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: Jan 6, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Jeep Wrangler 4XE. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V710000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), 25V741000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), and 25V766000 (ENGINE). However, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked. No warning lights were illuminated. Most recently, while d... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
While operating on a public roadway with Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised) engaged, the vehicle unexpectedly departed its intended roadway trajectory. Upon recognizing unsafe vehicle behavior, I attempted to manually override and disengage the system using normal driver control inputs. Despite these attempts, the system did not disengage or yield control in a timely or effective manner. The veh... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Nov 5, 2025
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, the odometer indicated that the mileage was 92,000. The vehicle was a private sale. The contact's wife purchased the Carfax report and stated that the odometer reading was 179,070 on April 22, 2025.
Incident date: Dec 23, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The dealer was contacted several times for the recall repair; however, the dealer informed the contact that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to vee... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2025
I am submitting this complaint to report multiple unresolved safety-related issues involving my 2024 Kia Telluride that have not been properly addressed by either the authorized dealership or Kia corporate. Issue #1: Front Bumper Sensor / Mounting Bracket Failure The front bumper sensor mounting bracket failed and detached without any impact, collision, or customer-caused damage. I did not strike ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2020
The windshield is a major safety issue. It is distorted, warped, and wavy. The dealership has ordered a replacement, but I’m worried it will be the same. As for the blind spot warning, it flashes when there is nothing present. The dealership cannot replicate, and I am not able to record when driving.
Incident date: Sep 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Kia EV6 equipped with Kumho Tires, Tire Line: Crugen, Tire Size: 235/55/R19, DOT Number [XXX] . The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle started vibrating abnormally. The vehicle was driven to the dealer and the technician at the dealer stated that the inner lining of the tires had separated on the driver’s side front and rear passenger’s side ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2025
We were driving on a busy freeway and the power steering quit working making it hard to steer and maneuver in traffic. We went directly to a GM dealer and the code CO545 Steering Wheel Torgue Sensor came up. This is a sensor inside the sealed steering gear that cannot be replaced without being completely removing and replaced. The cost is over $2000 and not covered under warranty. We will not be ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2025
Purchased the vehicle 2nd hand January 29th 2025. Since then she has been in and out of multiple shops including Kia. Check engine light, loss of power on fwy, shifting/brake changes from a stop. From jerking, lunging, studder, taking off fast, not wanting to go at all. I was on these dips that I encounter almost daily and the collision warning went off. There wasnt anything in front of me. 2 week... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2025
Purchased the vehicle 2nd hand January 29th 2025. Since then she has been in and out of multiple shops including Kia. Check engine light, loss of power on fwy, shifting/brake changes from a stop. From jerking, lunging, studder, taking off fast, not wanting to go at all. I was on these dips that I encounter almost daily and the collision warning went off. There wasnt anything in front of me. 2 week... Read more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2025
35000 miles 4 wheel drive transfer case went bad. Company honored full repairs. I was the second owner of this vehicle.
Incident date: Jan 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. While the contact's mother was driving at highway speeds, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact used a code reader and retrieved a code related to the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) that the HPFP was operating at half the required pressure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with an HPFP failure. The conta... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2026
The oil filter housing cracked on the car, causing all the oil to leak out. In researching this, I have found that this is a common problem with the Kia Telluride and Kia Sorrento. The problem is that the oil filter housing is made of cheap plastic and not durable material such as aluminum or steel. This allows the oil filter housing to easily crack under stress. In speaking with the dealership, t... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Audi A6. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, water leaked into the vehicle and accumulated in the rear passenger’s side area of the vehicle. The contact initially believed that the failure might be related to inclement weather; however, the issue persisted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where a video diagnostic inspection was performed. The dealer d... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2025
2020 Ford Expedition with 38,094 miles started having delayed and rough shifting a few days after my warranty was out on December 12th. 2024. I had looked up the issue before I took it in and found all these complaints and was worried mine was having this same issue. Took to our ford dealer and it was confirmed that my 10R80 transmission had failed and my CDF drum is worn and quoted 5600 to fix! T... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2026
The service 4WD msg. related to Manufacturer Recall Number01C / NHTSA Recall number25V-011 has been illuminating in my 2017 Jeep Cherokee for almost a year and the mfg. has known this challenge for several years. Every time I go to any dealerships & share with them the msg. & situation i.e. the softwear remedy posted the dealership says this is really not in effect & nothing happens to make the ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 29, 2020
Was driving home from going to dinner on Jan 4th Sunday lower acceleration than usual . Did not think anything about it got up on the 5th January 2026 to goto work got on the interstate and a message power decline drove carefully. I changed direction and started driving to the dealership right as I got to the stop light by the dealership I got a message low oil pressure turn engine off. At which t... Read more
Incident date: Sep 29, 2020
I purchased in July 2020, from sept 2020 I've had it at the dealership with shuddering, stalling and loss of acceleration. I originally thought fuel pump or transmission but kia said no. then in 2022 I received a letter from kia corporate stating low pressure fuel pump failure. so i called the dealership and told them the letter states everything I had been in to see them about numerous times. mad... Read more
Incident date: Sep 29, 2020
