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 29,025 complaints for RAM
Incident date: Jun 24, 2024
On [XXX] approximately [XXX], I was in the drive-up line for Starbucks. The drive-up line was very slow so we waited for about 1/2 hour and I ended turning off my engine. I had plenty of room at least between 2-3 feet between myself and the car in the front. Then the line moved so, I put the car in Drive and covered the brake. I tapped the Gas/electric pedal and the car accelerated from 0 to 30 an... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jun 15, 2024
I was driving on [XXX] when my sunroof glass exploded. I was not around any other cars when this incident happened. Thankfully I had my sunroof visor closed. Had it not been for that; glass would have poured all over me and possibly caused me to have a bad wreck or worse; lose my life. I filed a claim that same day with my insurance company, only to get the run around and be told that they possib... Read more
Incident date: Mar 30, 2024
Shut off car but system didn’t shut off so the next day car won’t start…once jump started, it will start ok. Took car to shop but they can’t find anything wrong since it starts ok…recurring problems in the last few years.
Incident date: Jun 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the rear brake lights became inoperable on several occasions. The contact was pulled over due to the rear lights being inoperable. The contact noticed that the sockets for the bulbs had overheated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering failed to function as intended. The contact stated that while reversing out of a parking area, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact stated that the power steering malfunction and tire sensor warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was diag... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2023
Hi, The ABS System shows Service Antilock Brake System at the display, It comes and go so I assume that it is an intermittent issue, it does stays for hours or days and go on ad off during the whole drive, definitely is an issue. It allow the brakes to preventing locket when brake on certain circumstances. Had an issue on a wet pavement and have to handle to avoid crash with other vehicle cause th... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2023
It's been over a year since the recall was issued and still no fix? This has affected my ability to sell the vehicle.
Incident date: Feb 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. 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 n... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan. The contact stated that the rear driver's and passenger's side sliding doors failed to unlock as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an unknown assessment was made, and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown re... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2024
My Windshield Wipers work intermittently. Sometimes they work fine. Sometimes they don’t work at all. Sometimes the work for awhile and then stop where they are. Been doing this for the last few years.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2023
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 that there was water leaking onto the dashboard and the infotainment system screen through the upper passenger’s side corner of the windshield. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 24, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Fusion. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of a failure with the transmission. The contact stated that the gear shifter seized and remained in drive. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the shifter cable bushing had detached and needed to be replaced. The... Read more
Incident date: Jun 24, 2024
Coolant leaked into the cylinders causing us to replace the motor.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
The TSB needs to be replaced according to the Hyundai Dealership. This is a known problem and would normally be covered under warranty but I am just outside of my warranty window and it just started happening. The entire audio system, touch screen controls, and hands-free controls do not work. The touch screen freezes after a few seconds and freezes on my backup camera creating a major driving d... Read more
Incident date: Jun 27, 2024
2011 BMW 335i COUPE E92 My vehicle has broken vanos bolts which caused the engine to shut off while driving. This was a terrifying experience in which i was on the freeway doing around 70mph and lost power steering and power brakes. This is a known recall with these vehicles and my vehicle fits the criteria for BMW Recall 23V-707, including year, make, model, production date and engine. My vin d... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
I have two Hyundai vehicles one is a 2018 Tucson and a 2019 Kona. They both broke down at precisely the same time at 109,000 miles. One was the catalytic converter dealership was going to charge $5,000 for repair found a less expensive place to do it for $2,000. i was told by several of the mechanics at both places that it was a common problem. My point is I just paid the vehicle off it was just o... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2024
Rear camera view unavailable.
