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: Nov 16, 2022
Engine seizure, stalling, engine turns off without any warning. When taken to dealership or mechanic there is no error code for the issue.
Incident date: Nov 16, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed over a speed bump, he heard a rattling sound coming from the front passenger’s side suspension. Upon visual inspection, the contact observed that a bolt had detached from the suspension. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined a damaged frontal lowe... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2020
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed and depressing the accelerator pedal, there was black smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated she had experienced the failure on two separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer in March of 2023, where it was diagnosed... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2023
The radio screen is delaminating (Common problem with many Dodge owners). The screen can no longer be controlled to use hands free phone which is critical for my job and soon to be a new law in Michigan. Radio "ghost dials" different stations. Cannot control the climate control etc. Car is out of warranty, but I believe should be repaired at no cost because I have read many complaints about the s... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2023
The radio screen is delaminating (Common problem with many Dodge owners). The screen can no longer be controlled to use hands free phone which is critical for my job and soon to be a new law in Michigan. Radio "ghost dials" different stations. Cannot control the climate control etc. Car is out of warranty, but I believe should be repaired at no cost because I have read many complaints about the s... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2023
Transmission failure was diagnosed. The car stopped accelerating on me on winding back roads putting myself and others at risk. Nissan told me there are no recalls so they will not repair it. This is the second issue I had with the car, however the first was not related to safety concerns. This one most certainly is! My life was at risk as a curvy road has blind spots other vehicles will not expec... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2022
The day I bought the vehicle in 2019 the engine light came on, I took the car back to the dealership and was told they couldn’t do anything. I took it to them and the shop here in town and I was told by both shops on multiple occasions they could not fix any of the issues. They treated me like I’m just a paycheck for them. My car for 3+ years now shuts completely off when I slow down or stop, ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2022
The day I bought the vehicle in 2019 the engine light came on, I took the car back to the dealership and was told they couldn’t do anything. I took it to them and the shop here in town and I was told by both shops on multiple occasions they could not fix any of the issues. They treated me like I’m just a paycheck for them. My car for 3+ years now shuts completely off when I slow down or stop, ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2022
Intake air temperature sensor falls out of housing when accelerating. Second time this has happened for the same reason.
Incident date: Feb 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact was able to push the vehicle to the shoulder, where the vehicle failed to restart. Upon visual inspection, the contact observed an excessive amount of engine oil in the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that oil sludge had damaged t... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2022
The acceleration of my vehicle has failed several times. The first major incident was when I was driving home across Main St and attempted to go on green as the stoplight changed. Initially, the car jerked and coasted a little bit but after several attempts to press the gas, it still did not go. Shortly after on 04/16/2023, I set up an appointment for my vehicle to be serviced on 05/01/2023 (this ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2022
My windshield received the smallest of a chip. Within 3 hours the chip expanded to a full 24 inch U shaped crack (Straight down the center of the windshield and over toward the drivers side). In the past on other vehicles tiny chips were easily repaired with no resulting crack. In this case, the speed of the cracking preventing any chip repair . My issue is with the integrity of this windshiel... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2022
I was driving down 2nd Avenue in Manhattan, traffic was crowded but flowing with an estimated speed of 20mph between lights. I believe the distance between my front bumper and the car ahead was only slightly under 2 car lengths in motion. Coming to a stop light, the car in front of me slowed and I followed, applying pressure to the brake gradually. Roughly 2-3 seconds into my braking, the forward ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Forte. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, but no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the engine oil level was low. The contact stated that the oil was topped off; however, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the en... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2022
Good Afternoon, I have a recall on my 2019 Kia Engine but since I’m over my mileage Kia does not want to help with it but i read that there is a lifetime warranty on the cars with this type of engine I got a disgusted test done and they are still not wanting to fix the problem
Incident date: Apr 1, 2022
Passenger Side Headrest literally exploded open due to a broken plastic tab. I was only mildly injured but definitely felt the after effects in my neck and back. Definite Safety concern. I'm worried the driver side headrest will do the same thing as we are driving. Absolutely should be a safety recall.
1 injured
Incident date: Jun 5, 2023
The problem is with the transmission and dual clutch and electrical. My car shakes when still, doesn't want to go when I put on the gas, doesn't want to change gears. The electrical keeps going on and off and the fan goes on and stays on after I shut car off and get out and stays on. I took it to schicker ford on south kingshighway to get programmed and I got my car back it was worse.
