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 2,690 complaints for PORSCHE
Incident date: Apr 27, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving 50-60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle hesitated and jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to Firestone, where the spark plugs and ignition coils were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to Firestone, where it was diagnosed with trans... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Passenger low beam headlight does not work. There is no “fault” message under “exterior lighting” indicating a problem with headlight.
Incident date: Mar 19, 2026
The mapping system is out of date and tried to route me to an offramp that doesn't exist. I did some research and found the offramp changed over 4 years ago, roughly when the car was built. I took the car to my local dealership to get the maps updated and Porsche claims I have the latest map. I think this is a dangerous situation if someone tried to drift off the road in bad weather (for example... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Porsche Panamera. The contact stated that while stopped at a red traffic light, the vehicle independently shifted from drive(D) to neutral(N), and the instrument panel failed to display critical safety information. The messages "Speed Limit Display Limited”, “No Navigation Data Available", "Left Taillight Fault - Check Taillight", and "Right Taillight Error”, and “S... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Porsche Panamera. The contact stated that while stopped at a red traffic light, the vehicle independently shifted from drive(D) to neutral(N), and the instrument panel failed to display critical safety information. The messages "Speed Limit Display Limited”, “No Navigation Data Available", "Left Taillight Fault - Check Taillight", and "Right Taillight Error”, and “S... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Porsche Panamera. The contact stated that while stopped at a red traffic light, the vehicle independently shifted from drive(D) to neutral(N), and the instrument panel failed to display critical safety information. The messages "Speed Limit Display Limited”, “No Navigation Data Available", "Left Taillight Fault - Check Taillight", and "Right Taillight Error”, and “S... Read more
Incident date: Mar 6, 2026
While driving in traffic on a busy highway, I heard a loud clunk from the rear of the car and it instantly decelerated from 70+ miles per hour to 22 miles per hour, where it stayed and would not go faster. I had to get across 3 lanes of traffic to exit. Thereafter, the car would not move and had to be put on a flatbed to get to the Porsche dealer. Note that for 2 years prior the transmission ha... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 1969
My fiancé was driving the car normally on the elevated interstate at about 130 in the morning central time on Monday, April 20 when the suddenly burst into flames! The entire vehicle is destroyed bumper-to-bumper the fuel pump on these models are apparently reason for recalls because of this exact reason.my fiancé's life was endangered because of this fire.thank Goodness there was no collision.p... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Dec 31, 1969
My fiancé was driving the car normally on the elevated interstate at about 130 in the morning central time on Monday, April 20 when the suddenly burst into flames! The entire vehicle is destroyed bumper-to-bumper the fuel pump on these models are apparently reason for recalls because of this exact reason.my fiancé's life was endangered because of this fire.thank Goodness there was no collision.p... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Apr 17, 2026
Rear axel carrier side section fractured in half. This can lead to loss of control of the vehicle when driving. Recall was issued for some models/years with specific batches, but mine was not included even though it’s the same issue.
Incident date: Nov 6, 2025
There are .recalls.on the Vehicle I had been unaware of and I dropped off my vehicle for exterior buffing while person Buffing vehicle he heard a loud explosion and when he looked the vehicle was up in flames the vehicle burned. There was a Risk of someone getting Harm , Killed and Damages to other vehicles on the property in same lot vehicle was being buffed . Police and Fireman were dispatch to... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Nov 6, 2025
There are .recalls.on the Vehicle I had been unaware of and I dropped off my vehicle for exterior buffing while person Buffing vehicle he heard a loud explosion and when he looked the vehicle was up in flames the vehicle burned. There was a Risk of someone getting Harm , Killed and Damages to other vehicles on the property in same lot vehicle was being buffed . Police and Fireman were dispatch to... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Nov 6, 2025
There are .recalls.on the Vehicle I had been unaware of and I dropped off my vehicle for exterior buffing while person Buffing vehicle he heard a loud explosion and when he looked the vehicle was up in flames the vehicle burned. There was a Risk of someone getting Harm , Killed and Damages to other vehicles on the property in same lot vehicle was being buffed . Police and Fireman were dispatch to... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Feb 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Porsche Cayenne. The contact stated that the front driver’s side seat belt failed to buckle and became unusable. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact was advised to schedule an appointment for the vehicle to be repaired at the owner's expense. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown reca... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Porsche Macan. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the passenger’s side headlight failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that there was a failure with the passenger’s side headlight LED circuit and that the headlight needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2026
At approximately 52,000 miles, the vehicle experienced a sudden catastrophic transmission / driveline failure while in use. The failure created serious concern about safe operation and reliability and left the vehicle disabled or unsafe to continue driving normally. An authorized Porsche dealer evaluated the vehicle and stated that the repair would require replacement of the entire transmission as... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2026
At approximately 52,000 miles, the vehicle experienced a sudden catastrophic transmission / driveline failure while in use. The failure created serious concern about safe operation and reliability and left the vehicle disabled or unsafe to continue driving normally. An authorized Porsche dealer evaluated the vehicle and stated that the repair would require replacement of the entire transmission as... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
Passenger side headlamp failure. DRL and HB working. low beam failure. Seems to be a common issue with 2020 model headlamp control module. Safety issue with astronomical repair costs from dealer. Request safety recall.
