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: Apr 2, 2025
The cam phasers have gotten so loud that it sounds like a diesel. Ford did some software "fix" that did nothing. I am concerned about trashing the motor if the timing jumps. These defective phasers are well know problems and extremely costly to repair. Ford has advised me to do the repair but they are quoting $5-6k for a fix of something they know was a defective design. My truck has 111k miles no... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2025
ABS unit failed. This renders the Traction control system, ABS braking, cruise control, and 4WD system inert. I tried to repair/replace the unit it is on indefinite backorder, and repair shops cannot get the parts to fix the actual unit. Makes vehicle dangerous to drive in all but fair conditions. No solution has been provided by RAM.
Incident date: Apr 2, 2025
ABS unit failed. This renders the Traction control system, ABS braking, cruise control, and 4WD system inert. I tried to repair/replace the unit it is on indefinite backorder, and repair shops cannot get the parts to fix the actual unit. Makes vehicle dangerous to drive in all but fair conditions. No solution has been provided by RAM.
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Ford Escape. While her daughter was driving at a slow speed, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that coolant was leaking into cylinders #1 and #2, and the engine needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, an... Read more
Incident date: Jan 23, 2026
My vehicle is equipped with an automatic engine stop/start feature that shuts off the engine when the vehicle is stopped, as well as an eTorque system intended to assist with initial acceleration. While stopped at an intersection with a slight downhill grade (foot fully depressing the brake pedal), the auto stop/start feature engaged and the engine shut off. When I released the brake to make a ri... Read more
Incident date: Sep 11, 2024
I am reporting what I believe to be mileage roll back and fraud. The vehicle was bought from a private seller and upon submitting paperwork to the DMV, it was found that the mileage on the car's odometer was less than the mileage on the car's title information.
Incident date: Jan 6, 2026
I was driving from getting my daughter from school and felt heat and saw smoke coming from under the dashboard. I immediately pulled over and pulled my daughter out of the car the dashboard became engulfed in flames. I was told by the fire department that it looked like and electrical and fuel issue under the dash. There are known problems with this vehicle catching fire but my cin number when I l... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jan 6, 2026
Def pump failed twice with this vehicle and with that it does not allow the vehicle to run any faster than 5 mph after the countdown ends. Unknown how the exhaust being plugged and service was done to clean the exhaust ended up having the fuel pump and turbo charger needing replaced. Not sure if they went hand in hand and one causing the other. So far the vehicle only has almost 78,000 miles on... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving 55-60 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who replaced the high-pressure fuel pump under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine); with the additional repairs on the low-pressure fuel pump at the Owner's expense. The vehicle was ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 27, 2024
I have received multiple letter from Ford indicating the solution for this recall 23S65 is available at dealership. However, every ford dealership I have reached out to says there are no parts available to fix the recall. My ford dealership has placed the order on November 2025 but they have no ETA when the parts will become available.
Incident date: Jul 15, 2025
I was driving on the Oklahoma turnpike @ 75mph when the engine locked up in traffic. I coasted to the side of the road and called roadside assistance. The truck is currently at Vance GMC in Miami, OK getting the engine replaced.
Incident date: Jan 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rumbling sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that it felt like the front end of the vehicle was out of alignment. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact believed that there was a misfire coming from the engine. The failure was intermitte... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 GMC Yukon XL. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, the oil warning light illuminated, and after 15 seconds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact pulled over to the side of the road; ho... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
ICCU failure. All recalls had been performed prior to failure. Vehicle showed the following warnings: "12 volt battery low", "stop safely", "check electric vehicle system", "stop vehicle and check power supply". Replaced 12-volt battery, still showing error messages, unable to be driven, required a tow to the dealer. OBD-II scan showed error P1A9096, confirmed by dealer as an ICCU malfunction.
Incident date: Jul 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Audi Q5. The contact stated that the rear subframe was extremely rusted and could not pass a safety inspection. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 82,351.