Incident date: Jun 5, 2023
Driving to work and felt like engine locked up. Looked at dashboard and the coolant gauge on left side suddenly spiked and said "Coolant Temperature High." Then 2-3 seconds later the coolant temp gauge went straight back to normal and engine came back on.
Incident date: Jun 5, 2023
Driving to work and felt like engine locked up. Looked at dashboard and the coolant gauge on left side suddenly spiked and said "Coolant Temperature High." Then 2-3 seconds later the coolant temp gauge went straight back to normal and engine came back on.
Incident date: Jun 10, 2023
I drive in West Texas, no hills but some rises and slopes, mostly flat. Going from Odessa to Lubbock (5AM) maybe 2 phantom braking episodes. Coming back on a clear, sunshiny day I experienced 15-20, out of the blue. Scared me to death. No cars within 100 yards, just BAM and it braked. Another 6-7 when the car thought a car over taking me was a problem and braked or one coming in a two lane (just a... Read more
Incident date: Jun 8, 2023
On May 25th 2023 I was driving on the highway when I experienced extreme loss of power and the infotainment screen displayed "possible engine condition". Considering I was driving 70 mph on the highway it was super dangerous because there were several 18 wheelers driving on the highway alongside me it could have been deadly for many of us. Thankfully I was able to get to the shoulder to assess the... Read more
Incident date: Jun 6, 2023
The camshaft sensors have been replaced when the code POoo14 made the engine light Activate. I'm worried that the timing chain could possibly cause an accident if it seizes the engine. I have under 73,000 miles on a 2014 Chevy equinox. Please advise Thank you
Incident date: Jun 6, 2023
The camshaft sensors have been replaced when the code POoo14 made the engine light Activate. I'm worried that the timing chain could possibly cause an accident if it seizes the engine. I have under 73,000 miles on a 2014 Chevy equinox. Please advise Thank you
Incident date: Jun 6, 2023
The camshaft sensors have been replaced when the code POoo14 made the engine light Activate. I'm worried that the timing chain could possibly cause an accident if it seizes the engine. I have under 73,000 miles on a 2014 Chevy equinox. Please advise Thank you
Incident date: Sep 15, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted to third gear. The contact also stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle downshifted to first gear with the service vehicle warning light illuminated and DTC code: P0720 (Powertrain Control Module) was illuminated on the instru... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2020
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the brakes locked up and the vehicle came to a sudden stop. The driver and passenger were jolted towards the windshield. The brake warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The f... Read more
Incident date: May 4, 2023
The display on the speedometer is barely visible. It is called the Driver Information Center, but is attached to the speedometer. I am not able to see any information on it most of the time, particularly the day. The safety issue is I can not tell if my tires are to pressure, if my oil needs to be changed. I can not see the odometer. I have seen many people online have this issue. Someone's fix th... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2023
Has 27000 miles out of warranty at 5 years. PCV code bad actuator. Looks like a common problem. Should be recalled.
Incident date: May 16, 2023
While driving down the interstate the van went in Neutral and a message appeared on the screen that it was in Neutral, pull over when it is safe. The lights on the dash dimmed and no other message or warnings appeared. As I pulled off the interstate I was unable to use the brakes. We tried to put the van back in Drive but was not successful. We were able to get the vehicle in park and come to a st... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2023
The Electronic Throttle Control light(steady) and the Electronic Stability Control Activation/Malfunction Indicator Lights came on. There are times the engine light comes on. The vehicle would not accelerate, jerking kind of movement, going 20 miles.
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
I have been having issues with my passenger airbag warning light. The issue is warning light will not go out. I took my vehicle to an Infiniti dealer for a diagnostic. Dealer found code DTC B1018 OCS unit failure. Much to my disbelief and, dealer recommends new passenger side air bag diagnoses module and lower seat frame before further diagnosis. What really angered me was the price to repair a sa... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
Transmission slams into gear, lacks power, has put itself into park at 55mph. Was replaced by Ford and 1,400 miles later it blew up. 2.5 hours into a 9 hour road trip the transmission started leaking and hitting the exhaust pipe and caused the fluid to flare as it hit the hot exhaust. Vehicle filled with caustic smoke and odor. Put my family (with small children) in a very dangerous situation ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Apr 6, 2023
PLEASE include my car in recall “CAMP113” see photo! The rear crossmember steel is doing exactly what your recall is for!! Please HELP BEFORE I DIE!
