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 34,453 complaints for SUBARU
Incident date: Nov 15, 2022
The check engine light continues to stay on no matter what Ford tries to do. We can not get the truck smogged for registration due to this problem.
Incident date: May 24, 2023
Horn doesn't work..replaced fuse still not working..so I wonder if my air bag will work...how do I fix it no body know not even the dealer
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
The braking system developed a leak in the accumulator causing the whole braking system to fail and turn the abs light on in the car as it leaked brake fluid into the brake booster from the master cylinder
Incident date: Jun 4, 2023
While driving my Subaru Outback, I encounter a problem where the Starlink Multimedia system abruptly goes black. Shortly after, the driver information center also goes black. Although the car continues to run, the cruise control, if engaged, and the EyeSight safety system shuts off as well. Both systems then undergo a reboot.
Incident date: Jun 4, 2023
Started losing power and had problems cranking. Now won't cranking at all. P0123 error code.
Incident date: Jun 4, 2023
While in the process of slowing down, especially through roundabouts, the car braking systems seem to fail for a few seconds and actually surge/accelerate forward. It is sporadic but has happened to me more than 10 times in the last 6 month but I worry that it will jet forward into another car. I have notified my Dealer Ed Martin of Noblesville and they have stated this is the hybrid braking ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 7, 2023
The touch-screen display, sometimes called the infotainment center, is blank and does not turn on. This prevents me from using any of the cars cameras to monitor for collision purposes. Dealership has no idea what the problem is.
Incident date: Jun 2, 2023
My vehicle has had a multitude of errors for 5 months now about the safety systems being disabled, seat controls malfunctioning, etc. Tesla refused to repair the car (despite only being months old) because I had requested a buyback due to other electrical issues with the vehicle. The driver facing errors (ones shown on the screen that the driver would see) simply said "Safety systems disabled". I ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 5, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Fiat 500E. The contact stated that while driving at night, it was discovered that the driver's side headlight was not illuminating. The driver's side light bulb was replaced but would intermittently shut off. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that the driver's side light bulb connector had melted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufac... Read more
Incident date: Jun 6, 2023
Since the day I bought this car anything that blows across the road causes the brakes to slam on....even at speed on the highway This is dangerous as hell. Additionally the eye sight disconnects intermittently for on reason or because of rain or a small bump in the road. You must stop and turn the car off and on to get a reset. I have had the vehicle inspected at 3 different Subaru dealerships and... Read more
Incident date: Jun 6, 2023
Catalytic converter recall not being honored by warranty or original dealership where vehicle was purchased. Car engine making knocking sound and burning oil
Incident date: Jun 6, 2023
The active headrest on the driver seat, sprang open with a loud pop, hitting me in the back of the head while I was driving. I have heard of many other drivers having the same problem. There was no accident. There was no collision. Or was no warning. I have not taken this in to get fixed yet. People online are saying it costs up to $750 to get fixed. It is uncomfortable to drive the car with the h... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2021
The headlight high beams do not properly light upward and the service center refuses to replace the headlight. They also had another new car the same way. Both defective which is a manufacturing problem and safety risk.
Incident date: Jun 6, 2023
The breaks on this car squeal and grid awful. The dealership said they put metal brake pads on the car and that it's "supposed" to grind and make noise" and told me there is nothing they can do about it. I know this was an issue with their 2020-2022 Trailblazers. I can't believe that it's normal for a $30,000 dollar car.
