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.

2,245,377 Total Complaints

140,173 Reported Crashes

56,794 Reported Fires

8,580 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 2,245,377 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

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 14,474 complaints for MITSUBISHI

Incident date: May 22, 2004

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE ONLY 7,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. 5TH GEAR SYNCHROS WENT BAD. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE DEALERSHIP SPECIFICALLY ADVISED THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, AND IT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED. *AK

Incident date: May 22, 2004

Incident date: Nov 1, 2003

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW WITH 26 MILES. 6 MONTHS LATER AND 17000 MILES THE CLUTCH SLIPPING AND NOT INGAUGING. IT WAS SO BAD THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN MOVE. THE RPM WOULD JUST RAISE, EVEN ALL THE WAY UP TO 6500 IN FIRST GEAR WITH THE CAR NOT RESPONDING. THE MITSUBISHI DEALER SHIP HERE IN TOWN WOULD NOT EVEN WANT TO COVER IT OR TOUCH IT.*AK

Incident date: Sep 7, 2003

UNDER THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP OF MY 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION, MY CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP. I IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED MY DEALER AND WENT IN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. I SPOKE DIRECTLY WITH THE DISTRICT MANAGER BUT BEFORE ANY QUESTIONS HE ASSUMED I HAD ABUSED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THEY WOULD ONLY CHECK FOR PROBLEMS IF I PAID TO THE COST OF A TEARDOWN BEFORE ANYTHING. I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS ST... Read more

Incident date: Jun 18, 2004

SLIPPING CLUTCH WITH ONLY 3500 MILES. *AK

Incident date: Dec 22, 2003

CLUTCH DEFECTIVE, WENT OUT AT 9000 MILES, HAD TO REPLACE WITH MY OWN MONEY AS DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT HONOR WARRENTY ON MY CAR, BUT PROVIDED NO PROOF OR REASON WHY.*AK

Incident date: Jun 5, 2004

CLUTCH FAILURE. *AK

Incident date: Mar 31, 2003

I'VE HAD A THROW OUT BEARING METAL TO METAL RUBBING NOISE FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT MY 2003 MITSUBISHI EVOLUTION VIII. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER TO ASK IF I SHOULD BE CONCERNED. I WAS STRAIGHTFORWARD TOLD NOT TO WORRY UNLESS THE NOISE GETS WORSE. SINCE THEN MY CLUTCH HAS BEGUN TO CHATTER IN COLD WEATHER VIOLENTLY, AND OCCATIONALLY IN WARM OR HOT WEATHER. MY PEDAL THROW HAS BEEN VERY FAR FROM THE F... Read more

Incident date: Apr 16, 2004

MY CLUTCH JUST GOES OUT AT 2K AND MITSUBISHI DOESN'T WANT TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE THEY SAY ITS BURN. *AK

Incident date: Jun 12, 2004

ROTORS ARE WARPED ; PROBLEM STEMS FROM EITHER DEFECTIVE ROTOR OR DEFECTIVE CALIPER NOT RELEASING PISTON ; I AM STILL INVESTIGATING AND ATTEMPTING TO PINPOINT EXACT CAUSE. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 40K MILES. SEVERE SHIMMING OF STEERING WHEEL COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED!!!!*AK

Incident date: Jun 12, 2004

Incident date: Jun 17, 2004

CLUTCH FAILED UNDER ACCELERATION WHILE MERGING ON FREEWAY. CAR HAS 6300 MILES, 3 MONTHS OLD. DEALER QUOTED ALMOST $1500 FOR REPLACEMENT NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

Incident date: Jun 18, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER SMELLED STRONG CHEMICAL FUMES INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

Incident date: Sep 25, 2002

FOIA REQUEST COPY OF INFO RE COMPLAINTS OF DEFECTS & CRASH TESTING...NAR 07/14/2003 *MR INFO REQUEST. THE LAW OFFICE OF DAVID ITKOFF ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER AZEKEL PAUL WHO WAS KILLED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE REAR SEAT SEAT BACK *CB *JB

Crash 1 deaths

Incident date: Jun 16, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE CLUTCH SLIPS. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. *AK

Incident date: Jun 15, 2004

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 143 001 CONCERNING TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE COMMENCED TO MAKE LOUD CLANKING NOISES, LOST POWER AND LEAKED OIL. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THIS RECALL THROUGH THE PREVIOUS OWNER, AND THAT NOTHING ELSE WOULD BE DONE. HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED WITHIN A YEAR. *AK

Incident date: Dec 15, 2003

I WAS SITTING IN AN INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN LEFT. AS I BEGAN TO TURN A PICKUP TRUCK RAN THE LIGHT AND HIT ME HEAD ON AT APPROX 45 MPH. NONE OF MY 4 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED -- DRIVER FRONT & SIDE AIRBAGS NOR THE PASSENGER FRONT & SIDE AIRBAGS. THE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY SMASHED UP. MY CAR WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND SUBSEQUENTLY RULED AS A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I DON'T UNDERST... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Jun 6, 2004

