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 6,381 complaints for MINI
Incident date: Mar 1, 2023
The cowl part broken in JAN24, dealership replaced. I was told this part hold windshield and protects electrical in vehicle. March 2024, I noticed the seal on bottom of windshield wasn’t against the windshield, buckling in several spots, I contacted Ford customer service, Told to take it back to the dealership. The dealership had to order the part and didn’t have a detailed reason why the part... Read more
MINI
COOPER CLUBMAN
(2013) - ENGINE
Apr 30, 2024
Incident date: Apr 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that when his daughter started the vehicle, the vehicle started shaking violently. Additionally, the contact stated that she observed white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehic... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2024
Passenger side airbag error code is displayed on my dash. It is error code B1018 occupant sensor malfunction.
MINI
COOPER CLUBMAN
(2010) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 25, 2024
Incident date: Apr 20, 2024
I have been told that I have a fuel rail leak, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment. This is the same as NHTSA Campaign Number 19V035000, but that campaign only covers model years 2016-2018 for the Audi Q7. This same issue has surfaced with my 2019 Q7.
MINI
COOPER CLUBMAN
(2010) - POWER TRAIN
Apr 25, 2024
Incident date: Apr 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power, after which a message displayed, "Propulsion Power Reduced". There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the drivetrain fluid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. T... Read more
MINI
COOPER CLUBMAN
(2010) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Apr 25, 2024
Incident date: Apr 20, 2024
My wife was the driver, and I was in the front passenger seat. We were going about 35 MPH. Weather was not an issue. All of a sudden, and for no apparent reason, the car emergency braked to an emergency stop. We saw no warning lights on the instrument panel prior to the incident or afterwards. Traffic was light and nothing was nearby. Luckily no one was behind us, and no accident occurred. My wif... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2024
GDI fuel injectors are faulty and causing engine misfires in multiple cylinders.
Incident date: May 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. T... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2023
This vehicle has a one-pedal drive mode that uses regenerative braking to slow / stop the vehicle when you remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. On several occasions, this system has suddenly turned off with an error message displayed on the screen. This means that the braking that I was experiencing at the moment suddenly ceased. This is a dangerous situation that could result in an accide... Read more
MINI
COOPER COUNTRYMAN
(2013) - HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 22, 2024
Incident date: Apr 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fusion Energi. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the high-voltage battery. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA H... Read more
MINI
COOPER CONVERTIBLE
(2009) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Apr 21, 2024
Incident date: Apr 20, 2024
Emission system problem light continues to come on and car doesn’t run the way it’s supposed to. Code reads something to do with fuel
MINI
COUNTRYMAN
(2014) - ENGINE
Apr 19, 2024
Incident date: Apr 1, 2024
1: Cylinder 1 misfire (available for inspection upon request) 2: Vehicle can cut off without warning while ABS brakes malfunction. 3: Dealer unknown Independent service confirm 4:unknown 5: engine light illuminated intermittingly 1week prior to the misfire.
Incident date: Jun 30, 2023
It’s a 2015 ford focus 1.0 eco boost 6 speed manual. It studders and shakes and stalls at random while driving. It only has 78000 miles on it and I just bought this car from some punk kid. Shakes the car violently as well.
Incident date: Apr 17, 2024
When I encounter a bump in the road or uneven pavement at highway speeds, the jeep begins to wobble violently (being shook like a bag of popcorn). I have to release the gas and slow down for it to stop. This has happened numerous times over the past 2 years. I didn't report it previously as I thought it was just a jeep thing and poor manufacturing. Now that I have become aware that it is preval... Read more
Incident date: Apr 10, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that he was informed at a State Inspection that the vehicle had failed the inspection due to severe rust on the front sub frame, at the engine cradle location. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the entire sub frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was not... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2024
“Shift system fault” flashes on dash and car suddenly and violently shakes and loses power at higher speeds when trying to accelerate. Also heard a metallic grinding/metallic rattle noise under the car and could not accelerate. Has happened multiple times over the last year and a half.
Incident date: Jul 21, 2022
The check engine light went on and the diagnostic code read was P26A3, Engine Coolant Bypass Valve is failing in my 2019 Forester, which only has 46,000 miles on it. Subaru was aware that this part was defective in the 2019-2021 models, because in Feb of 2022 the part was replaced and a service bulletin 09-80-21 was issued with instruction for replacing the part, but did not issue a recall, despit... Read more
Incident date: Jul 21, 2022
Sticky steering on highways. On curves on highways, steering wheel hesitates/ clicks upon return to straight position
Incident date: Jul 21, 2022
When driving at high speeds on straight roads, the steering wheel “catches” or feels sticky when it hits the middle and makes it hard to keep the car straight and requires extra effort to turn it further. This can be quite dangerous.
