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: Sep 15, 2023
Noted the driver side mirror produces a shimmying image (glass appears to vibrate) at highway speeds and when going over bumps in road at lower speeds. This produces an unsafe vision of items out of the drivers side view mirror. Subaru replaced the glass and it actually got worse. So Subaru replaced the mirror housing on the driver side however the vibrating images are still there. Passenger side ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2024
Bought 2013 suburban brand new and in 2018, on a trip to the mountains for fall break, the car quit with no warning signs, in the middle of the night. The car would not accelerate when gas pedal was pressed and RPM gauge needle “fluctuated erratically” until car came to a complete stop in the middle of the highway! It was a scary and dangerous situation because it was late at night and we were... Read more
Incident date: Nov 6, 2024
On October 27, coming back from a family trip at 10 PM at night on a major highway, the suburban all of a sudden quit. Traveling at 70 miles per hour, all of a sudden, when pressing the gas pedal, the car would not accelerate and the RPM gauge was erratically moving. The car started to slow down till it eventually just quit and it would not go anymore. We were stranded in the middle of the highway... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Honda CR-V. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distri... Read more
Incident date: Nov 5, 2024
Slowing to pull into parking spot and car accelerates and hits what is in front of vehicle. Has happened at least four times. Last time 11/5/2024
Incident date: Nov 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Z. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, upon coming to an abrupt stop, the hood suddenly popped open; obstructing the driver's view, prompting him to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway. The message "Collision Detected - Pop-up Activators Deployed" was displayed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to t... Read more
Incident date: Nov 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the check engine warning light and the oil pressure warning light illuminated. The contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the timing belt needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the thermostat had recently been replaced. T... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2024
I had noticed the Pin Box flexing, especially over bumps or any rough road or bridge approach. As it got worse I could tell we a lot of flex in the frame area where the Pin Box is located. I contacted the dealer and they examined our RV and determined the frame was flexing due to the bolts connecting the chassis to the actual frame of the RV body being to small and working loose/broke. The dea... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2024
My ford bronco stalled when I was slowing down at a traffic light. The entire car shutdown. The steering wheel locked up and the car could not be put into neutral. After about 15 minutes the car was able to turn on again. The stalling out at an intersection put me in danger by putting me in a situation where I was stuck in active traffic without the ability to move my car to a safe area off of the... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2024
Master cylinder or some part near brake pedal inside the cab is leaking oil or a oil like substance on to floor mats and floor.
Incident date: Oct 10, 2024
Master cylinder or some part near brake pedal inside the cab is leaking oil or a oil like substance on to floor mats and floor.
Incident date: Oct 10, 2024
Master cylinder or some part near brake pedal inside the cab is leaking oil or a oil like substance on to floor mats and floor.
Incident date: Oct 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH and towing a 28-foot RV, the contact was unable to safely view the blind spot on the left and right sides of the RV using both side view mirrors. The contact stated that the failure had created a dangerous situation while changing lanes. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the side ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 5, 2024
Escape had a miss and the check engine light went on and stayed on. I took it to the dealer for a diagnostic. They informed me that the engine needed replacement due to coolant leaking into the cylinder bore. The cost of repair is $7,100. The vehicle has 105,000 miles on it. The service person told me that the leak was due to a design flaw and I had done nothing to cause it.