Incident date: Oct 28, 2022
While driving on a straight, wide open road at approximately 45mph with no vehicle in any close proximity in front, the forward Collision Mitigation Braking System alarmed and activated and strongly braked, slowing the car quickly down to about 20mph before releasing. Fortunately, there was no one behind me to react to the unexpected slowing down of my car. There was no apparent reason why this sh... Read more
Incident date: Oct 28, 2022
While driving on a straight, wide open road at approximately 45mph with no vehicle in any close proximity in front, the forward Collision Mitigation Braking System alarmed and activated and strongly braked, slowing the car quickly down to about 20mph before releasing. Fortunately, there was no one behind me to react to the unexpected slowing down of my car. There was no apparent reason why this sh... Read more
Incident date: May 29, 2023
When starting the car at night, the center display will run at full daytime brightness until the driver manually presses one of the up/down display/interior brightness control buttons. Once pressed, the system "realizes" that it's night time and adjusts accordingly. Having the display at full brightness at night is a safety hazard for drivers unaware that you can use the brightness control buttons... Read more
Incident date: May 25, 2023
While turning, the power steering assist stopped functioning, leaving me veering into oncoming traffic as I could not complete my turn without the power steering assist.
Incident date: Jun 4, 2023
The car attempts to start on its own, light come on and at times the alarm goes off. The car does not open at times and requires manual override to oepn.
Incident date: Jun 4, 2023
I was driving at approximately 25mph in a subdivision and my car turned off. I pulled over immediately to try to crank it but it would not crank. I noticed smoke coming from the engine so I exited the vehicle with my child. The smoke got way worse within a few minutes and then the front engine was engulfed in flames.
Fire
Incident date: May 26, 2023
I was driving on the highway with autopilot activated. There were no cars in front, beside or behind me. A car did come up behind me at a fast speed. My car suddenly started to brake (phantom braking). The car coming up behind me sped around me. There was no reason for the car to brake like that.
Incident date: Nov 20, 2021
Had a crack on the windshield which was getting larger quickly. There was no damage caused by debris that I was aware of. Spoke to multiple dealerships and they refused to fix or even check if it was a defect. Went through insurance to get the windshield replaced but Safelite said that it was not a damage but most definitely a defective windshield.
Incident date: Nov 20, 2021
The truck engine stop running as I was accelerating from a stop at an intersection. It auto-shifted to park and required me to restart the truck. Thankfully this was not a busy intersection or pulling out on a highway. This is the 2nd time it has happened in less than 30 days. In my opinion, this is a major safety hazard that needs more attention given by the manufacturer. Someone could be serious... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2021
Windshield is leaking and during heavy rain it floods the cup holders and damages the electronics. Exactly like previous recall https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10173517-0001.pdf Windshield has never been replaced and the vehicle has never been in an accident.
Incident date: May 24, 2023
THERE ARE two ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. FIRST, THE COST TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT BULB IF ONE GOES OUT IS VERY HIGH (I PAID WELL OVER A HUNDRED DOLLARS), AND THUS MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT BEABLE TO REPLACE THE LIGHT, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. Second, this vehicle does NOT have the means to start it with a real key. It ONLY starts with the key fob. Thus, in the event that something happens to t... Read more
Incident date: May 30, 2023
There is an issue with the oil plug. Constantly leaking oil. I have spoken to several other individuals who have the same problem. The oil leaks can cause a completely empty oil compartment resulting in a blown motor. Walmart super center brought it to my attention. Also, the Kia dealership was notified that the oil was leaking at the time of service but did not seem concerned. The oil light wil... Read more
MAZDA
CX-50
(2023) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
May 31, 2023
Incident date: May 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Buick Regal. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a squeaking sound coming from the vehicle. While inspecting under the hood of the vehicle, it was discovered that the tensioner pully was very loose. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who indicated that the pulley needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact indic... Read more
Incident date: May 31, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V215000 (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 experienc... Read more
Incident date: May 29, 2023
@ error message vehicle sometimes stalls at red lights or 4 ways stops. I have to cut off the vehicle to restart.