Incident date: Jun 6, 2023
The engine is knocking and stalling out. Lawrence Kia has had my car for three weeks, and nothing has been done. After investigating the issue, the failure is related to NHTSA Campaign Number 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The recall is to replace engines. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 104,000.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2022
05/2023 loud ticking noise coming from top right side of engine. Replaced transfer case module. Ticking sound continued. Check engine light code P0523 occurred 06/2023. Known issue with Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6L: rocker arms and right intake camshaft failure
Incident date: Jun 4, 2023
This has been a consistent on-going issue with my brand new 2023 Tesla Model Y. While using Autopilots Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and the Autosteer feature the car will without warning begin braking. Each time is different in regards to severity of the breaking but it is typically like letting off the accelerator pedal which in a Tesla is comparable to significant breaking. Have taken two hi... Read more
Incident date: May 29, 2023
My 2018 Subaru Forester should be included in a recall and subaru is denying that this recall exists. My SRS air bag light is on. The dealership wants to charge $1216.73 to replace the passenger side seat occupant detection sensor mat Information from https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/SUBARU/FORESTER/SUV/AWD#recalls October 3, 2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V701000 Occupant Detection System Ma... Read more
Incident date: May 29, 2023
2014 Mini Cooper Countryman - Engine Low Oil Failure and yes the vehicle is available for inspection. Had an engine oil pressure electronic message come up on the car: Engine Oil pressure too low. Possible Engine damage. Swith off engine. Continued driving is not possible. Please contact mini dealership. Had the car towed to dealer. Was told there is an engine oil leak somewhere. The provided ... Read more
Incident date: May 29, 2023
2014 Mini Cooper Countryman - Engine Low Oil Failure and yes the vehicle is available for inspection. Had an engine oil pressure electronic message come up on the car: Engine Oil pressure too low. Possible Engine damage. Swith off engine. Continued driving is not possible. Please contact mini dealership. Had the car towed to dealer. Was told there is an engine oil leak somewhere. The provided ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 2, 2023
Engine failure due to defective engine from manufacturer
Incident date: Jun 5, 2022
When starting the vehicle, all the lights and alarms have come on and vehicle is not drivable. This has happened 4 times. 3/4 times the vehicle has started after an hour or two. One time I have had to have it towed in. I bought this car on April 27th. First time this happened was 5/29. I have been without the use of this car for 28 days today. The service manager called today and Mercedes is tryin... Read more
Incident date: Jun 4, 2023
Truck has had issues with cranking but not starting consistently since owning. I have had it towed to multiple dealers who say they can not duplicate the issue. I take it home, drive it for a day or two and then it will crank and not start. I have paid multiple diagnosis fees, I have taken video of the issue and the dealer says they can't go by video they have to duplicate it. I have been stranded... Read more
Incident date: Jun 4, 2023
My cars coolant is leaking and the source is unknown. My car has overheated twice and my mechanic has been unable to find what needs to be repaired. The coolant has need to to be filled twice within a 6 month period. Now my car is having other issues with the catalyst system that lead me to believe the coolant leak might be affecting these other parts. My catalytic converter was already replaced... Read more
Incident date: Nov 16, 2022
This is in regards to Recall # 14S10 (Ford) and NHTSA # 14V393000. I was driving my 2013 Ford Edge when turning there was a pop, and vehicle would not engage into any gear causing an extreme safety issue. After being towed, it was noted that the intermediate shaft was broke and sheared the gears off. This is a very uncommon finding. We contacted Ford and was told there was not a recall on this veh... Read more
Incident date: Jun 2, 2023
After filling up vehicle (not overfilled) it stalls when I come to a stop or slow down for a turn. This just started today after filling up from the same fuel station I always use. The Jeep restarts after a few seconds after turning it completely off.
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
While driving on the NYS Thruway (I90), I started to pass a Tractor Trailer, I put my blinker on and began moving to the right to pass. There were 2/3 cars in back of me also passing. I was using cruise control and I began to put my foot on the accelerator to finish my passing and move over to the right hand lane to let the other vehicles pass me. However, upon accelerating, my car started t... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
After driving several hours on a very busy interstate, I stopped to get gas. When pulling out of the gas station my steering became inoperable. The warning indicator came on after I started to drive. I never had any indication that I needed to get my vehicle serviced prior to losing power steering. I had to have the vehicle towed to our mechanic. We were told the steering rack and pinion needed re... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
On the morning of May 16 2023 while making a turn at 17 th Avenue and Bayshore Drive my car continued to accelerate in spite of me trying to brake. I was projected into a stone wall and knew I was going to crash . I crashed into the wall,all my airbags were deployed and the car smelled like smoke. My accelerator got stuck and was sideways .I was unable to get out of the car from inside but a Good ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Apr 18, 2023
The truck shuts off at red lights. This is NOT the feature for gas saving. The engine completely dies. This is extremely dangerous. You are stuck in running traffic until it starts back up. The ford dealer said there are no service bulletins and they've never heard of it. But the F150 forum is full of examples, and Ford is not aware or fixing the issue. This happens several times a week.
