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 29,895 complaints for MAZDA
Incident date: Oct 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); 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 dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufa... Read more
Incident date: Oct 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 528I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); 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 dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufa... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
Transmission intermittently allows the RPMs to double from 2,000 to 4,000 RPMs. It occasionally displays trouble codes, and exhibits a grinding, whirring noise. An Independent transmission shop confirms that it needs to be replaced. Toyota has issued a recall referred to as Customer Support Program ZJC, but their representatives claim that our vehicle does not qualify, even though the date and mod... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
Vehicle at operating temperature, running, in gear and at a stop. Making a left turn into traffic. I release the brake and apply the accelerator, the car rolls out into traffic but no power, I press more and more until it is 100% throttle, all the way to the floor. Then after about 5 seconds the vehicle moves forward. Complete loss of response/power for 5 seconds. Thankfully no traffic coming. Thi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
Vehicle at operating temperature, running, in gear and at a stop. Making a left turn into traffic. I release the brake and apply the accelerator, the car rolls out into traffic but no power, I press more and more until it is 100% throttle, all the way to the floor. Then after about 5 seconds the vehicle moves forward. Complete loss of response/power for 5 seconds. Thankfully no traffic coming. Thi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V534000 (Structure); 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2025
For about a year occasionally when I put my van in park it rolls away mostly within approx.5 seconds thankfully all the times this happened I was able to jump back in to hit the brake pedal. I told the dealer the problem about 1 month ago they looked into it and said they could not find any problem.Yesterday for the first time my van rolled out of park approx.3 minutes later and collided with my o... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 4, 2025
Rearview camera flickers or doesn't turn on at times.
Incident date: May 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated that his wife was driving the vehicle on the highway at 45 MPH, when upon accelerating the vehicle did not accelerate. The contact stated that his wife then attempted to shift the vehicle into park, and again into drive however the vehicle did not move. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmissi... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
Rattling sound when the car is started - this is happening every time. MPG dropped from 42 to 30..
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
The driver side door is stuck in the closed position and will not open. The only way for the driver to get out of the car is to move to the passenger seat and open the passenger side door. To get inside and drive the car, the driver needs to open the passenger side door and move to the driver seat. The condition creates a very dangerous situation for the driver and passengers. The design of the ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Mini Cooper S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System); 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. Parts distrib... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2024
My vehicle has intermittent functioning of rearview camera image while reversing. I can sometimes get it to work by opening an closing the rear hatch. Sometimes the image is clear, sometimes there is no image and sometimes it is distorted/rolls. Mazda notified me of the recall September 2023, but the company has failed to repair the defect within a reasonable amount of time.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2018
Since buying our 2016 Ram 1500 ecodiesel, we have had nothing but problems. In 2020 there was an EGR/coolant leak that was supposedly done. Upon getting the recall done, they said that the manufacturer has not yet made any equipment to fix the issue. They replaced our hose, but we have had to get it fixed almost annually since then. This is a lemon of a truck and FCA should be ashamed releasing a ... Read more
MAZDA
CX-5
(2018) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Jan 3, 2025
Incident date: Dec 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with an intake manifold failure. The contact was informed that the intake manifold ne... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2024
in 2023 while driving my 2003 Honda Element the control arm ripped out of the frame I had it fixed to the tune of $1800. Fast forward to this week when servicing my Element I found a major rust spot on the other trailing arm bracket. After more research there is a recall in Canada to fix this but not in US. how can this be? It is a major flaw and concern that at high speeds the arm can rip out. Ho... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
Pearl paint has been peeling more and more especially when washing my vehicle. This shouldn't be happening and i see similar paint issues with other Kia and Hyundai models. I need Kia to take accountable and responsibly for their defect.
Incident date: Jan 3, 2025
I am having difficulties with my engine push start/stop button. It takes multiple tries to get the car to turn on. There is a recall for my exact car, year, and model but my vin is not included. I am wondering how I am able to get my vin included in the recall? Thank you very much for you help!!
