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 18,739 complaints for LINCOLN
Incident date: Jun 30, 2023
Had brake calipers replaced 3 weeks ago. Picked up vehicle and brake pedal was going to the floor. Dealer said it was air in the line. Get vehicle back and 2 weeks later I am driving I apply the brakes and the pedal goes to the floor and my vehicle barely stops. Almost hit the person in front of me. The warning light for Low Brake Fluid Comes on. I am told by the Dealer that the rubber brake... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2023
1. FRONT COLLISION WARNING SENSOR DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WORKING. THE FRONT SENSOR DOES NOT DETECT ANYTHING IN THE FRONT WHILE IN DRIVING MODE. COULD BE A SOFTWARE OR SENSOR ISSUE. NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT. 2. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, USUALLY ON THE STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHES OFF OR GOES TO THE PARK MODE. IN ORDER TO SWITCH ON THE VEHICLE, I NEED TO... Read more
Incident date: Jun 8, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the service brakes were applied without input from the driver. The Forward Collision-Avoidance warning light was illuminated. There was no object in the roadway to activate the feature. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The vehicle was repaire... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2023
Months ago I was driving, my 2020 traverse I hit the brakes and I heard a weird grinding noise & my car started wobbling, I figured I needed my brakes pads changed, I took it to Waldorf Chevy they looked at the brakes and told me everything was good I didn’t need pads and everything was ok, they said sometimes the pads get dust on them causing them to squeak, and wobble, i had the front pads rep... Read more
Incident date: Jun 29, 2023
Starting 6 months ago air bag light is on constantly. Horn stopped working, speed control doesn't work. The whole steering wheel and buttons with horn doesn't work.
Incident date: May 1, 2023
I just had my second windshield failure in 2 years on this vehicle. The first time a rock hit me, but today a ~ 12" crack appeared out of nowhere while I was driving down the highway with no impact. The windshields on this vehicle seem overly prone to cracking, whether or not any impact is applied. I'm worried this will interfere with the eyesight functionality.
Incident date: Jun 28, 2023
Driving in pouring down rain on a highway during rush hour. Car starts to loose power, gets worse and worse. Difficult to change lanes to pull over nearly causing several accidents. Car eventually just stops. Will not restart.
Incident date: Feb 1, 2022
Windshield cracked without any impact or signs of impact to window. Crack continues to get longer without any movement.
LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
(2017) — Carry Handle, Shell, Base
Jun 28, 2023
Incident date: Jun 28, 2023
We just received the recall replacement on the car seat base, but our child is now practically grown out of it, rendering it now useless for the time we've lost in waiting for a replacement for the recall... My wife and I are not sure what to do here, but we've not really been able to use this car seat when we needed it most, and now that we have the corrected seat base, it's long past when it ma... Read more
Incident date: May 26, 2023
I have a 2017 Q7 with the "front Left side marker light defective" warning. However I saw that there was a limited recall 97CB or 16V6420000 for this issue with 2017 Audi Q7 vehicles, but it's VIN specific and my VIN isn't included. Looks like the issue is much more widespread than the Vins they included for the recall as I saw online that lot of people have the same issue in this model. Please ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 26, 2023
automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, fuel pipe exhaust causing fumes to come through the vent area causing fire and smoke. accelerator assembly issues when driving
Fire
Incident date: Jun 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at a very slow speed, there was a loud sound coming from the front passenger’s side before the vehicle abruptly stopped driving forward. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the front passenger’s side axle had fractured. The mechanic also discovered that the driver’s side axle w... Read more
Incident date: Jun 27, 2023
Tire: P265 / 60 R 18 On June 25, 2023 at 1100 hrs, the left rear tire began shedding chunks and immediately had catastrophic tread separation. This caused a temporary loss of control narrowly missing collision with other vehicles. When the tread separated at least one large piece did not tear free and acted like a flail significantly damaging my vehicle (left read qtr panel and truck bed). This... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2022
My cluster display has been on dark night mode since January 2023. I purchased the vehicle in April 2022. During the day, I cannot see the cluster display, and have missed gas warning lights, low tire lights, and other emergency lights due to the dimness of the screen. It is a hazard to drive as daylight is longer-- and the navigation screen is also impossible to see during daylight hours. There i... Read more
Incident date: Jun 26, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds with the front windshield wipers at the low or high position, the windshield wipers slowed down and almost stopped. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed him that the windshield wipers were working as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The man... Read more
LINCOLN
MKZ HYBRID
(2014) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Jun 26, 2023
Incident date: Oct 11, 2022
Dealer will not do recall : (The high voltage batteries in these vehicles may pose a risk of fire when charged to full, or very close to full, capacity. General Motors said that the bottom of the battery tray is damaged.
