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: Jul 27, 2025
I need to have rear shock replaced. They found that the bracket holder rusted thru . Shock was fine . The Rear frame corrosion and separation, spare tire frame corrosion is really bad. I have had this truck since 2004 . I absolutely love my truck. I am deeply saddened that all the care I took still didn’t prevent all this damage .
Incident date: Sep 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed 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 was made... Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2025
For about the last 3 years, whenever the car is put into reverse, the rear backup camera is intermittently going blank. The camera eventually will display the image, but it can be several seconds before the camera view resumes. The Ford dealership wants to charge about $700 to replace the entire camera, but I don't think the camera is the issue given that so many recalls have been issued over th... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2023
My 2015 Chrysler Ram EcoDiesel 4x4 has a major safety defect that nearly caused a catastrophic accident and has left me traumatized. The vehicle is currently inoperable, sitting in my driveway with a dead battery and what sounds like a thrown rod after breaking down for the second time on the highway. While driving on Highway 101 in California, towing a horse trailer with live horses, the truck su... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Electric Power Steering Unit suddenly failed upon start-up of vehicle. This truck manufactured in Feb. of 2015 but DID NOT receive NHTSA 16V-167000. The Safety Recall indicates RAM 1500 trucks manufactured from Jan. 22, 2015 to Sept. 13, 2015. This truck is within manufactured recall dates so why isn't it flagged?
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal banging sound coming from underneath the hood, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the road, and the vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic and was diagnosed it with a blown engine bearing. The contact was informed th... Read more
Incident date: Sep 17, 2025
Truck is brand new and keeps having engine failure. Truck is not driveable on multiple occasions. Multiple dealers have assessed and goes unrepaired. First dealer cleared light and did not repair despite loss of communication codes present.
Incident date: Sep 10, 2025
On [XXX] at around [XXX], the vehicle a fee a metal clinking noise then suddenly lost power and stalled in the middle of the road([XXX] , Del Mar, CA 92014). After stepping on the gas pedal a couple times, there was no response and no power. The dashboard displayed "engine and transmission problem" and contacted dealership immediately. The vehicle was finally towed to the dealership the next day. ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 10, 2025
On [XXX] at around [XXX], the vehicle a fee a metal clinking noise then suddenly lost power and stalled in the middle of the road([XXX] , Del Mar, CA 92014). After stepping on the gas pedal a couple times, there was no response and no power. The dashboard displayed "engine and transmission problem" and contacted dealership immediately. The vehicle was finally towed to the dealership the next day. ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 12, 2025
1. Radio cut on and off and then Engine failed. I started smelling weird fumes when I was driving but eventually the car restarted back up. 2. Car stopped on the highway and could have resulted in other vehicles running into me. 3. No, I parked the car at my house and don't drive it. 4.No, I parked the car at my house and I don't drive it 5. Yes, the yellow lights on the dash board came on and it ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 25, 2025
The LED headlight on my 2019 Land Rover Velar is no longer working properly. The built-in Daytime Running Light (DRL) has stopped working completely. This is an important safety feature that helps other drivers see my vehicle during the day. I've already been pulled over three times because of this issue, so it's something that really needs to be fixed. The dealership in Maryland told me the only ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Edge. The contact stated that upon shifting into reverse(R), the rearview camera image displayed a white image on the screen. The contact called a dealer and was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V575000 (Visibility, Back Over Prevention). The manufact... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 75 MPH with three passengers inside the vehicle, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated or messages displayed prior to the failure and the vehicle shutting off. The vehicle could not able to be restarted. The vehicle was coasted off the exit to safety and then towed to the residenc... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2025
1. Component/System Failure: The water pump on my 2016 Ford Explorer failed, causing a significant antifreeze leak. The component is available for inspection upon request. 2. Safety Risk: The failure creates a risk of engine seizure while driving. Loss of engine coolant can cause the engine to overheat suddenly, potentially leading to a dangerous situation on the road that could harm myself or ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 23, 2025
The subject vehicle, according to the third party administrator for the vehicle's insurance co. had a transmission malfunction. The vehicle is owned by a subcontractor for the purpose of delivery for a seller. The vehicle, according to the TPA, was put in park and the emergency brake was applied, as shown by the interior video camera, and the vehicle went in reverse while the employee was in th... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Aug 23, 2025
Backup camera went blank. The screen said camera not available contact dealer. This was about a month ago. It took a week to get an appointment at the dealer to get it checked. I had to replace the camera. It cost almost $900. On several occasions as I backed out there were cars and people I could not see until they were very near to my car. I saw there is a recall for cameras starting with the ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 23, 2025
I was recently involved in an accident with my 2020 Palisade that I believe may have been caused by a brake failure. I was simply moving the vehicle from one part of a driveway to another when, as I drove over a drainage ditch, the brakes did not respond and the car suddenly accelerated into a tree. I sustained facial injuries and was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. The vehicle is c... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
