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 17, 2022
A/C and Heater control; A/C blows cool on passenger side and blows hot on driver side
Incident date: Mar 25, 2021
My vehicle has a safety recall for a possible exploding driver airbag, recall number 21V158. This recall was issued 3/25/21, about 10 months ago, and the manufacturer still does not have a fix for it. This is unacceptable given the severity of the recall. The NHTSA website states that if the manufacturer has not remedied a recall in a reasonable amount of time, then a vehicle complaint should b... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2022
Lincoln dealer advised during an unrelated servicing of my 2015 MKZ that the lug nuts were swollen and presented a danger and major problem with the definite hazard of not bring able to remove a flat tire on the roadside with the standard tire wrench. I see that my situation is not unique and repeated many times over based on reported cases. I believe that a Ford/Lincoln recall is the proper out... Read more
Incident date: Jan 18, 2022
Coolant leaking into the cylinder. Had it serviced at 69.4K miles with a radiator flush and 3,000 miles later the warranty has expired and we have coolant in the cylinder. The fix is an engine replacement, $11K. There is a technical bulletin out so they this is a common problem, however they seem to let the issue go without notification in hopes the warranty's expire.
Incident date: Jan 14, 2022
CAR WAS SOLD WITH A UN REPAIRED RECALL FROM CAR MAX HOUSTON LOCATION -CAR MAX BUSINESS SERVICE .I WAS TOLD TO GET INTOUCH WITH YOU ALL TO TAKE CARE OF RECALL. PLEASE email me on what shop i can take my vehicle to.. [XXX] are call me at [XXX] [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Incident date: Jan 6, 2022
I went to the dealer for a tire rotation and could not do it because they said I had swollen lug nuts , they are not covered on my extended warranty
Incident date: Aug 12, 2021
UNKNOWN
LINCOLN
AVIATOR PHEV
(2021) - BACK OVER PREVENTION
Jan 16, 2022
Incident date: Jan 14, 2022
The Rear View Camera (entire screen) constantly turns on and off when reversing the vehicle. It has been inspected several times with no resolve.
Incident date: Dec 28, 2021
Went to unlock vehicle but found it was unlocked. Tried to start car and noticed there was nothing in the car that worked, interior lights, dashboard monitors, all computer functions were out and could not open the rear hatch. Called Lincoln assist and they sent AAA. They tested battery and it was good, tried a jump start and nothing happened. Saw on the internet (Lincolnforum.org) that disconnect... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2021
Went to unlock vehicle but found it was unlocked. Tried to start car and noticed there was nothing in the car that worked, interior lights, dashboard monitors, all computer functions were out and could not open the rear hatch. Called Lincoln assist and they sent AAA. They tested battery and it was good, tried a jump start and nothing happened. Saw on the internet (Lincolnforum.org) that disconnect... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2021
Went to unlock vehicle but found it was unlocked. Tried to start car and noticed there was nothing in the car that worked, interior lights, dashboard monitors, all computer functions were out and could not open the rear hatch. Called Lincoln assist and they sent AAA. They tested battery and it was good, tried a jump start and nothing happened. Saw on the internet (Lincolnforum.org) that disconnect... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2010 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that the headlights failed to illuminate as needed. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the headlight bulbs and wires; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic, who diagnosed that the headlight wiring harness kept disconnecting. The vehicle wa... Read more
Incident date: Jan 12, 2022
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brake pedal went all the way to the floorboard and failed to stop the vehicle within a reasonable time frame. The contact was able to pull over and restart the vehicle after waiting approximately 10 minutes. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. T... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2022
Cheap two piece lug nut design. The outer shell of the lug nut deforms to the point you can not remove the lug nut. If you get a flat tire you can possibly be stranded due to these defective lug nuts.
Incident date: Jan 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The contact stated that the rear driver's side door failed to open as needed. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that she would need to pay for the diagnostic test and repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The contact stated that the rear driver's side door failed to open as needed. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that she would need to pay for the diagnostic test and repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Lincoln MKC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The contact stated that the rear driver's side door failed to open as needed. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that she would need to pay for the diagnostic test and repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2022
This vehicle has been recalled at least twice for a faulty rear camera system. When vehicle is put in reverse the image on the screen flips so bad you cannot see what is behind you. The previous recalls were for this, we had it in the shop twice before the 2 recalls plus the two recalls (4 times) and cannot get a properly working rear camera. This is a safety issue because we rely on the camer... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2021
Manufacturer has not supplied the front air bag replacement part.
