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: Nov 24, 2024
I received the "Red Wrench" warning light several times, but it would clear. One day while travelling in a 45mph zone the car suddenly stopped and I came to a skidding stop, luckily I was coming to my turn and was only going about 10mph. I did fear I was going to get rear ended, luckily it did not occur. I was stuck in the road and traffic built up. I couldn't push the car off the road because eve... Read more
Incident date: Nov 24, 2024
I received the "Red Wrench" warning light several times, but it would clear. One day while travelling in a 45mph zone the car suddenly stopped and I came to a skidding stop, luckily I was coming to my turn and was only going about 10mph. I did fear I was going to get rear ended, luckily it did not occur. I was stuck in the road and traffic built up. I couldn't push the car off the road because eve... Read more
Incident date: Jun 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Journey. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the driver's side headrest deployed inadvertently and hit the contact's head. The contact sustained pain from the neck down to the shoulder but did not receive medical assistance. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was related to an unknown extended warranty coverage t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
The issue I encountered was with Tesla's Smart Summon Feature. While using the feature, the car crossed the parking line and crashed directly into a car parked beside it. Happening so quickly I could not react in time. All of the cameras and sensors were in working order and it seems to have been a software related issue. The safety of anyone around the vehicle could have been at risk thankfully n... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 28, 2024
I purchased a 2013 Toyota Prius V a couple of years ago from a reputable local dealership. In July of 2024 my brakes failed and several lights came on the dashboard. I went to my regular mechanic, Mr Tire and and to Hendricks Toyota and got two estimates, both a shocking nearly $4000. This is for a BRAKE BOOSTER and ABS PUMP ASSEMBLY. I found out that this was a known issue for years by Toyota and... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
12,000 mile VW Taos coolent light went off. Faulty Engine coolant gasket failed. Took it into the dealership they also needed to replace the back brakes! Entertainment/radio screen randomly goes off as well. This is the second time it's been taken in because of an issue. Will not bee keeping this car.
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
My issue is with existing recalls of the following: 23V-431 & 23V-858 in that replacement parts are NOT readily available according to multiple phone calls to a local dealership. The dealership responded by placing one on a waiting call list. I’ve owned this Honda Pilot over a year and have FIVE such notifications from Honda America. It is like they prefer I sell it or wreck it to get from under... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2025
with awd module. tested power ground to the module. isolated to faulty module No hill start, AWD faulty module, new purge valve
Incident date: Jan 3, 2025
All is sudden I hear clicking noice from doors that make scary to drive the car with Kids. Couple of times it unlocked the rear passenger door. I had to to pull over to close and move. It’s been 2 years there are no software updates and center console struck, not responsive , some times reboot automatically, some times we need to force restart and rear camera doesn’t appear.
Incident date: Jul 3, 2024
The problem remedied by TSB 21B11-s2 did not occur in my vehicle while the TSB was in effect. It has now surfaced
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera image was distorted or black. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2014
There is a metallic rattle in the driver's side b-pillar (similar to the issue in the 2018 Tiguan LWB). Every component in the pillar has been replaced and the rattle persists. The first time I complained about it to the dealership the car only had 1,500 miles on it. 3 years and several months of the car sitting in the shop they have not been able to fix it nor have they bothered working with VW o... Read more
Incident date: Jul 17, 2015
The horn doesn’t get activated when the center of the steering wheel is pressed. The horn button is on the right hand side on the wheel. It’s a safety hazard trying to find the button while driving especially in round abouts. In the place I live, there are couple of roundabouts; one car almost hit me since they didn’t yield to me when I was on the roundabout. I couldn’t find the horn butto... Read more
Incident date: Jul 17, 2015
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion Energi. The contact stated that after her son had parked and turned off the vehicle and upon returning to the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with battery failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost and remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and an estim... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2024
My wife and I stopped to get our mail at our community HOA mailboxes. I was driving. I stopped, set/engaged the brake hold button while my wife got the mail. She was about to get back in and suddenly the car lurched forward very rapidly and crashed into the neighborhood playground and the chain linked fence. I could not stop the acceleration and had to keep forcefully applying the brakes and the v... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 20, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that after inspecting the driveway, the contact noticed an abnormal stain on the concrete driveway. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for routine maintenance and the dealer discovered that the oil filter might have been left loose from the last service performed by the local dealer. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure p... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
Rear latch not locking or latching correctly leading to liftgate opening while driving. Has happened repeatedly, will latch some days and not other dealer said no recalls available but seems to be common problem on online forums.