Incident date: May 29, 2023
OEM tires that came with original vehicle purchase depleted tread and needed to be replaced by 38,000 miles. Alignment may have been bad from initial manufacturing but is no longer covered by "bumper to bumper" warranty because it is 2,000 miles over warranty. Tire size 245/60R18
Incident date: May 29, 2023
Windshield randomly became extremely hazy in one section to the point where Eyesight forward facing obstacle detection turned off. Cerium oxide rubbing compound was required to clear the haze enough for Eyesight to work again. Other sections have less significant haze. It appears to be hairline cracks in the outer layer of the windshield or the windshield scratches extremely easily without any obv... Read more
Incident date: May 29, 2023
Delamination of touch screen to radio/electronic control panel. This causes the system to touch random portions of the screen, deeming it uncontrollable. The system will also make phone calls I’m not trying to make. More importantly, when I try to make phone calls, it will immediately disconnect the call. I had an emergency on the road recently and needed to make and receive calls but was unable... Read more
Incident date: May 26, 2023
The car was cranked as usual and immediately the following multiple warnings began scrolling through on screen: Hill start assist problem, adaptive cruise control problem, collision mitigation system problem, road departure mitigation system problem, electric parking brake problem, tire pressure monitor problem. The car was driven directly to Van York Honda Dealership in High Point, NC. Their dia... Read more
Incident date: May 26, 2023
Repeated alert to service electronic braking system. Had code read it said right front wheel erratic response from wheel speed sensor. Had sensor changed no change to error code, now the traction control light and passenger seat airbag light has come on. This is a 2017 ram tradesmen with approximately 70k mileage
Incident date: Jun 1, 2022
The brake lights go out all the time. They work one day and then not the next. This is a known issue with Kia vehicles. Apparently this is a wide spread issue that effects many Kia brand cars not just the Soul model that I drive. I have people stop me saying they did not see my brake lights come on at all when I obviously had to. Why hasn't this been a recall? This is a problem that could ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 2, 2023
Unknown when defect started to occur. Purchased vehicle with malfunctioning Rear left passenger seat belt does not connect properly and seat belt becomes disconnected.
Incident date: May 31, 2023
Well was driving fine one day then the next it didn't do nothing an still hasn't done or moved since found that the module in the truck were the spare was got wet an melted then I got another put it in an still nothing changed starter still nothing an found out a recall was found called bmw but they wasn't willing to have it towed to a service provider
Incident date: Jun 2, 2023
The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the steering wheel chanel needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000. The me... Read more
Incident date: May 29, 2023
Steering at any speed is erratic.It has a dead spot and pulls left or right as if a magnet was pulling it causing me to constantly be correcting This happens whether LKAS is turned on or off I have a dealer appointment June 15th
Incident date: May 22, 2023
The thermo control valve on my 2020 Subaru Forester is broken and needs to be replaced. I have owned the car for 2 years, am the first owner, and it has less than 19,000 miles. 90 minutes into a drive the "coolant temp low" indicator light came on. After I pulled over, turned off the engine, and turned it back on the check engine light and sport mode indicator light came on, and all ADAS were disa... Read more
Incident date: May 22, 2023
Transmission winding and jerking. Constant issue on these trucks with no known resolution as to why the issues start so early.
Incident date: May 22, 2023
When turning off engine it displays "shift to park" and won't shut off. This has been ongoing since I purchased vehicle but is much worse now
Incident date: Aug 12, 2022
Over the last two months, I've had over 30 incidences where the car will either randomly shift extremely hard into a gear or will hesitate, stutter, lose power while accelerating. Some of the shifts have been so hard that they've thrown me forward. Some of the losses of power are extremely dangerous as I'm accelerating at highway speeds. I have a full log of at least 30 of these incidents (and det... Read more
Incident date: May 22, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 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 manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2022
The car intentionally starts. The radio sometimes works and sometimes has no power. It loses the air conditioner and power windows. It burns off excessive amounts of coolant. It smells like it is running hot but isn't. When turning key the gages bounce and it clicks and clicks. Sometimes it starts and other times it will not. Multiple people have stated the same issues. Spending good amount of mon... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2022
Under 50,000 miles all 4 wheel bearings needed to be replaced. Under 50,000 miles all 4 struts needed to be replaced. The door key would not work , the dealer had to fix the mechanism. The passenger window stops working suddenly, the dealer has to reset it all the time. The car braked in the middle of highway two time, I was lucky that no one hit me in the back. Under 65,000 miles control arm brok... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2022
The oil cooler is made from an inferior material resulting in warpage and leakage. That leakage happens prematurely and poses a fire risk from oil leaking from the top side of the engine onto the components below, including but not limited to the exhaust manifold. The component is currently being replaced by the dealer due to catastrophic failure, resulting in oil and coolant mixing. I have fou... Read more
Incident date: Jun 14, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered. Additionally, the contact stated that unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the contact was unaware of the diagnostic result. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The fai... Read more