Incident date: Nov 5, 2024
The vehicle does not allow me to fill the fuel tank without the gas pump constantly cutting off within a few seconds of actuating the handle. This forces me to repeatedly actuate the handle until I can get a reasonable amount of fuel into the tank. Since the cut-off sensing is not working the fuel sometimes spills out of the filler neck creating an unsafe situation. The dealer has informed me t... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2024
INTERMITTENT HARD BRAKE PEDAL INABILITY TO STOP THE CAR IN A SAFE MANNER. I HAD THE VACUUM BOOSTER PUMP REPLACED TWICE. ONCE THE REPAIR LASTED FOR A YEAR THEN THE LAST TIME THE INCIDENT REOCCURED AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR. THE FIRST TIME PRIOR TO REPAIR THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT TRAVELLING A 5 MPH AFTER THE FIRST REPAIR THERE WAS A HARD BRAKING INCIDENT THAT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AT AROUND 40 MPH. T... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2022 Entegra Launch RV built on a 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Chassis. The contact stated that the RV's high-voltage battery had failed to charge. The dealer was made aware of the failure but refused to diagnose or to repair the RV due to the fire risk. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was included... Read more
Incident date: Feb 5, 2024
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Feb 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was a strong fuel odor coming from the front and rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V227000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advise... Read more
Incident date: Feb 5, 2024
Check engine light P1450 fuel system vacuum. So many complaints of the same issue of the vehicle stalling and shuddering. The dealership refuses to even look at my vehicle. This is a serious safety concern. Someone needs to intervene because there are too many of us now driving dangerous vehicles because their parts don’t work properly and the dealerships are telling us there’s nothing they ca... Read more
Incident date: Oct 25, 2024
When driving the vehicle it feels as though as it stalls due to choking all or some of the fuel getting to the engine. This is most prone when accelerating fast. It feels as though the fuel is shut off or severely diminished as the vehicle will accelerate, but at a fraction (crawl) of the normal output available and accomplished in the past.
Incident date: Nov 5, 2024
My sunroof exploded due to weather conditions while i was driving with my family on highway during heavy rain storm
Incident date: Nov 5, 2024
There seems to be a very common problem of the 2025 Kia Carnival having a battery drain issue, leaving people stranded. I had a dead battery today with only one month and 300 miles of use. Thousands have had the same experience and have discussed this on various forums.
Incident date: Nov 4, 2024
Subframe rusted resulting in failure of left rear suspension mount causing dangerous loss of control of car under braking.
Incident date: Oct 30, 2024
I parked my car in the assigned parking spot. It was vandalized for theft at 5 pm by Kia Boys. Because it was a 2024 model, it was not a class vehicle that I could file a settlement claim. This is an ongoing issue, thieves are still going around looking for vulnerable vehicles to steal for joyride. It will cost 3500 to fix and many damaged owners like me don't even have any legal recourse to get t... Read more
Incident date: Oct 30, 2024
The contact's wife owns a 2018 Ford Edge. While the contact’s wife was pulling into the driveway, the contact heard an abnormal hissing sound coming from the rear passenger’s side tire. The contact used a set of pliers to remove a stone from the tire, causing the tire to deflate. The contact attempted to replace the tire and discovered that the lug nuts were swollen, preventing the lug nuts fr... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 528I. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed a burning odor coming through the vents into the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System); however... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
The door locks failed again on the same door that had opened while in motion in December of 2023. This time the door failed to open when trying to exit the car. Also while driving it kept clicking inside as it was trying to open while vehicle was in motion. This occurred Mid September 2024. Also the ADAS system failed while driving and car wanted to steer on wrong way had to fight with the steeri... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2024
This is a fleet vehicle operated by Walmart and managed by Wheels Inc Fleet Management. Vehicle experienced loss of brake effectiveness due to brake vacuum pump failure. As operator described: "CUSTOMER STATES BRAKE LIGHT ERROR POPPED UP ON DASH AND BRAKES BECAME SPONGY AND VEHICLE FELT UNSAFE TO DRIVE... VEHICLE WAS TOWED IN." This failure has occurred on probably 30 identical vehicles in their ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 1500. The contact stated when starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster was not visible. The contact stated that the failure was almost constant. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the fai... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Pilot. 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 2, 2024
Back CAMERA sometimes becomes blurry while driving reverse.