Incident date: Mar 13, 2024
The front head restrains deployed without any impact. One month apart from each other.
Incident date: Mar 13, 2024
Not sure if ignition has ever been changed but I’ve been reading that there is a recall on my eps system as to that matter I have no power steering and would like to kno if it will be covered if I take it to gm dealership close to me
Incident date: Nov 15, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) 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 vehi... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2022
Tesla recently rolled out an update that gives everyone in the US a trial of FSD. After this update I've had numerous situations where the car would panic and act like I was about to collide with a parked vehicle both while driving down a residential street in daytime and when coming around corners. This never happened in previous version. Also the auto windshield wipers no longer work when its r... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2022
Tesla recently rolled out an update that gives everyone in the US a trial of FSD. After this update I've had numerous situations where the car would panic and act like I was about to collide with a parked vehicle both while driving down a residential street in daytime and when coming around corners. This never happened in previous version. Also the auto windshield wipers no longer work when its r... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2023
Car started beeping and information center was flashing and drive indicator was flashing . At another time car shifted in reverse and would not move. Humming sound coming from front right wheel at 40mph and would not go away until until 60mph. Was told it was the all wheel drive system.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2023
Car started beeping and information center was flashing and drive indicator was flashing . At another time car shifted in reverse and would not move. Humming sound coming from front right wheel at 40mph and would not go away until until 60mph. Was told it was the all wheel drive system.
Incident date: Jul 10, 2023
While driving to work, using FSD, the autopilot steered me into the path of an overtaking vehicle moving at about 20 mph faster than my vehicle. By quickly taking over steering and speed control, I was able to avoid a collision. A couple miles further down the road, the car could not decide on which exit lane to use, and weaved between two possibilities, probably alarming and angering drivers b... Read more
Incident date: Mar 25, 2024
Front subframe assembly broken Turn signals don't register input Lateral and compliances links broken
Incident date: Feb 8, 2024
Over the last 5 years that I have owned the vehicle, the engine will stall when idle or at low speeds. This has happened at stop lights, on hills and while on the highway (which is obviously very dangerous). The engine the vehicle has to be turned off and restarted and usually it will stall again within a few minutes. For the most part, this happens after the vehicle has been driven for at leas... Read more
MINI
COUNTRYMAN
(2015) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Apr 7, 2024
Incident date: Feb 22, 2024
The paint began flaking off in dime size chunks after a car wash. primarily around the back windshield but also around the gas door cover. I brought it to a body shop to be checked on. They said this was a common thing they see in civics from 2017, and it is a manufacturing defect.
Incident date: May 12, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would not immediately accelerate, and the transmission experienced hard shifting. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that later while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine misfired. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that th... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2023 BMW X7. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V104000 (Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Service Brakes) 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 contacted and confirmed that the parts were not yet availabl... Read more
MINI
COOPER S CLUBMAN
(2011) - ENGINE
Mar 29, 2024
Incident date: Mar 29, 2024
There is a ticking noise I hear when the truck is first started and it is very obvious until the engine warms up and then it is less noticeable. I also noticed a decrease in fuel mileage. I had a mechanic look at it and he told me that the right side exhaust manifold was cracked. I ordered the right side manifold and new bolts and had the mechanic install them for me. Once it was installed when we... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2024
I want to report what I think is a very dangerous issue with my Tesla Model Y. We have experienced numerous times that the car brakes without warning. I have talked to Tesla about this "phantom braking", and they say it is "normal". The Traffic-Aware Cruise Control cannot be disabled to create a normal manual cruise control. I gave them a hypothetical situation where this could be life-threat... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2024
I want to report what I think is a very dangerous issue with my Tesla Model Y. We have experienced numerous times that the car brakes without warning. I have talked to Tesla about this "phantom braking", and they say it is "normal". The Traffic-Aware Cruise Control cannot be disabled to create a normal manual cruise control. I gave them a hypothetical situation where this could be life-threat... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2024
