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
Incident date: Jan 11, 2019
The infotainment screen suddenly froze and blasted an extremely loud static noise that nearly caused an accident. It has a lot of problems with freezing
Incident date: Jan 11, 2019
I have 69,800 miles on my car that is not even 5 years old. When driving to work this morning, I receiving an alert on my dashboard saying “low engine oil pressure”. I have heard about this issue and pulled over at a gas station to get my car towed to a Ford dealership. It is going to cost me about $8,000 to get a brand new engine in my fairly new car that is in great condition. This issue is ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2023
There is a spot weld failure inside my driver side door resulting in the door hinge being broken inside the door. The door does not open all the way and it makes loud popping and screeching noises. I can only roll my window down about 3 inches. I am concerned for my safety as I have seen other complaints regarding this issue where the door stopped latching completely. Also, windows are an emergen... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN to... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2023 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, the steering wheel was sticky. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that it was a known failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Act... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
The activation of the horn using a small capacitive button on the right side of the steering wheel is a serious safety problem. I have had numerous near miss incidents that were closer than they should have been because I was unable to quickly locate and activate the tiny horn button. I've tried using the "whole palm" method described by the manufacturer, but my palm is so large, that it doesn't... Read more
LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
(2018) - STEERING
Dec 22, 2023
Incident date: Dec 22, 2023
When starting my car, it struggles to start and then the emissions system light stays on, warning of engine power being affected. The car sputters when driving. The lane departure light stays on, as well as the braking system light, which warns of potential problems with braking. My safety is at risk when trying to accelerate and sputtering instead. Since the problem started today, December 22, ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 14, 2023
Check engine light keeps coming on even after dealer says it is fixed. Keeps throwing codes evaporative emission system problem.
Incident date: Nov 25, 2023
AIR BAG LIGHT ON, LIGHT ON GEAR SHIFT REAL DIM
Incident date: Nov 25, 2023
AIR BAG LIGHT ON, LIGHT ON GEAR SHIFT REAL DIM
LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
(2017) - ENGINE
Dec 16, 2023
Incident date: Dec 1, 2022
Vehicle just turned 11,000 miles. As I was accelerating up a hill, the RPM’s were extremely high and then I heard an awful noise in the engine. The car immediately shut down and overheated. It was determined the turbo chip blew apart causing catastrophic damage to the engine. I ended up needing to hire a lemon law attorney and Nissan bought the vehicle back from me. Nissan refused to compensate ... Read more
LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
(2017) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Dec 16, 2023
Incident date: Dec 1, 2022
both digital and analog speedometer also the tachometer shows 0mph even through the car is being driven , also the fuel gauge shows Empty even though fuel is full.
Incident date: May 4, 2021
Vehicle gives false oil life of 20% when oil is 0% blowing engine. Oil consumption issue blows engine.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2023
The new (replaced in Sept of 2023) OEM glass installed by Subaru cracked due to weather change while the vehicle was stopped. There was no prior damage to the windshield nor warning this would happen.
Incident date: Dec 14, 2023
One day without warning (about 8/20/2023), the vehicle would not start. After too many attempts the vehicle went into a security lock out. Had a mobile locksmith come and issue 2 new key fobs, and he was able to get the car unlocked and started. Car ran fine for about 4 days and then once again would not start. Car was towed to dealership where I was advised it was a bad battery. Battery was repla... Read more
Incident date: Dec 6, 2023
Car feels like it is going to take off at a red light. Then it rumbles and cuts off at the light. I purchased car from US Auto Sales. DOWC paid PepBoys for multiple repairs for breaks rotors and the light that keeps coming on is service stabile track they got the light to cut off but the issue still persisted. They even changed all things dealing with the gas line. This car is still idling high at... Read more
Incident date: Oct 20, 2023
I purchased my 2019 corolla hatch manual new. Before even 9000 miles I started having transmission issues. I could not shift into first when the car was cold. It was like hitting a wall. I had to cycle through all the other gears before it would go back into first. I took it to Toyota. They were unable to replicate the issue. It happened so sporadically I asked the technician what would happen if ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2023
[XXX] [XXX] USA To: Jean-Philippe Imparato (CEO )cordon Angelli 200 Turin 10135 Italy And separate mailing to Larry Dominique SVP AlfaRomeo USA 1000 Chrysler Dr Auburn Hills, MI 48326 The driver side seat belt anchor retractor popped loose while driving (serious safety condition) took it to Ziegler service a where Cam Svc mgr, Var of parts and Evan chief service tech couldn’t figure... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
2011 Chevrolet Cruze. 1.4 engine. Manual transmission. No accidents. Mileage: 69,000 The engine has stopped while driving 3 times in last year (2023) January (5 degrees), Sept and November. Battery is 2 years old. Replaced negative battery cable with (OEM), after 2nd engine stop, after reading that negative cables have history of going bad over time. Very dangerous, especially in dark. All lig... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
I took this jeep to the dealer and they repaired it per my invoice. I am still receiving messages that the recall is still open from corporate jeep. The NHTSA also says the recall is still open. I called the dealer and they can’t help me or see no recall?