Incident date: Jun 3, 2024
Service Power Steering, Drive with care warning comes on, vehicle looses all power steering. First time it happen was around November 2023. This will happen randomly, at various speeds, sometimes going straight, sometimes turning. Power steering will come back after a few minutes sometimes, a few times vehicle had to be turned off for a hour, but was out for over 3 days one time. During that incid... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2024
I am experiencing so many problems with my jeep. It shift out of gear then start shutting down. Lights appear all across the dash board. At times, I have difficulty in shifting gear.The clutch slip and I get this burning smell. Then engine light comes on. It slow to move after shifting it into the forward gear. Sometimes it doesn't move when I shift it into the forward gear. Then when it does, it ... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2024
I am experiencing so many problems with my jeep. It shift out of gear then start shutting down. Lights appear all across the dash board. At times, I have difficulty in shifting gear.The clutch slip and I get this burning smell. Then engine light comes on. It slow to move after shifting it into the forward gear. Sometimes it doesn't move when I shift it into the forward gear. Then when it does, it ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 18, 2024
I want to go start my car just now to go to the store and when I turned it on and started it up the ABS lights emergency brake light and EPS light always lit up on my dashboard so I grabbed the manual to try to figure out what it is seen what each was individual thing standard for so I googled each individual and that's when I realized there's a recall for this from my vehicle for the ABS malfunct... Read more
Incident date: Dec 14, 2023
I rinsed off the car yesterday and a day later I noticed water spots/lines in the inside of the trunk area. I wiped them down but we have another cx 50 and when I checked that one out of curiosity it has the same leaking area.
Incident date: Jun 11, 2024
Vehicle reported a Passenger Restraint Failure intermittently and upon getting diagnosed is related to a faulty seat occupancy sensor. If this sensor can fail ~4yrs of ownership with < 30k miles driven and it is critical to passenger restraint, it would seem that this should be fixed by BMW. With quick search, the problem doesn't seem isolated: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
HCU and ABS module brake failure causing the ABS and traction control warning lights and audible tone to intermittently go off. This also results in the cruise control failing to work. This is the second time of such occurrence. First at 3 years old and 30k miles and second at 6 years old and 50.5k miles.
Incident date: Jun 27, 2024
My five-month new Tesla Model Y tire blowout without any alert before it happened. The tire is original Pirelli Scorpion 255 / 45 / R19. Last week while I was driving at around 70 mph on a three-lane freeway. All of a sudden, I felt someone is dragging my wheels to the left. I was totally astonished. My first reaction was to hold my wheels. Within a few seconds I was totally out of control an... Read more
Incident date: Jun 27, 2024
Keep getting the following warning "Transmission - secure vehicle with parking brake". It seems this is a known issue relating to a simple spring in the gear shifter that causes the computer to not recognize that the vehicle is in park. It's not only a very expensive repair for such a simple part failure, but also a safety concern in not knowing if the vehicle is secure to park.
Incident date: Jun 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the dealer was performing tire rotation on the vehicle, the dealer informed the contact that the rear passenger's side axle bolts had fractured. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer replaced the rear passenger's s... Read more
Incident date: Jun 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated became of a coolant leak on the driveway. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #3. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The failu... Read more
Incident date: Jun 28, 2024
Dead pedal/no acceleration when pedal was depressed. Monday, June 24th, 7:26am zero throttle when taking off from stop light. Delay of 2-3 seconds. Wednesday, June 19th, 5:14pm. Zero throttle response when taking off from a green light. Delay of 3-4 seconds. 3:06pm June 28, zero throttle response for 2 seconds when taking off from stop light. 3:15 pm same thing happened. - Personal safet... Read more
Incident date: Jun 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, causing the vehicle to decelerate unintendedly. During the failure, the service wrench symbol was illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under an Extended Warranty coverage, but the... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2023 Fisker Ocean. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, warning lights displaying incorrect warnings were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V405000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2024
I was driving on [XXX], close to [XXX] but my lights ( engine and tire were on ),when suddenly I lost the control and I hit on the wall. The steering wheel was a little hard and the mechanic told me my CATALYST wasn't good( engine and tire sensor aren't working correctly ). I thought it was my last day because that freeway is a little hight. I imaged my car flying. ALSO I HAVE 1 ACCIDENT . I CRA... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
My 2018 Ford Expedition started having transmission issues around 49600+ miles. The warranty was 5 years or 60,000 miles. I was out of the 5 years and they will not fix it. I have researched the issue and it seems Ford knew the transmission used in the 2018 models was defective but never notified me. There are class action lawsuits in California on the same issue as well as many disgruntled consu... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