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
Rear passenger seat belt has unbuckled / unlatched itself multiple times during driving. Unbuckles with passenger in seat.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler 200. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was restarted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 BMW 528I. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming from the engine and entering the cabin through the vents. The engine warning light was illuminated. There were unknown messages displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The contact received notification of N... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
The started dies on my car. BMW issued a notification stating that there was a defect with the starter and a software patch had to be installed by the dealer. Without the patch, the notice indicated that the starter could overlap and die - which is what happened to my car. I had to have it towed - it died in the middle of a busy intersection. The notice indicted that drivers would be reimbursed fo... Read more
Incident date: Aug 23, 2023
Random multifunction camera failure triggering lots of errors. Needed to pay dealership over 2000 to fix. Safety issue as it disables blind spot detection, lane change, collision warnings etc
Incident date: Jul 11, 2023
incident I would like to report involves the crash of a 2018 Nissan Sentra (VIN: [XXX] ) that occurred on the morning of [XXX], coinciding with [XXX] on [XXX] at the [XXX] location. It is very concerning and puzzling how, in rainy conditions, after the vehicle collided with the highway barrier, the airbag of the Sentra failed to deploy, resulting in the driver’s head hitting the steering whe... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 31, 2024
Driver door latch and lock failure at extreme cold temperatures. Failed last year could not exit vehicle at Ford dealership. Ford dealership added grease and problem did not occur again for 11 months. Same problem occurred this December. Door latch stays open and will not latch so door has to be held shut by driver while moving down the road. Problem occurred on 4 different days of single digit t... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
When driving my vehicle the rear axle snapped causing the vehicle to fishtail. When checked by insurance company for repairs they found the Air suspension and rear axle snapped. It took out the air ride suspension, and bent 2 rims. It caused damage to the front fender as well as both interior wheel wells on the driver's side. Due to the suspension issue it caused a rock to come up and cracked wind... Read more
Incident date: Oct 11, 2024
Transmission whine stated on or around 52000 miles. Whine progressively increased in volume over the next 2000 miles. Toyota dealer analyzed the noise and recommended the transmission be replaced. Transmission out of warranty. Independent transmission shop confirmed transmission internal pump was failing and could cause transmission lockup at speed.
Incident date: Nov 12, 2024
Loss of propulsion. Vehicle will not start/move. If vehicle does turn on , it will not turn off. Vehicle has been having reduced propulsion issues for multiple years (taken to dealer many times) that dealership has refused to do a HV battery capacity test while under warranty, even after leaving with them for multiple months they claimed they could not replicate error. On day of pickup error prese... Read more
Incident date: Jul 14, 2023
Vehicle Information: • Make: Tesla • Model: Model Y • Year: 2024 Description of the Problem: After a software update pushed by Tesla, the AP4 computer in my 2024 Tesla Model Y shorted out, causing a complete failure of all systems controlled by this computer. The following safety-critical and driver-assist features have become non-functional: Cruise Control (adaptive or otherwise) Back u... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
My vehicle has a battery issue, we replaced the battery twice in two years still the issue might happened again and again. Once the battery start draining energy, everything start blinking and car stops all of a sudden in the middle of the road because of brake assistance problem. All the system errors come up. It is very scary to drive the vehicle with my kids inside. All system in car works w... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Acura MDX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 23V751000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, parts to do the recall repair were unavailable. 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 ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 22, 2024
On multiple occasions while driving, vehicle gear blinked from Drive and told me place the vehicle in park. Unable to do so because I was in traffic, vehicle would no longer accelerate and completely stopped. I could not shift to Park and had to turn off the entire car. Once restarted, brake system was engaged and I could not turn it off until I restarted the vehicle again. I have had my children ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 22, 2024
On multiple occasions while driving, vehicle gear blinked from Drive and told me place the vehicle in park. Unable to do so because I was in traffic, vehicle would no longer accelerate and completely stopped. I could not shift to Park and had to turn off the entire car. Once restarted, brake system was engaged and I could not turn it off until I restarted the vehicle again. I have had my children ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 26, 2024
When my car suddenly stopped on the highway, I encountered an issue with the “body control module.” The car wouldn’t start, and the key fob was ineffective. Additionally, the airbags stopped working. I don’t recall all the details, but I was unsure of where to report the dangerous vehicle. I’ve noticed several other Hyundai owners complaining about this issue, where their cars suddenly s... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2024
The rear windshield spontaneously smashed while my vehicle was parked in my driveway.
Incident date: Nov 16, 2024
I was driving the car and suddenly the car started accelerating on it's own. No cruise control was on . My wife was in the passenger seat and it was lucky as I did not panic , just taped on the brakes to slow down. This happened many times until we got home and it is dangerous and scary, also this is a know problem with this model car. No lights or warnings came on. We could have easily crashed in... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
Vehicle behaved erratically before repair and still does. It seemed a bit better after the repair but issues are still there. It lurches forward when coming to a stop and accelerates in a delayed manner, starting slow and then jumping forward. The 4 wheel drive issues system errors like overheated and function diminished. At times it just doesn't work. Systems turn themselves on. (axle lock) Thes... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2024
Inside display dims inappropriately, even in daylight making it impossible to see navigation. Hazard when trying to drive on road. Could cause accident. Needs option to manually brighten/dim. Auto dim feature in this vehicle is terrible.