Incident date: Oct 2, 2024
The VIN sticker and cargo carrying capacity sticker on my 2022 Jayco North Point 382FLRB have a major discrepancy. The VIN sticker says the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is 16,995 pounds, but the yellow weight rating sticker on the outside by the VIN sticker and on the inside of the door says the GVWR is 19,995 pounds. This is a MAJOR issue, because the axles on the camper are only rated at 7... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2024
The contact owns 2019 Ford F-250. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the dealer for routine maintenance, the dealer informed the contact that the heat shield had detached. The dealer determined that the driveshaft and the heat shield needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V087000(Structure, Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The v... Read more
Incident date: May 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the front passenger’s side wheel detached. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
Incident date: Jun 20, 2024
I have a 2020 Honda Odyssey and had it into the dealer for service. The battery needed to be replaced. I replaced the battery myself and had the below 5 error messages. 1-Lane departure 2-Aptive cruise control 3-Auto High beams 4-forward Collison 5-Lane keep assistant This is all failures due to the front camera monocular. This failure can cause auto accident due to it malfunctioning. T... Read more
Incident date: Jul 25, 2022
Brake booster and actuator failing. Internal leaks.
Incident date: Jul 25, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Acura RDX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a f... Read more
Incident date: Jul 25, 2022
Catalytic converter is clogged due to fast oil burning like other 2016 Kia soils involved in the recall. However my VIN isn’t accepted in the recall due to it being the + model but has the exact same issue. Make it unsafe to drive due to sudden power loss when going uphill. Yes an independent mechanic has recreated the issue and said it’s due to the fast oil burning. Problems began 6 months ag... Read more
Incident date: Nov 4, 2024
The window regulators in my 2016 Kia Optima have/are failing. The white drum gear that rolls the window up/down shreds and the window falls. My safety is put at risk with this due to the fact that if the window glass were to drop abruptly, it would shatter. To add to the matter, I was out of town this past weekend when another one of my windows failed and had I had not known how to pull the door ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 10, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear, nearly causing a crash. The power train warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road temporarily. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The contact used a vehicle scanner and retrieved diagnostic trouble c... Read more
Incident date: Jun 10, 2024
I take very good care of my car and I purchased it brand new in July of 2022. Out of nowhere a few days ago I had my car slipping of gear and won’t go forward or backwards and then my car proceeded to have the service light pop on and then my check engine light. I do not have all of the diagnostics back yet, but they did say it was transmission related. My car isn’t even 2 1/2 years old. It sh... Read more
Incident date: Jun 10, 2024
I take very good care of my car and I purchased it brand new in July of 2022. Out of nowhere a few days ago I had my car slipping of gear and won’t go forward or backwards and then my car proceeded to have the service light pop on and then my check engine light. I do not have all of the diagnostics back yet, but they did say it was transmission related. My car isn’t even 2 1/2 years old. It sh... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2023
Was driving vehicle felt a shutter and instrumentation led panel shut off. Radio still works as well as engine
Incident date: Dec 2, 2023
On August 19, 2024. I was backing out of the driveway when the steering locked up and the power steering light came on. I was unable to turn the wheel. The truck only has 49,357 miles I am the original owner. It was taken to a repair shop and they determined the electronic power steering had failed and needed to be replaced. Since then the dealer has told us the parts are unavailable and not being... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2023
While driving, the back of the car near the tire makes a clinking noise.
Incident date: Aug 19, 2024
The power transfer unit (ptu), yes it is available to look at. It's making grinding and knocking noise, it could come out of park on its on. Yes it has been seen by car dealer shop and confirmed its the power transfer unit (ptu). Yes its been looked at and hooked up to a machine by dealership, and a garage that found it first. Yes, the service 4wd light came on that's why we to it to garage to be ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 25, 2024
When I was driving on a very busy road, the emergency/ parking brake immediately turned on while the truck was returning back in motion, which made the car come to a complete stop. I had to manually turn off the parking brake, even though I was not the one to turn it on in the first place. This could have put the people behind me in serious danger, as they could have hit me and then been seriously... Read more
Incident date: Nov 4, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that there was rust on all four wheels. The mechanic was unable to remove the wheels due to the rust. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
Incident date: Nov 4, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Acura TLX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V751000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); 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 experienced a failure. Parts distrib... Read more