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
CONTINENTAL
(2017) — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:EXTERIOR
May 30, 2022
Incident date: Apr 1, 2022
3 of the 4 doors stopped opening from the outside. The door handles were completely inoperable.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2022
Drivers side headlight intermittently goes on and off. Signal light does not work when this happens. Have been told that headlight control module would need to be replaced, but Lincoln and Ford no longer has the part.
Incident date: May 1, 2022
I purchased the vehicle a few months ago from a small used dealership in Anderson, SC. The seller/owner raved about the condition of the car and all seemed well until after the purchase when I discovered there was an Open Recall for the driver's airbag. However, when I contacted the local Ford dealership and the NHTSA website I found there is "No Remedy" available from Ford. According to variou... Read more
Incident date: May 28, 2021
Backup camera turns to blue screen when the vehicle is put into reverse.
Incident date: Aug 9, 2021
The contact owned a 2010 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH and crossing an intersection, another vehicle crashed into the passenger’s side of the vehicle and pushed the vehicle into oncoming traffic. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the driver’s side of the vehicle. The contact was knocked out unconscious. The contact was later informed that the driver’s side a... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: May 20, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was a brake booster fault and the contact depressed the brake pedal to the floor. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who diagnosed the failure with the brake booster. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approxim... Read more
LINCOLN
NAVIGATOR
(2017) — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
May 24, 2022
Incident date: May 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated when starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost brake functionality. The brake fluid warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the brake master cylinder and brake booster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2021
Been trying for about a year to get this safety recall called 4 local ford dealer ships first one said my cars to old they won’t fix the safety recall other don’t give call back I can hear like vibrating in the back where this recall would fix it hopfully it don’t break on me
Incident date: May 21, 2022
I WAS DRIVING GOING OVER 50 PER MILE ON HWY , WHEN I TRY TO TAKE THE EXIT MY VEHICLE KEEP GOING STRAIGHT I CAN'T MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL , I WAS ALMOST GOING TO THE TREES THAN I STOP . AND I THINK THIS PART OF RECALL PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] THANK YOU . INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Incident date: May 4, 2022
Vehicle had recall 21V735 completed. Rear camera fail/blue screen both when engaged in reverse and using camera button. Failure resulted in warning messages of reverse brake assist unavailable. Video taken showing current software version while parked and camera failure for proof and uploaded to manufacture social media account in direct message. Additionally, local FMCO dealership was called to ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 22, 2022
The seatbelt On the driver side doesn’t work it will not come out cannot clamp on it has been looked at by an independent service technician there were no warning lights came on The service center said the seatbelt and it parts has to be replaced
LINCOLN
MKZ HYBRID
(2017) — STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
May 20, 2022
Incident date: May 6, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The contact stated that there was corrosion on the seams of the hood and the doors of the vehicle towards the bottom where the aluminum meets the steel. The contact took the vehicle to an auto body shop and stated that all the parts needed to be replaced due to the severity of the corrosion. The contact spoke to the dealer who confirmed there was no reca... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed the water pump needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that water had leaked into the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no additional assistance was prov... Read more
Incident date: May 13, 2022
The screen in which my backup camera appears on seems to not be connected to my vehicle. This screen is also the primary method for controlling AC, radio, parking/camera, and general settings. Initially it was black and did not turn on. After doing some type of “reset” that was suggested during the Lincoln chat, it came on; however, it looks like it was updated with a Ford update, is blue, and... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2022
First incident: My daughter was in the vehicle in our driveway in March 2022 and was leaving. She came running inside and told me she hit the start button and that the vehicle did not start, but started to roll down the driveway with the steering wheel locked in position. She was stepping on the brakes and the vehicle continued to roll out into the street until it finally stopped when it hit th... Read more
Crash
Incident date: May 2, 2022
First incident: My daughter was in the vehicle in our driveway in March 2022 and was leaving. She came running inside and told me she hit the start button and that the vehicle did not start, but started to roll down the driveway with the steering wheel locked in position. She was stepping on the brakes and the vehicle continued to roll out into the street until it finally stopped when it hit th... Read more
Crash
Incident date: May 2, 2022
First incident: My daughter was in the vehicle in our driveway in March 2022 and was leaving. She came running inside and told me she hit the start button and that the vehicle did not start, but started to roll down the driveway with the steering wheel locked in position. She was stepping on the brakes and the vehicle continued to roll out into the street until it finally stopped when it hit th... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 25, 2022
My car had a 9-10 second delay from what was shown in the backup camera to what had already happened. It almost caused an accident as the camera didn't show any car in my path, but in reality, the car was stopped directly behind my car. Lincoln had me take it to a dealership, which didn't have time for a full software update, so I took it to another dealership and they re installed the software ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the panoramic sunroof shattered without incident. The contact initially thought that the failure was linked to his tires; however, upon inspection of his tires, he found no defect. The contact then discovered that his sunroof had shattered into several pieces. The vehicle was initially towed to an independent mechan... Read more
