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 1, 2022
- After filling up the gas tank and putting the cap back on, there is a distinct smell of gasoline until some of the fuel is used up. In summary, it appears to be spilling or leaking fuel/fumes when we fill up the tank. -This is a problem when parking our car in our garage and we are concerned that it could cause a fire. - We have not yet confirmed this with a dealer or independent service cente... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2022
Feb 2,2022 received Critical Vehicle Malfunction Warning, all vehicle systems affected told to call roadside assistance and not to drive vehicle. Received same warning again February 11,2022 after vehicle had been inspected by dealer service again had vehicle towed to dealer. April 14, 2022 Critical vehicle malfunction again. October 30, 2022, again Critical vehicle malfunction warning. All vehicl... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2022
Feb 2,2022 received Critical Vehicle Malfunction Warning, all vehicle systems affected told to call roadside assistance and not to drive vehicle. Received same warning again February 11,2022 after vehicle had been inspected by dealer service again had vehicle towed to dealer. April 14, 2022 Critical vehicle malfunction again. October 30, 2022, again Critical vehicle malfunction warning. All vehicl... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2022
Feb 2,2022 received Critical Vehicle Malfunction Warning, all vehicle systems affected told to call roadside assistance and not to drive vehicle. Received same warning again February 11,2022 after vehicle had been inspected by dealer service again had vehicle towed to dealer. April 14, 2022 Critical vehicle malfunction again. October 30, 2022, again Critical vehicle malfunction warning. All vehicl... Read more
Incident date: Oct 28, 2022
The Baffle in my tank has broken loose for uncertain reasons. This seems to be a common problem with Mazda and has had a recall in the 2015 models even.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
I been having problems with oil consumption in between oil changes,I am concerned with the potential for damage to other engine systems aside from the reported issue with the gasket stem seals. I been taking my car to the dealership and I been told they don’t have a solution and they don’t know how to fix it. This is a new car!!!
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
I been having problems with oil consumption in between oil changes,I am concerned with the potential for damage to other engine systems aside from the reported issue with the gasket stem seals. I been taking my car to the dealership and I been told they don’t have a solution and they don’t know how to fix it. This is a new car!!!
Incident date: Oct 24, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that the oil light continually illuminated on the instrument panel while driving at various speeds. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer where he was informed that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. Upon investigation, the contact discovered information that a defective valve in the engine might have been the ca... Read more
Incident date: Oct 29, 2022
While Driving the car in highway and you turn signals to change lanes and that moment you start changing the automatic brake system activated and car suddenly brake almost making me get in to a rear collision this happens twice in highway, it also happens twice in city driving while cruising street and theres is nothing in front of you the emergency brake light shows brake as emergency and ca... Read more
Incident date: Oct 27, 2022
After hearing low rumbling sound and smelling burnt oil, car was taken to dealer for check up. They informed me of known issue, front PTU leaking oil due to design flaw that put the PTU so close to the exhaust. I am seeing that other owners of this model are also reporting fires due this same exact problem, apparently unbeknownst to me Mazda has provided extended warranty up to 90k miles but not a... Read more
Incident date: Oct 27, 2022
After hearing low rumbling sound and smelling burnt oil, car was taken to dealer for check up. They informed me of known issue, front PTU leaking oil due to design flaw that put the PTU so close to the exhaust. I am seeing that other owners of this model are also reporting fires due this same exact problem, apparently unbeknownst to me Mazda has provided extended warranty up to 90k miles but not a... Read more
Incident date: Oct 27, 2022
After hearing low rumbling sound and smelling burnt oil, car was taken to dealer for check up. They informed me of known issue, front PTU leaking oil due to design flaw that put the PTU so close to the exhaust. I am seeing that other owners of this model are also reporting fires due this same exact problem, apparently unbeknownst to me Mazda has provided extended warranty up to 90k miles but not a... Read more
MAZDA
B-SERIES TRUCK
(1998) - SERVICE BRAKES
Oct 28, 2022
Incident date: Sep 26, 2020