LINCOLN
MKZ HYBRID
(2014) — FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Jun 26, 2023
Incident date: Oct 11, 2022
While driving on interstate 75 north in Florida, the forward collision warning came on indicating something in the road. The system brought the vehicle to a dead stop on the highway and there was nothing in the road. This happened 4 times! We figured out how to disable eyesight and the forward collision system. The weather was clear and sunny. We drove in and out of shaded road. We were able to ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 25, 2023
Car sunroof shattered with a loud explosion sound while driving on the highway around 12:20pm on 6/26/2023.
Incident date: Mar 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that the instrument cluster display was dim. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the instrument panel center cluster display was insufficiently illuminated, and the contact was informed that the wiring jumper harness needed to be added. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 23... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
Both air bags deployed for no reason driver and passenger
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
THE car dash board flashed a message: STOP IMMEDIATELY. CHECK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I drove 1 mile home, called the dealer, was told to have the car towed to dealer. When the tow truck arrived the car battery was totally dead. The dealer said it was an ICCU problem, and that they had seen it before. Could take weeks, or months, to get a new part!
Incident date: Jun 19, 2023
Within the last 2 months the car began to run rough. We added fuel injector cleaner to no avail. After some time, the computer system went berserk - every system in the car was informing us that it had a problem (ie lane keep assist, lane departure warning, collision mitigation braking system, vehicle stability assist , electric power steering etc) along with continued rough engine performance. ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
Recurrent phantom braking while using autopilot. Sudden deceleration that does not seem to correlate to any specific traffic or weather condition.
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
Recurrent phantom braking while using autopilot. Sudden deceleration that does not seem to correlate to any specific traffic or weather condition.
LINCOLN
MKZ HYBRID
(2014) — STEERING
Jun 23, 2023
Incident date: Jun 12, 2023
An issue with my 2018 Honda CRV was diagnosed as requiring the Steering Gearbox to be replaced. Although my CRV has less than 36,000 miles I have owned it for over 3 years so this issue is no longer covered under warranty. After the diagnosis I discovered that this part was included in a safety recall (Honda Service Bulletin 18-103, recall #'s C2N, P2O). Unfortunately, my VIN was not included i... Read more
Incident date: Feb 26, 2023
ABS modular failed causing ABS brakes FCW and LDW and Traction control to stop working
Incident date: Jun 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the f... Read more
Incident date: Jun 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) 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 manufact... Read more
LINCOLN
MKZ
(2015) — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
Jun 20, 2023
Incident date: Jun 16, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that the ABS and traction control warning lights were intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ABS control module needed to be replaced. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and confirmed that parts were not available for repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufa... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2023
I was driving and didn't notice this truck ahead of me as I switched lanes. Although fault is questionable since the truck we traveling extremely slow on the highway, my vehicle had plenty of time to stop with the Pre-Collision System. That system is intended to avoid front end collisions and apply emergency breaks if required. IT DIDN'T. I have video of the system failure from my Dash Cam.
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jun 20, 2023
The power sliding rear door on the driver side is stuck in a locked position for 4-5 days now. This has happened previously to our power sliding rear door on the passenger side as well (before the current extended warranty) and we corrected that issue on our own by replacing the door actuator. Now that it has happened again and there is a warranty on it, I took it to the dealership and they are ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2023
The power sliding rear door on the driver side is stuck in a locked position for 4-5 days now. This has happened previously to our power sliding rear door on the passenger side as well (before the current extended warranty) and we corrected that issue on our own by replacing the door actuator. Now that it has happened again and there is a warranty on it, I took it to the dealership and they are ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
When trying to accelerate, the car will not accelerate. It will start to jerk back and forth and I had cut it off completely in the middle of the road at a stop light.
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
When trying to accelerate, the car will not accelerate. It will start to jerk back and forth and I had cut it off completely in the middle of the road at a stop light.