I purchased in July 2020, from sept 2020 I've had it at the dealership with shuddering, stalling and loss of acceleration. I originally thought fuel pump or transmission but kia said no. then in 2022 I received a letter from kia corporate stating low pressure fuel pump failure. so i called the dealership and told them the letter states everything I had been in to see them about numerous times. mad... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2023
2017 Ram 2500 Laramie Crew Cab , 4x4, 6.7 Liter Cummings A/T. Receiving a “Service Electronic Brake System Soon” warning light intermittent after start up since at least since June 2025. Code reader advises to replace “HCU” Hydraulic Control Unit, ABS Module. My vehicle was produced 03/2017, however the ram recall is from vehicles produced from April 2017. Seems they are excluding othe... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2023
The OEM projector halogen headlights on the 2022 Kia Forte provide insufficient illumination for safe nighttime operation. On unlit or poorly lit roads, the low-beam distance is inadequate to identify road hazards, pedestrians, or signage in time to react at standard posted speeds (45+ mph). This creates a "dead zone" where the driver is effectively over-driving their headlights. This is a known ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 3, 2025
Purchased this car in September 2024 for our [XXX] son. Upon inspection at our local Mercedes Dealership on December 1, 2025, we were informed that the rear subframe should be immediately replaced as there is a rusted hole in the subframe, "compromising the structural integrity of the rear of the vehicle." We were informed that the prior bulletin issued for 2010-2014 C-Class models did not inclu... Read more
Incident date: Dec 3, 2025
The argument for the warranty claim to be honored and the work to be completed is as follows. Kia Inc may not want to take responsibility for the engine. They may want to shy away from their duty by claim negligence on the part of the owner. Kia will ask the car owner to produce every receipt and service record you can scrape together just to prove that one was not done at an “authorized” cent... Read more
Incident date: Dec 3, 2025
Vehicle manufacturers have certain basic rules and procedures that must be followed. When a vehicle manufacturer sells a vehicle, it has a duty to ensure that the vehicle functions properly and safely for its advertised use and is free from defects. When a vehicle manufacturer discovers a defect, it must explicitly disclose the defect and make it right or cease selling the vehicle. When a vehicle ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 5, 2025
vehicle gives false blind side alerts on driver side. Happens when no objects are approaching. Happens when vehicles pass from opposite direction. System otherwise works as advertised.
Incident date: Nov 5, 2025
1. The Snow White Paint is lifting and peeling in all areas of the vehicle. 2. The engine, despite proper care and maintenance, is seizing occasionally upon starting the vehicle. 3. Auto Braking System and Lane Departure turns off at random
Incident date: Nov 5, 2025
1. The Snow White Paint is lifting and peeling in all areas of the vehicle. 2. The engine, despite proper care and maintenance, is seizing occasionally upon starting the vehicle. 3. Auto Braking System and Lane Departure turns off at random
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
THREE urgent fire risk/catastrophic recalls with no remedy avail. Urged not safe to drive or charge due to fire risk. Urged to park away from buildings due to fire risk. Cannot schedule an appointment for repair as no remedy is avail. Considering, vehicle is not serviceable since September 2025. Requesting a buyback as I need a reliable and safe vehicle ASAP. Currently posing a catastrophic risk t... Read more
Incident date: Sep 23, 2025
While driving at approximately 65 mph on I-35 in moderate traffic, the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of motive power. I was positioned in the far-right lane at the time of the incident. A notification message appeared on the dashboard screen (likely the "Stop Safely" or "Service Hybrid System" warning); however, there was no accompanying audible warning tone to alert me to the sev... Read more
Incident date: Sep 23, 2025
The engine began exhibiting symptoms consistent with the known bearing wear defect covered under the manufacturer’s safety recall, including knocking noises, loss of power, and engine malfunction. The condition worsened to the point that the vehicle became unsafe to operate due to the risk of engine seizure and sudden loss of propulsion while driving. The vehicle was inspected by a Kia dealersh... Read more
Incident date: Sep 23, 2025
The engine began exhibiting symptoms consistent with the known bearing wear defect covered under the manufacturer’s safety recall, including knocking noises, loss of power, and engine malfunction. The condition worsened to the point that the vehicle became unsafe to operate due to the risk of engine seizure and sudden loss of propulsion while driving. The vehicle was inspected by a Kia dealersh... Read more
Incident date: Nov 24, 2025
The vehicle intermittently enters a reduced power/limp mode resulting in a sudden loss of acceleration while driving. This has occurred multiple times, including while towing, when the vehicle was unable to safely maintain or reach highway speeds. The loss of power creates a dangerous condition when merging or driving in traffic. Warning messages indicating reduced engine power have appeared, and ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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 ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. While driving approximately 55-60 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle went into a full spin. The contact stated that the ABS was not functioning properly. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The local dealer was co... Read more
Incident date: Nov 5, 2023
My 2017 Sienna has whine noise coming from transmission, the vehicle was inspected by Toyota dealership and confirmed that the noise is coming from Transmission. Toyota has already issued a recall for the 2017 Sienna with Transmission UA80 under program ZJC. My vehicle has the same issue, however, it is not being covered as it is UA80E. This issue seems common among all the 2017 model irrespective... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2025
The rear right seat belt became stuck and would not release, trapping my [XXX] son. Although the buckle was unlatched, he was entangled in the seat belt, and the retraction system would not loosen. The vehicle was stationary at the time of the incident. Due to the inability to safely release the seat belt, emergency services were contacted. Police and fire department personnel responded to the s... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2025
A Kia franchise dealership demanded payment for diagnostics in order to perform a federal airbag safety recall, which I refused. After the dealer’s involvement, the vehicle’s diagnostic/OBD port became unreadable, preventing recall completion. A second Kia dealer states they cannot complete the recall and wants thousands of dollars just to attempt diagnosis. The vehicle has been out of service... Read more
Incident date: Oct 21, 2025
5.3L V8 L84 Engine, 101,300 2nd owner Slowed down for traffic and was accelerating back to 80 when sudden loss of engine power coinciding with cylinder failure happened. Dealership determined lifter was collapsed. Lifter 1 failure at interstate speeds. Collapsed lifter caused damage to camshaft required both components to be replaced.
