defect, the dealership had to completely remove the dashboard (I... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off in a parking lot, the vehicle became inoperable and failed to restart. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a fuel pump module failure. The contact was informed that the fuel pump module needed to be replaced. The vehicle... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2025
Intermittent failure of multiple safety‑critical Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) while driving. Forward collision avoidance, lane safety, and other driver‑assist features disable simultaneously without warning.
Incident date: Apr 14, 2026
To whom it may concern. Our 2017 XC90 unexpectedly, spantaneously, and catastrophically caught fire under the hood and was a total loss 5 minutes after parking it on April 19, 2026. There were no leaks or other signs of mechanical issues. The vehicle had all regular maintenance completed at the Byers Volvo Service Department in Columbus, OH. It had no open recalls. It was always parked overnight i... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Apr 14, 2026
Steering system failed and started to jerk -- Contacted Honda and while there was a recall on the NEWER models, we experienced a similar issue on our 2020 Civic.
Incident date: Apr 27, 2026
When using FSD in "chill" mode the car attempted to cross over into oncoming lane on a two lane highway. There were no oncoming cars and I overrode the car almost immediately. The car has not been inspected by anybody. No warning light, messages or other symptoms. I have a video of the incident for a Viofo dashcam installed in the car.
Incident date: Apr 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced intermittent phantom braking; the vehicle violently and suddenly slammed on the brakes with no obstructions present, causing the contact to sustain shoulder and back pain on several occasions. The contact did not seek medical assistance. The contact stated that the failure had ... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Apr 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced intermittent phantom braking; the vehicle violently and suddenly slammed on the brakes with no obstructions present, causing the contact to sustain shoulder and back pain on several occasions. The contact did not seek medical assistance. The contact stated that the failure had ... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Apr 22, 2026
The clock spring needs fixed no features including the horn is working in my airbag light is staying on. Also I now have a loud knock in my motor I understand this should fall under the extended 15 yr 150k warranty; 2012 Kia vehicles (specifically the Sorento) with V6 engines are covered under major safety recalls for engine failure and fire risks. The primary issue involves metal debris from man... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2017
The clock spring needs fixed no features including the horn is working in my airbag light is staying on. Also I now have a loud knock in my motor I understand this should fall under the extended 15 yr 150k warranty; 2012 Kia vehicles (specifically the Sorento) with V6 engines are covered under major safety recalls for engine failure and fire risks. The primary issue involves metal debris from man... Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the brake pedal was spongy while depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. The failure persisted, and the contact discovered oil on the bottom of his shoe before discovering oil in the driver’s side footwell. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that oil was leaking from the engine firewall onto the brake pedal. The deale... Read more
Incident date: Apr 21, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the recall and informed the contact that parts were limited. The contact was informed that new vehicles were the priority before the vehicles that were alre... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2025
Ford Safety Recall 25S91 This didn't affect my model year but my model is affected. The trim is falling off as stated in the recall
Incident date: Apr 27, 2025
The car has 21000 miles and is driven lightly when applying the brakes the steering wheel started shaking and the car made noises - the brakes could have failed at any time and at any speedl The dealer said the rotors were warped. no warning and no notification from the manufacturer that this could happen at such low miles. i didnt bring the vehicle in because i could not believe the brakes would ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 17, 2026
On [XXX], my 2022 GMC Yukon Denali XL (VIN [XXX] ) experienced a complete loss of propulsion while I was driving on [XXX] in El Paso, Texas, with my wife and two young children in the vehicle. Mileage was approximately 50,364. While in motion, the vehicle was displaying abnormal behavior, concerned the vehicle would stall on the highway, I exited at the Geronimo exit. As the vehicle slowed, it shu... Read more
Incident date: Apr 17, 2026
When taking off the vehicle will shift into 5th gear trying to take off then hard shift down to 1st then up to 3rd and violently jerk forward. When pressing the brake pedal at a stop light it will jerk forward. When going uphill the vehicle will struggle in 5th gear and then downshift to 4th and loose power and gain power and doesn’t move unless at high rpm’s ( 3000-4000). When on the intersta... Read more
Incident date: Apr 17, 2026
Engine went out , starter went out got it replaced been having issues since I purchased it . Makes a noise my engine oil and gasoline was mixing my engine is locked now
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
Engine went out , starter went out got it replaced been having issues since I purchased it . Makes a noise my engine oil and gasoline was mixing my engine is locked now
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
This has been an ongoing issue with the sensors on the sliding door. When closing the door, it would start to close half way, then opens. This makes it really unsafe for children or anyone sitting next to the door as it would open unexpectedly or not close all the way without having to physically pull the door to close. When walking away from the vehicle, sometimes the car would lock automatical... Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2026
While driving on the highway, the vehicle experienced sudden engine failure at highway speeds, putting the safety of our son and others drivers at risk. The engine completely lost power. The diagnosing dealership confirmed failure of a connecting rod and bearings and internal engine damage with metal present throughout the engine, requiring full engine replacement at an estimated cost of over $17,... Read more
Incident date: Feb 15, 2026
I was traveling in the right lane on I-75 at approximately 70 miles an hour, and my Wrangler completely lost all power and began to suddenly decelerate in traffic. I lost all acceleration ability, power brakes, and power steering. I immediately had to change lanes and exit the highway onto the shoulder while trying to avoid other vehicles all while struggling to steer and brake.
