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.
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
Showing 96,425 complaints for NISSAN
Incident date: Jun 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the passenger's side windshield exterior A-pillar trim separated from the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the driver's side windshield exterior A-pillar trim... Read more
Incident date: Oct 18, 2021
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the second-row middle seat belt was latched; however, the seat belt failed to lock as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000.
Incident date: Nov 28, 2023
Concerning my 2018 CR-V, with about 42,000 miles. While driving the steering wheel hesitates and then releases. This has gotten progressively worse over the last month. The local dealer diagnosed it as "internal steering rack failure." I was surprised that there isn't a recall on this model. A vehicle of this age and mileage should not have problems like this. It is obviously a manufacturers de... Read more
Incident date: Nov 28, 2023
The brakes release for a period of time when stopping. This has been ongoing since owning the vehicle. It feels like a lurch forward when my foot is actively braking.
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2024) — POWER TRAIN
Jun 17, 2024
Incident date: Jun 16, 2024
Not long after purchasing my new (to me) 2016 Cherokee, the service 4wd light turned on. The warning light has been on for all but a few minutes of driving for 2 weeks. The dealership that I purchased the suv from diagnosed the problem as a bad PTU. Although thousands of the same models were recalled in that model year my Jeep was not included in the recall even though it now turns out to have the... Read more
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2024) — ENGINE
Jun 17, 2024
Incident date: Jun 16, 2024
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The cylinder warped. With this cylinder failure, I would have to replace the engine. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? If I continue to drive this car without replacing the engine which could affect my ability to brake safely in an emergency. Has the problem been reproduced ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 17, 2024
While driving moderately on suburban roads, the car suddenly jerked forward and stalled, and a warning came on indicating "drive train malfunction". The message said that continuing driving was possible and to contact dealer soon at convenience. Then, 30 seconds later while still driving, the car completely died. Engine died and car began coasting. Had to coast into a parking lot where the car cam... Read more
Incident date: Jun 17, 2024
While driving moderately on suburban roads, the car suddenly jerked forward and stalled, and a warning came on indicating "drive train malfunction". The message said that continuing driving was possible and to contact dealer soon at convenience. Then, 30 seconds later while still driving, the car completely died. Engine died and car began coasting. Had to coast into a parking lot where the car cam... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
The abs control module and pump has been going out for the last 4 years with intermittent alarm every 30-44seconds. Every time I call dodge dealer the part is on back order for 4 years now I finally found a remanufactured one on eBay. This is a serious problem, very unsafe and I have talked to a lot of people with dodge ram trucks 2017-2018 that have the same issues and a couple people that have h... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2014
Back up camera does not display item location for contact area. Related to APIM malfunction. Gps and radio controls also not working due to bad APIM
Incident date: Jun 15, 2024
Power steering went out on wife's 2011 ford escape, checked for recall and found none for her vehicle however there was for 2008 to 2011 escapes which involved the torque sensor. I don't know why I never received a recall notice and have noticed many other people have had the same problem and Ford is unwilling to do anything about it. This is a defect that could cost someone or someone's their l... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2024
We were on our way home from the children's hospital in Philadelphia for my daughter (4 hours away from home) and my 2015 Santa Fe with the 3.3L motor began to knock. My dad (who is very mechanically inclined) pulled over at a gas station and checked oil and other fluids. It was low, even though I just had oil changed 900 miles before and it was checked before our trip to the hospital. We bought o... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2024
My Headlights are so dim, I have to drive with high beams. It is raining in my, short circuited the trunk, will not open and my bearings have to be replaced. Sounds like a truck. Ughhhh, IMy first and last american made car.
Incident date: May 1, 2024
My Headlights are so dim, I have to drive with high beams. It is raining in my, short circuited the trunk, will not open and my bearings have to be replaced. Sounds like a truck. Ughhhh, IMy first and last american made car.
Incident date: Apr 12, 2023
Horn button is not in center of steering wheel. This makes sounding of the horn by a driver less accessible in an emergency or urgent situation to avoid a collision, accident, or pedestrian. Please request a recall for a standard center horn location I'm the steering wheel.