Incident date: Mar 10, 2026
Problem Description: The low beam on the passenger side headlight has completely stopped working. Daytime running lights (DRLs) and high beams continue to function normally on the affected side. There are no dashboard warning lights other than the expected “check low beam” message. The vehicle was taken to Valley Imports Porsche in Fargo, ND, on 4/10/2026, where they diagnosed an internal fai... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
The leather dash has "shrunk" so badly and is so distorted that there is no way the passenger airbag would properly inflate in an accident. Porsche tells me that this defect is "cosmetic" and of no consequence to vehicle safety. I do not agree with this position and feel that Porsche should be liable for this defect.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
The leather dash has "shrunk" so badly and is so distorted that there is no way the passenger airbag would properly inflate in an accident. Porsche tells me that this defect is "cosmetic" and of no consequence to vehicle safety. I do not agree with this position and feel that Porsche should be liable for this defect.
Incident date: Nov 25, 2025
My 2025 Porsche Cayenne S was involved in a low-speed crash and experienced multiple safety failures related to the Driver Assistance Control Unit, including phantom braking and camera failure. This crash, I believe, is a direct result of the safety defect identified in Recall ASB2 (NHTSA 25V896), which causes the Driver Assistance Control Unit to fail to process image and sensor data correctly. M... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 25, 2025
My 2025 Porsche Cayenne S was involved in a low-speed crash and experienced multiple safety failures related to the Driver Assistance Control Unit, including phantom braking and camera failure. This crash, I believe, is a direct result of the safety defect identified in Recall ASB2 (NHTSA 25V896), which causes the Driver Assistance Control Unit to fail to process image and sensor data correctly. M... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 25, 2025
My 2025 Porsche Cayenne S was involved in a low-speed crash and experienced multiple safety failures related to the Driver Assistance Control Unit, including phantom braking and camera failure. This crash, I believe, is a direct result of the safety defect identified in Recall ASB2 (NHTSA 25V896), which causes the Driver Assistance Control Unit to fail to process image and sensor data correctly. M... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 3, 2026
Vehicle: 2020 Porsche Cayenne VIN: [XXX] Mileage: 41,918 Complaint: My 2020 Porsche Cayenne exhibits a significant and repeatable lurching and abnormal braking pattern each time the vehicle decelerates to a stop. The behavior is consistent and pronounced enough to cause me physical motion sickness on every drive. I brought the vehicle to Porsche Bellevue (Bellevue, WA) for diagnosis. The service... Read more
Incident date: Mar 29, 2026
Headlight on the passenger side. Very common for this year and model Porsche. We took the car to a carwash. We entered with both headlights working. We went straight home and as we pulled into the garage we saw that the passenger side headlight wasn't working. There was no indication on the dashboard or warning that the headlight was out. I had to drive home in the dark in unsafe conditions wit... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
My drive motors keep failing (so far 3 times) and my emergency braking abruptly stops my vehicle when no true danger is present and I’m in complete control of my vehicle. Currently my vehicle has a constant shuddering while braking which doesn’t feel safe because it’s not braking properly. Audi regional and the dealership refuses to take ownership of the issue. Dealer has confirmed issue and... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
"Continuous engine oil leak for 12 months. After 4 failed repair attempts, the dealer used liquid sealer instead of a gasket. This is a deceptive repair that creates a severe fire hazard. The leak is still active today, March 2026."
Incident date: Mar 20, 2026
"Continuous engine oil leak for 12 months. After 4 failed repair attempts, the dealer used liquid sealer instead of a gasket. This is a deceptive repair that creates a severe fire hazard. The leak is still active today, March 2026."
Incident date: Mar 21, 2026
The power steering has stopped working. After starting the car it shows a "Steering Assist Fault" message and the steering doesn't work. Thankfully this happened when the car was stopped. My car battery is fine so this must be a failure in the Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system.
Incident date: Feb 22, 2026
The transmission torque convertor clutch, transmission pressure control, transmission solenoid fault. The vehicle is available to inspection. The lost power while driving on the highway putting myself and other drivers at risk. I have spoken with several Toyota repair centers and this is a known issue. Currently, my car along with 3 others are sitting at Miller Toyota with the same issue. The ve... Read more
Incident date: Feb 22, 2026
Vehicle caught fire and completely burned up. It had no problems, had been serviced and recently inspected for emissions and safety in Virginia.
