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.

2,215,138 Total Complaints

138,663 Reported Crashes

56,255 Reported Fires

8,561 Reported 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

How to Read NHTSA Consumer Complaints › How NHTSA Investigations Work › Used Car: 7 Recall Checks to Run First › The Takata Airbag Recall: Full Story › OBD-II Codes Explained › All Articles ›

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Showing 33,200 complaints for MERCEDES-BENZ

Incident date: Aug 29, 2023

The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport. The contact stated that while their daughter was diving at highway speeds (mph unknown) in the rain with the cruise control turned off suddenly the vehicle began excessively turning to the left. The vehicle began spinning out of control and hitting the guard rail approximately 3 times before stopping on a bed of grass. The air bags did not deploy. The co... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Aug 16, 2023

Passenger seat belt won't click locked.

Incident date: Aug 16, 2023

Something is wrong where it will stall out when you start driving. Soon as I put the car in gear and start rolling forward it dies. And I’ve looked online and it’s quite common.

Incident date: Aug 15, 2023

My 2015 Q5 is experiencing excessive oil consumption and has failed the oil consumption test. This is a known defect in older cars for which there was a successful class action suit and now it seems that this defect is also present in certain Audi cars between 2010-2017. The excessive oil consumption stems from a piston and ring defect. The defect is causing the cars' pistons and piston heads to b... Read more

Incident date: Aug 31, 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, while the vehicle was idling in park, the driver’s and passenger’s side curtain air bags deployed. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who was unable to find the cause of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case regarding the ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 31, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with rear differential failure, all-wheel drive failure, and clutch unit failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 31, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with the key fob not available message displayed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stopped at a service center. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed and stated that the battery needed to be replaced. T... Read more

Incident date: Jun 23, 2023

The contact owns a 2107 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle vibrated violently, and the engine seemed to misfire. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined there was coolant intrusion into the engine resulting in damage to the engine, requiring replacement of the head gasket. ... Read more

Incident date: Feb 7, 2023

For the third time in 37000 miles the abs system including ABS system and electronic brake system has failed. This has been repaired around 15000 miles and recently at 35000 and it went out again at 37000 miles. Didn't last 2500 miles after last repair. When this happens trailer brakes quit functioning and cruise control also quits working as well as every few minutes the system gives you a contin... Read more

Incident date: Aug 31, 2023

I complied with Hyundai's voluntary recall of my 2012 Elantra, supposedly designed to deter theft with some sort of software update. Four weeks after this, four teenager rolled up to my house in a stolen Hyundai Sonata. One of them jumped out of the car, smashed my car's back window, and stole my car. This whole process took place in broad daylight, in front of multiple witnesses, over approximat... Read more

Incident date: Aug 31, 2023

Incident date: Jul 25, 2023

Car is equipped with Distronic cruise and has maximum 4 car lengths stopping distance. It was set on 4 car length. While driving north on 55 fwy and exiting to 405 fwy in California. Exit (single lane) was dead stop due to traffic and while I was on cruising at 70 mph. Car would not stop and I had to take over to stop- hard braking just in time. The SUV behind me had to swear to emergency lane ( r... Read more

Incident date: Jul 25, 2023

I recently purchased this vehicle used from the dealership. I have noticed that when I shift to park and turn the vehicle off it pops up the warning “Shift to Park”. It takes multiple attempts of turning the car back on and shifting back and forth to get the car to actually shift to park. I have looked up this issue and found that I am not alone in this problem and that apparently it is a kno... Read more

Incident date: Jul 25, 2023

Driver side head rest air bag deployed completely on its own while I was sitting at a red light. It slammed forward with such great force hitting me in the back of my head and caused a horrible headache. It is available for inspection. My safety is at risk everytime I get in my car due to the fact it is a safety feature put in place by Jeep to prevent whiplash or any type of head or neck injury. ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 23, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that when the vehicle was shifted into drive(D) and the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to move. The vehicle stalled and was restarted. On another occasion, while driving at an unknown speed the vehicle unintendedly decelerated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was no... Read more

Incident date: Jun 26, 2023

Leaking oil from the motor oil housing filter. No warning signs. I noticed oil leaks under my van and took it to a mechanic and due to so much oil the initial thought was my transmission gasket was bad. I had my transmission serviced and that's when they found out it was the motor oil housing. Since this incident I have had to replace my window regulators and the radiator. So far my van has been i... Read more

