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: Dec 1, 2023
Dash camera will not function and has to shutdown when the warning goes off.
Incident date: Jun 23, 2025
Nothing happened. Am still waiting for the steering column that was recalled to be inspected/replaced. I called the dealer in December of 2024. They said they would call when the parts were available. Still waiting as of June 23, 2025.
Incident date: Dec 20, 2023
Electronic parking brake engaged and wouldn't release. Possibility of occurrence while driving. Problem has been confirmed by independent service center to have been caused by water leakage into the area where the parking control module is located. Water was found pooling in parking control module which corroded connecters. Vehicle has not been inspected by anyone but the service center. There wer... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2025
After the Ford recall software update, the gear shifter will turn itself out of park and either into drive or reverse. The software update was in regards to the PCM resetting itself. We took it to the Ford dealer and because they can not duplicate the problem, the truck was returned to us. it has happened to us more than once and it is very alarming. I have two children on top of other children in... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there was coolant intrusion into several cylinders, resulting in engine damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failur... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
While driving down the interstate at 60mph, screen displayed two error messages: “parking brake function limited” and “collision assistance unavailable.” I completely lost brake function for ~10 seconds. Only didn’t crash because no one was stopped ahead of me. Took to dealership who “couldn’t replicate” the issue, later told me they had fixed it by reprogramming the software. Two ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2023
The contact owns a 2025 Tiffin Wayfarer RV built on a 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 Chassis. The contact stated that the sideview mirrors were vibrating while idling and while driving at various speeds, reducing the visibility of the roadway. The contact stated that the failure was more pronounced while driving at higher speeds. The RV was taken to the dealer and to two other unknown dealers, b... Read more
Incident date: Jun 2, 2025
Reflective film backing material inside both headlights has delaminated to the point where it's too dim to drive safely at night.
Incident date: Jun 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac Escalade. The contact stated while coming to a stop to park the vehicle, the vehicle turned off and restarted continuously, and the steering wheel straightened unintendedly. The contact stated that on several occasions, the vehicle failed to restart after being turned off. The contact had to disconnect and reconnect the battery cables to start the vehicle. The cont... Read more
Incident date: Jun 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while shifting into park(P), the vehicle failed to recognize that the transmission was in park(P). The contact had to manipulate and maneuver the gear shifter several times before the vehicle recognized that the gear shifter was in park(P). The message to "Shift-to Park" was illuminated. While receiving a routine oil change, the veh... Read more
Incident date: Jun 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while shifting into park(P), the vehicle failed to recognize that the transmission was in park(P). The contact had to manipulate and maneuver the gear shifter several times before the vehicle recognized that the gear shifter was in park(P). The message to "Shift-to Park" was illuminated. While receiving a routine oil change, the veh... Read more
Incident date: Jun 16, 2025
unknown
Incident date: Jun 14, 2025
This car is going to kill me! It randomly hits the brakes on the highways! I am literally driving a deadly weapon. I turn the emergency brakes off and had it checked and STILL brakes. It break everytime I pass a shade spot on the road and even highway going over 60 miles per hour! It hits the breaks while I am in traffic making the driver behind me almost hit my car. It breaks whenever I go under ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: May 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving off the lot when purchasing vehicle, the check engine warning light illu... Read more
Incident date: Jun 10, 2025
The frame has possibly broken in the hitch area. This is a large 5th wheel trailer.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2024
I am the owner of a Toyota FJ Cruiser (Year:2007), VIN: [XXX] ]) equipped with the TRD High-Performance Brake Kit, which is under recall campaign C0R / NHTSA 12E046. I recently experienced a serious safety issue involving the front TRD brake crossover tube. While driving, I suddenly noticed a soft brake pedal and significant loss of braking power. I was unable to stop the vehicle properly and ne... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
I was driving on the freeway and the car stuttered and then stopped, had to get towed home found out the aux battery was bad, replaced that and brake hub and sensor on driver tire but abs. And anti swerve light. Also no cruise control. Screen says Fcw unavailable service required, also 4wf service.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
Our car shuttered quite strongly on two occasions, while going at a low speed (around 5 miles per hour) and applying the brakes over a rough surface (pavers and a speed bump). We advised Larry H Miller Hyundai Peoria Service Department of this when we took the vehicle in for our complimentary maintenance on 12/03/24. They advised there was a TSB with this as a known issue and they found "7949 Fron... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2024
Warning display of the following on the dashboard: Early lane departure mitigation problem collision mitigation system problem brake system mitigation Adaptive cruise control problem lane keeping assist problem
Incident date: Dec 28, 2024
The car has had a check engine light on for a week. It sometimes jolts forward when pressing on the accelerator and it does it all of a sudden. Took it to the Hyundai dealership they say it’s due to the egr valve and sub harness.