Mazdaspeed 3 turbo Vin:[XXX] ************************* Fuel pump EfI 400hp @ idel Turbo propultion not installed Cricket wireless broadband internet Connection.....? Swiage leakage: [XXX] [XXX] West covina sheriff dept. West covina ca INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash
Fire
4 injured
4 deaths
MAZDA
B-SERIES TRUCK
(1998) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Oct 28, 2022
Incident date: Sep 26, 2020
Mazdaspeed 3 turbo Vin:[XXX] ************************* Fuel pump EfI 400hp @ idel Turbo propultion not installed Cricket wireless broadband internet Connection.....? Swiage leakage: [XXX] [XXX] West covina sheriff dept. West covina ca INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash
Fire
4 injured
4 deaths
MAZDA
B-SERIES TRUCK
(1998) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Oct 28, 2022
Incident date: Sep 26, 2020
Mazdaspeed 3 turbo Vin:[XXX] ************************* Fuel pump EfI 400hp @ idel Turbo propultion not installed Cricket wireless broadband internet Connection.....? Swiage leakage: [XXX] [XXX] West covina sheriff dept. West covina ca INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash
Fire
4 injured
4 deaths
Incident date: Oct 26, 2022
Calipers sticking causing brakes to wear down every 3 months.
Incident date: Oct 26, 2022
The electrical system in the dashboard will randomly Make its own decisions. It will choose to make phone calls or change and set radio stations. while becoming more frequent more items from the console are getting involved. my concern is that whatever's going on will start to involve the instrument panel causing the car to mechanically do things on its own. I apologize in advance if this is no... Read more
Incident date: Oct 22, 2022
At 16,550 miles (5675 miles since the last oil change), my oil pressure light came on. Per owner's manual, I turned the car off & let the oil drain into the pan for 5 minutes. I checked the oil but due to it being so hot it was hard to get an accurate reading. I turned the car back on & the oil light was off. I proceeded to drive into town and 25 miles later the light came on again. I checked... Read more
Incident date: Jul 30, 2022
Driving and brakes would not work without pressing really hard. The problem was reported before on these cars and continue to be a problem. https://www.carcomplaints.com/Mazda/CX-9/2010/brakes/stiff_difficult_braking.shtml my car has been in 2 shops for about 3 months now. They had to replace several parts in the braking system. Than the rear brakes completely froze up and towed to Mazda out of Gr... Read more
Incident date: Oct 25, 2022
Said vehicle has 2 Recall issues that are listed as expired. 1. It has not had the defective Takata Air Bags replaced Campaign SSPB3 started 12/1/2017. 2. It has a Sticky Dashboard Campaign SSP99 started 11/30/2015. A third recall for a Seat Lifer Link was completed for Campaign 0917B on 9/13/2017. I would like Mazda to take responsibility for the 2 expired Recalls for the Air Bags and the ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 25, 2022
Said vehicle has 2 Recall issues that are listed as expired. 1. It has not had the defective Takata Air Bags replaced Campaign SSPB3 started 12/1/2017. 2. It has a Sticky Dashboard Campaign SSP99 started 11/30/2015. A third recall for a Seat Lifer Link was completed for Campaign 0917B on 9/13/2017. I would like Mazda to take responsibility for the 2 expired Recalls for the Air Bags and the ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while in a parking lot, the vehicle failed to accelerate upon depression of the accelerator pedal. The fuel warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence; however, the fuel gauge was fluctuating. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V875000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) h... Read more
Incident date: Sep 9, 2022
October 2021 purchase 2 Cooper Evolution H/T All-Season 245/60R18. With less than 8k miles, both tires developed deformities/bulging on upper sidewal/tread,line intersect, causing vehicle to shimmy. The dot #'s of both tires are up83 1LE 1021 . Tires have a 60k warranty. Cooper tires issues two safety recalls due to sidewall deformities on this tire model, same plant, but in a different sizes. ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2022
The Low Oil Level light/sensor came on before it was time to get an oil change (the recommended 4600 miles). This is super dangerous as it can cause major engine issues. I took it to the dealership and the dealership stated "they are having problems with these cars-they are burning too much oil so there is going to be a replacement valve once they have one made and you'll need to come back in to h... Read more
Incident date: Feb 13, 2022
Car is consuming oil since new and requiring additional oil to be added before oil changes. There was a TSB created by Mazda a year ago (TSB # 01-012/21) however there is no fix. I am concerned with the potential for damage to other engine systems aside from the reported issue with the valve stem seals resulting in undrivability and premature engine problems due to oil leaking past the valve s... Read more
Incident date: Aug 22, 2022