Fire
Incident date: Feb 23, 2026
The vehicle's horn becomes completely inaudible during heavy rain, particularly during downpours. This is a serious safety concern as the horn is a critical safety device for alerting other drivers and pedestrians. The issue has occurred repeatedly since the vehicle had approximately 7,060 miles on it and continues at the current mileage of 28,617 miles.\n\nThe issue was first reported to the manu... Read more
Incident date: Aug 30, 2025
While driving on the highway, I heard a loud pop that made me flinch and swerve. After parking I noticed the glass in the sunroof had exploded upward like a volcano, leaving a large hole. Fortunately the shade was closed, or glass would have come into the car while I was driving.
Incident date: Dec 18, 2025
There are currently hundreds (if not thousands) of cars, operating on roads of USA, that at any particular time stop in the middle of the road. The power is cut off and Engine Control Error is displayed on the monitor. This issue has been described many times on Reddit, under Taycan-Engine Control Error threads. The affects 2020-21 Porsche Taycans. As an owner of '21 Taycan, I have run into this i... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2025
There are currently hundreds (if not thousands) of cars, operating on roads of USA, that at any particular time stop in the middle of the road. The power is cut off and Engine Control Error is displayed on the monitor. This issue has been described many times on Reddit, under Taycan-Engine Control Error threads. The affects 2020-21 Porsche Taycans. As an owner of '21 Taycan, I have run into this i... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
Passenger side LED headlight low beam failed prematurely. Hi beam and parking lights worked for a few months until they failed. Same issue as reported by many Macan owners. Failure reported on only 1 side of the car appears to be a manufacturer design flaw.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
Passenger side LED headlight low beam failed prematurely. Hi beam and parking lights worked for a few months until they failed. Same issue as reported by many Macan owners. Failure reported on only 1 side of the car appears to be a manufacturer design flaw.
Incident date: Mar 17, 2026
On 03/17/2026, I reported a safety defect in the headlight assemblies of my 2022 Porsche Macan. Dealer inspection at Porsche of Tacoma confirmed small paper fragments marked with arrows lodged inside both headlight housings. The fragments have progressively become dislodged and are now at risk of becoming freely mobile within the sealed assemblies. A loose paper object inside the housing creates a... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
Driver side passenger back sliding door will not open or close properly. Door will jam and make a loud noise or will not open when trying to open. Took it the dealership 4 times they replaced the motor but the issue continues.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
On multiple occasions my vehicle has not recognized the key fob when I have been at the vehicle. I have actually been standing by it trying to open the door and it would not respond. Even if I was holding the key fob in my hand next to the door it would not respond. I would have to manually push the unlock button on the fob to be able to enter. This has caused me personal safety concerns when ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 23, 2018
While driving at approximately 20mph, the front passenger-side steering knuckle suffered a catastrophic structural failure, snapping completely in two. This resulted in an immediate loss of steering and suspension control. Inspection of the fractured part by a mechanic revealed significant orange oxidation (rust) inside the metal cross-section of the break. This internal corrosion on a 2-year-old ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 23, 2018
I purchased the car new and three times since then, the latest last week, the automatic brakes kicked in briefly for no apparent reason. I feel that if a vehicle would have been directly behind me this could very well have caused an accident. Each time it happened it was during daylight and fair weather although I can't remember if the sun was shinning. After the second time it happened I reported... Read more
Incident date: Nov 23, 2018
This vehicle qualified for the Volkswagen Emissions Recall, yet from the start of the recall through 2018 settlement lawsuit dates , no correspondence was sent (by Porsche nor VW). According to all recall regulations, my vehicle should have among the ‘recall’ with the 85K plus others, yet no correspondence was sent (by Porsche nor VW) & now the local Porsche dealership is denying in, Accordin... Read more
PORSCHE
CAYENNE E-HYBRID COUPE
(2025) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 16, 2026
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
I received a recall notice dated 9/23/2025. The recall is listed as URGENT safety issue that could cause a fire. The notice instructs not to drive the car or park in garage. It has been over 6 months now and there is still no fix. I am requesting the manufacture buyback my vehicle.
PORSCHE
CAYENNE E-HYBRID COUPE
(2025) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Mar 16, 2026
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
When I was going to torn off the truck won’t stop the engine, dash said not in parking and the PRND light start flashing I had to remove a relay to shut down the truck and disconnect bought batteries half and hour later reconnect everything and truck work but with many lights on in dash board From what I investigated it’s a common problem with no solution at this time Dealer said it’s a r... Read more
PORSCHE
CAYENNE E-HYBRID COUPE
(2025) — SUSPENSION
Mar 16, 2026
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
The contact owned a 2025 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the automatic emergency braking system inadvertently deactivated. The automatic emergency braking system and passenger air bag warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the suspension started lowering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to du... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the back over prevention camera malfunctioned and displayed a solid black image or a distorted image. The contact stated that the failure created a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The contact was informe... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Vehicle keeps entering limp mode when driving. Complete loss of power car cannot move and is left stranded. Vehicle has been at the dealership diagnosed and repaired over 4 times but the problem still remains. Dealer states there is no rat or electrical damage, battery was replaced and software updated but the car keeps losing all power and needs tows constantly.