Incident date: Nov 25, 2023
My hrv has a twitching like feeling in the steering and steering sticks going around curves on the freeway. Sometimes when just driving straight I can feel the steering wheel jerking to the right. Fuel gauge is totally off. I can get to around 70miles of range left fuel light comes on and I drive about 2-3 miles and that 70 miles of Range will drop to 26 miles of range. I fill up around 12miles... Read more
Incident date: Dec 6, 2023
Honda refuses to inspect my vehicle to determine if it is safe to drive. They say they will not inspect vehicles untill they have the repair parts available. That puts me at risk for driving a defective vehicle and having an accident that could cause property damage and/or death for me and other people. As I do not have the technical expertise to inspect the vehicle myself, I have no choice but... Read more
Incident date: Dec 5, 2023
I was driving on the freeway and the engine turned off. I was able to continue driving as the hybrid system still had some charge to continue powering the car. I had to get the EGR valve replaced. No warning lights prior to this occuring but had check engine light after. Car would not shift into drive nor would it accept a charge for the main drive battery. Had to be towed to a shop and resulted ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 9, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford C-Max Hybrid. The contact stated that while reversing, the back-over prevention camera was inoperable. The contact stated that the back-over prevention camera displayed images upside down. The contact stated that the passenger’s side rear door latch was inoperable and failed to lock as needed. The contact also stated that the hatchback latch failed to close without e... Read more
Incident date: Dec 3, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving in stop-and-go traffic, the vehicle would hesitate or stall without warning. The vehicle had been serviced on three separate occasions under warranty by Asheville Ford (611 Brevard Rd, Asheville, NC 28806) and Frederick Motor Company (1 Waverley Drive, Frederick, MD 21702) where the dual-clutch system was replaced. The contact st... Read more
LINCOLN
CORSAIR PHEV
(2022) - AIR BAGS
Dec 4, 2023
Incident date: Dec 4, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (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 m... Read more
LINCOLN
MKZ HYBRID
(2012) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Dec 1, 2023
Incident date: Nov 30, 2023
Check engine light came on, low temp light stays on, Eyesight disabled, lane departure, emergency breaking, etc have all been disabled due to the issue. I took it to the local autobody shop and they found code p0128 | Coolant Thermostat Issue. This has caused all safety features to become disabled as mentioned above. I was told by the local shop that I need to go to the dealership. I have not brou... Read more
LINCOLN
MKZ HYBRID
(2012) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Nov 29, 2023
Incident date: Nov 15, 2023
Vehicle was using the self driving feature of the Subaru Eyesight system. With the system engaged, the vehicle is supposed to accelerate and apply brakes accordingly as to keep a distance from the vehicle in front. Today, that system failed. The vehicle, with the Eyesight system engaged, accelerated right into the vehicle in front. There was no warning. The vehicle will be go for repair on 12/5/23... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 28, 2023
The contact owned a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact stated while stopped at an intersection, the vehicle independently accelerated while depressing the brake pedal. The contact steered the vehicle to the left in an attempt to stop the acceleration and repeatedly depressed the brake pedal. Due to the failure, the contact hit a curb, a sidewalk post, and finally, a retaining wall which stopped the vehicl... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Nov 27, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. During the failure, the check engine, ABS, service vehicle, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the warning message "Hybrid System Failure" message was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer a... Read more
Incident date: Nov 14, 2023
On two occasions our Taos, when put in drive rolled backwards on a slight grade when the brake was released. The dealership says they cannot replicate the problem and suggests waiting 1.5 to 3 seconds after shifting to drive before releasing the brake. I don't think this is standard procedure, at least in any car I've ever driven and I've never heard of such a procedure in any car. In addition, th... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2023
Oil leaking. Visible leaks on engine cover.