Incident date: Jul 19, 2023

Battery light comes on, power steering goes out, start/stop function switches in and out of accessory mode, then total power drain and vehicle will not turn over or maintain a charge. vehicle is available for inspection. safety was compromised by lack of control of steering and vehicle shutdown in a roadway. issue has not been reproduced by independent services or dealer or other representative... Read more

Incident date: Jun 11, 2023

I saw a recall on certain Hyundai models...I have a similar problem maybe twice with this 2022 Hyundai Venue....Traveling down the highway with Cruise set at 65...The car started to accelerate to 80 before I turn the cruise off...don't know if it's something wrong with the cruise...or just 2 mishaps .....just asking if anyone else has complained....thanks

Incident date: Jun 11, 2023

Have constant issue with ABS system with skid control. Light on and off when you first start for several miles then every few miles. Had it serviced and still issue

Incident date: Aug 15, 2023

The transmission failed at under 800 miles on this new vehicle. Each gear shift in the transmission was substantially extended and the vehicle would jerk when sitting into gear. You could hear/feel the engine revving while only accelerating slightly. When entering the highway, the vehicle's extended shift caused a very slow and delayed acceleration, requiring other drivers to change lanes or rap... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing and exiting the driveway, the power steering became inoperable, and the steering wheel locked. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with steering module failure. The contact was informed that the steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the f... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric. The contact stated that the battery had discharged. The contact stated that the 12-volt battery and “Bring in for Service, and key not detected messages were displayed. The contact stated that while his mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled on two occasions. The vehicle flickered, and the vanity lights dimmed and flickered.... Read more

Incident date: Aug 15, 2023

The windshield has cracked multiple times. I replaced in with the OEM Subaru glass before learning it is a known problem, initially on 2015-16 models but now 2017 to 2020. Subaru insists on recalibration of the ADAS system which has been done, at my expense. I was informed the aftermarket W/S has a slightly thicker W/S glass with a lifetime guarantee. If the W/S is critical in rollover, and air ba... Read more

Incident date: Jun 15, 2023

1. Loud Noise when starting the engine - Noise like a train 2. I’m driving along and my car just starts vrooming it’s stuck between gears. It cuts off and changes gear to Neutral or just cut off. Cars behind me literally almost wrecks everytime. 3. Panel on the driver side warf and came loose at within 7 days of purchse 4. Oil Light came on- frighting 5. Loud Noise from windows when driving ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 28, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The fuel pump was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was then towed to the l... Read more

Incident date: Aug 25, 2023

Engine stopped while driving down a mountain road. Dash said put your foot on brake and push start button. Car emergency brake engaged. No check engine lights or codes. Truck has stopped again about a month later same thing. Took to dealer on July 19th 2023 they couldn’t have it happen while they drove it. No codes. Aug. 25 th 2023 while going through an automatic car wash the same thing happen... Read more

Incident date: Jun 9, 2023

Under certain conditions, the accelerator pedals fails to provide propulsion when depressed. The most common scenario in which this happens is when leaving a parking area and proceeding onto a roadway, especially if the parking area is elevated above the street slightly. The driver depresses the accelerator pedal slightly to move the car from a standstill, but then releases the accelerator due to... Read more

Incident date: May 5, 2023

The loud sound of shattered glass and of glass cracking played over the sound system. This is the second time it has happened to us. Turning off the F150 and opening the door did not help it stop. This is very scary when driving. Since it happened before, I didn’t panic this time, but it is a reoccurring problem that could contribute to an accident.

Incident date: Aug 21, 2023

Engine warning that cannot be cleared - "Engine Maintenance Required" displays on Multi-information display. Coolant Bypass Valve is the problem according to Toyota, and they want $1000 to fix it. Happens to many right after warranty expires.

Incident date: Aug 27, 2023

Delearship claims they repaired three recalls on vehicle... but they did not!!

Incident date: Aug 26, 2023

Electrical awning retracted during driving the vehicle.