Incident date: Jun 18, 2023
While driving down the road, my car’s power steering gave out when pulling into the gas station. The information center stated that my power steering system had a failure. It also stated that my lane departure system had a failure when doing research on this problem I found there was a recall for my year and model, but once I reached out to the dealership they told me that my Vin was not covered... Read more
Incident date: Jun 18, 2023
The vehicle loses acceleration while driving slows it down making it dangerous on roads for crash and when it shifts gears it jerks the car
Crash
Incident date: Jun 18, 2023
While approaching a traffic light, the jeep just stalled. After trying to restart, the vehicle had no success proceeded to use key for automatic start and system rebooted and was able to start. This was the second time it happened within a month the first time was also at a traffic light, the car just shut off there were no lights indicating there was any issue. Had taken it to an auto mechanic to... Read more
Incident date: Jun 18, 2023
I recently updated my 2019 Tesla Model 3's software to version 2023.7.15. Ever since I did so I have been getting random, unexplained, and unnecessary decelerations in both adaptive cruise control mode and while driving using the vehicle's autopilot (not FSD). While this is annoying at least it is also unsafe as I could easily be rear-ended for no reason when this happens. It has happened every... Read more
Incident date: Jun 11, 2023
The contact owned a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that her husband was driving at 55 mph while depressing the accelerator pedal but the vehicle failed to accelerate and began to decelerate its speed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to park on the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The driver was unable to restart the vehicle, and he sa... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jun 11, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle started to shudder and lost motive power before the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle also lost power steering functionality and stopped in the right lane on the highway. The contact stated that she restarted the vehicle and was able to exit the highway. The contact stated... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission became inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle was hacked, and that the steering wheel was moving independently. The brakes were applied without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle revved unintendedly, the radio randomly turned on, and the vehicle was being cont... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2023
The headlamps on my car are and have been for quite awhile been hazy with the light unable to meet the safety standards the car is advertising. WIthout proper headlight I am not able to safely see the road ahead of me. There is no replacement or new headlamp avallable.
Incident date: Jun 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the power steering and braking functionality were inoperable. The contact stated that the vehicle ha... Read more
Incident date: Jun 10, 2023
A few days ago while driving (45mph), my 22' 4BW dash lit up like hell and I lost power steering, brakes, went into limp mode. Restarted the vehicle, all was well. I did almost take out the Mini Cooper in front of me, with a 'Baby on Board' sticker. Don't even want to think about that. I have a service appointment scheduled for next week and I'm not driving the vehicle until then. Please review t... Read more
Incident date: Jun 5, 2023
I am having issues with my touch screen. My screen will go black every other week, for about a day and the the SNYC will update. This time, it’s been over a week, and the screen is still black. I have tried changing fuses to no avail. Also, the rear camera does not work. Along with the blind spot warning or the rear cross traffic warning. How should I proceed? I believe it may be a faulty chip i... Read more
Incident date: Jun 5, 2023
After ota software update, the vehicles braking systems (abs, traction control) and driver assistance systems(lane assistance, adaptive cruise control, one pedal driving mode) no longer functioned normally. The vehicle displayed warning information that read “stop safely, brake failure”; on the instrument cluster. This put my family and others at risk by changing the cars behavior by no ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 5, 2023
After ota software update, the vehicles braking systems (abs, traction control) and driver assistance systems(lane assistance, adaptive cruise control, one pedal driving mode) no longer functioned normally. The vehicle displayed warning information that read “stop safely, brake failure”; on the instrument cluster. This put my family and others at risk by changing the cars behavior by no ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
The side mirrors adjust to a position on their own. They also become fixed in this position and are unable to move. Not sure why this happens. I saw some complaints of water exposure being the issue but I have not been able to test this theory. This issue becomes very dangerous when on any road but especially the highway
Incident date: Nov 18, 2022
I have had the vehicle for 1 year and 6 months. I have had to put coolant in it 5 times, about once a month. It has been tested 3 times for a leak and there isn’t one. The dealership just keeps telling me it’s a problem with all of them and there is not fix. They won’t even try. No recalls on it, and I just ran out do warranty.
Incident date: Nov 18, 2022
While driving on autopilot, adaptive cruise control essentially, on a 300 mile trip last week the car had several, I think 5 total, instances of phantom braking. These occurrences happen in random situations, no consistent factors that seem to indicate what triggers it. It is often not only startling, but scary since it is almost always in a high speed situation with traffic. These events have h... Read more