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 30,183 complaints for RAM
Incident date: Dec 23, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while the contact was refueling the vehicle, the fuel was coming back out of the fuel tank onto the ground surface. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while traveling out of town. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred several times and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was tak... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while the contact was refueling the vehicle, the fuel was coming back out of the fuel tank onto the ground surface. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while traveling out of town. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred several times and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was tak... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2022
Technical Service Bulletin 22-2134. coolant intrusion into the cylinder. P0302 code
Incident date: Nov 11, 2024
On September 21, 2024 my Chevy 1500 series truck in the year was 2020. It was made caught on fire white driving it. We were returning from a trip pulling a trailer from Kentucky to Mansfield Ohio when we were on the highway. The transmission light/panel came across and said transmission need to engine idle. I drove it about 3 miles and pulled off on an exit at a gas station and did what it said af... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Feb 29, 2024
On [XXX] I was traveling across Wyoming west from Laramie Wy to Cokeville Wy. It had been snowing all day with temperatures fluctuating between 28 and 31 degrees. I had my headlights on all day when the sun went down I was on [XXX] and I couldn't see anything. I had to pull over on the side of the snow covered road to find my headlights totally covered with about a half inch of snow and ice. I ask... Read more
Incident date: Sep 11, 2024
The car has issue with suspension, i know it is sporty suspension, but I drove so many sport cars. But this is the only one that has jarring issue, my whole upper half is shaking back an forward on bumpy wavy roads causing me to have lower back pain and if i put my back head on head rest on these road my back head will be bouncing on it non stop. I went to service center and they say the car drive... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 10, 2024
Started bike, rode down street engine was on, came back called a service person at a dealership. Went through codes, cleared code. Next day rode to work, left work and stopped to get haircut. When leaving bike was dead wouldn't even turn over. Tried to remember code resetting, tried to start, started but engine xame on again. Got it home called same service guy. Cleared codes. There were different... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact stated that while the gear shifter was in the park(P), the message “Shift to Park” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the gear shifter needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact to use the parking brake while parking the vehicle. The contact called the local dealer and was... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
I have repeatedly had to bring my car into the shop (6 times now, only owned it for 5 months) to have the spark plugs and/or fuel injectors replaced multiple times. The car will suddenly start shuddering when trying to accelerate over 2 RPM. It has also stalled twice (while accelerating it slowed down to a stop in the middle of the road) and the engine light will flash. Mechanics have noted misfir... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the head ga... Read more
Incident date: Jan 26, 2024
I previously submitted a report to your agency on May 31, 2024 regarding my 2018 Honda Civic Sedan (VIN# provided) relating to what has been widely called a "sticky" steering action. After having one of their dealerships confirming there is a problem with my steering, I wrote Honda America on June 1, 2024 and advised them of that problem and requested my vehicle be added to a recall program that ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 6, 2024
The thermostat housing and water pump keeps failing and leaking.The seat heaters dont work. The car started leaking antifreeze real bad which cause it to overheat and lock up. Yes it has been confirm by a dealer that alot of the chevys been coming for new thermostat housing and water pumps. No vehicle was only inspected by a dealer. The overheating like came on and then 10 seconds later the car lo... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving their vehicle at various speeds they noticed that an abnormal clicking sound can be heard from the steering column. The contact stated that when this sound occurs the vehicle's steering wheel will seize and the contact is forced to pull over onto the side of the road, to restart their vehicle, in order for the power steerin... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
A auto repair shop said my Kia Optima has a bad knock sensor which is a common problem with those cars. My safety and others was put at great risk when I suddenly lost power on the freeway Problem was confirmed at an independent service center Has not yet been inspected by manufacturer Warning message came up at the same time as losing power
Incident date: Nov 13, 2024
Electronic Power Steering suddenly stopped working.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle began to jerk, and she heard an abnormal sound emanating from the engine compartment, after which the vehicle failed to accelerate above 5 MPH. Later, the contact received a notification from the ford app reading "Powertrain malfunction reduced power." No warning lights were illuminated.... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2023
Driving our well-maintained 2016 Honda Pilot with 133K with cruise control set at 65 on [XXX] in Kingman, AZ in October 2024, when the "check engine" light came on. I pulled off as soon as I could on the exit ramp 1.5 miles later. By that time, the engine was ticking and clicking loudly and all of the various system errors were flashing on the dash. The engine then started vibrating and sounded... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2023
Driving our well-maintained 2016 Honda Pilot with 133K with cruise control set at 65 on [XXX] in Kingman, AZ in October 2024, when the "check engine" light came on. I pulled off as soon as I could on the exit ramp 1.5 miles later. By that time, the engine was ticking and clicking loudly and all of the various system errors were flashing on the dash. The engine then started vibrating and sounded... Read more
Incident date: Nov 11, 2024
Rusted out frame. 130k miles and well cared for. I don't think a 10 year old vehicle should have a rust hole in the frame.