Incident date: Jun 17, 2024
Honk as a button instead of at the center. Came close calls a few times where accident could have been avoided if I am able to honk within split second. I kept pressing center of the steering wheel. Safety Recall should be made. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Incident date: Dec 9, 2022
While @ highway speed this vehicle lost ipower steering, power braking and the engine stalled out…this latest event prompted my complaint and was the third time I have experienced this situation. In all three incidents I was simply able to coast to the side of the road and stop. Thankfully after a few attempts to restart the vehicle started and ran. It was very frightening given it lost... Read more
Incident date: Dec 9, 2022
In May of 2023, as I entered an intersection, my 2016 Hybrid Kia Optima suddenly did not feel right and gave me a hybrid system warning error. I pulled to the side of the road and shut it down. I restarted the car. The error light remained on, but the car seemed to drive okay. I finished my short distance into work, and shut it down. I called the dealer and was asked to restart it to see if t... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2024
Secure vehicle against rolling Secure vehicle with parking brake when stop.
Incident date: Aug 18, 2022
Autopilot FSD 12.3.6 in Ohio is interpreting state route signs as speed limit signs. In Milford Ohio, the speed limit is 25mph. While traveling on [XXX] each state route sign had the max speed jump to 50mph. Then back to 25 at the next actual speed limit sign. An [XXX] sign was interpreted as 20mph. Errors is speed are dangerous in either the car going too fast or risking a rear end collision by i... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2024
Traveling down [XXX] in Escondido at approximately 73mph. In the fast lane and moving left into the car pool lane the vehicle lost all motive power and the error "Service Charging System" came up on the dash then flashing back to "SHIFT TO P TO START". We were able to make it to a very small emergency lane on the left side of the interstate. Had to power vehicle off and restart twice before be ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2024
Electric Power steering failed during turn. Parked on side of road, turned truck off waited about 5 minutes and started truck, power steering was working but went back out after about 1 mile. After getting to work, I tried it again and power steering was working. Checked electrical system, battery and alternator are working correctly.
Incident date: Jun 15, 2024
Electric Power steering failed during turn. Parked on side of road, turned truck off waited about 5 minutes and started truck, power steering was working but went back out after about 1 mile. After getting to work, I tried it again and power steering was working. Checked electrical system, battery and alternator are working correctly.
Incident date: Jun 4, 2024
ABS light came on, sometimes when braking/slowing down at freeway speeds, the brakes won't catch and it feels like I'm going to ram into the cars ahead, I've replaced the rotors, the calipers, the brakes, the wheel bearings, ABS light won't go away, I've looked into it on the bullitt community forums, and this is a common problem that most just decide to live with, cause no solution has been foun... Read more
Incident date: Jun 4, 2024
ABS light came on, sometimes when braking/slowing down at freeway speeds, the brakes won't catch and it feels like I'm going to ram into the cars ahead, I've replaced the rotors, the calipers, the brakes, the wheel bearings, ABS light won't go away, I've looked into it on the bullitt community forums, and this is a common problem that most just decide to live with, cause no solution has been foun... Read more
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2016) — POWER TRAIN
Jun 15, 2024
Incident date: Feb 10, 2024
Transmission. Hesitates from a stop to highway speeds and hard downshift upon stopping…either controlled or emergency stop. Seems hard to find a gear. Indecisive acceleration. I took it back to Ford and they drove it and said they could not replicate my complaint. No one has inspected it except when I took it back to my dealership. No warning lamps or issues. There is a definite problem with the... Read more
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2023) — TIRES
Jun 15, 2024
Incident date: Nov 11, 2023
245/35/R21, tire specifically made for Lucid. Small bump in road caused large bubble in sidewall. Lucid forums full of complaints about this. No replacement tires available in the US and no alternate available due to load rating. No promised time for more to be available. I had to borrow a loaner tire from lucid. I learned that Perilli is redesigning this tire with thicker sidewalls because of all... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2024
The 360 camara does not always come on for several minutes after starting up. This prevents me from using the bachup canera and therefore I ciuld run over something or somebody when backing out of my garage or out if a parking spot. I have taken the truck in to to different dealers and all they say is they can't duplicate the problem. I even show them a viseo of it happening to me but say they hav... Read more
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2022) — SERVICE BRAKES
Jun 15, 2024
Incident date: Apr 30, 2022
My 2011 SRX has lost brake power 4 times in the past 2 years. I reported to GM as other owners had this complaint. I hit the brakes at low speed when going into a parking lot incline and lose my brake power. The brakes go to the floor and eventually the car stops. Thankfully no other car was near me as the car is hard to stop. I also slammed on my brakes around 25-30 mph as another car was coming ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 11, 2024
Vehicle displays shift to park when vehicle is parked. Alert signals and vehicle will not shut completely off and you can’t lock the doors. Has to continuously play with the shift in order for it to register.