Incident date: Nov 14, 2023
Torque converter and transmission problems cause the vehicle to stutter upon acceleration or not accelerate at all. Gear shifts can be erratic. No CEL or DTCs appear in the OBD system. I was barely able to proceed through an intersection until the transmission finally engaged fully and I was able to accelerate correctly. Ford is aware of the problem as proven by TSBs 20B27 and 20N07 but refuse to ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Ecosport. The contact stated while his daughter was driving into a parking area, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact observed that the engine oil was at sufficient levels. The low-oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a f... Read more
Incident date: Nov 14, 2023
At around 0750 AM on 20Nov2023, the sun roof exploded while turning roughly 15 MPH onto an onramp of a highway. Nothing hit the car from the outside. The sun roof glass shattered and fell onto the sun roof cover. Glass could have fallen inside as well as onto me and could have obstructed my vision, causing a crash. No pot holes or noticeable bumps were struck prior to or after the malfunction. Car... Read more
Incident date: Nov 13, 2023
I recently bought this truck used from a Ford dealership. The next day when I was taking my wife for a short drive. I noticed the engine light was on the dash display. I the same time the truck started accelerating Like it was on cruise control and returning to a higher speed. The cruse control was not set when I tried to access the cruse control I would get the message that it was unavailable at ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2023
There are 8 vehicle recalls for this car but I dont see where they have been fixed. The company is bankrupt now and the current Fisker company will not fix. NHTSA Campaign #: 12V413000 12V241000 11V598000 17V004000 19V181000 12V413000 12V241000 11V598000
Incident date: Nov 3, 2023
My truck with dead at a turning light, it's still UNKNOWN what happened. I had 2 people try to give it a boost and it would not turn on, the gears were locked, and it had to be pulled on the tow truck. The brake lights signal was flashing, and the engine light was on the dashboard along with the battery light. I could not get it to turn on and there was no sound to the engine. the radio was workin... Read more
Incident date: Nov 3, 2023
My truck with dead at a turning light, it's still UNKNOWN what happened. I had 2 people try to give it a boost and it would not turn on, the gears were locked, and it had to be pulled on the tow truck. The brake lights signal was flashing, and the engine light was on the dashboard along with the battery light. I could not get it to turn on and there was no sound to the engine. the radio was workin... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2020
No incident has occurred, thankfully. Car was purchased used in January 2018. It is now approximately about 9 years old. This issue happens intermittently but the electrical systems seem to be misfiring. Basically, it gives false negatives/positives. (1) The check engine comes on and off all the time even after servicing the vehicle with the mechanic. (2) The passenger seat has front airbags that ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2020
After giving a pressure to the brakes, the car feels like the brakes are being slipped towards the end, so I have to hold the brakes hard at the end. I have tried different models of Mercedes such as E class but the brake of E class works exactly opposite from GLC 300. When I give a pressure to E class, first it will stop slowly and towards the end, it will stop more aggressively. When I drive GLC... Read more
Incident date: Oct 27, 2023
Anti-Lock Braking system and Electronic Braking system, service system warning come on and off randomly all the time. Seems to happen when bumpy roads are encountered.
Incident date: Oct 27, 2023
There is a design flaw with the coolant lines. The TOH coolant line makes contact with the rear heater return line and creates a coolant leak in that area. Due to the friction this caused a hole in the line. My car gashed out coolant and shut off on the highway. Only one flash on the dashboard that said engine overheating. This issue is a design flaw that could be Deadly. Luckily for myself I was... Read more
Incident date: Nov 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Genesis. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact stated that the check engine light was later illuminated, and the vehicle was taken to a second indepen... Read more
Incident date: Nov 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Genesis. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact stated that the check engine light was later illuminated, and the vehicle was taken to a second indepen... Read more
Incident date: Nov 7, 2023
1. It is not clear what component or system failed. While driving at around 70 mph, after 2-3 hours of driving, there is an audible "clunk" sound from below the car. Typically this is followed by a shuddering of the engine/transmission/power train. The car momentarily looses acceleration/speed. There are typically one or two "clunks" alternating with one to four "shudders." There is no action when... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 BMW X6. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH and ascending an incline, the vehicle started to lose forward momentum and was vibrating. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the front driveshaft needed to be replaced, and that the tra... Read more
Incident date: Nov 14, 2023
On Sunday, November 5, 2023, our 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid caught fire in our garage. Please refer to the attached PDF which details the incident. I have pictures and videos of the incident as well as a report from the fire department is being prepared. We have placed home and auto claims with our insurance provider, and we are also working with a disaster recovery company who is compiling a r... Read more
Fire
4 injured
LINCOLN
CORSAIR PHEV
(2022) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Nov 13, 2023
Incident date: Nov 13, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V338000 (Electrical System, Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufa... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2023
Cruise control safety concern: car detects vehicle in front when there isn't and brakes sometimes hard abruptly due to misdetecting a vehicle ahead in a different lane as is it was in the car's same lane specially in curves or if the vehicle ahead but in a different lane is casting a shadow in front of car. Blind spot: blind spot detects a vehicle in the blind spot even when there's no vehicle. N... Read more