Incident date: Nov 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The dealer-scheduled an appointment but informed the contact that the part was rejected. The contact called Stocker GMC (273 Benner Pike, State College, PA 16801) and Thomas Johnstow... Read more
Incident date: Oct 30, 2024
In August of 2023 the engine seized up. It had about 120,000. I took it to the local Honda Dealership and they said the engine had no compression, engine knocking was valves and suspected bent valves in head. I was offered a used engine for about $9,000. I ended up trading the vehicle in on a new Subaru and was given $4,000 as trade-in. I just read an article that this agency is investing a cr... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2022 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V653000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experie... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was not... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2024
The driver-side visor in my 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited JL which has been repaired previously, continues to fall out of its bracket. This presents a significant safety risk while driving in bright conditions when the visor is unavailable to block/screen sunlight.
Incident date: Mar 12, 2024
I have owned this vehical for 2 years now and have repaired well over $7,000 worth of issues. Coolant issues are the number one issue, however we also repaired an oil leak and had electrical issues with the braking system. There are no current recalls for my car, but my coolant levels are low again and it is leaking again.
Incident date: Mar 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated while driving at approximately 68 MPH, the vehicle intermittently stalled, and there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning light was illuminated. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. T... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure). The contact stated that while diving on several occasions at various speeds, he and his wife observed an abnormal sound coming from the windshield. On one occasion, the contact’s wife observed that the hard rubber had detached and was flopping against the window. The contact ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle stalled. The contact waited several minutes for the vehicle to return to normal operation. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The brake warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The local ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 7, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle stalled. The contact waited several minutes for the vehicle to return to normal operation. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The brake warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The local ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 9, 2024
I was traveling on a local street around 35mph and braking for a red light. The braking felt funny in that it didn't slow the car down like normal, but it felt like the car's accelerator was still engaged. I managed to come to a stop, but the car seemed to want to move forward and I had to really stomp on the brake to keep it from moving forward. I put the car into park and the engine started r... Read more
Incident date: Sep 9, 2024
I was traveling on a local street around 35mph and braking for a red light. The braking felt funny in that it didn't slow the car down like normal, but it felt like the car's accelerator was still engaged. I managed to come to a stop, but the car seemed to want to move forward and I had to really stomp on the brake to keep it from moving forward. I put the car into park and the engine started r... Read more
Incident date: Sep 9, 2024
I was traveling on a local street around 35mph and braking for a red light. The braking felt funny in that it didn't slow the car down like normal, but it felt like the car's accelerator was still engaged. I managed to come to a stop, but the car seemed to want to move forward and I had to really stomp on the brake to keep it from moving forward. I put the car into park and the engine started r... Read more
Incident date: Nov 4, 2024
I unable to accelerate to merge on to the highway. This is the second time that my car was unable to accelerate and kick into gear. The first time was in 2021/2022 a few months after getting the car.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2024
There is a known recall on this car for engine/starter. It is a hazard and should be repaired. On 10/23 we scheduled and took the car to BMW of NW Arkansas. They refused to complete the recall on the starter without us paying $189.00 for a vehicle diagnostic and I am sure that would have resulted in more fees. A recall should be completed free of charge as it directly relates to a safety issue... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2024
At approximately 136,000 miles, my 2017 Acura MDX developed a loud ticking/knocking noise. Despite being well-maintained with verified clean and sufficient oil, both an independent shop and Anderson Honda of Hunt Valley, MD, confirmed a bottom-end failure, requiring a full engine replacement. This failure left my wife and children stranded on the road with extremely limited power, placing their sa... Read more
Incident date: Oct 2, 2024
My family was in the vehicle driving on the hwy in town and suddenly the car revved all the way up to 5000 rpms and would not shift out of first gear. When my husband shifted the car from drive to reverse to park the transmission made a loud clunking noise and hard jerking motion, the check engine light came on. There were no warning signs or lamps. this happened all within 30 seconds of driving d... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2024
My vehicle has been nearly underivable since purchased. Several times I have taken the car in for things like: No power. The car will drive, but slowly and with no "get up and go". It takes quite a bit of time to get to legal driving speed. This has happened on a highway at least once, and multiple times on regular roads. My electrical system has failed, and all components, including my battery,... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2024
Vehicle is throwing code C14A7-97 Drive terrain Control Mobule Vehicle shifts weirdly while driving and losses a little power.
