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.
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
Showing 62,191 complaints for KIA
Incident date: Dec 9, 2025
While driving my new Honda CR-V, the vehicle suddenly caught fire without any accident, collision, or external cause. Warning lights appeared and smoke/fire followed shortly after. The incident was extremely dangerous and resulted in a total loss of the vehicle. No physical injury occurred, but this was a serious safety failure. The vehicle was well within the manufacturer warranty period.
Fire
Incident date: Dec 9, 2025
I just purchased the vehicle there was an open recall that was never taken care of. I took it to the dealership and the front exhaust pipe is cracked and leaking which was the original recall
Incident date: Dec 9, 2025
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2021 Ford Transit. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 33,000; and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 320,000.
Incident date: Jan 12, 2026
Front camera that is needed for all of the lane sensing, Cruise control, lane keep assist malfunctions. This camera is needed to operate all of these safety systems. I’ve seen many blogs with drivers saying they have a similar issue. The fix is $1800.
Incident date: Feb 20, 2025
Roof racks have deteriorated due to sun exposure and have cracked where the contact the top and started leaking. The paint on the roof and hood had also failed. I had to have the top and hood repainted prior to having it ceramic coated. The roof racks leaking have damaged the headliner in the cargo area. I have tried to reseal them with a silicone sealant since removing them or replacing them is t... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2025
Clicking noise from CV joints when turning left and right at 7717 miles.
Incident date: Feb 20, 2025
Clicking noise from CV joints when turning left and right at 7717 miles.
Incident date: Jan 12, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the tailgate was constantly opening unintendedly. The failure also occurred while the vehicle was parked overnight, causing the battery to drain. Additionally, the contact stated that the rearview camera was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the tailgate switch and r... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2025
Safety Hazard: Subaru Sun Visor I own a 2022 Subaru Legacy, the first new car I've ever owned. The visor (to protect eyes from the sun) is too short and not wide enough. The seat is raised as high as it will go. I CAN'T position myself to protect my eyes from the Sun. On 1/8/26, I left my home at 7:45 a.m. Around the corner from my home, local road, I approached an intersection with a Traffic ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2025
Deep knocking noise they call the taco tick is actually the a problem with the motor. There is an issue valve train and timing chain, tensioners and pulleys. Toyota USA decide to tell all consumers it’s just the way they sound. So they do not have to repair millions of these trucks on recall they refuse to repair under manufacture warranty or power train warranty they wait until it becomes the c... Read more
Incident date: Dec 11, 2025
Sunroof exploded while driving on the interstate. A loud noise and glass was everywhere inside the truck on my passenger and I. The distraction caused me to slam on brakes injuring my foot in which I’m out of work for 4 weeks
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 13, 2026
Whine noise when you accelerate coming from the automatic transmission. Car is hesitant in shifting gears when needing to accelerate causing safety issues/concerns while driving due to the inconsistency. Toyota dealer as inspected the vehicle and recommended a transmission replacement. Dealer has filed a claim with Toyota to see if it will be covered or not. Total price of repair quoted from deale... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2026
I purchased my Jeep in 8/2024. Since purchasing this Jeep it has had an intermittent burning smell. I was told by the dealership I got it at that it’s normal for burning smells on new cars. Well 13,700 miles later it’s still doing it and a couple of times I have seen smoke coming from the hood area up closer to the windshield area. I took my Jeep to another dealership on 11/29/2025. They drov... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2026
The 9 speed transmission suddenly lost power while accelerating onto an interstate from an on ramp. It is available for inspection at the auto shop as it is not driveable and had to be towed. The vehicle did not give any indication in the moment. My safety and the safety of other drivers were at risk due to the posted speed limit of 65 MPH and my car had no ability to accelerate and get to a shoul... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2025
While driving in traffIc on the freeway, my car began to shake, like driving was a struggle. Then, the car stalled and stopped working, with the display still lit and the car still in Drive. Traffic was moving at about 15 miles per hour. I had to hold the brakes to prevent my car from rolling backwards into the cars behind me. I shifted the car into Park. I turned the car off and back on, and it j... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2026
While driving in the dark this morning with my eight year old in the backseat, my headlights shut off, my entire dash including my speedometer, warning lights, radio, heat, heated seat and steering wheel, lost electricity.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Chevy of Wasilla, AK did not properly inspect a safety recall for the rear parking brake harness. After I showed the dealership the pictures of the holes in the brake harness, I was told that the holes in the brake harness is a feature to let water out. Pictures are attached of said holes in brake harness and text message with dealership representative.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Chevy of Wasilla, AK did not properly inspect a safety recall for the rear parking brake harness. After I showed the dealership the pictures of the holes in the brake harness, I was told that the holes in the brake harness is a feature to let water out. Pictures are attached of said holes in brake harness and text message with dealership representative.
