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: Feb 7, 2025
Brought vehicle to shop to have tires rotated, axle bolt fell out after miles of noise. Reported to Ford, deemed drivable. Clicking sound from rear end began in November, brought to dealership. Vehicle deemed undrivable via Ford due to ongoing axle issues and noise coming from axle. Vehicle has been at the Ford dealership since November 12, 2025. Ford has provided a rental which is not a work v... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2025
Warranty Alignment: This failure occurred at 47.7k miles, well under the 60,000-mile threshold of the Supplemental Restraint System Limited Warranty. Known Defect: This repair is the subject of a specific Service Bulletin (RCM_a078), confirming it is a known manufacturing issue and not standard wear-and-tear. Safety Criticality: The SRS is a primary safety system. Forcing a customer to pay for a... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2025
My 2022 Kia k5 has gone into limp mode multiple times now while I am driving in addition to when it starts up. Check engine light, AUTOHOLD, EPB, traction control, etc. all aluminate on my dashboard. Car drives very rough and doesn’t want to accelerate or shift. Huge safety issue. Dealership said it was the throttle body assembly. Paid to have it replaced and the issues still persists. I have re... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2025
My 2022 Kia k5 has gone into limp mode multiple times now while I am driving in addition to when it starts up. Check engine light, AUTOHOLD, EPB, traction control, etc. all aluminate on my dashboard. Car drives very rough and doesn’t want to accelerate or shift. Huge safety issue. Dealership said it was the throttle body assembly. Paid to have it replaced and the issues still persists. I have re... Read more
Incident date: Jul 5, 2025
Car was found to have the rear subframe corrosion for issue. But also the brake lines were corroded very badly. They should be covered under the rear subframe extended warranty replacement. The rear brake lines are an frequent issue and almost always shows up when the subframe begins to rot. Also the pattern of the corrosion seems to be consistent across multiple incidents. Look at photos I upl... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2025
My truck lost power while I was driving. Took to a shop and they found that a had a bad lifter. I have all of my service records from the GMC dealership where I had my vehicle serviced on a regular basis.
KIA
SPORTAGE HYBRID
(2024) — ENGINE
Jan 19, 2026
Incident date: Jan 12, 2026
I am filing this complaint regarding my 2016 Hyundai Tucson due to excessive oil consumption. The vehicle burns oil at an abnormal rate, requiring me to add approximately one quart of engine oil every one to two weeks, even though the vehicle is driven very infrequently. This condition poses a serious safety risk because the engine could run low or completely out of oil while the vehicle is in ope... Read more
KIA
SPORTAGE HYBRID
(2024) — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Jan 19, 2026
Incident date: Jan 12, 2026
While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of propulsion and significantly reduced acceleration. At the same time, the climate control system stopped producing heat. A red warning message appeared instructing me to stop safely. The vehicle would barely accelerate, creating a dangerous situation while driving. This issue has occurred three separate times, including twice in the same day. ... Read more
KIA
SPORTAGE HYBRID
(2024) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jan 19, 2026
Incident date: Jan 12, 2026
While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of propulsion and significantly reduced acceleration. At the same time, the climate control system stopped producing heat. A red warning message appeared instructing me to stop safely. The vehicle would barely accelerate, creating a dangerous situation while driving. This issue has occurred three separate times, including twice in the same day. ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 14, 2025
I parked my car on a driveway with a slight incline. After putting the car in park, I stepped out of the vehicle and the car rolled back into the street. I brought the car back into the driveway, again put the car in park and engaged the parking brake this time. The car rolled back out into the street again. Thankfully, the grandchildren were not playing behind the car and there was no one was par... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2025
Headlights were brushed clear of snow prior to driving. While driving in snow conditions, the headlights became covered in snow and would not provide illumination to the road ahead. This put me at safety risk making road visibility extremely poor at night. While driving I couldn’t understand why the road was so difficult to see. Upon arriving home, I inspected the headlights to see the snow had ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 17, 2026
**Subject: Formal Anonymous Safety Defect Complaint – Severe Peeling Paint on SIXT LAX Shuttle Bus Roofs – NHTSA Review Requested** To: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation This is a formal anonymous complaint about a potential safety-related defect in SIXT rent a car shuttle buses at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Multiple SIX... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Vehicle will not pass safety inspection due to severe deterioration of the frame. The rest of the vehicle is still intact and operable.
Incident date: Dec 30, 2025
I am reporting a safety concern involving delayed brake engagement on my 2024 Acura ZDX RWD. During normal braking, the brakes do not respond immediately. The vehicle slips and launches forward several times before braking force applies, and the traction control system activates prior to adequate deceleration. It feels like the brakes aren't catching properly. This condition occurs consistently an... Read more
Incident date: Jan 10, 2026
Every time I turn fully left or right there is a clicking, binding type noise. Gos away as steering is straightened. Have not gone to dealer yet because I have heard on Prologue forum web site that it is not being fixed yet, some have been in 3 to 6 times to replace cv axles, but that Honda engineering is working on a fix, ie a newly designed cv axles. Would appreciate any help on speeding up thi... Read more
Incident date: May 17, 2025
In busy traffic brake pedal went all the way to floor almost causing me to hit vehicle in front of me. Vehicle was towed to my mechanic at which time he informed me this is an ongoing issue with Ford and is recall issue. I have contacted my local Ford dealer as well as Ford Motor company and filed a claim.Vehicle has not been repaired. I hope sooner than later Ford will acknowledge this ongoing i... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2026
There was a safely recall sent on Oct 9, 2025 and there’s no remedy by manufacturer and I am unsure of what to do now ?
