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
LINCOLN
MKZ HYBRID
(2014) — ENGINE
May 15, 2023
Incident date: May 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the grille shutter was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
Incident date: May 2, 2023
I personally DONT know what happened with the car the engine light came on and the car started to pull harder to the right side causing the steering to become unbearable thankfully by god I was able to control it and no one nor myself got hurt. And also in the process the engine started too idle low and take time to accelerate and I just recently took the car to mieneke to get it checked out. I ou... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2023
The PCM shorts out and fails when sparkplug and Coil packs replaced this cause the steering system to fail speedometer to quit and no transmission connection
LINCOLN
AVIATOR PHEV
(2021) — TIRES:SIDEWALL
May 10, 2023
Incident date: May 9, 2023
Front passenger tire reporting normal pressure blew out the sidewalk while driving 50th on dry pavement. Rim shows no damage. Tires hardly worn.
Incident date: Apr 26, 2023
I was driving the car from home to work during morning rush hour in downtown Chicago. I was stopped at a red light and the auto-stop feature engaged as it is intended to do. When the light turned green I put my foot on the gas to go but the car wouldn't move. Cars behind me started honking & going around me. I tried various things but couldn't get the car to move although the ignition light was gr... Read more
LINCOLN
MKZ HYBRID
(2014) — SEATS
May 9, 2023
Incident date: May 6, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Wagoneer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side seat unexpectedly adjusted, causing the contact to be moved up near to the steering wheel. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while his wife was driving. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the electronic... Read more
Incident date: May 8, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV. The contact stated that while reversing into a parking space, the auto brake engaged sporadically. The contact stated there were no objects nearby to have caused the auto brake system to activate. Additionally, the contact stated the vehicle was turned off and the transmission was inadvertently shifted into neutral (N). The contact stated that after d... Read more
Incident date: Oct 31, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the subframe wheel assembly needed to be replaced. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stat... Read more
Incident date: Mar 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G5. The contact stated that while making a right turn in an intersection the vehicle failed to accelerate causing a crash with a second vehicle. During the crash, the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a shoulder and back injury and the passenger sustained a left torso injury which required medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: May 1, 2023
None responsive throttle, driving on highway and engine loses power and loses all throttle response causing rapid slowing to traffic behind the vehicle. No warning lamps and CEL’s. Problem occurs at random times with no CEL or warning.
Incident date: Apr 2, 2023
On April 6, 2023, I put on brakes and my car jerked extremely hard. I then proceeded to the next red light and when I had to put on brakes again it jerked extremely hard again. I pulled in to a local tire shop because I was afraid to drive the car and they drove it and said it needed to go to the Ford dealership as they thought it was my transmission. I drove to the closest Ford dealership and ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 30, 2023
7500 oil change, tire rotation multi vehicle inspection appt. With issues. - didn't do oil change/inspection. Because of major issue with transmission/engine. Vehicle running rough, happens at idle or while driving. Sounds lik it will stall. When u put vehicle in gear drive or reverse vehicle lunges towards direction its in gear. Radio lights on dash decide to dim on their own, shuts off o... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2023
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags) 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 manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN ... Read more
LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
(2019) — ENGINE
May 2, 2023
Incident date: May 1, 2022
Excessive oil consumption. Currently uses 1.2 quarts per 1,000 miles
Incident date: May 1, 2023
The contact's fiancé owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became firm, with the ABS, power steering assist, and traction control warning lights illuminated. On one occasion, the contact stated that the vehicle slid into a ditch as a result of the failure. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manuf... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2023
Rear sub frame allowed for rear suspension arms to be bolted to. One of the locations where those arms have ways to be attached to is no longer safe to do so because of corrosion and rust. I noticed there was a recent safety concern for a generation of Honda CRV having a similar, or indeed the same complaint.
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 25, 2023
First NO WARNINGS Signs of Any Kind were shown at time of 1st & 3rd issues, 1st under hard acceleration or deceleration and sometimes while in turns under acceleration & deceleration you get a Large Bang from underneath the vehicle and it’s not only the sound but feels like the vehicle gets hit but it’s not. 2nd thing I observed dashboard lights suddenly starting to blink and these included wa... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2023
I took my car to Balise Honda in West Warwick, RI for the recall Tikata air bags. The light went off after repaired. However light then came on for Code 9-3. Seatbelt driver. A part for metal part of belt has been ordered a month ago and can't get answer and I am now due for Inspection and will face suspension of my regestration and will have no use of car.
