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 15,126 complaints for LEXUS
Incident date: Sep 15, 2025
This has to do with your investigation into the oil pan caps cracking. I had my vehicle serviced 6 months ago and KIA of York PA required me to pay for replacement. Over $150 to correct this issue that seems to be a defect.
Incident date: Sep 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power. The check engine and transmission warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact's wife attempted to restart the vehicle; however, the gear shifter failed to move from neutral(N) and remained in Low Power Mode. The vehicle was tow... Read more
Incident date: Sep 13, 2025
GMC Consumer Relations Subject: Structural Undercarriage Safety Defect – 2012 GMC Terrain SLE Vehicle Information: Year/Make/Model: 2012 GMC Terrain SLE VIN: [XXX] Mileage at Purchase: 148,305 Date of Purchase: [XXX] Location: Rochester, New York I am filing a complaint regarding a severe undercarriage safety defect in my 2012 GMC Terrain SLE. The rear undercarriage of this vehicle shows heav... Read more
Incident date: Sep 13, 2025
GMC Consumer Relations Subject: Structural Undercarriage Safety Defect – 2012 GMC Terrain SLE Vehicle Information: Year/Make/Model: 2012 GMC Terrain SLE VIN: [XXX] Mileage at Purchase: 148,305 Date of Purchase: [XXX] Location: Rochester, New York I am filing a complaint regarding a severe undercarriage safety defect in my 2012 GMC Terrain SLE. The rear undercarriage of this vehicle shows heav... Read more
Incident date: Sep 13, 2025
Hello, I own a 2015 Lexus NX200T. On 9/13/2025 I was pulling into a spot to park, going slow at maybe 4-5 mph, my vehicle suddenly violently accelerates on its own. I had to slam multiple times on the brakes to avoid killing two pedestrians right in front of my vehicle. I was in seconds of killing them and pinning them between the vehicle that was in front of me. I did everything in my power to ke... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2023
Engine stalls out of nowhere regardless of speed , highway,street,driveway and is now non drivable.
Incident date: Sep 13, 2025
Got onto the interstate and suddenly my car stopped but didn’t kill. My traction control light said off and then it said reduced engine power and my fuel went down to E. I couldn’t go but my car was still running. I killed it then waited a minute and started it again and it started moving slowly. Then it said service stabliltrak and traction system but since the light have went off. Around the... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2025
The vehicle inspection to see if our vehicle qualified for the recall to replace the A-Pillar trim was done well over a year ago. The inventory has been on backorder for over a year as well. The windshield desperately needs replaced for safety reasons and the windshield cannot be replaced without replacing these recalled pieces. We are having to pay $200 extra out of pocket to replace these defect... Read more
Incident date: Sep 12, 2025
I have a Prius v 2012, and the lights for abs turned on and when I checked on internet Toyota was repairing the part for 150k miles and 10 years but this is a safety feature my car is now at 149922, And while I was on road suddenly the signs came up and I the brakes were hard, and this is a problem for my safety and for others too since It doesn’t brake well
Incident date: Aug 15, 2025
The contact's brother rented a 2015 Nissan Versa Note through Turo. The contact stated that while her brother was driving at approximately 15 MPH in a tunnel, the transmission was slipping, the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard, and the vehicle unexpectedly rolled backwards while on an incline. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The renter contacted the company, which stated... Read more
Incident date: Aug 28, 2025
While using my rear backup camera, because the car was set to reverse, the image will be distorted, flip and distorted, or not display at all.
Incident date: Sep 10, 2025
Headlights does not display full visibility. It seems as if the headlights are cut off with blind spots. Headlights doesn't have full visibility. Headlight projection is not 100 percent. Dealership technician have said Kia doesn't have a fix for it. When its very dark outside their are blind spots. Vehicle smokes from the exhaust. Upon acceleration it feels rough with trembling effect.
Incident date: Sep 10, 2025
Headlights does not display full visibility. It seems as if the headlights are cut off with blind spots. Headlights doesn't have full visibility. Headlight projection is not 100 percent. Dealership technician have said Kia doesn't have a fix for it. When its very dark outside their are blind spots. Vehicle smokes from the exhaust. Upon acceleration it feels rough with trembling effect.
Incident date: Sep 10, 2025
Was pulling into parking spot when car went haywire and started accelerating on its own. It would not stop until it has hit 5 cars and crashed into a cement wall. The brakes did NOT stop the acceleration. This occurred at the exact same time there was an incoming call which was not answered. The airbags did NOT deploy. The car appears to be totaled and has been towed to a State Farm affiliated a... Read more
Incident date: Sep 10, 2025
Recently took my vehicle in to get the brakes check and inspected. Technician at Mercedes Benz noticed a fuel leak in the upper fuel line. We both thought was very odd because the vehicle only has 35k miles on it and the line is visibly in great condition. I did a little research and found that there was a recall for this exact issue. But it seems that my vin wasn’t in the recall. I contacted Me... Read more
Incident date: Sep 9, 2025
back up camera works intermittently. black screen, camera not available, works for short period of time then goes blank, and upside down camera have all been exhibited .
