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 19,021 complaints for LINCOLN
LINCOLN
CORSAIR PHEV
(2024) - POWER TRAIN
Sep 9, 2026
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
In Lincoln's own words the lithium batteries are flawed and can cause a short circuit which can lead to a fire. This could lead to grave danger to life. I keep my car in my garage which could lead to a house fire and harm to my family. Their original temporary fix was to set the charging system to stop at 80%. After doing this when I receive the original recall, it was undone at least twice by sof... Read more
LINCOLN
CORSAIR PHEV
(2024) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Sep 9, 2026
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
In Lincoln's own words the lithium batteries are flawed and can cause a short circuit which can lead to a fire. This could lead to grave danger to life. I keep my car in my garage which could lead to a house fire and harm to my family. Their original temporary fix was to set the charging system to stop at 80%. After doing this when I receive the original recall, it was undone at least twice by sof... Read more
LINCOLN
CORSAIR PHEV
(2024) - ENGINE
Sep 9, 2026
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
In Lincoln's own words the lithium batteries are flawed and can cause a short circuit which can lead to a fire. This could lead to grave danger to life. I keep my car in my garage which could lead to a house fire and harm to my family. Their original temporary fix was to set the charging system to stop at 80%. After doing this when I receive the original recall, it was undone at least twice by sof... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2026
On August 31, 2026, at approximately 11:07 a.m., the vehicle had been parked and was stationary with the engine running. After remaining stationary for a short period of time, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly moved backward rapidly on its own. I did not intentionally command the vehicle to move backward and I did not press the accelerator. While the vehicle was moving backward, I pressed the... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 31, 2026
On August 31, 2026, at approximately 11:07 a.m., the vehicle had been parked and was stationary with the engine running. After remaining stationary for a short period of time, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly moved backward rapidly on its own. I did not intentionally command the vehicle to move backward and I did not press the accelerator. While the vehicle was moving backward, I pressed the... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 31, 2026
On August 31, 2026, at approximately 11:07 a.m., the vehicle had been parked and was stationary with the engine running. After remaining stationary for a short period of time, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly moved backward rapidly on its own. I did not intentionally command the vehicle to move backward and I did not press the accelerator. While the vehicle was moving backward, I pressed the... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Feb 27, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the brake pedal became inoperable, and the brake warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled away from oncoming traffic to ensure that the vehicle stopped and avoided a crash. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a failure of the front caliper and brake hydraulic system... Read more
Incident date: Sep 8, 2026
Ford's remedy is to disable the memory seatback in recall 26S53. This is not a remedy. This is disabling a feature that I paid for on this vehicle. Not sure why Ford / Lincoln think this is ok. I understand that this could put a child or person at harm in the back seat. But the recall shows a complete disable. Not a temporary disable while we find a solution to the issues. I have also filed ... Read more
LINCOLN
NAUTILUS HYBRID
(2026) - SERVICE BRAKES
Sep 8, 2026
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
Since day one from the purchase of this vehicle, I have been experiencing seatbelt issues. This car was purchased for my work. It’s a commercial Livery vehicle, but I am suffering each day with complaints from riders and every time it goes to the dealership I am losing time and income. I have lost my confidence in this car. This car was bought for peace of mind but all I have ever experienced ... Read more
LINCOLN
NAUTILUS HYBRID
(2026) - SEATS
Sep 8, 2026
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
Since day one from the purchase of this vehicle, I have been experiencing seatbelt issues. This car was purchased for my work. It’s a commercial Livery vehicle, but I am suffering each day with complaints from riders and every time it goes to the dealership I am losing time and income. I have lost my confidence in this car. This car was bought for peace of mind but all I have ever experienced ... Read more
LINCOLN
NAUTILUS HYBRID
(2026) - SEAT BELTS
Sep 8, 2026
Incident date: Feb 1, 2026
Since day one from the purchase of this vehicle, I have been experiencing seatbelt issues. This car was purchased for my work. It’s a commercial Livery vehicle, but I am suffering each day with complaints from riders and every time it goes to the dealership I am losing time and income. I have lost my confidence in this car. This car was bought for peace of mind but all I have ever experienced ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 6, 2026
The dealership said the Cam Phasers were bad, and I saw that there was a NHTSA report on it. The manufacturer paid a percentage of the cost to fix, but not the entire thing. This is a vehicle that an elderly woman purchased before her husband passed and now runs her grand kids around in. Although the problem was fixed it was bothersome to not have this known issue addressed and risk stranding the ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
I purchased a 2017 Lincoln MKZ and began experiencing serious engine problems, including repeated overheating and an engine misfire. The vehicle developed a check-engine light and a P0301 misfire code. I was advised by a repair shop that the vehicle has a serious engine problem and that the engine needs to be replaced. I am concerned that the overheating and engine problems could cause the vehicl... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2026
I purchased a 2017 Lincoln MKZ and began experiencing serious engine problems, including repeated overheating and an engine misfire. The vehicle developed a check-engine light and a P0301 misfire code. I was advised by a repair shop that the vehicle has a serious engine problem and that the engine needs to be replaced. I am concerned that the overheating and engine problems could cause the vehicl... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2026
Transmission started shifting hard when going from 1-2, up and down shifting. Sometimes there is a grinding sound and then a very hard shift into 2nd gear. 1 time it would not shift at all after coming to a stop. Diagnosed by Ford as bad A clutch and needing to be replaced.