Incident date: Dec 28, 2024
In June 2022, the vehicle exhibited abnormal engine behavior, specifically fluctuating revolutions per minute (RPM), while at a complete stop, creating a risk of engine stall. Newport Beach Lexus dealership opted to replace the fuel injectors and gaskets as a corrective measure. Previous invoices also show that there were concerns related to fuel equipment prior to this incident. Subsequently, in... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. In addition, the contact stated that the steering wheel was stiff. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with rack and pinion failure. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle w... Read more
Incident date: Jun 6, 2025
TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING WEARD CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. THEY STATE THIS UNIT IS NOT UNDER RECALL BUT IT IS AN 6L80 AND IT IS ALL OVER YOU TUBE AND THE INTERNET ABOUT FAILURES THAT START WITH THE PM VALVE AND/OR THE TORQUE CONVERTER HOUSING THAT IS STAMPED BUT MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE WELDED TO IT CAUSING HARDED STEEL TO MEET STAMPED STEEL CAUSING FRICTION AND WEAR THAT POLUTES THE REMAINDER OF THE... Read more
Incident date: Oct 6, 2022
My vehicle randomly throws on the parking brake while driving. I have almost been rearended because of it. In order to get the parking brake to release i have to shut off the vehicle and wait 30 seconds then when I restart it, it releases. I get a message on my dashboard when this happens that says Auto Emergency Braking (AEB) limited functionality service required. This has happened multiple t... Read more
Incident date: Oct 6, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-250 SD. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera image was blank. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rearview camera had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The fail... Read more
Incident date: Jun 3, 2025
Camera intermittently stops working with "Camera temporarily unavailable" message. This last a day or two and then it "fixes itself". This is a safety issue that MUST be fixed, Volvo has known about this for years and has done nothing to fix it.
Incident date: Jun 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 3 MPH, the power steering fault, the turn signal, advance-trac alert, and power train warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the control modules were inoperable. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehic... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2025
Driving in the express lanes south of Atlanta in the rain, the vehicle's Automatic Emergency Braking system activated for no reason. There were no other vehicles around, and we were on a straightaway. It was such an abrupt deceleration that if another vehicle had been tailgating me, they probably would have run into me.
Incident date: Jan 4, 2025
I was never informed about the issues with my 1.6 GI engine YEARS AGO. And now my engine went bad in my 2016 Kia soul and kia screwed me and won’t cover fixing my car. I’m so disgusted with kia and their customer service for not helping me or ever informing me.
Incident date: Jan 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Lexus NX300. The contact stated there was a misfire in the engine and the engine was idling rough. The contact heard a clicking sound coming from the steering wheel while driving at speeds of approximately 10 MPH or slower and when turning the steering wheel. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was rela... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2025
Front lights started dimming about the middle of April 2025 and now both back lights are out at the same time on June 3rd 2025.The car makes a rough grinding noise as it switches gears.