I recently noticed that the charging port is showing signs of melting, which is both concerning and potentially hazardous. This issue is affecting the functionality and safety of my vehicle, and I am deeply disappointed that such a problem has occurred. The charging port is a critical component of the high-voltage system. Its failure poses significant safety concerns such as overheating, sparking,... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
I recently noticed that the charging port is showing signs of melting, which is both concerning and potentially hazardous. This issue is affecting the functionality and safety of my vehicle, and I am deeply disappointed that such a problem has occurred. The charging port is a critical component of the high-voltage system. Its failure poses significant safety concerns such as overheating, sparking,... Read more
Incident date: Sep 14, 2025
On Sunday, 9/14/25 driving on a 70 MPH interstate highway, pulling a trailer behind the Newly-purchased 2025 truck (only 700 miles on it), the road narrowed down to one lane because of a traffic obstruction and cones. As I slowed down to about 35 mph and then went to speed up again as the traffic eased, the vehicle provided a ping notification sound and the Electronic Vehicular Instrument Cluster ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 14, 2025
On the afternoon of Friday, August 29, 2025 while driving the Honda Pilot on a US Highway, the "Check Engine" light came on and the vehicle immediately experience a decrease in speed. Top speed on the highway suddenly became approximately 25 MPH and the Pilot became sluggish and was shaking. We had to drive with the vehicle's "flashing hazard lights" on due to the low speed on the 55 MPH highway s... Read more
Incident date: Sep 14, 2025
The vehicle has suffered repeated systemic electrical failures all while being under 8,000 miles. What component/system failed? Power distribution/fuse block, starter, fuel pump control module, horn circuit, body control module, instrument cluster, and charging system. Error codes documented include P0627 (Fuel Pump Control Circuit), U0100 (Lost Comm ECM/PCM), B1325 (Control Module Power Low), U0... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Sep 6, 2025
I was resuming speed after a toll, my 2015 Ram Eco Diesel 1500 lost all momentum, threw an alarm to service the Electronic Throttle with a red lightning bolt framed by two red lines, and I limped to the shoulder with several semi close on my tail. After researching I shut off for a minute, removed key, opened door, then restarted. The engine struggled and revved several times before starting. The ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 6, 2025
Engine head gasket failed allowing a coolant leakage, which damaged spark plugs and fuel injectors. There is video evidence of this failure provided by the dealership service center. Link to video: [XXX] This occurred at approximately 70k mileage, which is far earlier than a failure like this would be reasonably foreseeable. I see many, many, others online who have had the same failure on my mod... Read more
Incident date: Sep 6, 2025
The brakes suddenly locked up while I was driving which could have caused an accident. Luckily it did not cause me to swerve into oncoming traffic and no one was behind me at the time. This was caused by the ABS unit hydraulic control assembly. It was the right front and left rear calipers locking. My vehicle only has 44,401 miles on it. The diagnosis has been confirmed at the dealer. There ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2024
Uncommand downshift of the transmission at 50MPH causing the rear wheels to skid. This was accompanied by “Blind Spot System Fault”, “Cross Traffic System Fault”, “See Manual” warnings and a loss of transmission position indications (ie.. P-R-N-D-M-2-1). This appears to be similar to NHTSA Recal # 24S37 for 2014 F-150’s
Incident date: Jul 16, 2025
24V-896. This recall is a safety issue known for years. There is still no action from the manufacturer! I was extremely lucky to avoid a serious collision. The only solution the manufacturer offers is to authorize a dealer to replace the parts with another secondary market provider part, but they won’t cover the cost or warrant the replacement. How many YEARS do I have to drive an unsafe veh... Read more
Incident date: Jul 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V119000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact had received various unknown notifications of NHTSA recalls. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the vehicle was repaired. The contact stopped by the dealer to pick up the vehicle, and when the vehicle was started, there was an abnormal sound comin... Read more
Incident date: Jul 16, 2025
During operation in wet and rainy conditions, a warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle encountered a roadway pothole, at which point the airbags deployed unexpectedly. Simultaneously, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power, resulting in contact with a curb and minor damage to the wheel rim. The malfunction has not been reproduced or confirme... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2025
I was provided a Tesla Model Y Juniper demo vehicle for a test drive on August 3, 2026 and the incident took place in it around 6:00 pm (±45 min). Full Self-Driving (FSD) was engaged. I had placed an order for a new Model Y on August 2 and took delivery on August 10 (different VIN). During the demo, FSD initially performed well: it autoparked into an apartment parking spot and exited once correc... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 15, 2025
Powertrain control module failure causing vehicle to lose power and engine to run at 5 to 6 RPMs. and transmission not shifting properly. Vehicle is going into limp mode and will also shut down while driving but the engine stays running and the cruise does not shut off. There is not remedy for the recall that I believe is causing these issues. This has been going on for 6 month. This vehicle has b... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
The vehicle inspection to see if our vehicle qualified for the recall to replace the A-Pillar trim was done well over a year ago. The inventory has been on backorder for over a year as well. The windshield desperately needs replaced for safety reasons and the windshield cannot be replaced without replacing these recalled pieces. We are having to pay $200 extra out of pocket to replace these defect... Read more