DUNLOP SP 20 TIRES SIZE 185/65-14. ONE TIRE SEPERATED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. IN ADDITION OTHER 3 TIRES ON VEHICLE WERE WELL ON WAY TO SEPERATION. HAD TO PURCHASE 4 TIRES. *JB

Incident date: Feb 18, 2004

SAME PROBLEM AS WITH THE COMPLAINT LISTED BELOW. I BLAMED MY MECHANIC AND NEARLY SUED HIM FOR FAILURE TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN MY SUV. RESEARCH HAS PROVEN THIS TO BE NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI CASE NUMBER: 10054255 COMPONENT: POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL DETAILS: DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS SLUDGE IN ENGINE DUE TO "LACK OF PROPER MAINTENANCE". WE'VE HAD THE ... Read more

Incident date: Feb 16, 2004

1999 MONTERO BLEW UP AND CAUGHT FIRE CAUSING 2ND DEGREE BURNS MITSH REFUSES TO RELAEASE RECALL OR SPECIFICATINS TO ME WONT CALL ME BACK OR RESPOND TO LETTERS IT HAS BEEN 4 MONTHS SINCE 1ST CONTACT THEY DID OPEN A CASE FILE BUT THEN REFUSES TO CONTACT ME. *AK

Fire 1 injured

Incident date: Feb 12, 2004

THIS PAST WINTER (2004) WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DIPPED TO THE LOW 20'S MY HORN WENT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT STOP WAS TO EITHER WAIT UNTIL THE VEHICLE WARMED UP OR TO PULL THE FUSE. *LA

Incident date: May 29, 2004

WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF PURCHASING OUR VEHICLE, WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER DUE TO VIOLENT SHAKING FROM THE FRONT END. WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED 4 BRAND NEW TIRES. BUYING NEW TIRES DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WITHIN A FEW DAYS WE BEGAN TO HEAR A HUMMING, VIBRATING, AND GROWLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN YOU HIT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ... Read more

Incident date: Feb 1, 2004

(1) STEERING IS LOOSE. VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT EITHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. EXCESSIVE VIBRATION EVEN THOUGH THE DEFECT DID NOT CAUSE ANY ACCIDENT OR NEED ANY PARTS REPLACEMENT, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE MANUFACTURER DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM IN ASIA. I AM SURPRISED NORTH AMERICA IS NOT NOTIFIED. *LA

Incident date: May 27, 2004

I HAVE A 2000 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE THAT HAS 34000 MILES ON IT, AND ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE 2ND GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSWION KEPT GRINDING WHEN SHIFTING AND I FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM SO I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A RECALL FOR THE PARTS INVOLVED.*AK

Incident date: Jun 12, 2004

RECALL REPAIRS FOR DRIVER'S SIDE GUIDE RAIL 97V073001 FAILED, AND THE DEFECT RECURRED. *AK

Incident date: Jun 11, 1997

MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SUCK! I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY ENGINE SHUT OFF! LUCKLY, I WAS GOING DOWN HILL AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF TO THE LEFT, AFTER ALMOST GETTING HIT A COUPLE OF TIMES. MY MECHANIC (BROTHER) TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND SAID IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT, SO I GOOGLED IT AND GUESS WHAT???? IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM... TAKE A LOOK HTTP://WWW.ROADRACEENGINEERING.COM/WALKINGCRA... Read more

Incident date: Jun 11, 1997

Incident date: Jun 11, 2004

UNDER NORMAL OPERATION THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLISPE BROKE OFF. THE DOOR HANDLE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER FOR THE PRICE OF $72.00 PLUS PAINT.*AK

Incident date: Jun 3, 2004

CAR EITHER FAILS TO STOP OR IS SLOW TO STOP RESULTING IN SEVERAL NEAR CRASHES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AND TO LOCAL BRAKES SHOPS NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL. *AK

Incident date: Jun 10, 2004

I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS AND HAVE ABOUT 6500 MILES ON THE ODOMOTER. THE CLUTCH HAS STARTED SLIPPING WHEN THE TURBO KICKS IN. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I HAVE NOTIFIED MY LOCAL DEALER WHO ACKNOLOGES THE CAR NEEDS A CLUTCH, BUT CLAIMS THIS IS A WEAR ITEM AND ISN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY ALSO IMPLIED DRIVER ABUSE. THIS CAR IS MY DAILY DRIVER, I DO NOT RACE IT OR ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 6, 2004

BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLLE THEN A CONCRETE BARRIER. SPEED APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK

Crash

Incident date: Jun 6, 2004

BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLLE THEN A CONCRETE BARRIER. SPEED APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK

Crash

Incident date: Jun 6, 2004

WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY. NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE LEADS TO JERKY TRANSITIONS FROM GEAR TO GEAR AND RESULTS IN THE INABILITY TO GAUGE THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE NEED TO MAINTAIN/REACH/SUSTAIN SPEED. THIS OCCURS IN BOTH HIGHWAY AND CITY ENVIRONMENTS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED ACCORDING TO MFG'R RECOMMENDATIONS OF EVERY 3000 MILES. I HAVE ABOUT 3500... Read more