I want to report what I think is a very dangerous issue with my Tesla Model Y. We have experienced numerous times that the car brakes without warning. I have talked to Tesla about this "phantom braking", and they say it is "normal". The Traffic-Aware Cruise Control cannot be disabled to create a normal manual cruise control. I gave them a hypothetical situation where this could be life-threat... Read more
MINI
COOPER S CLUBMAN
(2010) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 27, 2024
Incident date: Mar 27, 2024
Hello, My subaru crosstrek 2018 has been brought to Subaru service departments in both CA and MA for the same issue. I have brought in my car 3-4 times for recurrent problems where the battery in the car dies. The battery has been replaced multiple times and I have brought it to Subaru Service departments both in Massachusetts and California, all of whom tell me that the battery needs to be repla... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2023
We have a 09 Toyota Rav4 with a Blizzard Pearl paint that continues to fail. Apparently there were notices sent out in 2022 indicating a recall that would cover these repairs. We were unaware of these notices and continue to experience paint degradation on multiple areas of the car. I have contacted Toyota and they claim no responsibility past the 2022 expiration date. I am hoping that NTSB will ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2024
The fact that the dealership was able to sell this car with a recall on is crazy, yes I have blame for not looking as well but now we are having issues with the front bumper hitting the tires when you turn and making a grinding noise. We were told that there’s nothing they could do as of yet but as I see this recall has been open for a while now? This is a big concern to us what if they don’t ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Ram Promaster 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V301000 (Power Train) 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 contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was contact... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH on wet roads, the vehicle pulled to the right while depressing the brake pedal. The ABS, brake, and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ABS had failed. The dealer informed the contact that the parts were on backorder until A... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH on wet roads, the vehicle pulled to the right while depressing the brake pedal. The ABS, brake, and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ABS had failed. The dealer informed the contact that the parts were on backorder until A... Read more
Incident date: Nov 14, 2023
Thermostat/water pump housing leaking coolant at 20,000 miles. No damage to vehicle that caused this, seems to be a common issue with VW Golfs. The repair is out of pocket and the dealership which sold me the car only a year ago is quoting $1600.
MINI
COOPER COUNTRYMAN
(2012) - STRUCTURE:BODY
Mar 13, 2024
Incident date: Mar 4, 2024
Was getting into the car. As we closed the doors, we heard the sunroof shatter. the edges of the broken glass were pushed up as if the air pressure inside the car broke the glass. If the inside cover was open, we would have been showered in glass. The manufacturer inspected and replaced the glass.
MINI
COOPER COUNTRYMAN
(2012) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Mar 13, 2024
Incident date: Mar 4, 2024
See attached document for complaint
Incident date: Mar 17, 2023
The rear crossmember subframe on my vehicle is completely rusted out which caused serious suspension issue and cause the control arm to be in contact with the fuel tank. It didnt go through the tank because i found the issue on time and stopped driving the vehicle but it caused damage to the tank. If I didnt stop driving the car it was just a matter of time before the control arm perforated the ta... Read more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2023
After driving on the interstate highway for a couple hours from Phoenix, Arizona I noticed that the left turn signal started malfunctioning, and the right signal flashed instead. After several hours of driving, noticed that sometimes the right signal only flashed 3 or 4 times when turning on the right indicator. I also noticed that the emergency flashers would usually blink once or twice left, t... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2023
The forward collision warning activated out of the blue and the automatic emergency braking was applied for no reason. Was driving to go pick up daughter from school on March 11, 2024 at approximately 11:50 AM. Driving on neighborhood road with speed limit of 40 mph. Driving at 40 mph with no other vehicles anywhere near me in front, behind, or in opposing lane. All of a sudden the front col... Read more
Incident date: Mar 11, 2024
My car has a transmission problem because when I run the car it goes from and back and is takes time to speed it feel like if I’m forcing the car to move I don’t run the car to much since I got it it has 48538 it also makes a lot of noise on the engine we noticed since we buy the car from car max but they say the car had no recalls. About June 2023 it started with more problems and I don’t l... Read more
MINI
COOPER COUNTRYMAN
(2012) - SERVICE BRAKES
Mar 8, 2024
Incident date: Mar 6, 2024
I bought this car new in 2011, and it is now driven by my daughter. The brakes started having problems around 2019, and the car was taken to Toyota service. It was thought to be a tire issue and the tires were replaced, but the brake issue remained. In February 2024, all the dashboard brake lights came on, and my daughter immediately took the car to Toyota service. The problem was a defective and ... Read more