Incident date: Feb 5, 2026
Accelerated and heard a loud noise and felt like I had driven through wood and one got stocked to the whelle. There was a lot of traffic so I was driving slow. The noice I heard was like something was stuck inside the wheel, like it was grinding. Dealer diagnosed a bad transfer case and transmission and they replaced both under warranty.
Incident date: Feb 5, 2026
I purchased my 2023 BMW 430i, coupe, X-Drive brand new on 04/14/2023 from BMW, Wesley Chapel Florida. On 05/14/2025, I observed my driver's side front seat belt to be extremely frayed and in an unsafe condition (see photo 05142025) and reported it to BMW Wesley Chapel immediately. The service manager advised me this was very unusual and he has never seen this condition before, but explained BMW... Read more
Incident date: Apr 21, 2026
I am filing a complaint regarding an unresolved safety recall repair on my 2019 Ram 1500 (VIN: [XXX] ). The vehicle was brought to an authorized dealership for a safety recall related to the ABS system. At the time of the initial visit, there were no warning lights or system faults present. After the recall repair was performed, multiple warning lights and system errors appeared that were not pr... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2026
Oil was changed and within a month was completely dried with no visible leak and without any warning or lights the engine shut off while driving and seized Turner Kia performed a thorough diagnostic and determined that will cost $13,508.90 to replace the engine.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
The front driver seat cushion/seat cover is deteriorating and ripping at the front portion of the seat. While driving, I can feel road vibration and impacts through the driver seat much more than normal, and the seat no longer feels properly cushioned or supported. I am concerned this affects the driver seating position, comfort, and ability to maintain proper control, and it creates a distraction... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
I was pulling out of driveway, it is a steep driveway, I have kept vehicle in 4WD, I then backed up to turn around, the truck “lurched” and “jerked” forward abruptly. I thought I had hit the home in front of me or ran over something. It was not the AEB. The vehicle had changed from 4WD auto to 2WD on its own, creating a large “jump” in the gears. I took the vehicle to service and they ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
While accelerating on a green light, vehicle shifted down to a crawl. Truck had an abrupt reduction in speed and was difficult to get vehicle to a safe place to stop. Traffic was heavy and dangerous, trying to get truck off roadway was very difficult. I had to park in a no parking zone to allow traffic to continue. The wrench warning lamp symbol did come on, and warning hill climbing is not po... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
The car's phone connectivity is always an issue. The car locks when the phone is right next to it, for example, if you put kids or groceries in the back seat then it locks before you get to the front door. This is very annoying, but what makes it a safety issue is that when the door locks, the kids are unable to open it. This has happened multiple times, leaving my kids panicked and trapped. I loo... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2026
Our front and backup camera do not work. We took it to a Nissan dealer on April 20, 2026, and was advised that the AVM control unit has to be replaced. They found and recommended: "All system scan found AVM missing from dtc sheet. Performed can diag found AVM offline. Rec replace AVM control unit." Research shows that there is a defect in the rear wiper grommet or seal allowing water to ente... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2026
To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding my Kia Sorento and a recurring brake light failure that poses a serious risk to my safety and the safety of my children. After every single oil change, without exception, my brake lights stop functioning properly. This has happened repeatedly and consistently. Most recently, immediately after an oil change, both brake li... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
Was changing the oil on my car and noticed grease running out from between the transfer case and transmission and also fluid build up on the transfer case higher up a little below the driveshaft. The car has 41k miles on it, there should be no leaks. My concern is the transfer case/transmission spline failure issue.