Incident date: Feb 29, 2024
ABS Code C2200-49, anti-lock brake module internal electronic failure. Have not been able to source a new ABS control module for my vehicle. Apparently Dodge/Mopar/Chrysler has stopped producing this part. No ABS makes it dangerous to drive in the snowy/wet conditions prevalent during the winter months, especially in New York State. ABS, traction control, and brake lights are illuminated on ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 29, 2024
ABS Code C2200-49, anti-lock brake module internal electronic failure. Have not been able to source a new ABS control module for my vehicle. Apparently Dodge/Mopar/Chrysler has stopped producing this part. No ABS makes it dangerous to drive in the snowy/wet conditions prevalent during the winter months, especially in New York State. ABS, traction control, and brake lights are illuminated on ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2024
Anytime going through the car wash the front and back parking sensors don’t work and gives an error. It is now permanently stuck with this error.
Incident date: Dec 22, 2022
The screen in most 2018-present jeep compasses are defective. My car just fell out of the warranty time frame and shortly after the screen failed resulting in no alerts via the back up camera. The camera helps alert you to things you can not see in your blind spots behind the vehicle resulting in a serious safety issue for pedestrians/ small children etc outside of the vehicle and also poses a thr... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2024
I was driving at a speed of about 60 KM per hour .(The vehicle is just 8000 km on it.) The vehicle suddenly gave some sort of warning and engine shut down on the road.,and vehicle stalled in the centre of the road causing a serious safety issue for my baby and toddler in the vehicle. Luckily a tow truck was behind us who gave us some protection by stopping behind us. I turned on and off and after ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2024
When I would come to a complete stop at a stop sign it would stall battery light and oil light would come on. I would need to put it in park then turn it off and turn it back on. It also would suck up oil like crazy I would need to replace the oil every few days otherwise it wouldn't start. I took it to the shop and 2 of the 4 pistons blew and all the timing stuff stopped working.
Incident date: Dec 22, 2024
On the Saturday (12/21) before Christmas, my hatch door wouldn’t open with the key fob, push button in the vehicle or push button on the door. And the foot under the bumper opener has never worked for me. Anyways, because I couldn’t get my door to open, I ended up loading my groceries in the back seat. When I got home, it still wouldn’t work with the key fob or other buttons. One family memb... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2024
At around 50,000 miles the Turbo on the engine was leaking oil. Dealer replaced the turbo and kept the part. It needed to be replaced to avoid a catastrophic failure of the turbo which in turn could cause severe engine oil loss resulting in engine failure and oil contamination of the catalytic converters O2 sensors and possibly a car fire. There was no warning but was caught during a routine oil ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
Engine seized up. Apparently it is common with Kia engines
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
Very strong smell of gas in my car , affecting me badly , got sick and threw up and took car in , and ford changed my catalyst convertor among other things , no lights lit up for anything , the smell that was there is why I took it in and they kept the car until fixed and picked up , now I don’t feel safe , I have a 2022 ford escape 34000 miles and have had multiple serious recalls and very unsu... Read more
Incident date: Dec 24, 2024
Front suspension lateral link fasteners loosened, allowing the lateral link to separate from the sub-frame. I have a 2018 Model 3 and this seems to be the exact same issue that led to a recent recall with the help of the NHTSA. Recall no. 23V235000 SB-23-31-001 An expansion of previous recall number 21V-835. I noticed for months something was slightly off in the front right area of the car. I... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2023
Head on collison. Air bags did not deploy. Car was totaled.