Incident date: May 5, 1969
the lane departure warning and lane assistance features generate numerous warning that are false. the false alarms are shocking and distracting creating alarm fatigue. alarm fatigue is dangerous. The lane assistance feature is much too aggressive. Tesla does not allow for these features to default to off. They are mandated for every start up and have to manually turned off every drive. Tesla told ... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 1969
problem since day 1. Instrument cluster goes dark frequently. no speedometer or gauges are illuminated. may stay dark for long periods of time and other times it is shorter periods. sometimes smacking it will bring it back up. sometimes not. cluster changed 2 times by dealer. problem continues. code read problem with harness connector showed up once but they cleared it and it hasn't come back. pan... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 4500. 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 not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2026
The transmission on our 2021 Subaru Ascent is slipping and failing to accelerate, RPMs reving, and every issue indicator notification light is on. We took the car to our mechanic, then to the Subaru dealership service dept for diagnosis. A full transmission replacement is required plus associated repairs for a cost of $14,543.98. Service estimate attached. This repair is more than 2/3 of the val... Read more
Incident date: Nov 20, 2025
The transmission on our 2021 Subaru Ascent is slipping and failing to accelerate, RPMs reving, and every issue indicator notification light is on. We took the car to our mechanic, then to the Subaru dealership service dept for diagnosis. A full transmission replacement is required plus associated repairs for a cost of $14,543.98. Service estimate attached. This repair is more than 2/3 of the val... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2025
Vehicle was started for the second time that day on 1/5/26 and the engine light was on. I drove the vehicle to an auto parts store to have them check it with an OBD-II scanner. It had code P050F. I had no idea how serious this issue could be at the time. I made an appt with the GMC dealership and dropped it off the evening of 1/6/26. They said there was a software anomaly in the engine control mod... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2025
2022 GMC AT4 w/ 6.2L V8 was my retirement gift to myself at a cost of $70k. I have had 2(two) engine failures! Of course they failed in the middle of rush hour traffic when no one wants to be kind. Since the wheels will NOT rotate once the failure has occurred, I was stuck in middle of traffic for 2 hours awaiting a tow truck. Not even 3k miles after the 2nd engine failure I was told by the dealer... Read more
Incident date: Oct 7, 2025
Announcing the recall in September 2025 and still no remedy available 4 months later is unacceptable. My car is at risk of catching fire randomly even if it's parked with ignition off. I need a fix and I need BMW to pay for it.
Incident date: Oct 7, 2025
Complete engine failure and it just outside the recall. This is unacceptable and needs fixed.
Incident date: Jan 9, 2026
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and the dealer stated that the remedy was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufactu... Read more
Incident date: Nov 10, 2025
Engine failed going 70mph on highway at 2k miles. Display said acceleration no longer available and app said transmission code was needing to be checked however once taking to dealer I was told it was an oil sensor then told there was shredded metal in my engine and I needed a full engine replacement. My car was in the dealership for over 50 days. I was pregnant and with two small children in the ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 10, 2025
Engine failed going 70mph on highway at 2k miles. Display said acceleration no longer available and app said transmission code was needing to be checked however once taking to dealer I was told it was an oil sensor then told there was shredded metal in my engine and I needed a full engine replacement. My car was in the dealership for over 50 days. I was pregnant and with two small children in the ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 10, 2025
My car needs a complete engine replacement due to "rod knock" or "bottom-end failures." It's my understanding that some Honda vehicles were recalled due to this (Recall 23V-751). And that there were other vehicles having issues beyond the scope of this recall (Query RQ24013). I'm disappointed because my Honda mechanic and independent mechanic have cited my impeccable service records and have told... Read more
Incident date: Oct 11, 2025
The engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle began to hesitate and lose power while driving, making the vehicle unsafe to operate. The problem involves the engine and powertrain. A Kia dealer inspected the vehicle and found a timing-related engine fault code (P0014). The dealer stated the condition is consistent with the Kia engine bearing failure recall and referenced recall SC200PS, but ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 11, 2025
The engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle began to hesitate and lose power while driving, making the vehicle unsafe to operate. The problem involves the engine and powertrain. A Kia dealer inspected the vehicle and found a timing-related engine fault code (P0014). The dealer stated the condition is consistent with the Kia engine bearing failure recall and referenced recall SC200PS, but ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2026
Brake system sets a high tone pitch indicating failure accompanied by all Brake, ABS, PS, Traction Control Lights. This is an know failure for Hybrid systems. It can occur completely random, while driving without notice. Complete brake pressure is lost with exception of a hard feel to the pedal that allows some incomplete breaking to occur and can also cause locking of the brakes at slower speeds.... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact received an alert indicating that the engine was overheating, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and became aware that the coolant reservoir was empty. Upon opening the hood, there was white smoke coming from the engine, with a strong coolant odor coming from the vehicle... Read more
Incident date: Nov 3, 2025
I was driving down a very busy road and with no warning my car lost power. It would turn over but not start back up. I was stuck in the middle of a busy road way causing traffic’s to back up. I had to call the police to sit behind me so I wouldn’t get hit from behind.