Incident date: Sep 9, 2025
The contact owned a 2021 Ford F-450 Super Duty. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH on an 8 percent decline and pulling a trailer, the vehicle slightly responded upon depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, the transmission failed to downshift and was stuck in 10th gear. The contact pumped the brakes; however, the failure persisted. The contact drove into the shoulder of the roadway, an... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Sep 9, 2025
The contact owned a 2021 Ford F-450 Super Duty. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH on an 8 percent decline and pulling a trailer, the vehicle slightly responded upon depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, the transmission failed to downshift and was stuck in 10th gear. The contact pumped the brakes; however, the failure persisted. The contact drove into the shoulder of the roadway, an... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Sep 12, 2025
All back light won’t turn on only brake lights but not night time running lights
Incident date: Sep 15, 2025
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 while the transmission was shifted into reverse, or while diving during rainy weather, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear wheels. The vehicle was taken to a lo... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2025
Fuel gauge is incorrect. It says I went 20 miles when I only went two. Then when car is in park the gauge goes back up but when moving the gauge goes down quickly. This had caused me to run out of Gas when I shouldn’t have and it’s adding miles to my odometer that I never went or it’s fluctuating and that’s faulty. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V223000 Inaccurate Fuel Gauge Reading An inaccur... Read more
Incident date: Sep 13, 2025
My car has about 82000 miles and while driving it stated that I was shifted to neutral and needed to be restarted. After a few seconds the steering wheel locks up and I can’t press the gas anymore, even though the car is still in drive. This happened about 6 times on the half mile drive home. I haven’t been able to diagnose it yet since the dealership is backed up for a month. I think it’s t... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2025
2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, VIN [XXX] , Recall P0DAB-00 (Hybrid/EV Cell Balancing Performance Case #[XXX], Jeep corporate case manager Tiona. On 8/11/25, I brought my vehicle to Freeland Jeep, Antioch, TN for a separate issue and requested inspection for the open EV battery recall. The dealership gave a “green flag,” confirming no recall impact. On [XXX], the check engine light came on and t... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed fluid on the ground underneath the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V544000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 25V572000 (Back Over P... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2025
This all started when I purchased a 2018 Honda CRV from Motorworld in the late months of 2021 used. When this issue started happening, Motorworld ignored me when I was asking questions. Then, when I brought it in for service, they used tactics like "if we don't find anything, we will have to charge you a service fee" or call me the next day and say "before we hook it up, it may be your easy pass".... Read more
Incident date: Sep 11, 2025
On Sept. 11, 2025 my truck parked in my drive way. It was parked there all night. When I opened the doors to get in smoke and flames started coming out. The center console was on fire. The next day on Sept. 12, 2025 while at the dealership to have the truck inspected it caught fire again further burning the center console, the passenger seat and the roof. The dealership told us there is nothing th... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Sep 11, 2025
Automobile falls out of gear randomly losing all forward power to move the car. While pulling out into traffic, this causes the car to not gain speed with traffic endangering those in the car. Dealer currently has the car and has quoted to replace the Transmission with a rebuilt unit. No warning lights in the car to tell us anything was wrong. Based on research, I believe Ford knows this transm... Read more
Incident date: Sep 11, 2025
On [XXX], at approximately [XXX]. I was traveling down the [XXX] . It was a clear morning and the traffic was light. There were no warning signs or messages displayed prior to the glass shattering. It was startling as I was going 70-75 mph when this happened. While driving my 2023 Honda CRV Hybrid Sport on the morning of [XXX], the sunroof glass exploded. After the dealerships inspection, I w... Read more
Incident date: Sep 3, 2025
Vehicle Autopilot settings with default settings, 1) traveling marked highway speed of 75 mph, vehicle detects something in either the lane to the right or left will slam on the brakes possibly causing a rear end collision, 2) traveling at marked highway speed of 75 mph, vehicle detects curve signs either to the right or left will slam on the brakes possibly causing a rear end collision, 3) travel... Read more
Incident date: Sep 12, 2025
Vehicle Autopilot settings with default settings, 1) traveling marked highway speed of 75 mph, vehicle detects something in either the lane to the right or left will slam on the brakes possibly causing a rear end collision, 2) traveling at marked highway speed of 75 mph, vehicle detects curve signs either to the right or left will slam on the brakes possibly causing a rear end collision, 3) travel... Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2025
When turning to the right, around 35-45mph on a sharp turn, the steering will stick. Yesterday the sticking was so bad it almost caused me to lose control in the middle of the curb. It does not stick when taking sharp turns to the left. The mechanic has not been able to locate the issue.
Incident date: Dec 31, 1969
My 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe began with an intense burning smell followed by the “Service Hybrid Electric Vehicle” warning light illuminating. After this, the vehicle experienced numerous electrical issues with the infotainment system, and the air conditioning failed. At one point, both the service and battery lights came on and the car lost all power, would not shift from park, and could n... Read more