Incident date: May 2, 2025
Every few months, my car receives a warning stating "Front passenger safety restraint system fault". This error noted that there are issues related to checking the front passenger seatbelt/airbag status, and that they may not work as expected. Tesla has tried to repair this 4 times on my car already, but the error keeps coming back after a few months. This is now the 5th time this is happening in ... Read more
Incident date: May 30, 2025
Experienced loss of power steering, loss of brakes
Incident date: May 2, 2025
Doors automatically lock with the keys in the ignition and running locking in anyone who is still in vehicle who cannot open to door physically. It will also prevent you from entering the vehicle without a second set of keys or other methods of unlocking the door (onstar, locksmith). This could put occupants in danger and exposed to the elements unexpectedly and also place inside children in dange... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2025
Driver door issue. Loud popping when opening and closing door.
Incident date: Oct 16, 2024
While backing up in reverse, the MMI screen/system will crash and reboot, and the backup camera will stop functioning. This will trigger an instrument panel safety alert and tone from the vehicle that the backup camera is not functioning (the MMI/entertainment screen will be blank). The system will then reboot. This issue also occurs while driving. The effect is random, and can happen multiple ti... Read more
Incident date: May 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with ABS system failure. The contact was informed that the ABS system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2025
When I drive my car it takes time before it kicks in to drive correctly
Incident date: Dec 20, 2023
This vehicle has a oil consumption problem that causes engine damage and Kia will not take responsibility for especially after the car being maintained. On top of it even with substantial evidence that this was a manufacturing defect that Kia is refusing to take accountability for and completely dismisses any claims or complaints and not even bothered to speak with you unless the car has warranty ... Read more
Fire
1 injured
Incident date: May 17, 2025
Transmission shudders started around 65k miles. Shop said it was recommended to do a transmission flush. We did that. Now at 72000 miles the transmission is locking up. It has been inspected by a reputable auto shop and they stated it needs a new transmission. The engine light came on when this issue happened. I was in the middle of traffic at a stop and when I started going it stopped abruptly an... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, and the vehicle failed to shift into gear properly. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact became aware there was oil leaking from the front end of the vehicle near the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was not contacted.... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 BMW 528i. The contact stated that while his partner was driving at undisclosed speeds, there was smoke coming from the engine and entering the cabin through the vents while the heater was activated. There was an abnormal burning odor entering the cabin. The contact also observed the burning odor while driving the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contac... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while driving 30-40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exc... Read more
Incident date: May 18, 2025
While driving at highway speeds (approximately 70 mph), my 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport suddenly lost power and began shaking violently. I was forced to quickly maneuver across multiple lanes of traffic to exit the freeway and avoid a potential collision. The vehicle became barely drivable and extremely unsafe, especially at high speed. Hyundai later diagnosed the issue as a complete engine failur... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2025
I was driving in the city at a speed of thirty mph when my wife, a passenger in the car, and myself, heard a loud pop. Suddenly I was unable to see the traffic which was following me because my rear window was completely shattered. Since I had traffic behind me and it was raining hard, I decided to drive a few more blocks to seek refuge and help at a nearby Car dealership, which specializes in gla... Read more
Incident date: May 17, 2025
While driving, my car began to glitch out. The screens started turning on and off, the doors began locking and unlocking, and I lost my ability to steer, brake, and accelerate. It caused me to run a red light and I almost got into a severe accident. This issue has occurred several times, and during more recent occasions the car has turned off completely while driving. There were no warning lights ... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine vibrated abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2025
Rotary style gear shift does not go into gear on hot days. Gear shift is stuck in park and will not rotate to drive or another gear, leaving motorist stranded.
Incident date: May 4, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the safety features independently deactivated. In addition, the message “Forward Collision Avoidance Brake Assist Unavailable” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed radar and front camera system. The contact was informed that the radar and fro... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2025
I was traveling down the highway when my vehicles hood unattached and smashed into my windshield causing extensive damage to my windshield and hood. The impact of the hood releasing and shattering my windshield caused glass to enter the cabin of my vehicle. This was an unsafe incident as I had my toddler in my backseat, and I was traveling down a busy highway at the time of the event causing my vi... Read more