Incident date: Jun 2, 2026
I own a Lincoln Mkc 2017 - purchased on 2/19/19 with 12miles I have replaced 4 batteries over the years so far. I drive every day. I am never sure if the car will start. Multiple times i have a dead battery. Lincoln has a problem with this module and the electrical system. parasitic drainage issues on the battery. I don't feel safe, because there is an "unknown" draining the battery, therefore ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 3, 2026
I am submitting a formal complaint regarding my 2022 Lincoln Navigator, VIN [XXX], which I purchased new from a Lincoln dealership in [XXX]. Since purchasing the vehicle, it has experienced multiple significant mechanical, safety, and reliability problems: The transmission required repair, and the vehicle remained at the repair facility for more than one month while the work was completed. The o... Read more
Incident date: Sep 3, 2026
I am submitting a formal complaint regarding my 2022 Lincoln Navigator, VIN [XXX], which I purchased new from a Lincoln dealership in [XXX]. Since purchasing the vehicle, it has experienced multiple significant mechanical, safety, and reliability problems: The transmission required repair, and the vehicle remained at the repair facility for more than one month while the work was completed. The o... Read more
Incident date: Sep 3, 2026
I am submitting a formal complaint regarding my 2022 Lincoln Navigator, VIN [XXX], which I purchased new from a Lincoln dealership in [XXX]. Since purchasing the vehicle, it has experienced multiple significant mechanical, safety, and reliability problems: The transmission required repair, and the vehicle remained at the repair facility for more than one month while the work was completed. The o... Read more
Incident date: Feb 19, 2026
unable to use hybrid feature to its full extend.
Incident date: Aug 23, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the front driver’s side seat belt pretensioner inadvertently deployed and released smoke. The vehicle was towed to the residence and could not be repaired by a mobile technician. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer, where it was determined that the seat belt needed to be replaced. The contact later r... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2026
Both of the front doors have developed loud popping noises while opening and closing. A temporary fix was done by Lincoln on the passenger front door (at my expense) and the driver door is not having the same issue. Vehicle not under warranty now, so cost to me will be >$4000. Based on discussions with Lincoln body shop personnel and web search, this is a problem that has occurred with other Fo... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the contact became aware that the steering wheel was loose. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that there was a recall associated with the failure, however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the f... Read more
Incident date: Aug 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. After several days of rain, there was moisture inside the vehicle. The contact detected a foul odor and discovered water on the floorboard. A box in the rear of the vehicle was covered in water, and the inside front windshield was foggy, but the contact was unable to determine how the water had entered the vehicle. Later, while driving approximately 45-55 ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 29, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. After several days of rain, there was moisture inside the vehicle. The contact detected a foul odor and discovered water on the floorboard. A box in the rear of the vehicle was covered in water, and the inside front windshield was foggy, but the contact was unable to determine how the water had entered the vehicle. Later, while driving approximately 45-55 ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH with his wife inside the vehicle, seated in the front passenger seat, there was an explosion like a gunshot coming from the front passenger seat. The restraint warning light illuminated after the explosion. There was a sulfur odor inside the vehicle after the explosion. The contact's wife sustained injuries to... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Sep 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2015 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rear-view camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rear-view camera image intermittently operated as needed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2026 Lincoln Aviator. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the hood unlatched unexpectedly and raised up towards the windshield. The view ahead of the vehicle was blocked due to the failure. The dealer was contacted by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V544000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that there was increased brake pedal travel while coming to a ... Read more
LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
(2017) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Sep 2, 2026
Incident date: May 1, 2026
Recall number 19S03 repaired prior to my purchase. Driver door latch has disassembled
Incident date: Nov 17, 2025
My engine failed. At the time I did not know this. I was driving to work, and although I knew I was not out of gas according to the gas gauge, I thought maybe something was wrong with the gauge when my Lincoln began to putter like when you are running out of gas. I was approaching a stop light in the left turn lane when the car died. Which could have caused a multi car pileup considering the inter... Read more
Incident date: Aug 19, 2026
In August 2026, my 2019 Lincoln MKZ equipped with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine, with approximately 39,000 miles, began experiencing repeated coolant loss, rough shaking during startup, engine misfires, temperature-gauge fluctuations toward hot, and an “Engine Coolant Over Temperature” warning while the vehicle was being driven. The warning appeared and then cleared, creating concern that the vehic... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2026
The contact owned a 2017 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while traveling at 40 MPH, the vehicle struck the front passenger side of another vehicle that made an illegal U-turn at a higher rate of speed. The vehicle spun out and came to a stop after crashing into a bus occupied by children. No air bags deployed, and the contact believed the air bags should have deployed. The vehicle was t... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Sep 1, 2026
I’ve replaced my blend door actuator 2 times since owning this car in the past year and it’s gone out again. It clicks under the driver’s side constantly until I turn on the temperature control. And when it doesn’t click it blows out hot air on the drivers side and cold air on the passenger side with ac on and cold air on drivers side with heat on and that’s when I know I need to replace... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
Both front doors were replaced under warranty, as the point where the hinge stop attached to the doors, was making a loud cracking sound. The dealer found that the internal metal of the doors was seperating. Our car was fixed at 48,000 miles, but in online forums, there are many people reporting this, and either have more than 50,000 miles or the dealers are saying it's not covered. Also now t... Read more
Incident date: Aug 12, 2026
My car slammed into park while I was driving on the highway and now is in limp mode only going into neutral and I am stranded without a vehicle. The Lincoln dealership wants to charge me 1500 to diagnose it but that’s the problem.