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
System involved: The vehicle experienced a sudden electronic/network failure consistent with loss of ECU/BCM/CAN bus communication. The instrument cluster, throttle control, and HVAC system became inoperative simultaneously. • Safety risk: While driving, the vehicle abruptly lost throttle response and critical driver information with no warning, followed by an uncommanded engine shutdown after c... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
My car has a slow crank and when I am driving down the road it cuts off completely and does not want to crank. I have a signal on my car that says reduced speed and the speed is cut down and drags . My car also smells like gas and there is a leak coming from the vehicle it drains really bad . my brakes goes out every few months . My Car radio goes out like there is a shortage. Its horrible
Incident date: Sep 2, 2025
I have diligently maintained the vehicle with all scheduled services performed at the Rick Case Hyundai dealership. My maintenance records show a documented history of proper oil changes and other essential services. These records confirm that the vehicle was regularly serviced according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The diagnostic report from the dealership indicates bad piston and heat... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2025
After turning the key on, van started and then turned off. Van was restarted and drove normally for awhile. While driving. the van turned off with no notification or warning lights. This almost caused a DEADLY accident. The fault is with the ignition box. Other model years were recalled for the same reason. Dodge failed to make any changes to their known problem with the ignition or rec... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2025
My ABS light has been on for 2 years. It was previously diagnosed as the ABS pump/module. The parts were on backorder. The C4B Recall came out over a year ago. There is still no parts available. My truck is at the dealer right now and they said they can't do anything with the Recall. I figured they could at least verify the failure and put in an order for the part. This a big safety issue f... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
Not even a year old and brakes squeaking/ gurgling sounds coming from the front wheels. As time goes on seems to get worse to the point where I am braking and slips a little. I've taken by car to the dealership twice and made several calls they keep sayings it is a known issued and a flaw for VW not a safety issue. The gurling sound is not normal and not safe especially for a new vehicle. I have a... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
The 2021 Ram ProMaster 2500 I purchased from a dealer on 12/6/25 now has a serious safety defect. The transmission began grinding when shifting into Drive on 1/27/26. Immediately after, the vehicle started rolling backwards while fully in Park with the engine running. This indicates a failure of the parking pawl or internal gearset. The backup camera also does not function, there are coolant and p... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
The 2021 Ram ProMaster 2500 I purchased from a dealer on 12/6/25 now has a serious safety defect. The transmission began grinding when shifting into Drive on 1/27/26. Immediately after, the vehicle started rolling backwards while fully in Park with the engine running. This indicates a failure of the parking pawl or internal gearset. The backup camera also does not function, there are coolant and p... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2026
The vehicle is subject to an open federal safety recall involving a fuel injector that may crack and leak fuel onto the top of the engine. According to NHTSA, liquid fuel or fuel vapor may accumulate near hot engine or exhaust components, creating a risk of an under-hood fire and injury. I purchased this vehicle after the recall had already been issued. The recall was not disclosed to me at the t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2026
I am reporting a suspected safety defect involving the Motor Generator Unit (MGU) used in the eTorque system on my Ram 1500. The vehicle experienced an MGU failure that resulted in abnormal electrical behavior, warning messages, and impaired drivability. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Ram dealership, which confirmed the MGU has failed and requires replacement. The MGU is currently on... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2026
My car randomly has a battery charging fault. An alert stating “stop safely 12V battery critical charging fault” will just pop up while driving and then put the vehicle in turtle mode. This is an intermittent fault and is likely a false indication. This could cause an accident because it causes the car to slow down. This could happen on a highway.
Incident date: Nov 20, 2025
The roadway on [XXX] is severely destroyed with extensive erosion, deep potholes, and complete surface failure. The previous resurfacing was a cheap top-layer only job (few inches deep), which eroded quickly and left massive depressions that damaged my car's suspension (requiring repairs) and create ongoing risks of vehicle damage, loss of control, hydroplaning, and accidents for all drivers. Th... Read more
Incident date: Nov 13, 2025
I got this 2024 vehicle brand new with 15 miles on it in August of 2025 . It is now January of 2026 by check engine light had came on 7 times since November of 2025. I had to shut down work because of this . It came on the 8th time today and I was told by the delearship that they didn’t know what to do . My truck is at 43,000 miles and literally a piece of junk.
Incident date: Nov 13, 2025
Battery is constantly in battery saving mode. It use to do it only when I was on vacation for a week or so. Now it has been doing this every single day for about the last two month.
Incident date: Jan 26, 2026
Oil consumption. Audi Q5 oil consumption in my car is not functioning properly. I have to put oil in it about every 3 weeks or less depending on how much I’m driving.
Incident date: Dec 27, 2024
UNKOWN my rpms rev up randomly I can’t shut my car off when I get gas and makes a raving up sound I can’t reverse
Incident date: Jan 26, 2026
“During inspection, both rear main leaf springs were found cracked symmetrically due to fatigue failure. Similar rear leaf spring defect was previously recalled on adjacent VIN ranges. Failure affects rear ride height and vehicle stability. No signs of overload or impact damage observed.”