Incident date: Mar 15, 2023
I took my car to Balise Honda in West Warwick, RI for the recall Tikata air bags. The light went off after repaired. However light then came on for Code 9-3. Seatbelt driver. A part for metal part of belt has been ordered a month ago and can't get answer and I am now due for Inspection and will face suspension of my regestration and will have no use of car.
Incident date: Apr 28, 2023
My 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco 2LT has 120,000 miles on it. I purchased the vehicle at 68,000 miles from the only owner of the car. I have had the car 6 years and kept up on all maintenance. While I was driving in a 45mph zone my vehicle’ s interior lighting started flashing. My dash flashed then said service stability track, car went blank then back on said service power steering flashed again and sa... Read more
Incident date: Apr 28, 2023
The brand new car, not even a month in use, turned itself off in the road. Gave several error message. I turned back on and drive several miles again when it turned it self off again, showing the same error messages. A towing truck took it to the dealership Miami Lakes Automall on Wednesday 5/26 no body in service department answers my calls to give me information on my car
Incident date: Apr 27, 2023
2023 VOLKSWAGEN ID 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 23V-213. THE CONSUMER WAS SOLD THIS VEHICLE AFTER THE RECALL DATE, AND IS REQUESTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE CAR.
Incident date: Apr 27, 2023
Vehicle stalled while out driving. White smoke coming from exhaust tail pipes & smell of gas from inside the vehicle which cause me to become dizzy & lightheaded. Engine started choking out & popping & white smoke coming from under hood. I cut vehicle off & call for roadside assistance- vehicle transported to Waldorf Ford Service Center. Vehicle diagnosed with ERG coolant leak coming from EGR cool... Read more
LINCOLN
TOWN CAR
(1999) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:CRANK/CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR
Apr 27, 2023
Incident date: Apr 26, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz E450. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated while responding. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission was slipping. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to an unknown dealer, the check engine warning light turned on... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2023
Powertrain malfunctioning. The vehicle has had multiple neutral out (not reacting) when the accelerator is applied. Occurring in the middle of an intersection 3 times. Stuck in the middle of the intersection has resulted in two (2) cases of almost being hit by an oncoming vehicle. Pulling into traffic from a stop sign and losing the accelerator another time resulting in traffic breaking hard to a... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2023
The windshield wipers are difficult to engage. Doing so while driving requires me to take my eyes off the road
Incident date: Apr 15, 2023
I purchased a rear pickup cover. I used it without problems. I took the top off and stored it in my garage. When I put it back on, I noticed nothing wrong. When I went to open the cover to put garbage bags in the rear bed, I found the first part of the tri-top did not open correctly. I took it to 2 dealers when I was told the cover could not be repaired and there were no replacement parts. I ha... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2023
The ABS light was on in the car. Took to a repair shop and they replaced the ABS Module. Said it fell under R61. But then my re-imbursment was declined because they said my vin did not have the problem. But putting in a new ABS module and reprogramming fixed the issue. How do I get refunded for the failure of a break system that should never have happened? Please call me 979.216.8043
Incident date: Mar 29, 2023
On march 28, 2023 I was riding home From the store and my brakes stop working the next following day I had to get it told to the repair shop to get fix
Incident date: Mar 29, 2023
Upon starting the van (brand new, less than 300 mi driven) everything functions normally in P, however as soon as I shift into D, there is no power and the gas pedal is completely unresponsive (Can push pedal to the floor and still 0 RPM). This issue happens randomly, though the common factor that myself and many others have experienced is being at altitude >5000ft (quite common in western US). Th... Read more
Incident date: Mar 29, 2023
Upon starting the van (brand new, less than 300 mi driven) everything functions normally in P, however as soon as I shift into D, there is no power and the gas pedal is completely unresponsive (Can push pedal to the floor and still 0 RPM). This issue happens randomly, though the common factor that myself and many others have experienced is being at altitude >5000ft (quite common in western US). Th... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated they brought the vehicle in to have NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) and shortly after while driving 45 mph the speed reduced to 35 then back to 15 mph where the speed remained. They were able to drive into a nearby fuel station when they placed the vehicle in the park position and filled the tank. As the contact pressed the acc... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
Purchased used vehicle in 9/2021 and since then we have had 5 incidents with the Idle Stop feature. It seems to shut down the engine and it takes 5 min to restart. The last time it happened was on a busy highway and there was traffic. I stopped because of traffic and when I tried to press gas it completely shut off. The previous times it happened at lights or intersection. After the third time, I ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2023
Steering on jeep is very loose on cold mornings. It gets very wobbly and unable to control above 40mg. You have to be super careful when driving. Took it to the dealership and they said I would need to contact jeep wave as it’s a known issue with “ death wobble “. This jeep is a 2022 with zero modifications and has the crazy wobble.