Incident date: May 3, 2022
Rear end started a sudden howell and shaking and grinding and the Abs and traction control light came on and brakes and suspension did not want to function properly while driving in traffic as quick as I could I pulled over and it looked like one tire was sticking out of the axel way far So I just pulled over and called for my AAA to to and got towed home thats it
Incident date: May 3, 2022
Rear end started a sudden howell and shaking and grinding and the Abs and traction control light came on and brakes and suspension did not want to function properly while driving in traffic as quick as I could I pulled over and it looked like one tire was sticking out of the axel way far So I just pulled over and called for my AAA to to and got towed home thats it
Incident date: May 3, 2022
Rear end started a sudden howell and shaking and grinding and the Abs and traction control light came on and brakes and suspension did not want to function properly while driving in traffic as quick as I could I pulled over and it looked like one tire was sticking out of the axel way far So I just pulled over and called for my AAA to to and got towed home thats it
Incident date: May 6, 2022
The brake light switch assembly failed. The car's brake light will not go off. Other drivers do not know if you are braking. The dealer can not fix it until next week, meanwhile, it is dangerous to drive. This brake switch assembly is under recall for 2014 MKZ and 2015 MKZ. It looks to be the same assembly on the 2016 MKZ. There was no warning. The brake lights come on while parked in the driveway... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2022
The brake light switch assembly failed. The car's brake light will not go off. Other drivers do not know if you are braking. The dealer can not fix it until next week, meanwhile, it is dangerous to drive. This brake switch assembly is under recall for 2014 MKZ and 2015 MKZ. It looks to be the same assembly on the 2016 MKZ. There was no warning. The brake lights come on while parked in the driveway... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2022
The brake light switch assembly failed. The car's brake light will not go off. Other drivers do not know if you are braking. The dealer can not fix it until next week, meanwhile, it is dangerous to drive. This brake switch assembly is under recall for 2014 MKZ and 2015 MKZ. It looks to be the same assembly on the 2016 MKZ. There was no warning. The brake lights come on while parked in the driveway... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Lincoln MKC. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a defective transmission pump. The dealer informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2022
The contact owns a 2011 Lincoln MKZ. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal knocking noise detected and the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that water had entered the engine and the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failu... Read more
Incident date: Apr 19, 2022
4/19/22 Staten Island NY. As I was getting off of the Hylan Blvd exit from the SI Expressway traveling toward NJ, I made a left turn. While the wheel was turned the power steering failed, locking up the steering wheel. These alerts came on the dashboard: Hill Start Assist Warning, Service Steering, Pre-Collision Assist Not Available. The car was towed to Dana Ford and the technician says ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 19, 2022
4/19/22 Staten Island NY. As I was getting off of the Hylan Blvd exit from the SI Expressway traveling toward NJ, I made a left turn. While the wheel was turned the power steering failed, locking up the steering wheel. These alerts came on the dashboard: Hill Start Assist Warning, Service Steering, Pre-Collision Assist Not Available. The car was towed to Dana Ford and the technician says ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 19, 2022
4/19/22 Staten Island NY. As I was getting off of the Hylan Blvd exit from the SI Expressway traveling toward NJ, I made a left turn. While the wheel was turned the power steering failed, locking up the steering wheel. These alerts came on the dashboard: Hill Start Assist Warning, Service Steering, Pre-Collision Assist Not Available. The car was towed to Dana Ford and the technician says ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2022
All windows will fog up when the outside air temperature is below 29 degrees Fahrenheit. The dealer says that it is a known condition, but they are not sure how to resolve it.
Crash
Incident date: May 1, 2022
driving at 15mph, steering locked and was very difficult to get out of traffic. power steering assist fault came on AFTER the failing. attempted to restart the car several times , power steering never re-engaged
Incident date: May 1, 2022
driving at 15mph, steering locked and was very difficult to get out of traffic. power steering assist fault came on AFTER the failing. attempted to restart the car several times , power steering never re-engaged
Incident date: Apr 28, 2022
Lincoln customer service has been an ultimate nightmare. Previously spent $2,000 just so the car would stop blasting the heat, blasting the radio, locking and unlocking vehicle. In order to get the car stereo working it’s an additional $4,000. From all my research I’m relieved I’m one of many dealing with this recall Lincoln refuses to take responsibility on screwing loyal customers like me.... Read more
Incident date: Apr 28, 2022
Lincoln customer service has been an ultimate nightmare. Previously spent $2,000 just so the car would stop blasting the heat, blasting the radio, locking and unlocking vehicle. In order to get the car stereo working it’s an additional $4,000. From all my research I’m relieved I’m one of many dealing with this recall Lincoln refuses to take responsibility on screwing loyal customers like me.... Read more
Incident date: Apr 28, 2022
Lincoln customer service has been an ultimate nightmare. Previously spent $2,000 just so the car would stop blasting the heat, blasting the radio, locking and unlocking vehicle. In order to get the car stereo working it’s an additional $4,000. From all my research I’m relieved I’m one of many dealing with this recall Lincoln refuses to take responsibility on screwing loyal customers like me.... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2022
When applying the brake to slow down on an exit ramp, the car unexpectedly accelerated despite the brake pedal being pressed hard. The driver was able to avoid a collision with a stopped vehicle in front by shifting the gear into neutral. The engine revved up for a couple a seconds, but returned to a normal rate of revolution with the gear still in neutral and the car practically stopped.