Incident date: Jun 11, 2024
The service electronic brake system light flashes intermittently, along with the traction control light and ABS light. Seems to occur when for no reason.
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2015) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jun 14, 2024
Incident date: Jun 10, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 70–75 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and shut off. The contact pulled over, and the vehicle failed to restart. The oil pressure warning light illuminated and blinked. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated after the failure. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed a... Read more
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2015) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Jun 14, 2024
Incident date: Jun 10, 2024
My driver side door hinge has a broken spot weld and has come unattached from the door and it goes inside and blocks the power window from coming down when the door is closed. Ford has had these breaking hinge problems since 2019. I took it to the Ford dealership for them to look at the problem and they want me to pay for it. I have attached pictures. As of October 2023, the National Highway Traf... Read more
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2015) — ENGINE
Jun 14, 2024
Incident date: Jun 10, 2024
Complete shutdown of the vehicle while driving down the road. Caused me to go into a ditch. The vehicles lights flashed and then it just shut off. Had the alternator replaced twice also the battery replaced twice and now the nissan dealership has said they don't know what's wrong with it.
Crash
Incident date: Jun 14, 2024
Complete shutdown of the vehicle while driving down the road. Caused me to go into a ditch. The vehicles lights flashed and then it just shut off. Had the alternator replaced twice also the battery replaced twice and now the nissan dealership has said they don't know what's wrong with it.
Crash
Incident date: Jun 14, 2024
On highway, emergency braking enacted. I pulled to side the of the road to turn engine off and restart car. When I did, I could not put the car in gear. I have had other similar incidents happen with this vehicle. After about an hour of waiting for roadside assistance and having NYS troopers come help, the car dash lit up and I was then able to put car in Drive. When I talked to dealership and sai... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the driver's side A-pillar trim was making an abnormal sound and then was blown off by the slip stream. The contact stated that he had called a local dealer and was informed that the parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The contact stated after the failure he r... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2024
Abs/vdc off/awd en el tablero
Incident date: Jun 13, 2024
Car emergency braking system engaged while there was nothing in front of the car. The automatic brakes were applied and the brake indicator flashed on the driver screen with no warning.
Incident date: Apr 10, 2024
Tailgate keeps falling down while traveling down the road. This has happened several times. This time after it hit the trailer after backing it up at the end of the trip.
Incident date: Apr 10, 2024
Tailgate keeps falling down while traveling down the road. This has happened several times. This time after it hit the trailer after backing it up at the end of the trip.
Incident date: Dec 8, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact veered off the roadway. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle malfunction message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who referred the contact to the dea... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2024
The projector housing in my headlights has been determined to be defective and Nissan was sued because of this. However I have dim headlights on my vehicle which will cost me $1200 to replace and Nissan has told me that I am no longer eligible for a one time replacement. This is unfair in that I was never notified by Nissan about defective headlights which have deteriorated to a point where they a... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and started jerking violently. The vehicle was pulled into a parking space and inspected. The vehicle was restarted but the transmission failed to shift as needed for the vehicle to accelerate as intended. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined th... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2024
Underbody dust panels have torn off of mounting bolts without any clear cause of damage, main front panel and right passenger side panel. Loose panels could have fallen off on highway. Only indication they came loose was when they began flapping in air flow from driving.
Incident date: Jun 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, he heard an abnormal sound emanating from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission shifter cable bushing. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 24, 2023
The seat belt failed due to a short. I am not sure if my safety was really at risk but the car said it was. There was warning on startup on the large display in the middle of the car and a constant warning in the gauge cluster. The fault has been confirmed at the dealership. The seat belt was inspected at the dealership and they are suggesting a replacement for $662.74. The warning did not cause a... Read more
Incident date: Oct 24, 2023
There are two display screens in the Fisker Ocean. One is small, in front of the driver. The second screen is mounted center of the dashboard. About 4 weeks ago I experienced a complete failure of the larger center information screen, which includes control over settings, navigation, bluetooth connections, phone calling, audio channels, charging (amps) settings, trip meters, odometer, owner's ma... Read more
Incident date: Oct 24, 2023
While driving at highway speeds, either in cruise control mode or not I get a sound notification and my dashboard shows a Malfunction message and all safety features have become disabled including cruise control. This has occurred at 389 miles, 3223 miles, 4835 miles, 5047 miles, 6860 miles and 8319 miles. Each time I brought it back to the Nissan dealer. They replaced camera assy-lane keep at 748... Read more