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: May 28, 2024
A software glitch is causing lag in the instrument panel which displays the speed and turn indicators. Both are experiencing 'lag' or 'skipping', so the speedometer is not updating in real-time and regularly displays inaccurate speed information. To elaborate, as I accelerate, the indicated speed jumps with the worst experienced so far being 28mph to 60mph. The car will do the same decelerating. T... Read more
Incident date: Oct 25, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became inoperable. The contact stated that the steering wheel felt loosened. The contact stated that the steering wheel made it difficult to turn to the left or the right. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was dia... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
When the auto-start stop feature has stopped the engine at a red light, the engine will not start sometimes. The problem occurs at random and leaves me stalled at a red light and I cannot start the vehicle. Traffic behind me is held up; horns are honking. If I wait a couple of minutes I can start the 2020 Honda Passport that I bought new. This has been a problem since I bought it new. I broug... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
Driving down I96 highway, the sunroof/moonroof shattered/exploded with no apparent cause. A loud popping noise followed by spider cracking and fragmenting glass was the result. After closing the top, the glass started to fall. No foreign objects found. Brand new vehicle, first time driving in severely cold weather, brought back to Ford dealership who found "no reports" of defective sunroof/m... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
The power steering and hybrid system failed and vehicle completely stopped in middle of busy freeway with no prior warnings or issues before. The safety of my son and I, and others around me during the abrupt stop of the engine. I could not move out of way. The vehicle has been serviced for this exact issue during a recall campaign lasting from 2011 to 2014. Ten years later and it is still happen... Read more
Incident date: Dec 9, 2024
Horn doesn’t work majority of the time and the stereo works some day and I have already took this problem with the radio .
Incident date: Dec 19, 2024
During back camera was covered with rain, rear view was totally blind bec of rain drops. It's unsafe with rain and back camera totally covered with rain drop
Incident date: Dec 2, 2024
Every time I tow my travel trailer within 150 miles or so I will get a message that the Diesel Exhaust fluid (DEF)is low and needs to be filled soon. Within 50 miles of that happening I will get the message that the DEF is low and will be speed limited in 500 miles. When I stop and fill the DEF fluid it only takes about 2.5 gallons which isn't even halfway empty. When the Speed Limited to 65 in xx... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2024
The battery drained within a year. Battery functioning issues
Incident date: Dec 19, 2024
I was renting this vehicle. On my way home on the highway, going about 70 mph, the vehicle suddenly illuminated the check engine light. Soon after, an message appeared on the dash warning me that I needed to stop and that the vehicle would shut off soon. I immediately pulled over and turned at the next county road. However, I did not realize until this point that my engine power was now being limi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 19, 2024
I was renting this vehicle. On my way home on the highway, going about 70 mph, the vehicle suddenly illuminated the check engine light. Soon after, an message appeared on the dash warning me that I needed to stop and that the vehicle would shut off soon. I immediately pulled over and turned at the next county road. However, I did not realize until this point that my engine power was now being limi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 19, 2024
car stalls when trying to accelerate like its going to turn off...The Wheel alighnment is not correct.Doors will not lock Bad lighting i cant see because front lights are doll
Incident date: Dec 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and hauling a trailer, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted into first gear. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the failure had damaged the engine, and the engine was replaced. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V444000 (Power Train). The vehicle ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 4, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 BMW 428I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); 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 the vehicle intermittently failed to start immediately and r... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2024
All my doors stick and sometimes I have to fight with my car to even get a door open. Also, when trying to accelerate sometimes my throttle response is slow and i will not move for a few seconds.
Incident date: Feb 23, 2024
All my doors stick and sometimes I have to fight with my car to even get a door open. Also, when trying to accelerate sometimes my throttle response is slow and i will not move for a few seconds.
Incident date: Dec 8, 2024
I have a 2022 santa fe xrt within the 1st yr of owing in 2022 the horn stopped working in the winter. Went to dealership told it was known issue they replaced it. A few months later into following year still winter went out again they fixed again stating my car has 2 horns and both failed. So far 2022 and 2023 2 times. Fast forward to earlier in 2024 beginning of year horn failed again took to dea... Read more
Incident date: Dec 12, 2024
I just started up the car one morning and had multiple sensor warnings. Brought it to the Honda dealership and told it was an internal sensor camera malfunction and wanted $2000+ to fix it. This honestly should be a recall as I’ve had several other Honda owners complaining about the same thing which is a huge safety concern
Incident date: Jun 24, 2024
Getting error message regarding "Front Right Side Marker Light Defective". My car has a little over 66K and has no problems. There was an Audi recall ampaign97CB (NHTSA campaign ID #16V642000) that addresses this exact issue and applies to some affected VIN numbers, but mine is not included.
Incident date: Dec 2, 2024
Ford has an outstanding Technical Service Bulletin (24-2039) that they have not notified me in a timely manner. If they had done so, it was have been replaced by Ford at their expense, either as part of bumper to bumper warranty or as a recall. Instead, the only way to find error is to have Service department run a system wide check. Ford dealer technician also feels its should be part of a rec... Read more
Incident date: Dec 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed start. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the valve had fallen into the engine, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the fa... Read more