Incident date: Dec 8, 2021
An electrical overload occurs below the passengers seat, burning out the electrical connector, requiring a costly repair and can be a fire hazard. This is the second time this vehicle had this electrical problem and has required repair. The dealer has confirmed this problem, but has no solution, only to replace the same parts. There is not notification this issue is occurring, the only evidence of... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2021
2017 Lincoln MKZ had the "Auto Hold" on and the car came to a complete stop at an intersection with a red traffic light. One other vehicle was in front of me and we had been stopped for at least 30 seconds. Without notice the Lincoln MKZ quickly lunged forward and struck the vehicle in front of me. I kept applying the brake but the car would not stop, it kept hitting the car in front 3 times be... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 22, 2021
If the rear trunk gate is up and the vehicle is running the passenger compartment will fill with carbon monoxide very quickly. This usually will happen if loading luggage or items in the back of the vehicle while the engine runs. Certainly a risk if kids are left in the passenger compartment while the truck is being loaded when the engine is running.
Incident date: Dec 22, 2021
If the rear trunk gate is up and the vehicle is running the passenger compartment will fill with carbon monoxide very quickly. This usually will happen if loading luggage or items in the back of the vehicle while the engine runs. Certainly a risk if kids are left in the passenger compartment while the truck is being loaded when the engine is running.
Incident date: Dec 29, 2021
Want to report similar problem others seem to be reporting. When starting the car you hear 5 chimes/beeps repeating five times. The airbag light remains lit the entire time. On extended trips the chimes/beeps comes on again roughly every thirty minutes. Being directly linked to the airbag I’m surprised to find that this has yet to be recalled especially since many other towncar owners are report... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2021
Want to report similar problem others seem to be reporting. When starting the car you hear 5 chimes/beeps repeating five times. The airbag light remains lit the entire time. On extended trips the chimes/beeps comes on again roughly every thirty minutes. Being directly linked to the airbag I’m surprised to find that this has yet to be recalled especially since many other towncar owners are report... Read more
Incident date: Dec 24, 2021
While driving between 35 to 60 the car is very noisy in Gear. checked all fluids and under carriage and it’s leaking oil from the ptu
Incident date: Dec 24, 2021
Dual climate control only heating on passenger side driver’s side is not heating it has 115000 it’s a 2007 mkx it is also leaking fluid from the ptu the car is only 10 months old this is ridiculous ford should be issuing recalls for these as there are many people that have the same complaints for the faulty parts someone is going to get hurt if ford doesnt recall these parts
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
Sometimes while starting the car, the power steering does not work and the car can barely be maneuvered out of a parking spot. Turning the car off and re-starting it fixes the problem however this happens about every other week. This has not happened while the car has been in motion thankfully as I’m sure this would cause an accident. The mileage this started was about 200,000 miles. There is... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2021
While driving, there is an electrical issue that is causing warning alarms to go off for hill-descend control, advance-trac traction control, etc. During this time, there is also a complete loss of power steering and making the vehicle almost impossible to turn. The first incident happened on November 26, 2021 around 7pm were I was able to stop prior to hitting a building. I shut the vehicle off a... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2021
While driving, there is an electrical issue that is causing warning alarms to go off for hill-descend control, advance-trac traction control, etc. During this time, there is also a complete loss of power steering and making the vehicle almost impossible to turn. The first incident happened on November 26, 2021 around 7pm were I was able to stop prior to hitting a building. I shut the vehicle off a... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
Wrench light came on a few times when I checked it the codes were p2135 and p0122 and p1576 car didnt accelerate It happen again one time and then it was letting me accelerate but it was very limited
Incident date: Mar 25, 2021
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Lincoln MKZ. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V158000 (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 manuf... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2021
While driving on the freeway with the cruise set at 70MPH, the sign recognition software all of a sudden picked up the 35MPH speed limit from the adjacent service drive and abruptly slowed the vehicle down to 35MPH. This happened on another freeway which had a service drive so there is definitely some issue with the sign recognition software. This issue occurs in the same location on these freew... Read more