Due to Mazda's known problem in the design of their engine at just over 80,000 miles the head and turbo of my engine have cracked. They have issued a service bulletin to their dealerships, which acknowledges this as a common problem. (Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) are official communications between Mazda & its dealerships that describe processes for troubleshooting or fixing certain common p... Read more
Incident date: Aug 22, 2022
Due to Mazda's known problem in the design of their engine at just over 80,000 miles the head and turbo of my engine have cracked. They have issued a service bulletin to their dealerships, which acknowledges this as a common problem. (Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) are official communications between Mazda & its dealerships that describe processes for troubleshooting or fixing certain common p... Read more
Incident date: Oct 9, 2022
I have a 2018 Mazda CX-9 with about 66,000 miles. I noticed a coolant leak when my SUV sat in my driveway. It was there each night after driving the SUV. I took the vehicle to a Mazda dealer who stated that the coolant leak is from a cracked cylinder head. A cylinder head should not crack in 4 years and only 66,000 miles. This is a known Mazda issue for this year make and model.
Incident date: Aug 9, 2022
After sitting in the heat of summer, cracks appeared on two of the corners of the LCD navigation screen making it very hard to see portions of the screen.
Incident date: Oct 20, 2022
1000 miles before first ever oil change was needed (according to window sticker provided by Mazda) the low engine oil light came on. The oil was low and needed to be toped off and brought directly to dealer for oil change. The same thing happened again 1300 miles before second oil change was required. It became obvious that the brand new vehicle was burning oil for some reason. The dealership trie... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
Excessive oil consumption. Confirmed by the dealer.
Incident date: Jan 22, 2021
On 1/22/21, I was driving for Lyft. I had a passenger in this car and I was giving her a ride home. I had a seizure towards the end of the ride, and was completely amnesiac to the crash that occurred. During my seizure, I was unable to check for clearance before I entered a highway and I crashed into another car. In the police report, it states that my air bags didn't go off. As a result, my head ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 6, 2022
I noticed a smell of antifreeze. After taking it back to dealership, I find out it has a cracked head. It has never ran hot.
Incident date: Aug 28, 2022
Vehicle displays low engine oil light about every 1,000 miles due to burning oil from faulty valve stem seals from factory assembly. Mazda has acknowledged the defect but plans to only refill engine oil. The defect could lead to possible injury due to low oil which could cause the engine to seize and cause sudden loss of power.
Incident date: Aug 21, 2022
Hi Team, I bought a Mazda Miata MX5 RF 2022 and its user manual states the vehicle is to come with LATCH system to attach the child car system. However the LATCH hooks are not present in that car seat. 1) My understanding is that is a legal requirement to provide the LATCH system. Could you please clarify if that is the case? 2) If there is a discrepancy between what is specified in the user man... Read more
Incident date: Jul 18, 2022
The cylinder head failed causing a massive leak of engine coolant. This occurred initially at highway speeds which caused potential danger to myself and others around me as the car was required to pull over immediately. The problem was confirmed by the dealer and is known to the manufacturer as indicated by TSBs. The part was inspected and replaced by a new, redesigned part at the owner's expense... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
My car appears to consuming oil excessively. I bought this car new in March of 2021 at I have had to top off my oil between oil changes at almost every single oil change since I have owned it. The car only has 33900 miles on it and usually about two months in from my oil change the check oil light comes on and the dipstick shows the oil at the lower end of the dipstick. I have purchased oil on my ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 6, 2022
REAR PASSENGER HANDLE AND HOOK ABOVE SEAT IN ROOF SPLINTERED INTO SHARP PROJECTILES FLYING THROUGH CABIN WHEN AIR BAG DEPLOPYED I SHOWED THE SHARP PIECES TO MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER THE POWER OF THE RIGHT CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT BROKE THE HANDLE TO PIECES AND IF ANYONE HAD BEEN IN THE BACK SEAT THEY COULD HAVE HAD AN EYE PUT OUT OR BEEN EMPLAILED BY THE SHARP PIECES
Crash
Incident date: Oct 6, 2022
REAR PASSENGER HANDLE AND HOOK ABOVE SEAT IN ROOF SPLINTERED INTO SHARP PROJECTILES FLYING THROUGH CABIN WHEN AIR BAG DEPLOPYED I SHOWED THE SHARP PIECES TO MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER THE POWER OF THE RIGHT CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT BROKE THE HANDLE TO PIECES AND IF ANYONE HAD BEEN IN THE BACK SEAT THEY COULD HAVE HAD AN EYE PUT OUT OR BEEN EMPLAILED BY THE SHARP PIECES
Crash
Incident date: Sep 17, 2022
Airbags did not deploy when I crashed into a guard rail dragging for 40-50 feet.