KIA
SORENTO HYBRID
(2025) — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Jan 5, 2026
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light illuminated on the instrument panel with a beeping sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the cruise control feature was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the hydraulic control unit (HCU) was defective and an estimate for the ... Read more
KIA
SORENTO HYBRID
(2025) — ENGINE
Jan 5, 2026
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
Will be driving when it switches to EV mode it will have no power and go into limp mode. Can't go over 30 mph. This is now the second time this has happened. Dealership tried to say it was because of temperature. Come on.
KIA
SORENTO HYBRID
(2025) — POWER TRAIN
Jan 5, 2026
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
Will be driving when it switches to EV mode it will have no power and go into limp mode. Can't go over 30 mph. This is now the second time this has happened. Dealership tried to say it was because of temperature. Come on.
Incident date: Oct 19, 2025
High impact vehicle accident, with major damage. Drivers airbag did not deploy.
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Dec 14, 2025
See attached document for complaint. I am writing in regard to an open recall on my Ford Explorer. In February 2024 I received a letter from Ford about a safety recall notice, 24S02/HNTSA, explaining that A-pillar applique trim clip attachment was improperly assembled. Then, another letter from Ford in October 2025, marked “Important Safety Recall”. The driver’s side A-pilar applique trim... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2026
While charging at a level 2 charger (6 kW) the car stop charging at 61% for no apparent reason. I was unable to restart charging. Within 2-3 minutes of starting the car and driving, received a warning to “check the vehicle electrical system” and then within another minute or two, another warning to “stop vehicle and check power supply.” I was traveling under 20 mph the entire time.
Incident date: Jan 2, 2026
The check engine light came on 12/29 and was driven approximately 50 miles. On Jan 3, 2026 vehicle was driven app. 5 miles and left parked at a friends. There was a little smoke coming out from under the hood, but this is not unusual as car had small oil leak for at least 3 years that no one could find to fix but burned off on engine and gave constant oily smell. Under 10 minutes later driver was ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jan 2, 2026
Upon starting the vehicle, it flashed several warning lights that were not on the day before. Including popping codes up on the infotainment system and urging me to schedule a service with KIA. Upon looking up the codes it states HVAC issue, when calling to dealership to schedule a service for it (while it is still barely under warranty) they let me know it might not be covered. That’s when I fo... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2026
Upon starting the vehicle, it flashed several warning lights that were not on the day before. Including popping codes up on the infotainment system and urging me to schedule a service with KIA. Upon looking up the codes it states HVAC issue, when calling to dealership to schedule a service for it (while it is still barely under warranty) they let me know it might not be covered. That’s when I fo... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2026
The most noticeable things wrong are the RPMs and the oil consumption. The RMPs fluctuate at idle, hinting at a misfiring of the pistons, which you can hear when it sits at idle. The second thing is I top off the oil with a quart of oil every gas fill up. The engine light keeps popping on even after engine repairs are done. The exhaust manifold and catalytic converter had to be fixed and that didn... Read more
Incident date: Dec 26, 2025
Transmission shudders and jerks up to 35 or so mph. speeds above are very jerky. took it to my ford dealer. they informed me my transmission was needing replacement. was told faulty tranny . trying to get to anywhere is very scary. very un safe.
Incident date: Dec 26, 2025
The drive train car would not go then my accelerator will rev up and down and not go over 10 miles a hour then all these service lights come on and car go in like limp mode and not drive in middle of intersection no one inspected the car i tuned it off and let it sit for 24 hours and started it and it was normally except the acceleration goes up and down when it wants to there were a lot of w... Read more