Crash
Incident date: Apr 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 BMW X1. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V079000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. 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 failu... Read more
Incident date: Apr 21, 2023
ABS and HCU Warning lights come on and off. Looking around the internet this is a huge Problem. Took it to a local Ram dealer today and was told its a $1600.00 out of pocket cost seeing the truck is just out of warranty (of course) with 37,000 miles on it. Driving with the cruise control on it throws the warning lights on and off and cruise stops working. It seems the brakes are weak too. The deal... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2023
I am a CPST that is once again receiving questions from parents about whether or not they can use an unsafe product called the Smart Kid Belt Booster Seat. We have received this question from parents since 2018. Can we do anything to stop sales of this product in the U.S.? This is a "booster seat" that claims to adjust the belt for a child but leaves the lap belt in a dangerous position across the... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
While traveling at varying rates of speed, the transmission will shift on its own from 6th gear down to 2nd gear. This issue locks up the back tires while traveling at a high rate of speed and therefore is a huge safety issue. Especially since this happened with my children and wife in the vehicle. This issue has also started to cause multiple other features to not work including the speedometer ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 21, 2023
UNKNOWN MY 2021 FORD F-150 POWERBOOST HYBRID CAUGHT ON FIRE ON FEBRUARY 03, 2023. THE TRUCK WAS NOT RUNNING AND FORTUNATELY I HAD IT IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I WAS HEADING OUT OF TOWN FOR THE WEEKEND. IT STARTED UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO BE CALLED TO PUT IT OUT. IF THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE GARAGE IT WOULD HAVE EASILY BURNED MY HOUSE DOWN. MY I... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Apr 21, 2023
ABS hydraulic control unit has went out with 6000 miles. It’s a known issue to ram back order of part is 6 months. There are lawsuits over this issue. Why can’t we have ram fix this safety issue. Does it take people getting killed to make this a recall?
Incident date: Apr 20, 2023
For the 3rd time in less than 3 months the instrument panel is blank, no instruments are visible, no power to the screen. Cars need to go back to analog gauges for safety.
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while turning the steering wheel in either direction, there was a clicking sound was coming from the steering column. Additionally, while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated, with the cruise control feature inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the clockspring was... Read more
Incident date: Apr 17, 2023
Theirs a humming or whining sound and burning odors on the transmission. Slipping on transmission gear.
Incident date: Apr 19, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V162000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) 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 while driving approximately 15 MPH, she heard an abnormal clicking noise as she de... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
Driving down the highway, 70 mph, and the middle panel of the panoramic sunroof just shattered. Nothing struck the glass, and the highway was smooth; no potholes or bumps.
Incident date: Mar 3, 2023
Replacing tires for the first time in this vehicle & all lug nuts on each tire is swollen. Reached out to Ford & they advised to file a complaint as my vehicle is not recalled for this at this time but there is a recall for swollen lug nuts under 22S59
Incident date: Mar 3, 2023
I bought this car through carvana. They mentioned it had no issues, after 6 months of driving I noticed the car is literally flooded inside and the electrical does not work well at all. I spent alot of money trying to fix the electrical including the wipers and AC yet both keep getting destroyed. Sometimes my traction system will go off and on and it's just so annoying how the water damage is eati... Read more
LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
(2017) — ENGINE
Apr 17, 2023
Incident date: Jul 19, 2019
Some engine rumbling at normal operation, and noticed a yellow check-engine light, not filled (meaning not a catastrophic issue). Attached my OBDII reader and found error: 24BF00 Injector, cylinder 2, zero-quantity adaptation - permitted filtered actuation duration correction too high. A google search confirmed this fault is covered in https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10184567-9999.pdf w... Read more
LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
(2017) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 17, 2023
Incident date: Aug 26, 2022
I received a warning light and checked with my OBDII reader that the Diesel Exhaust Fluid transfer pump had a implausible reading and was not working. This is a key part of the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system, part of the emissions control system, and will make the vehicle fault to the point where it will lock the car from being driven (no start condition).