Incident date: Nov 11, 2024
2016 Infiniti QX60 93,000 miles The battery light was on. I have noticed that my CVT transmission goes into limp mode. This has happened several times with no help from infiniti. I can only go 10MPH and it revs only 1000 RPM, then it'll be fine after I turn off and on again. Had battery and alternator checked and they're 100% good. This is very dangerous when it happenes in traffic and infin... Read more
Incident date: Nov 11, 2024
I have been experiencing engine and transmission issues for nearly 2 years. I have under 90k miles and am the 2nd owner since 2017. There is lack of power, speed inconsistencies, sputtering and hesitation upon acceleration. It feels unsafe. I have taken the vehicle in for a diagnosis and they stated it was an issue with the turbo and it has failed. This should not have occurred as the vehicle is u... Read more
Incident date: Nov 11, 2024
Vehicle began intermittently turning lights on and off while parked and driving. Upon dealer inspection, sunroof frame failed causing water to leak and corrode the VDP module which controls items like the headlights and suspension. Dealer did confirm, vehicle is being repaired at this moment. There were no warning lights about the headlight malfunction, noticed it while driving and while parked. T... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
[XXX] [XXX] > 4:28 PM (19 minutes ago) to takahiro_hachigo American Honda 1919 Torrance Blvd PO Box 2215 Torrance, CA 90509 - 9870 RE: Request for Financial Compensation Vehicle: 2017 Acura TLX VIN: [XXX] Dear American Honda Executive, I am reaching out as a long-term and loyal Honda customer, having owned multiple Honda vehicles over the past 30 years, including a 1990 Accord, a 2000 Acc... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Nov 11, 2024
High pressure fuel pump failed at 57,500 miles.
Incident date: Nov 8, 2024
At 40k miles the connecting rod bearings gave out, car was taken to the shop and bottom end was rebuilt under warranty. at 80k miles the same issue began to start. cars been in the shop for weeks for the same connecting rod bearing issue.
Incident date: Nov 5, 2024
● My steering rack has been recalled for a 2nd time after being replaced once and every dealership in the DFW metroplex are turning me away. ● I have no control over my steering this has been ongoing for roughly 1½ years now. ● yes multiple times. ● yes after the 1st recall and they said everything was in tip top shape and has now been recalled a 2nd time. ● yes only a few months after ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2024
Driving on freeway when the rear tire tread peeled off the inside tire tread wheel/blow out almost causing an accident. The vehicle pulled hard while driving and almost lost control. The problem has been inspected and confirmed by the Tesla dealer. The tire warning did alert after the tire blew out. This is a very frequently reported incident with the Model S plaid. A defect in the factory camb... Read more
Incident date: Nov 10, 2024
The transmission jerks at low speeds, especially in gears 1, 2, and 3. Starting from a stop is the worst. When you press the gas pedal there is a delayed response to accelerate the car. This is a safety issue. When you press the gas to pull out in front of traffic the vehicle is slow to respond, can get bogged down trying to shift gears, and may result in an accident. The jerkiness feels like the ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 10, 2024
To Whom It May Concern: I am writing to report yet another dangerous incident of phantom braking in my Tesla vehicle. As a Tesla owner who has previously filed multiple complaints about this issue, I am deeply concerned and frustrated by the lack of resolution to this potentially life-threatening problem. Today, I experienced a terrifying phantom braking event that nearly resulted in a catastrophi... Read more
Incident date: Sep 10, 2024
Ford has had a recall on my car for far too long causing me to lose money as I cannot rent it out until the recall is fixed
Incident date: Oct 25, 2024
I have a 2024 Ram Promaster Travato/Winnebago Class B 4 mo. ago I noticed the sliding door window on the right side of the vehicle fell on me as I was walking by the Van. I taped it on with tape and drove to Meyers Syracuse, NY location 730 Interstate Island. May 17th 2024 315-413-0401. They supposedly fixed it. Today I noticed I couldn't close that same window and there was a big gap under the... Read more