Incident date: Jan 8, 2026
I have a 2022 KZ Durango 321RKT. The frame has been flexing up in the front by the bedroom slide out. There is now a crack in the bedroom wall, which expands from when it’s on the truck to when it’s on the landing gear on the ground. It also is causing the outside of the RV to buckle in the same place. KZand Lippert both said that there’s nothing that they can do. There’s no frame flex in ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2026
The problem started on towards the end of Dec 2025. The primary latch that holds the hood down failed, and the safety latch kept the hood from flying off. I pulled the car over and shut it, and it seemed okay. Because the hood hadn't been lifted for a few days ( since its last service ), I was at a loss as to what could be causing it. Since then, it's happened several times. I've also examine... Read more
Incident date: Jan 17, 2026
Steering wheel gets stuck when turning steering wheel, will not come back to center. Almost lost control on the freeway when steering wheel got stuck. Took it to the dealership and was told this is normal. Even though I found Recall 6524A.
Incident date: Jan 17, 2026
1. **Component or System Failure:** - The malfunction occurred in the **automatic braking system** while the vehicle was in **snow mode**. The brakes engaged and locked the wheels, resulting in a loss of traction. - This system is available for inspection upon request to assess the failure, where the car was towed to. 2. **Safety Risk:** - The automatic brakes locking the wheels put the ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 17, 2026
1. **Component or System Failure:** - The malfunction occurred in the **automatic braking system** while the vehicle was in **snow mode**. The brakes engaged and locked the wheels, resulting in a loss of traction. - This system is available for inspection upon request to assess the failure, where the car was towed to. 2. **Safety Risk:** - The automatic brakes locking the wheels put the ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Oct 1, 2023
Car was great for first 100000 miles. Then it was not. While driving in heavy traffic on a three lane highway, car lost power, ability to accelerate and went into limp mode. EPC code went on. Very dangerous. Took it to several mechanics, VW dealerships, could find nothing wrong. Issue has happened over 100x since, but I am unable to afford another vehicle and pray over car continually to keep me a... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2026
I was in a parking lot moving a trailer to a different spot when all the sudden my foot on the brake goes to the floor. I wasn't even on the brakes hard. I then check my truck and I see my passenger front wheel is covered in brake fluid and a large puddle underneath it. I then took off the wheel and saw that the brake hose had a split so I replaced it. The split is at the top of the brake hose W... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2025
While driving my 2023 Model Y Long Range I heard a loud grinding noise. I was able to get home and park. When I further inspected the vehicle, I jacked up the car, removed the front driver side wheel, and immediately what I saw horrified me. The "FRONT LOWER LATERAL LINK ASSEMBLY" was completely disconnected from the vehicle, just hanging with a bolt missing, and another bolt barely hanging on. U... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2025
I’ve gotten my vehicle fixed four times now thinking it was an electrical issue, not aware of the recall. Did my research this fifth time when my brake lights completely went out and smoke at some point in times come through my air-conditioning. I’ve spent more money trying to fix the vehicle with no idea that there were issues already about it.
Incident date: Dec 29, 2025
I’ve gotten my vehicle fixed four times now thinking it was an electrical issue, not aware of the recall. Did my research this fifth time when my brake lights completely went out and smoke at some point in times come through my air-conditioning. I’ve spent more money trying to fix the vehicle with no idea that there were issues already about it.
Incident date: Jan 16, 2026
On July 9th, 2025, our car's engine failed. It was discovered that it was due to the safety recall 23S64 (Engine Oil Pump Failure). We were ill advised by Ford motor company customer relations specialist and ended up paying almost 1,000 for a rental car that should have been covered by the recall. We waited almost 5 months, to receive the car back fixed. It took us begging for the car to be shippe... Read more
Incident date: Mar 3, 2025
Power steering return line ruptured in cold weather causing loss of steering.
Incident date: Mar 3, 2025
In March 2025, my 2022 Kia Soul developed a check engine light and drivability problems that progressed to rough idle, loss of power, reduced power with limited speed and an unresponsive throttle, and stalling after continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, and the dealer performed a major timing related repair (camshaft and related timing/CVVT components) under on 03/07/2025. I... Read more
Incident date: Mar 3, 2025
In March 2025, my 2022 Kia Soul developed a check engine light and drivability problems that progressed to rough idle, loss of power, reduced power with limited speed and an unresponsive throttle, and stalling after continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealership, and the dealer performed a major timing related repair (camshaft and related timing/CVVT components) under on 03/07/2025. I... Read more
Incident date: Jun 16, 2025
The gas pedal has no response when coming to a stop and pushing on the gas pedal. Multiple times I come to a stop, push the gas, no response, 1-3 seconds later; the vehicle jerks forward. On occasion it has nearly lead to an accident and I do not feel safe in my vehicle.