Incident date: Jun 6, 2004

Incident date: Mar 14, 2004

I HAVE REPLACED THE PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS ON A 2001 MITSUBISHI GALANT DE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR SHIMMYING AND POOR BRAKING ABILITY. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR ONLY 5,000 MILES. I CAN SEE THAT I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE OR TURN THE ROTORS AGAIN AND POSSIBLY REPLACE THE BRAKES. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 2001 MITSUBISHI GALANT ES. I HAVE AL... Read more

Incident date: Mar 14, 2004

Incident date: Jul 1, 2004

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IT SOMETIMES ROLLS BACKWARDS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. *AK *NM

Incident date: Jul 1, 2004

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IT SOMETIMES ROLLS BACKWARDS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. *AK *NM

Incident date: Jun 6, 2004

AFTER PURCHASING NEW 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO8 WITH 1500 DEALER MILES, AN ADDITIONAL 1000 MILES WAS DRIVEN WHEN CLTUCH PROBLEM BEGAN. VERY SERIOUS CLUTCH SLIPPAGE. RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND 12 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE NHTSA ON FILE. I AM CURRENTLY IN NEGOTIATION WITH THE DEALERSHIP MANAGER WITH THIS PROBLEM. I AM THI... Read more

Incident date: Jun 8, 2004

VEHICLE HAS A BLIND SPOT BETWEEN THE MIRROR AND THE BACK WINDOW. AS A RESULT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. *AK THE OFFICE THAT FILED THE REPORT SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER GET A SMALL MIRROR AND ATTACH IT TO THE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR. THE OFFICER INDICATED THAT A LOT OF TRUCK DRIVER'S USE THEM TO SEE AROUND THEIR TRUCKS. THE CONSUMER FEEL THAT THESE SMALL MIRRORS SHOULD BE STANDARD ... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Jun 8, 2004

CONSUMER RECEIVED ARECALL NOTICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF LOWER BALL JOINTS. DEALER REFUSED TO DO RECALL REPAIRS. SERVICE MANAGER MIKE SWEITZER. *AK

Incident date: Mar 10, 2003

DEFECTIVE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR (NHTSA ID#01V254001) ON MY 2001 MONTERO CAUSED MY BRAKES TO FAIL WHILE STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION WHICH RESULTED WITH ME REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE! THIS HAPPENED OVER 1 YEAR AGO AND THE DEFECTIVE PART HAS BEEN MAKING A TERRIBLE SOUND WHILE BRAKING FOR OVER 2 YEARS. EVERYTIME I PERFORMED MAINTENANCE ON MY VEHICLE. NO ONE COULD CONFIRM WHAT WAS CAU... Read more

Crash

Incident date: May 24, 2004

CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY-CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WITHIN MINUTES CAR DECELERATED AND STALLED IN MIDDLE LANE RIGHT BEFORE MAJOR ACCESS RAMP WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC FLOW. CAR COMPLETELY STALLED . UNABLE TO GET OVER TO SHOULDER DUE TO TRAFFIC. THERE WAS DEFINITELY A POTENTIAL FOR INJURY,COLLISION FROM BEHIND ETC. RADIATOR BUSTED,PLUGS REPLACED. NOW ENGINE HEADS HAVE BEEN DISSEMBLED AND... Read more

Incident date: Oct 29, 2003

DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES AT 25-28 MPH AND VEHICLE SLID ON LEAVE COVERED ROAD AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED CUTS AND BRUISES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK *LA

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Jun 6, 2004

NOTICED FAINT SMELL OF ANTI FREEZE APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS AGO. HAD PROBLEMS WITH DEFROSTER CLEARING WINDOWS. ALSO, SEEMED TO GET BETTER (OR MAYBE I GOT USED TO THE SMELL). NOW NOTICED PASSANGER SIDE FLOOR CARPET IS SOAKED WITH ANTI FREEZE. OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATER CORE OR THE HOSE(S) WHICH CONNECT TO IT ARE LEAKING. CAR HAS 92000 MILES, AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. I WILL BE CALLING LOCAL MI... Read more

Incident date: May 29, 2004

DRIVER OF 2003 LANCER WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE DUE TO FAILURE OF SEAT BELT TO RESTRAIN, CAUSING TWO SEVERE SKULL FRACURES AND BRAIN, EAR, NOSE, THROAT TRAUMA.*AK

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: May 29, 2004

DRIVER OF 2003 LANCER WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE DUE TO FAILURE OF SEAT BELT TO RESTRAIN, CAUSING TWO SEVERE SKULL FRACURES AND BRAIN, EAR, NOSE, THROAT TRAUMA.*AK

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Jan 6, 2003

NAR 03/13/2003 WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *CB *JB

Fire

Incident date: May 25, 2004

I WAS DRIVING MY MITSUBISHI MONTERO 3.5L DOHC WHILE TRYING TO JOIN FREEWAY ON RAMP WHILE ACCELERATING TO REACH 60 MILES AN HOUR TO KEEP IN PACE WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO DECLINE DESPITE ME STEPPING ON THE GAS. AT THE SAME TIME I LOST POWER STEERING AND I NEARLY DIED DUE TO A POSSIBLE HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO CORRECT THE SITUATION AND G... Read more

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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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