Incident date: Jan 7, 2026
This incident happened to an employee driving a mercedes metris for work. The metris was involved in a multi car accident. The driver reported that the steering wheel "took over" and would not let them maneuver out of the way to avoid a vehicle that had rear ended the vehicle in front of them. This accident took place at about 40mph and included multiple vehicles rear ending the vehicle in front o... Read more
Crash
4 injured
Incident date: Jan 7, 2026
Three wheels had rim a total of eight cracks that lead to one tire unable to hold air. Loss of air in tire can lead to crash. Mercedes service inspected car after first crack was noticed by Discount Tire when they diagnosed deflation in tire. Mercedes service reported that two additional wheel rims were cracked. Discount Tire subsequently determined a total of eight cracks and took pictures. M... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2026
The information screen has gone totally black and calls are cutting in and out. In my research I've seen there was a recall for this issue on this year and model but, it does not show for my particular vehicle.
Incident date: Nov 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of... Read more
Incident date: Nov 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of... Read more
Incident date: Nov 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V011000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of... Read more
Incident date: Jan 10, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The contact stated that the rear passenger side door failed to close after repeated attempts to securely close the door. Upon investigation, the contact discovered Manufacturer Recall Number: N986 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) and NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V514000 (Steering); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The loc... Read more
Incident date: Sep 10, 2025
The Thermal Control Valve on my Subaru Forester failed while I was driving recently. The failure caused the car to stop while making a turn. It was a very frightening experience. Luckily at that time the traffic was light. The car was towed to a Subaru dealer, and the Thermal Control Valve was replaced at no charge because Subaru extended the factory warranty. Subaru should have had a Recall Notic... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
See Attached Letter
Incident date: Jun 23, 2025
Paint defect, this is a well documented issue with the snow white pearl paint color. need to get the vehicle repainted so it looks as good as it drives. there is the bubbling, flaking and in some spots down to the bare metal.
Incident date: Jun 23, 2025
DC DC converter failed while driving. Car shut down and rolled to a stop. Could jump start the car but would only work for 10 seconds or so to move it out of traffic. 1-2 month part delay.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
CRITICAL SAFETY FAILURE: Loss of Driver Override and Extreme HMI/Signaling Latency. 1. Loss of Override & Unintended Acceleration: While operating FSD (Supervised), the vehicle ignored a 65 mph set-point and accelerated to 80 mph. I attempted to reduce speed by pulling down on the steering stalk 4-5 times, but the vehicle ignored all manual inputs, requiring a hard disengagement. 2. Lane Departure... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
CRITICAL SAFETY FAILURE: Loss of Driver Override and Extreme HMI/Signaling Latency. 1. Loss of Override & Unintended Acceleration: While operating FSD (Supervised), the vehicle ignored a 65 mph set-point and accelerated to 80 mph. I attempted to reduce speed by pulling down on the steering stalk 4-5 times, but the vehicle ignored all manual inputs, requiring a hard disengagement. 2. Lane Departure... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
Fuel purge valve is malfunctioning. Vehicle loses power and is sluggish. Idles very rough and sometimes has a loss of power. My car has been at Ford twice in the last six months and problem still isn't fixed. Complete engine was replaced about a year and a half ago due to recall issue which I don't want happening again. I do not feel safe driving this car. I made an appointment with Ford a month ... Read more