Incident date: Sep 7, 2025
The vehicle presented multiple malfunctions in the high-voltage electrical system, braking system, and charging system. Errors included: high voltage electrical system malfunction, failure to shift gears (stuck in Drive), inaccurate battery level reporting, brake system malfunction, and air conditioning failure. The vehicle lost braking capability and acceleration while in motion, representing an... Read more
Incident date: Oct 31, 2020
The drive attention warning system turned off the cruise control. Causing the vehicle to unexpectedly decrease speed on the interstate, which forced the cars behind me to brake hard to avoid hitting me. This system is constantly giving alerts for no reason distracting my attention to the road. I can have both hands on the wheel and looking straight forward and the system gives an alert tone and fl... Read more
Incident date: Aug 29, 2025
I purchased my 2019 Ford Expedition Max Limited on [XXX]. When we purchase the vehicle we signed a notice that we would have the recalls completed within a reasonable time. I took my vehicle for the recall to Feyer Ford in Edenton, North Carolina on May 30th. Prior to the recall I was having no issues at all with the vehicle. Once I pick the vehicle up on [XXX] and started my traveling home. Withi... Read more
Incident date: Mar 23, 2025
There is an active recall but the manufacturer has failed to resolve the issue in a timely fashion. They currently have no idea how to repair or replace the airbags. As a result, my family do not feel safe in the vehicle.
Incident date: Sep 5, 2025
premature wear of the motor-driven power steering (MDPS) flexible coupling. This wear causes a "knock" or "clunk" noise when turning the steering wheel, especially at a stop, and may be accompanied by a tight or loose steering feel.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Service Shifter is displayed every now and then.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
I hit a deer going 60mph and the side airbags in the pillars attempted to deploy but did not appear to fully inflate, not only that but my steering wheel airbag did not deploy at all/no other airbags deployed.
Crash
Incident date: Apr 1, 2025
On the night of 9/4/25, I parked my 2019 BMW 530i in my closed garage and believed I had turned off the vehicle. I removed the key fob. Hours later, our household carbon monoxide detector activated. The fire department responded and measured 480 ppm CO throughout the house and 1,500 ppm inside the vehicle. They stated we were seconds from death due to carbon monoxide exposure. The engine bay reac... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2025
I have. two 2024 Audi SQ6 Prestige vehicles. This has now happened on both of these vehicles while driving them. The axle will snap while driving causing the vehicle to stop and no longer move forward or back. This is extremely dangerous because it occurs when driving and can lead to an accident because the car just stops. Luckily in both instances I was not on the highway and was on side roads s... Read more
Incident date: Aug 26, 2025
I reached out to ford due to my 2024 bronco sport overheating and running hot. During the time of that complaint I was advised that my bronco currently has a recall that the fuel tank needs to be replaced but it is currently being deemed as non safety and will only be addressed if the vehicle is in for service. I was also advised that due to this recall it is currently a part of fords customer sat... Read more
Incident date: Sep 4, 2025
System/Component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic Summary: Recurrent loss of brake performance and vibration in a 2024 GMC Sierra 1500. Front pads wear to 1–2 mm and front rotors become “very warped” within short mileage intervals; right‑front caliper previously seized; pad‑sensor circuit fault also documented. Multiple dealer repairs under 30k miles; condition recurs. Increased stopping dis... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2025
Vehicle: 2017 Honda Pilot VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure: 111000 Summary of Issue: My 2017 Honda Pilot suffered a sudden engine failure diagnosed by a Honda dealer as internal damage due to a failed connecting rod bearing. This is the same failure mode documented in Honda TSB 23-097 / Safety Recall for other Pilot model years (2016, 2018–19), but my 2017 VIN was excluded. Circumstances of Fail... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2024
Unknown which component exactly as it does not throw a fault. I believe it to be transmission related as the behavior seems like a clutch to me, but dealership has not been able to confirm. Vehicle rolls freely in directions other than what is selected and does not respond to throttle input. Described the issue to dealer numerous times and they claim to have seen it. I do not believe they actual... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2025
Driving along at approximately 41 mph, CMBS unexpectedly activated for no apparent reason. There was no object in road to potentially collide with. Warning system barely activated before CMBS engaged braking very hard. Vehicle went from 41 mph to 31 mph in 2 seconds as recorded on dash cam. This is the 2nd occurrence in the same approximate location, both for no apparent reason & with no object... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2025
Wireless charger caused iPhone 12 to overheat. Picked phone up from charger before it became to hot to handle. Dealership admits issue, "there has been a significant improvement in wireless charging in our cars over the past couple of years. The wireless charging on our earlier models do have connectivity issues and sometimes may even overheat, especially in iPhone. This is a known issue with no r... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2025
On [XXX] my Lexus would not start properly and then I heard noises which were associated with the battery closing down. This included locking all the doors. I was trapped in the car for 50-60 minutes until a repair person unlocked the door. This is a safety issue because the temperature where I live (las Vegas) is over 100 degrees months of the year. According to other Lexus owners, mine was ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 3, 2025
On [XXX] my Lexus would not start properly and then I heard noises which were associated with the battery closing down. This included locking all the doors. I was trapped in the car for 50-60 minutes until a repair person unlocked the door. This is a safety issue because the temperature where I live (las Vegas) is over 100 degrees months of the year. According to other Lexus owners, mine was ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 29, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, there was an abnormal scraping sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that simultaneously, the top part of the bumper was flipped up by the slipstream and crashed onto the hood. The contact pulled over but was unable to recover the lower part of the bumper, but was able to... Read more
Incident date: Aug 29, 2025
The electronic power steering failed.
