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: Oct 18, 2023
When I have my headlights turned on, and am driving my headlights flicker on and off. It mostly happens when I use the turn signal, but not always. sometimes it happens when I hit bumps. The headlights and the dash lights all go out when this happens, it usually lasts from 1 to 20 seconds at a time. I have taken it to my local garage(straight and clear) and they tested all electrical component... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2023
I was parking in marked space. I had turned into space, my foot was off the gas pedal. The car was 3/4 into the space when it malfunctioned and rapidly accelerated into a hardened snow bank. i instantly braked but there was not enough space to avoid collision.
Crash
Incident date: Oct 10, 2023
ABS, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ON, DEFECTIVE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT. SECOND TIME IT HAS GONE BAD, WARRENTY THE FIRST TIME, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, NEED TO LOOK INTO A SAFETY RECALL.
Incident date: Oct 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was... Read more
Incident date: Oct 22, 2022
Back up camera problem screen either turns blue or is scrambled. This has been going on off and on for the past year sometimes it happens immediately upon putting car in reverse and other times whine in the middle of backing up. The car is with the dealer now Also door panels are separating from the front doors I have heard this is a common problem with these cars and I'm not sure if it could af... Read more
Incident date: Oct 11, 2023
October 20, '23 Our recent DEAD STOP! Whistle blower! Did you know that when the alternator goes out on a Lexus, that the car draws down energy from the battery to keep the car going? That's only for about a mile or so, then the car shuts down! You can't steer and THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING and you have no power as you come to a dead stop, whether on the freeway, or one lane mountain pass road, w... Read more
Incident date: Oct 11, 2023
Noticed severe negative camber on the rear wheels at ~225k miles. Marks Auto Svc, Rockford, IL confirmed the rear k-subframe had rusted all the way through from the inside-out. The frame had completely separated at two places on each side near the wheels - SEVERE SAFETEY HAZARD!!!!! 1. Website forums indicate many consumers conclude this problem is due to inferior design (hole in frame allows wa... Read more
Incident date: Oct 11, 2023
At 90,000 miles the Engine Timing Crankshaft Sprocket (i.e Crankshaft Gear,Part #: BE8Z6306AD) holding the timing belt on the vehicle has failed. This resulted in the timing belt backing off the cam gears and coming in contact with and melting through the plastic timing belt cover. Luckily, there was an audible grinding noise coming from the engine that alerted us the problem before the timing bel... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2023
I was in a major car accident. My Honda CR-V air bags did not deploy. Due to the accident I have a neck and back injury. My insurance company has declared my vehicle a total loss. Millions of Americans are driving Honda CR-Vs and due to air bag failure their lives are at risk in the case of a collision. I have called Honda and asked them to investigate the failure of their air bags deployment. The... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 16, 2023
Passenger head rest popped apart while driving and will not close.
Incident date: Sep 23, 2023
Info Center Ghosting - upon startup, continually loops / reloads, disables backup camera, navigation, randomly scans and changes channels.
Incident date: Jul 21, 2023
All electrical warning lights came on dashboard. This is very frustrating and scary. This needs to be a recall on this vehicle because nothing this serious is normal. I thought my car was falling apart. Honda needs to fix this problem and the owner should not be responsible.