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 3, 2022
Check Engine light is on Mazda knows this model car has a manufacture defect based on a 3 page safety report I obtained. Requesting Mazda to repair my vehicle at no charge to me.
Incident date: Oct 9, 2022
I purchased this brand new 2023 Mazda CX-50 at the end of this July, and it has no incidents, no hits, no scratches at all. Last Sunday while driving it, out of no where, the 'Vehicle System Malfunction' message showed up and I dropped my car at the dealership right away. There was the weird sound from the front of the vehicle every time I braked to 10 mph, and I don't want to take risk of my own... Read more
Incident date: Oct 9, 2022
I purchased this brand new 2023 Mazda CX-50 at the end of this July, and it has no incidents, no hits, no scratches at all. Last Sunday while driving it, out of no where, the 'Vehicle System Malfunction' message showed up and I dropped my car at the dealership right away. There was the weird sound from the front of the vehicle every time I braked to 10 mph, and I don't want to take risk of my own... Read more
MAZDA
B-SERIES TRUCK
(1998) - TIRES
Oct 13, 2022
Incident date: Sep 19, 2000
www.downeynissan.com Titan XD king cab Vin:[XXX]. Mazdaspeed 3 turbo Vin:[XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash
Fire
4 injured
4 deaths
MAZDA
B-SERIES TRUCK
(1998) - TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
Oct 13, 2022
Incident date: Sep 19, 2000
www.downeynissan.com Titan XD king cab Vin:[XXX]. Mazdaspeed 3 turbo Vin:[XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash
Fire
4 injured
4 deaths
Incident date: Oct 4, 2022
Car: 2018 Mazda CX-5 Touring with approximately 39,000 miles. Issue: Burning smell coming from engine compartment- Oil leaking from engine. Problem: Cracked cylinder head as diagnosed by dealer and to be replaced under Mazda Power Train Warranty. Safety was a concern not knowing the issue. Concerned of engine failure, fire, and overall safety. Warnings: No warnings or check engine light was... Read more
Incident date: Oct 4, 2022
Car: 2018 Mazda CX-5 Touring with approximately 39,000 miles. Issue: Burning smell coming from engine compartment- Oil leaking from engine. Problem: Cracked cylinder head as diagnosed by dealer and to be replaced under Mazda Power Train Warranty. Safety was a concern not knowing the issue. Concerned of engine failure, fire, and overall safety. Warnings: No warnings or check engine light was... Read more
Incident date: Sep 21, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Mazda MZ5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The f... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2022
I am having 2021 cx5 signature turbo 3400 mile and the engine light can me on upon checking the oil level was to low mark burnt out . I am concern that Mazda have not came up. With a recall yet.
Incident date: Oct 10, 2022
I am having 2021 cx5 signature turbo 3400 mile and the engine light can me on upon checking the oil level was to low mark burnt out . I am concern that Mazda have not came up. With a recall yet.