Incident date: Aug 29, 2025
I was at the gas station, in line waiting for one of the three gas pumps to be available. I put my car in reverse to back up and pull around another car in order to go to the open pump in front. When my car was in reverse motion, I stepped on the brake pedal, but the car did not stop. I stepped on the brake pedal numerous times, but the brake did not function. My car backed into the front of... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 5, 2025
Leather dash is delaminating and shrinking starting at the defrost vents. This appears to impact the passenger airbag deployment. Chrysler/Stellantis is aware of the issue, but considers the dash to be an accessory and refuses to correct if not under warranty.
Incident date: Aug 31, 2025
My extended warranty expired. I got my oil changed at valvoline and then 2 days later my power steering stopped working and I’m getting multiple dash messages of other systems malfunctioning. Did gmc cause this to get me to come back to their service center. It seems very suspicious
Incident date: Aug 19, 2025
Two days ago a warning popped up on the Tesla screen saying to schedule service for something the car had detected. It said the car could still be driven. I submitted a service request in the app, and in the meantime researched the error. Per Google, it said this was a potential issue with suspension / steering components that needed to be looked at. The next day, a Tesla technician called and ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 30, 2025
2025 Subaru Outback was parked in the garage. The high temperature for the day was in the upper 80's. The temperature on the thermometer in the garage was 85. The car had been parked in the garage after the drive home from work for over 3 hours. I heard a noise in the garage and the sunroof had exploded outward. I had not been hit by any debris and it was not damaged. The glass was still cra... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2025
The rear light bar in the tailgate that also includes my back up lights is defective. The light bar was defective at delivery of vehicle and this is the second time this light bar has been deemed defective by a Ford Dealership Service Department. The first repair on this defect was covered under a recall. This issue is a safety concern as it causes the rear light bar to flicker on and off and... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2025
Abs control module failed. No cruise control, anti lock brakes, trailer brake function or traction control.
Incident date: Aug 20, 2025
Vehicle: 2024 Lexus NX 450h+ (plug-in hybrid) Odometer at latest event: ~14,600 miles Dealer: Motor City Lexus of Bakersfield (Bakersfield, CA) Lexus Corporate Case #: 250823001008 Complaint Description: While driving, the vehicle suddenly lost all electrical power without warning on two separate occasions, causing the instrument cluster to go dark and an immediate loss of power steering and brak... Read more
Incident date: Aug 26, 2025
My 2019 Ford Escape 2.0 Titanium has a KNOWN coolant intrusion issue where it is leaking into the engine. This began as my car shook on startup, then the check engine light would come on. Drove it a little ways, check engine turned off. Took my car into the repair shop and they looked up the stored code and it was P0301 cylinder #1 misfire detected and P0316 misfire detected on start up first 1... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2025
1. Driving on the highway with adaptive cruise control feels like taming a wild horse. Pulls side to side, even after alignment and total check up from Toyota. 2. Engine Maintenace required now warning light. This came on at 106,458 miles on Toyota Camry 21 LE. Randomly turned on. Off when air con was turned off, light came back on when air con was turned on. Took to Toyota dealership, repaired a... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2025
1. Driving on the highway with adaptive cruise control feels like taming a wild horse. Pulls side to side, even after alignment and total check up from Toyota. 2. Engine Maintenace required now warning light. This came on at 106,458 miles on Toyota Camry 21 LE. Randomly turned on. Off when air con was turned off, light came back on when air con was turned on. Took to Toyota dealership, repaired a... Read more
Incident date: Jul 21, 2025
On multiple occasions, the car has flashed an error on the dash stating there was a problem with the hybrid system. It immediately slows down without time to merge over causing extreme danger on a busy highway several cars swerved to miss the Kia because there was nothing I can do. this has happened several times and Kia is well aware as I’ve had multiple communications with them.
Incident date: Jul 21, 2025
On multiple occasions, the car has flashed an error on the dash stating there was a problem with the hybrid system. It immediately slows down without time to merge over causing extreme danger on a busy highway several cars swerved to miss the Kia because there was nothing I can do. this has happened several times and Kia is well aware as I’ve had multiple communications with them.
Incident date: Jul 21, 2025
Driving down the 99Freeway at speeds approx. Up to 72mph, my abs,traction, and brake lights illuminated at the same time on my dash. I pushed on my brake pedal in order to slow down and pull over, my brake pedal was extremely hard to push in and no matter how hard I pushed it didn't appear to be slowing the vehicle down. I pushed on the emergency brake slowly to help slow down safely and was able ... Read more