Incident date: Apr 23, 2022
The car speed decelerating. I was driving on Freeway going 75 miles yellow wrench came on car decelerated to 45 miles an 18 wheeler was behind me and couldn’t stop almost hit me thankful the opposite lane was free and he was able to change lanes in time. Once lane decelerates it shut completely down. This could have cost me my life. The vehicle is in the shop took it before and because the light... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2022
The car speed decelerating. I was driving on Freeway going 75 miles yellow wrench came on car decelerated to 45 miles an 18 wheeler was behind me and couldn’t stop almost hit me thankful the opposite lane was free and he was able to change lanes in time. Once lane decelerates it shut completely down. This could have cost me my life. The vehicle is in the shop took it before and because the light... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2022
Had to replace all 20 lug nuts at one time on my 2015 Lincoln MKC; described as swollen; "ACPZ *1012*H 247886 Nut
LINCOLN
AVIATOR PHEV
(2022) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 26, 2022
Incident date: Apr 26, 2022
I have had multiple CHECK ENGINE LIGHT issues where the description is "MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP - REGULATORY" and the detailed description is a problem with THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM (EVAP). My cell phone app says fuel vapors are being detected. Three separate times, this check engine light has come on. Three separate times I've brought the vehicle to the dealership. My car only has ... Read more
LINCOLN
AVIATOR PHEV
(2022) — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 26, 2022
Incident date: Apr 26, 2022
I have had multiple CHECK ENGINE LIGHT issues where the description is "MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP - REGULATORY" and the detailed description is a problem with THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM (EVAP). My cell phone app says fuel vapors are being detected. Three separate times, this check engine light has come on. Three separate times I've brought the vehicle to the dealership. My car only has ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2020
The contact owns a 2014 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would independently downshift which would lead to an abrupt slowdown of the vehicle. The contact stated that both the power train and fuel tank warning symbols would appear on the instrument panel after the failure. The contact would then restart the vehicle and resume normal driving sho... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2022
This was the most recent issue I experienced with my Aviator, the first being electrical after 2 months of owning it. I was driving and the car completely shut off (engine, power steering, breaking) the electrical components went crazy, but I thankfully was not on a highway as I had to guide the truck until it stopped from moving 25mph+. I went into oncoming traffic but no one was there. Then I ha... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2022
This was the most recent issue I experienced with my Aviator, the first being electrical after 2 months of owning it. I was driving and the car completely shut off (engine, power steering, breaking) the electrical components went crazy, but I thankfully was not on a highway as I had to guide the truck until it stopped from moving 25mph+. I went into oncoming traffic but no one was there. Then I ha... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2022
This was the most recent issue I experienced with my Aviator, the first being electrical after 2 months of owning it. I was driving and the car completely shut off (engine, power steering, breaking) the electrical components went crazy, but I thankfully was not on a highway as I had to guide the truck until it stopped from moving 25mph+. I went into oncoming traffic but no one was there. Then I ha... Read more
LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
(2017) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Apr 19, 2022
Incident date: Apr 19, 2022
Drivers side rear door wont unlock
Incident date: Apr 18, 2022
2105 LINCOLN MKZ. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING BRAKE PEDAL STOP BUMPER SAFETY RECALL. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING TO BE REINBURSED FOR PAYING FOR - RECALL RELATED REPAIR. TS THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE PEDAL STOP BUMPER FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE BRA... Read more
LINCOLN
MKZ
(2015) — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Apr 18, 2022
Incident date: Apr 17, 2022
While driving, the right front brake hose ruptured, releasing a large amount of brake fluid, dropping the brake pedal to the floor and causing a sudden loss of braking power. I have the faulty hose in my possession. I was not able to brake while driving out of the mountains in Tennessee. My wife and I consider ourselves lucky to be alive. Had it happened minutes earlier, we would not be here to te... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
Driving this vehicle in snow and ice collects in my wheel wells because of the material used in them. It is felt like heavily textured that the snow and ice sticks to like glue. So, in lots of snow and slush on the road it quickly collects to its limit of area between tire and wheel well and then makes turning or steering the car difficult. It does NOT slide off easily even when going to the ca... Read more