Incident date: Oct 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKT. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V827000 (Structure) and 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were 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... Read more
Incident date: Oct 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln MKT. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V827000 (Structure) and 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were 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... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2026
Several problems have occurred, not sure if they are related or not. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. In my opinion as a retired mechanic the problem components might include transmission, torque converter, accelerator or any electrical components associated with these systems. There were no warning lamps or messages related to the situation before or since. The following are ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2026
Several problems have occurred, not sure if they are related or not. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. In my opinion as a retired mechanic the problem components might include transmission, torque converter, accelerator or any electrical components associated with these systems. There were no warning lamps or messages related to the situation before or since. The following are ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2026
Several problems have occurred, not sure if they are related or not. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. In my opinion as a retired mechanic the problem components might include transmission, torque converter, accelerator or any electrical components associated with these systems. There were no warning lamps or messages related to the situation before or since. The following are ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
The driver's side door is cracked at the door hinge assembly. This is a widely documented defect. My door cracked at 50,000 miles. There are thousands of 2019-2024 Nautilus's with this defect. Lincoln wants $5,000 to replace the door. They offered $2,000 toward the repair. This should be a recall.
Incident date: Aug 29, 2026
COMPONENT FAILURE: The driver-side front seat belt retractor & pyrotechnic pretensioner assembly spontaneously & violently deployed while the vehicle was in motion. Immediately following the explosion, the vehicle's dashboard SRS/Airbag warning light illuminated & remains locked on. The component is currently intact & remains inside the vehicle; it is fully available for physical inspection upon r... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 29, 2026
COMPONENT FAILURE: The driver-side front seat belt retractor & pyrotechnic pretensioner assembly spontaneously & violently deployed while the vehicle was in motion. Immediately following the explosion, the vehicle's dashboard SRS/Airbag warning light illuminated & remains locked on. The component is currently intact & remains inside the vehicle; it is fully available for physical inspection upon r... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 27, 2026
I am reporting a serious intermittent transmission and loss-of-propulsion problem with my 2021 Lincoln Navigator, VIN 5LMJJ3LT6MEL05416. While driving, including at highway speeds, the transmission will unpredictably behave as though it has shifted into Neutral even though the vehicle remains in Drive. When I press the accelerator, the engine responds, but the vehicle temporarily has little or no... Read more
Incident date: Aug 27, 2026
I am reporting a serious intermittent transmission and loss-of-propulsion problem with my 2021 Lincoln Navigator, VIN 5LMJJ3LT6MEL05416. While driving, including at highway speeds, the transmission will unpredictably behave as though it has shifted into Neutral even though the vehicle remains in Drive. When I press the accelerator, the engine responds, but the vehicle temporarily has little or no... Read more
Incident date: Aug 27, 2026
I am reporting a serious intermittent transmission and loss-of-propulsion problem with my 2021 Lincoln Navigator, VIN 5LMJJ3LT6MEL05416. While driving, including at highway speeds, the transmission will unpredictably behave as though it has shifted into Neutral even though the vehicle remains in Drive. When I press the accelerator, the engine responds, but the vehicle temporarily has little or no... Read more
Incident date: Aug 28, 2026
Rear passenger side seat belt buckle sits so low in the seat that it is almost impossible for some passengers (elderly or children) to buckle it. Lincoln and Ford and everyone else do not make a seat belt extender that fits it.
Incident date: Sep 9, 2025
Unknown there were no incidents But the recall is almost 1 year old I received the notice September 2025 regarding a possible brake hose defect waiting almost 1 year for a Fix is Rediclous there had been no updates from Ford/Lincoln motor company brake issue should be taken more Seriously
Incident date: Aug 28, 2026
I own a 2024 Lincoln Nautilis on August 28 2026. I started the vehicle in the rear windshield glass suddenly shattered/exploded there had been no collision accident vandalism or known impact to the vehicle that I am aware of the vehicle was not involved in an accident immediately before the glass failed. The glass failure occurred unexpectedly. When I started the vehicle. I contacted my local Lin... Read more