Incident date: Aug 13, 2023

Sep 2020 purchased 6 Cooper Discoverer AT3 (LT235/80 R17) tires to replace OEM tires, mileage 12,885. On/around Sep 2022 while towing a 38' 5th wheel trailer, front end of truck started bouncing, mileage 26,334. Both driver and passenger tires where found to have tread separation. Replaced those two with same make/model new tires. All other tires where rotated and balanced. New tires went to inner... Read more

Incident date: Jul 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the front driver’s side tire detached from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to the residence and then towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the independent mechanic was unable to duplica... Read more

Incident date: Jul 14, 2023

The transmission shakes and shutters went to dealer and asked about the issue and they stated it was known issue and I should just accelerate very quickly which would clean the clutches. It did work temporarily. in August 2023 while driving the car it refused to down shift while climbing a hill. AFter stopping by the side of the road, the car would not start on the first try. After trying again... Read more

Incident date: Aug 28, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle downshifted unintendedly and decelerated. The contact stated that she shifted into neutral(N). The contact pulled over to the side of the road and remained there for several minutes. The contact was able to continue driving; however, the failure recurred while driving. The contact stated that the failure h... Read more

Incident date: Aug 28, 2023

Incident date: Aug 9, 2023

Same part needing replaced for the third time (control anti lock brake system 6814349AA) at 12k miles 28k miles now at 42k. Asked if this is a common issue and ramcare adviser said that he didn’t know but found a lot of info on similar issues and advised to file a report

Incident date: Jul 20, 2023

Excess Oil Consumption, Gear slipping, Dual Clutch, Fly Wheel, Oil found in the Turbo inlet, Clutch dust found in the transmission, Encouraged to just keep adding oil and drive the vehicle. Encouraged to drive the car when there was assumed to have contaminated transmission fluid. Encouraged to keep extra oil in my car since it was consuming oil rapidly but was still considered with in specificat... Read more

Incident date: Aug 27, 2021

Twice now the A/C has quit, and a short time later the Hybrid battery severely overheats and the van shuts down. This happens at highway speeds, and the vehicle loses power and shuts down. This is dangerous to have a sudden shutdown at 75 MPH. When driving in hot weather for a couple hours, the electric A/C compressor quits. On this van, the Hybrid battery is cooled by the passenger HVAC system. ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 27, 2021

Incident date: Mar 30, 2023

On March 30, 2023, my 2022 AMG GLE 53 check engine warning light came on. I immediately called Capitaleurocars the Mercedes Benz dealer. On May 1, 2023, according to the Capitaleurocars service order, the technician noted the following: "found the check engine light on" then performed "a guided test for fault code (P146264) and found fuel pressure and temp sensor passing test." The technician w... Read more

Incident date: Mar 30, 2023

While normally driving on the street, I noticed that the car started to overheat and could hear the radiator working to keep the heat level normal. I stopped and did not notice any leaks and added coolant to the car after I left it cool for about 3 hours. The problem went away but i still took it to the dealership and i was told it might be the head gasket of the engine or thermostat/waterpump, a... Read more

Incident date: Mar 30, 2023

The dealer removed tires and broken axel bolt was found. It is my understanding that this is a safety issue and Ford has no parts to fix the problem.

Incident date: Aug 17, 2023

Check engine light came on, a day after purchasing from dealer. Mileage at 55k. Check engine light code was p052e71, confirmed from 2 auto repairers. One was Mercedes Benz who quoted me $3900 to repair. In the Mercedes Benz booklet warranty says emission related repairs are covered for 15 years/150k miles for hybrid vehicles.

Incident date: Aug 17, 2023

BSM stopped working at 5,600 miles. No buzzer, no lights. No warning. Requested an appointment at La Mesa Rv Dealer for warranty repair.

Incident date: Aug 17, 2023

I was pulling into a parking space at my work parking lot, where I have been parking my car for the past 2.5 years. I was slowly parking the CRV, my foot was not applying any pressure on the gas, I was slowly easing into the parking space and as I was putting my foot on the brake to stop, it was very hard as if it was locked and the car kept going. I couldn't stop the SUV and it jumped the curb/... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Aug 24, 2023

Ford Focus went into automatic limp mode after a dead battery with no reverse. I've heard it's an ongoing issues with these cars. And Ford has a program to fix these issues unfortunately my car year falls outside their current criteria. Took the car to the mechanic and they said it's an ongoing issue with these cars.

Incident date: Aug 24, 2023

All warning lights on dashboard lights up while driving. Got two diagnostic tests and conclusion is steering column module needs to be replaced 2016 had a recall between 2015-2018 on Gla250 2nd diagnostic test the SRS Module needs to be replaced it sounds like a manufactured problem and Mercedes Benz repair shop needs to investigate because it’s a hazardous safety issue lights on dashboard light... Read more

Incident date: Jul 8, 2023

Steering wheel left and right signals are hard to control while driving. Narrowly escaped accident because I have to look at steering wheel to press signal button. I am not sure how this signal cleared safety concerns. It happened several times , I stop looking at road and find signal to press it.

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Consumer Safety Complaints

What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?

How to interpret what you read

If you've experienced a defect

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