Incident date: Dec 21, 2024
Subject: Complaint Regarding Delay in DPF TSB Repair for RAM 2500 To Whom It May Concern, I am filing this complaint regarding an extended delay in repairing my 2023 RAM 2500 (VIN: [XXX] ) under Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 25-005-24 REV. A, which addresses a manufacturing defect in the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) system. My truck has been at the dealership for over two weeks, and I have... Read more
Incident date: Nov 27, 2024
I slowly turned right into a parking space, braked to stop but the car didn't stop and instead lurched, jumping forward over the parking curb and hitting a small wall. My foot was on the brake pedal the entire time. It happened at 9:00am on a clear day. I was alone in the car and uninjured. Damage to the car was extensive and estimated at nearly $40,000. As a result, car was totaled by the in... Read more
Crash
MAZDA
CX-70 PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2025) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Dec 27, 2024
Incident date: Dec 26, 2024
The “handless” rear hatch opening activates when not intended. This has caused a concussion to a driver while loading a vehicle. While this is not a “driving” system, it causes injuries to occupants immediately prior to driving. It is entirely possible that a driver could suffer a head injury without knowledge, then begin driving. This causes a dangerous driving environment. In particular ... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Dec 23, 2024
I am the original owner of this 2021 F250, (by my notes, dates & miles may differ slightly by Ford/Dealer records) I first noticed Death-Wobble around [XXX] @ 3,040 miles & Ron Alpen Ford checked factory alignment & ordered an updated steering stabilizer. Updated steering stabilizer was on back order until around 8/8/23 @ 26,647 miles when it was installed on the F250. As you can see, over two thi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 19, 2024
I purchased the 2024 Acura ZDX, an EV SUV, three months ago with approximately 2000 miles. Both the front and entertainment displays (monitors) have ceased to function. Unfortunately, the user menu does not provide any guidance on repairing or resetting. I still could drive to my dealer to have it repaired with a black screen, which poses a safety concern. The ZDX was manufactured by GM under the ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2024
The part in question is the oil pan. An oil leak was identified at the place where I get my oil changed. The service center at the dealership informed me that there was a crack in the oil pan due to overtightening of the drain plug. I am not sure how they made that connection. The risk of this oil leak could lead to engine failure if oil levels drop below a certain level. There were no warnin... Read more
Incident date: Dec 26, 2024
While driving down the highway, the vehicle significantly lost power while going up a hill, so much so that I had to downshift into 2nd gear in order to maintain and not lose speed. This is incredibly dangerous as I was only able to climb the hill at about 20 mph while the flow over traffic was 55 mph.
Incident date: Dec 26, 2024
While driving down the highway, the vehicle significantly lost power while going up a hill, so much so that I had to downshift into 2nd gear in order to maintain and not lose speed. This is incredibly dangerous as I was only able to climb the hill at about 20 mph while the flow over traffic was 55 mph.
Incident date: Dec 26, 2024
I took ownership of this vehicle on December 11, 2024. Here are some of the problems I've encountered with this 2025 Nissan Rogue SL model: (1)Blind Spot, lane departure has been malfunctioning as of 12-11-2024. (2)The seat belt symbol started malfunctioning a few days later. The red seat belt sign on the dashboard remains on for an extended period. (3)The AM/ FM radio was working for a short t... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2022
For the second time in two years, my horn suddenly stopped working. About 6 months after purchasing the car, the horn began to sound high pitched. Then about three weeks later the horn stopped working, requiring the replacement of the horn. A month later, the horn sounded high pitched again. Hyundai advised me the horn is a "two-horn system" in which a high pitch and low pitch horn produce the hor... Read more
Incident date: Dec 7, 2024
Screen gets very hot and randomly goes black and malfunctions as well as carplay
Incident date: Sep 11, 2024
The vehicle has been occasionally stalling starting early 2024, maybe sooner. I had the fuel pump recall done recently. The vehicle is still stalling, and it seems to be getting worse. The stalling happens when driving at speed, even over 70+ mph. No warning lights. But rpms drop to almost zero for a few seconds and accelerator is unresponsive. Then it comes back after a few seconds. This is dang... Read more