Incident date: Jan 12, 2026
The CEL flashed 2 days earlier, I immediately pulled to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off, suspecting it may be a misfire. Restarted the vehicle and all seemed fine. After arriving home i plugged in my scanner to check for a code. No codes were found. I decided to carry my scanner in the vehicle, and plugged it in before starting a 10 mile drive to a store. After 3 miles, the CE... Read more
Incident date: Mar 3, 2025
The Anti-Lock Brake module has prematurely failed in the vehicle. The dealership can and will inspect the fault but they will say they are not trained or authorizes to fix the module. I was directed to an ABS module rebuilder and was simply told by the rebuilder that they could not fix it due to a computer chip shortage. The problem has been reproduced many times as seen with the RAM truck recall... Read more
Incident date: Jan 14, 2026
Without any warning the car dies on the interstate, it warns you once it fails. The ICCU fails. It left me stranded with my dog.
Incident date: Jan 14, 2026
Oil filter housing assembly- Resulted in very low engine oil with no warning lights or engine lights potentially leading to engine damage. Yes the component was inspected and replaced by dealership. This was after getting the oil plan repaired for leaking oil as well
Incident date: Oct 16, 2025
On [XXX] at [XXX]. in Cupey, Puerto Rico I was moving from west to east in the[XXX] parish underground parking. While parking my car in reverse, I needed to drive forward to accommodate the car in the parking space. As I shifted to drive, the vehicle accelerated on its own, the breaks were not working and hit a concrete wall. All the airbags exploded, and I was stuck inside the car. The car doors ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V649000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, with the A/C activated, there was an abnormal burning odor entering the vehicle through the vents. The burning odor was coming from ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2025
Common problem with this year and model is the low beam projector headlight assembly dims. This is a huge hazard and makes it impossible to see at night with low beam lights. I cannot see more than 30 feet in front of the vehicle at night making the reaction time to any potential threat non-existent at freeway speed and severely reduced in neighborhoods. All options investigated are to replace ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2025
I was driving 2 minutes away from my house and all of the sudden every warning light on the dashboard came on, billowing smoke started coming through the vents. I immediately pulled in a random driveway, as I was turning I. I heard a loud pop. I shut the car off immediately, jumped out. As I looked at the front of my car, flames were coming from the bottom front. I ran up to the house, the man of ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Dec 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that there were intermittent failures with the rear-view camera image. The contact had opened the trunk and noticed that the mesh covering the electrical wires was deteriorating. There was tape holding the mesh to the wires. The tape was rewrapped, and the camera became functional. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, several unknown warning lights flashed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions, where various repairs were performed; however, the failure returned after each repair. The contact then stated that the entire instrument panel had gone blank; as a result, the speed... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2025
While traveling straight at approximately 30 miles per hour, the front differential locked, causing the front wheels to lock and abruptly stopped the vehicle. Vehicle was towed to a Ford dealership, which verified the differential failed, and not due to lack of lubricant. There were no symptoms prior to failure. The abruptness of the stop caused the operator to suffer whiplash like symptoms.
1 injured
Incident date: Dec 15, 2025
While driving at normal speed, my Kia EV6 experienced a sudden and complete failure of the ICCU system with zero warning. The vehicle instantly lost all propulsion power and all 12V electrical power, rendering the car uncontrollable and unsafe. I was unable to accelerate, unable to place the vehicle in gear, and unable to activate hazard lights. This occurred despite the vehicle being at approxima... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2025
While driving at normal speed, my Kia EV6 experienced a sudden and complete failure of the ICCU system with zero warning. The vehicle instantly lost all propulsion power and all 12V electrical power, rendering the car uncontrollable and unsafe. I was unable to accelerate, unable to place the vehicle in gear, and unable to activate hazard lights. This occurred despite the vehicle being at approxima... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that while driving around a blind corner, when another vehicle started merging into the contact's lane, the contact avoided a crash with the vehicle however crashed into a ditch. The contact stated that the vehicle landed on the passenger's side, and there was a passenger seated in the front passenger's seat. The contact and the front passe... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 8, 2025
Driving on a main road on news year eve on my way home from work in a snow storm, my vehicle decides to only drive 9mph or less indicating that it has gone into limp mode. Unable to go up hills of any incline caused panic from the drivers around me. Luckily I was able to pull into a parking lot and sit and call for help. My vehicle was showing a code for the accelerator pedal position sensor indic... Read more
Incident date: Jan 12, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was distorted while in reverse(R). The vehicle was taken to Exotic Sound & Tint Inc., where the rearview camera was replaced; however, the failure persi... Read more
Incident date: Jan 12, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. While the contact's granddaughter was attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that a special device was previously installed in the vehicle because of a legal matter. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who installed the device, and the vehicle was inspected. The contact was informed that the device did not ... Read more