Incident date: Oct 12, 2023
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The local dealer-scheduled an appointment but cancelled it due to parts not being available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time f... Read more
Incident date: Aug 19, 2013
The screen will freeze when driving and the navigation will freeze about 3x on a 20min drive. Also when I use reverse the camera will freeze or black out and I am not able to see where I am going reverse. I have gone to VW dealer in Huntington Beach and they said they cannot do anything about it until they issue a recall or if there is an update for the electrical system which can take a year or m... Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2023
I am detailing an alarming and persistent issue with unexpected brake activation on my 2013 Lexus LS 460. Over a span of time, the vehicle's brakes have been activated spontaneously on four different occasions, putting me and my passengers in potential danger. Incident Descriptions: 1. Location: I-69 southbound, near Huntington. - Scenario: Alone in the car. Noted a shiny truck about 2,000 ft... Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2023
Hi, I have a 2005 Toyota tundra with 115,000 miles on it. I took it to my mechanic because of the rust underneath basically my frame and the mechanic looked at it and said it was rusting out so bad it was too dangerous to drive, I called Toyota and they said they had a recall on it and sprayed it that was back in 2014 here it is 2023 and I am afraid to drive it because it could cause a terrible ac... Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2023
Driving on the interstate with no cars near me and my sunroof exploded and showered me with glass. VW is claiming that it was hit and it was not. The car is my daily driver, and I inspect it daily. The plastic insert was cracked (also an issue with this model)and mentioned by me on a previous service visit at Baxter Volkswagen of Omaha, but it was not investigated by Baxter and then the service a... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2013
Had a major Transmission Failure. Transmission 10R80. Under 60,000 miles power train warranty. I have 59000 miles on truck. Took it to a ford dealer on Sept.12th.It took them two weeks to even look at problem they were so backed up with Trans issues. They said my 5+ years ran out on Aug. 4th.Laughed at the response thought no way Ford will not honor this claim. Especially since on May 15th had th... Read more
Incident date: Oct 2, 2023
Dear manager: I have this 2006 LEXUS RX400H which has CHECK VSC SYSTEM and CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM problems. When I was driving on the highway, the cruise control button is unable to turn on, when at speed of 65 MPH it will suddenly stall in the middle of the road and the READY light will be off and the vehicle has to be stopped by the emergency lane which is REALLY DANGEROUS. I have searched onl... Read more
Incident date: Oct 2, 2023
After stopping at a stop sign. Started to go through and my engine shut off . I had to release the emergency brake for some reason to get the engine started. It also happened 2 other times while turning left or right. If someone were close to me they wouldn’t have had the time to stop. It was a dangerous situation. Thank you
Incident date: Oct 2, 2023
Front side marker light it'd by canbus system as failed. Still illuminated, but resistance changed. 25 cent led, Audi says headlamp Assy need to be replaced ro $5100. Oh, and other side is about to go too. Design is non-compliant with NHTSA requirements for lighting (very early failures, often at.70k miles), places undo burden on consumers to comply to meet regulations of NHTSA. This consumer asks... Read more
Incident date: Sep 25, 2023
Coolant leaking from head, informed by dealer the cylinder head is cracked and the entire engine needs to be replaced. The engine has just hit 80k miles at this point. This issue caused multiple instances of overheating while driving, one of which caused the vehicle to fail to move forward while on an elevated freeway overpass with no shoulder during rush hour. This issue appears to be widespread ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2016
My 2018 3500 Dully with 34,000 miles started having an issue with the ABS, Traction Control and Eletronic Brack control systems. While driving the truck on a trip, the Traction Control, and ABS lights started coming on intermittently and the check Eletronic Brack control came on at the same time and it too flashed intermittently. Also, while this is happening, the cruise control does not work. T... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2016
My 2018 3500 Dully with 34,000 miles started having an issue with the ABS, Traction Control and Eletronic Brack control systems. While driving the truck on a trip, the Traction Control, and ABS lights started coming on intermittently and the check Eletronic Brack control came on at the same time and it too flashed intermittently. Also, while this is happening, the cruise control does not work. T... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2023
On Friday, September 15, 2023 3:00PM, I had a “horrible” experience with my Lexus this weekend and sudden unintended acceleration. I was sitting at a red light, with my foot on the brake. Without warning the engine began to rev, the tires squealed and the car lurched forward. I through the car into park & turned of the car as quickly as I could react and “thank god” no one was injured an... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the EPS was not functioning as needed. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The EPS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2023
Transmission jerks abruptly and very hard.
Incident date: Aug 7, 2023
My car has a detached tie rod ball joint and is causing a loss of steering control, and increasing the risk of a crash. My children are in danger yet your site says my vin has no safety recall after I reviewed the safety recall for my vehicle and noticed a connection. I can’t afford any repairs and I shouldn’t have to risk my life over a recalled problem with my make model and year vehicle.