Incident date: Jan 26, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Arctic Cat Snowmobile. The contact stated that while starting the snowmobile on the trailer in the driveway, the snowmobile ran for approximately 3-5 seconds and then backfired and caught on fire. The snowmobile was removed from the trailer to prevent the trailer from also catching on fire. The contact stated that before attempting to restart the snowmobile, there was grayi... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jan 26, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V512000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer w... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
While driving my speedometer became erratic, just one time. My cruise control is no longer working, my trip odometer is not working and possibly the odometer is not working properly. I googled for speedometer problems with 2011 Hyundai speedometers and found an article that may be false on Reuters "Hyundai Motor to recall nearly 84,000 US vehicles over instrument panel display failure, NHTSA say... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
The rear driver-side wheel detached from the axle, resulting in an immediate loss of vehicle control. As a result, the truck left the roadway. The detached wheel landedapproximately 150 feet behind the vehicle, on the opposite side of the road from where the truck ultimately stopped. Insurance has not yet completed its inspection of the vehicle; however, the crack and damage to the wheel were obs... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
The rear driver-side wheel detached from the axle, resulting in an immediate loss of vehicle control. As a result, the truck left the roadway. The detached wheel landedapproximately 150 feet behind the vehicle, on the opposite side of the road from where the truck ultimately stopped. Insurance has not yet completed its inspection of the vehicle; however, the crack and damage to the wheel were obs... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 26, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 BMW X1. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for maintenance, the contact was informed that the water pump had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that prior to the visit, the vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the cause of the failure was not found. The failure persisted. On a separate occasion, while the vehi... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2026
transmission unexpectedly downshifting to first gear at speed. It sounds like shift cable locking clip problem.
Incident date: Jan 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated, and the message "Service Air Bag" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V298000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTE... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model X equipped with Lexani Tires, Tire Line: LX-20 Performance, Tire Size: 265/45/R20, DOT Number: 1TBA7B95C3724. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud sound coming from the front of the vehicle. After the vehicle was inspected, the contact observed tread separation on the driver’s side rear tire, and that the top tread po... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
Vehicle experiences intermittent but repeatable safety-related electrical failures affecting turn signals and blind spot monitoring. The left turn signal remains engaged after canceling and does not shut off unless the opposite turn signal is activated, causing incorrect signaling to other drivers. This occurs without driver input. At the same time, the Blind Spot Monitoring system intermittently ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 27, 2024
Vehicle experiences intermittent but repeatable safety-related electrical failures affecting turn signals and blind spot monitoring. The left turn signal remains engaged after canceling and does not shut off unless the opposite turn signal is activated, causing incorrect signaling to other drivers. This occurs without driver input. At the same time, the Blind Spot Monitoring system intermittently ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 25, 2026
Merging onto I4, doing the speed limit of 70mph, no other cars around and my passenger side front window imploded into my car.
Incident date: Dec 20, 2025
"recall" (as described on Ford's website) no. 19N01 is not actually a recall. It's a "Customer Satisfaction Program" that extends warranty on the transmission of my truck to 150000. I was just over that amount of miles when my leadframe became faulty and did exactly what this covers. I was going 70mph and it suddenly dropped into 1st gear and I came to a screeching halt and was thrown into the ste... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
2020 HYUNDAI Tucson Engine blown @ 89,307 miles and 1,265 miles after oil change due to missing oil plug. Daughter drives about 5 miles per day for college and groceries. The day before Thanksgiving 2025, her 2020 HYUNDAI Tucson died about 48 miles down the Highway without warning, no prior warning lights or sounds before shutting down. I had the car towed to the local HYUNDAI dealer in the to... Read more
Incident date: Dec 9, 2025
After engine blows due to recall and engine not running, it is impossible to shift the electronic transmission into neutral mode for towing. This happened to me in November of 2025 and I was recently told that I should report the issue. Neither the tow truck operator nor myself were able to get the vehicle into neutral without the engine running. I could have easily been stuck in the middle of t... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 1969
Excessive engine oil lead from the back seal. Also, slow coolant leak. The car has a low mileage of 46k.
Incident date: Jan 24, 2026
I purchased a Yukon Denali 6.2L in March of 2022 brand new from Bob Johnsons in Rochester NY. On [XXX] at 12,577 miles the engine went through a catastrophic failure, while driving, the vehicle began to make very loud noises. The vehicle was taken to Bob Johnsons GMC 4389 West Ridge Road Rochester, NY 14626. The repair notes #3 main bearing thrust portion had come apart. The vehicle was out of ser... Read more
Incident date: Jan 24, 2026
Multiple times at random the vehicle will display an alert on the dash that the 4X4 system, anti lock breaks, adaptive breaking as well as forward and rear collision sensors and cruise control are all disabled. This has happened 5 times now. I have taken the vehicle into the dealership and they stated that the rear Wheel Speed Sensors" were bad and replaced them. Since the wheel sensors have bee... Read more