Incident date: Apr 18, 2026
On [XXX] at or about [XXX]., I was traveling on the highway while going up hill to pass a slow moving vehicle, in the passing lane, suddenly lost total acceleration in which a wrench light appeared as if the transmission disengaged. I was able to coast to the into the driving lane, to get to the shoulder of the road in which the transmission engaged back at about 10mph. I was able to continue slow... Read more
Incident date: Apr 22, 2026
My truck was started in the morning and as it sat idle in the driveway I started attaching my trailer. By the time I got the trailer attached(20 seconds) there was smoke pouring out from under the hood. I immediately turned off the truck popped the hood and it was engulfed in flames. I was able to put out the fire with the garden hose. No check engine lights, no warning lights on dash, and I ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Apr 13, 2026
RECALL 23V905 February 2024 This is a complaint about service for the Recall. Or, the lack thereof. Still hasn't been serviced by dealer Serramonte Ford in Colma, CA.650-395-2728 Car was delivered to dealer Wednesday April 22, 2026. And still hasn't been serviced, as far as I know. Inquired for status on Thursday 23rd, and Friday 24th. Never received any. call back. Called today, Saturday April 25... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2026
I was driving out of the parking garage at work and happened to catch the oil light flicker on and then go off. I immediately drove it to an auto shop where I told them what happened. They looked at the dipstick and there was no oil showing on the dipstick. If I had just written the light off as an oddity I would have driven the car home from work (around 20 miles) and the engine could have stall... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2026
Roof molding detached from driver's side of 2023 Land Rover Discovery Sport, upon arriving at home checked the passenger side and it came off without excerpting any force. Subsequent check on search engines indicate this may be a common occurrence in recent model Land Rover SUVs. I ran a VIN check for recalls on NHTSA and did not find one open for the 2023 Land Rover Discovery Sport, though the sa... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2026
Vehiculo defectuoso así me lo vendió el dealer epic chevrolet de sacramento se apaga el solo se ahoga el motor etc
Incident date: Apr 15, 2026
Brake booster failed. We were driving on the freeway and almost got into a pile up. Brakes completely stopped working and pedal became very stiff. The more I look it is this is an extremely common issue
Incident date: Apr 12, 2026
On two occasions, five months apart, the windshield cracked for no apparent reason. No foreign object hit the windshield. The replacement was NOT a generic. If was a Hyundai OEM. Two cracks, which spread over the windshield is not “normal”, in my opinion. Thank you
Incident date: Apr 20, 2026
My 2024 Honda Odyssey EX-L has a recurring Auto Idle Stop failure. About 1–2 times per week, when stopped at a light and Auto Idle Stop engages, the engine fails to restart properly when I release the brake. The engine sputters or shuts down, the battery warning light comes on, and the vehicle shifts itself into Park. I then have to hold the start button for several seconds to restart the engine... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2026
My C300 MBZ, 2016 is experiencing the same symptoms as indicated in a recall, but my vehicle is not included in that recall. Camshaft: GENERAL REPAIR A cam is a rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage used especially in transforming rotary motion into linear motion or vice versa. Cams act as a vital component to your automobile's engine. A camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is fastened o... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2026
Sometimes when I’m driving the steering wheel just jerks to the left sometimes causing me to swerve into incoming traffic. It’s very scary. Luckily I’m holding tight to the steering wheel to keep myself from hitting someone.
Incident date: Apr 24, 2026
Sometimes when I’m driving the steering wheel just jerks to the left sometimes causing me to swerve into incoming traffic. It’s very scary. Luckily I’m holding tight to the steering wheel to keep myself from hitting someone.
Incident date: Mar 30, 2026
At a slow speed the car lurched, paused, in traffic. The engine light is on. It could be dangerous.
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V655000 (Electrical System); 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 dealer was not made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The cont... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Soul. The contact stated that the vehicle spontaneously caught fire while parked unattended at 3 am. All the warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure, and the vehicle was undrivable. The contact had received the recall notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). There were no reported injuries, police report, or cras... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Oct 3, 2025
2018 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV subject to Safety Recall 73B (NHTSA 24V-536) for HV battery fire risk. Following the recall repair at Fremont CDJR (Newark, CA) in January-February 2025, this vehicle has experienced systematic cascading hybrid drivetrain failures across 5 repair visits totaling 57 days out of service: (1) CAN bus star connector failure — 10 modules with fault codes U0103/U0001; (2) H... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Issue with the idle auto star stop. I was driving on the freeway traffic stoped and I press fully down on the brakes and the turned of in stop and go traffic. Took about 5 minutes press and depress the brake pedal for the system to active again.
Incident date: Nov 15, 2025
Soon after purchase, Onstar stopped working. Took to dealership and they started Onstar module bad. They also started that it may be months or years as part is back ordered for an issue GM has known about since 2024.