The automatic lighting control module is malfunctioning and causing my headlights to turn on/off rapidly in multiple different lighting conditions. Weather the sun is up/overcast or even at night if I’m close enough behind a vehicle from the reflection of my headlights it causes the sensor to turn the lights on and off. I was pulled over by a local sheriff the other day because he saw it happeni... Read more
Incident date: Jun 27, 2024
While driving down the interstate heard a loud sound, sounding like a shot gun. Looked and the sunroof shattered. Immediately took it into the dealership and they determined it was not hit by anything and they have been seeing a rise of this happening. They are fixing under warranty and had to give me rental car because they don’t know how long it will take. It was extremely scary and thankfully... Read more
Incident date: Jun 27, 2024
While driving down the interstate heard a loud sound, sounding like a shot gun. Looked and the sunroof shattered. Immediately took it into the dealership and they determined it was not hit by anything and they have been seeing a rise of this happening. They are fixing under warranty and had to give me rental car because they don’t know how long it will take. It was extremely scary and thankfully... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact became aware of wet spots on the driveway and later discovered that fluids had started to leak from the water pump. One day while the contact's wife was driving the vehicle, the engine overheated with the temperature gauge indicating that the engine was HOT. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and it was confirmed that the water pump needed to be r... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel stopped operating as needed and was pulling to the right. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off. The vehicle was restarted and driven to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was... Read more
Incident date: Jun 25, 2024
During operation, the power steering cuts off. I have to turn the car off and back on for the power steering to work again. It is very dangerous because the power steering went out while I was driving on an interstate. I am really worried that the power steering will fail when I am turning in an urban setting with pedestrians around. It appears that this is a known issue and is very common for 20... Read more
Incident date: Jun 23, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Soul. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the driver's side headlight became inoperable and while using the turn signal, the driver's side headlight would shut off. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The local deal... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the back-over prevention camera failed to operate as needed. The contact stated that she had a brain tumor, and it was difficult to use the side-view mirrors while reversing. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that she would have to pay for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repa... Read more
Incident date: Jun 25, 2024
I was hit by another car who ran the red light. No airbag deployment at all, in serious crash. Whole front end hit without airbags going off. The engine was smoking and the brake would not work after inpact to keep it from rolling
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jun 27, 2024
On my truck my ABS and traction control light came on as well as a message that say to service ABS system. The parts are on back order for a year now. This problem has surfaced on many Ram 2500's. I contacted the dealer and they don't have parts to fix if. When driving in wet conditions especially while towing a trailer the wheels lock up while breaking. I've been towing going down hill and have... Read more
Incident date: Jun 27, 2024
Vehicle shifted into 1st gear on its own will driving which almost caused my son to wreck, took the vehicle to the Ford dealership as we could not get it back out of 1st gear. It had to be towed to the dealership to have repairs made which are the same repairs that are listed under a recall just issued on several 2014 F150 truck. We had to pay for these repairs totaling $1129.92 back on January ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to acceler... Read more
Incident date: Jun 24, 2024
The passenger side seat belt retractor failed on this truck a couple of months ago. We had the parts replaced by the local dealer and did not think anything about it until our second truck also had the same issue and seriously hurt my mother. Report number 11597310. As the same part failed on two different trucks in a short period of time, we googled the issue and found lots of other RAM truck o... Read more
Incident date: Feb 27, 2024
All Wheel Drive module is malfunctioning. AWD needs serviced light came on. Upon further research it appears that AWF modules that were manufactured at the facility where mine was manufactured, were recalled for dates within 2 days of mine being manufactured. Based on internet searches, it seems this has been a frequent issue and Ford will not replace/recall this module within the other recall. My... Read more
Incident date: Jun 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V644000 (Back Over Prevention) 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 stated that when the vehicle was started, the rear-view c... Read more
Incident date: Jun 26, 2024
I received notification of a recall regarding the fuel pump on my 2018 Honda FIT. Now, six months later, I contacted my local dealership to get other work done and asked, again, for the recall work to be done. Honda refuses to do the work or even tell me when it will be able to do the work on my car to correct the problem. I use my car every day for my work, and I am increasingly concerned that my... Read more
Incident date: Jun 10, 2024
I was driving on a road, then the car just died out of know where after driving for about a hour. I got the car to the side of the road to be somewhat more safe. I started the car back up then started hearing a knocking. then had it towed to the dealer. they said they cant do anything.