Incident date: Dec 16, 2021
The contact owns a 2003 Lincoln Town Car. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V328000 (Suspension) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, vibration sounds were heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. The local dealer, All American Ford of Paramus (375 NJ-17, Paramus, NJ 07652) and Mahw... Read more
Incident date: Dec 14, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln MKX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenance, the dealer informed the contact that the lug nuts needed to be replaced due to the lug nut edges being rounded. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had safety concerns if the vehicle had a flat tire in a rural area or in cold weather conditions where the lug nuts could no... Read more
Incident date: Dec 13, 2021
Driving and stopped for a red light. The engine stalled and would not restart.I was driving and slowed down for a red light. The engine chugged and stalled. It would not restart. There was a recall on the 2013 model with the exact problem but not for the 2014. This could have ended terribly had I not been slowing down for the light. I was able to swerve into a large mall parking lot and came to a ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 13, 2021
The contact owns a 2013 Lincoln MKT. The contact stated while exiting out of a parking spot, the steering wheel locked up and would not turn. The power steering fault warning light was illuminated. The contact shifted the vehicle into PARK and restarted the vehicle for the power steering functionality to return. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the failure might be related t... Read more
Incident date: Nov 21, 2021
November 21, 2021, while driving on the HWY at about 65 MPH, the forward panoramic moon roof exploded. Simply exploded. Not hit by anything - no cars or trucks in front of us. Thank goodness, we had the interior part closed, or it would have exploded all over us. This was a very loud explosion! Thank goodness I did not lose control of the car.
Incident date: Nov 12, 2021
I have a 2012 Lincoln MKX and a piece of the transmission broke off while I was driving on the highway at night. I was able to get the vehicle to the shoulder but this could have caused a serious accident even resulting in fatalities. I have contacted the dealership but he is not cooperating and says that he is going to do nothing about it. I have an estimate from the repair where I had to have ... Read more
LINCOLN
CONTINENTAL
(2017) - SEATS
Dec 9, 2021
Incident date: Dec 7, 2021
I turned on my heated seats and felt my back burning. I turned it off and called the dealer immediately and noted my brand new winter arctic coat had a hole in it, the seat had a hole in the air bladder of the seat and the entire car was smelling of burning. I have owned the car without problems. My back had a first degree burn
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2019 Lincoln Navigator. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH and depressing on the accelerator pedal, the RPM rose to 6,500 however, the vehicle began to decelerate. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and was able to continue to drive to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to the lo... Read more
Incident date: Nov 9, 2021
Owner of 2016 MKZ Hybrid 65870 miles Loss of electronic power steering and Advance Trac Soon after replacement of Bolt under recall 19R02 I heard friction/grinding when turning steering wheel. Oct 1, 2021 I contacted Parks Lincoln of Tampa for a diagnostic and they told me the steering rack assembly would need to be replaced. On November 6,2021 I lost physical steering ability. I had my car towed ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2019
Transmission shudders at various shift points but mostly during slight increase in acceleration between 40 to 55 MPH.
Incident date: Dec 3, 2021
As I was returning home from a haircut, my 2011 Lincoln MKS shut off as I was attempting to stop at a red light. I was able to get the car to complete stop. I looked at the dash to see if any warning signs, alerts or any gauges we abnormal. When nothing alarmed me I started my vehicle and proceeded when the light turned green approximately 1/2 mile the car stalled again as I was driving at 35 mph.... Read more
Incident date: Dec 3, 2021
Tire size: 255/45 R 19 This is actually about all four of my tires. I bought my tires at a discount tire in Bloomingdale, Il shop on 12/14/19. Had 52,524 documented miles. First my tires kept loosing air. maybe had to fill them one every 2-3 weeks, by 2020, it was every 10 days or so. Since 2021 it was up to 2-4 times a week. Took my car to a different tire shop today (12/3/2021) with 67,1... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2021
the radio screen at night will not dim/switch to night mode and it's a bright spotlight in your face while driving. This is blinding and dangerous. I believe this is a software glitch and I don’t believe Lincoln is in a hurry to fix it unless the NHTSA steps in like they did for the back up camera issue. In my photos I’m including you can see it is night with the headlights on yet the screen i... Read more