Incident date: Sep 26, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic on two separate occasions where the spark plugs and ignition coils were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact then stated that the vehicle began to overheat as the vehicle would hesitate upon d... Read more
Incident date: Sep 24, 2023
The rear sub frame suddenly broke (rusted out) There was a known recall for 2008-2012 Jeep Patriot's, but not 2013 [XXX] I have Photos, but the form wouldn't let me upload them. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Incident date: Sep 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the RMPS increased significantly. Additionally, the contact stated upon coming to a complete stop, the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound. The contact also stated that the vehicle shuddered and hesitated to respond while driving from a complete stop. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while at a complete sto... Read more
Incident date: Sep 25, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle lost engine power, reducing the speed to approximately 15 MPH. The oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,... Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V352000(Steering) and 23V413000 (Suspension) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the ma... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Genesis. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an unknown local dealer, ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Genesis. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continue driving. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an unknown local dealer, ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 8, 2023
The car lost propulsion while driving on an on-ramp road onto an interstate, luckily the car was able to make it the shoulder. Vehicle slowed to below 40mph and intermittently down to 0mph when waiting and restarting vehicle. Able to finally get home in the emergency lane. VERY DANGEROUS and do not recommend! The check engine light was not on prior to this and it was taken to the dealership where ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 27, 2019
My car is having issues driving over 60miles per hr, I have to keep pressing the gas to get the car to move, the car battery is dead and won’t turn on, I got the car repaired twice and the second time I got it repaired, it just was even worse then before . The car smells like gas , the salesman only told me that I needed a value cover gasket and he had someone repair it , but when I went to auto... Read more
Incident date: Sep 8, 2023
There is a known issue in the form of a Warranty Policy Bulletin and I believe a recall in Canada for a faulty engine oil cooler line that was made of rubber and fails under heat (now replaced by metal lines). This happened to my daughter after a hot day and she pulled away from the driveway the next day. Almost all of the oil leaked out and we stopped the car and had it towed to a Lexus dealershi... Read more
Incident date: Sep 8, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while making a turn at 20 MPH, the power steering assist failed with the "Service Power Steering - Drive with Caution" message was displayed. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V719000 (Steering) which he linked to the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that th... Read more
Incident date: Sep 8, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was idling rough. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic determined that there was coolant intrusion into cylinder #2. The contact was informed that the engine needed replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 25, 2022
When driving at high speeds on the highway (75-85mph) after about 20 mins or so, the steering wheel feels like it locks up or gets stuck. The only way to get it back to normal is to jerk the wheel a bit resulting in swerving. This happens almost everytime I travel across the state. The car has passed all inspections at the Lexus Dealer. This past visit to the dealership, the tie rod was found to b... Read more
Incident date: Sep 25, 2022
On hot days, has happened multiple times. At parking lot, car did not turn on first two attempts, finally when on, then electrical shuts off. Starter system faulty message service vehicle. Stuck key in and out, several attempts: Got car to turn on. Moved it to shade as electrical shut off. Once cooled turn back on. Other instance, while driving on highway the dasboard, gauges, electronics info sy... Read more
Incident date: Sep 25, 2022
I turned the corner into a parking space at a local business. When I was turning into the parking space, my foot was hovering over the left floor peddle (the break). All of a sudden, the vehicle lunged forward while my foot was still hovering over the break. During the incident, my foot did not touch the gas pedal when the car was accelerating towards the store window. I quickly firmly stepped on ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 10, 2023
The steering wheel locked while making a left-hand turn. A minor accident resulted. Yes, the safety of the driver was put at risk with minor injuries resulting. A complaint was filed with Jeep and a case number was assigned by FCA. Insurance was contacted however it did not cover the cost of damage that caused the accident. The component was inspected by the Jeep representative however they blamed... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 1, 2022
Upon further inspection a bushing was needed to be replaced. The bushing that holds the shift connection component together disconnected and popped off the shifting mechanism. The problem was reproduced several times. My safety was at risk, I was pulling into a parking space, put my vehicle in park, my car did not display a 'P' the option was empty (no R or D either was displayed). My car jumped f... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2023
Since the day I took possession of the car there is a bad visibility situation with the windshield. It happens only when the sun is low in the sky and shining directly toward the windshield. Under those conditions the entire windshield has millions of dense specks or sparkles that impair visibility. I have already determined that this is NOT due to any contaminants/sap/dirt on the inside or outsid... Read more
Incident date: Sep 14, 2023
Rear subframe corrosion and failure. Based on my queries this apparently a common issue. I am adding my report to add weight to this common issue. Vehicle is approximately 13 years old, is in good condition, and has not suffered any accidents affecting the rear subframe. Overall only minimal rust or corrosion is found during a visual inspection while on a lift. This vehicle has passed annual ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2023
The dashboard of my 2008 Toyota Camry is shining/reflecting from the windshield, making it clear visibility very difficult for the driver. I called Toyota they mentioned they had a warranty extension for a limited period and now they are not covering/fixing it anymore. It should be a "SAFETY RECALL" and all owners should be sent a notice to get the factory defective product fixed. My daughter wa... Read more
Crash