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: May 22, 2020
1. Anti-Lock Brake System Hydraulic Control Unit 2. Possible safety issue with no ABS available 3. Yes evidently the new part needed in "under engineering review". 4. Took truck to mechanic and confirmed the HCU unit 5. yes have warning messages that WILL NOT STOP CHIMING; Service Electronic Braking system; Service Anti-lock Brake System
Incident date: Apr 11, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Mustang. The contact stated that the reverse light, the rearview camera, the Cross Traffic System, the blind spot detector, the Lane Assist System, and other unknown features had ceased to work. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V382000 (Power Train) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the failure persiste... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2023
Transmission had to be replaced. Lighting issue cabin
SUBARU
OUTBACK
(2019) — EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:WATER HEATER
Apr 24, 2023
Incident date: Jan 16, 2023
2021 FOREST RIVER PUMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ISSUE WITH THE HOT WATER HEATER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE ADDITIONAL DEFECTS THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT LOCK, AND THE FLOORING HAD DEFECTS FROM MANUFACTURING. AND THE PROPRANE TANK COVER FIT POORLY.
Incident date: Jul 12, 2022
At just 10 days over 4 years of ownership, which is out of warranty, and at about 44,360 miles, I noticed noise when going over small bumps, moving from stop to go and while turning the steering wheel. It appears that the upper control arm, a recall on about 3000 Tesla Model 3 and Y, was the culprit. I contacted the service center and right away, over the Tesla Mobile App, the knew it was the con... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2023
CONSTANT CHECK ENGINE, NO ADAS FUNCTIONS AND MULTIPLE CODES AND HUD INDICATORS INCLUDING CKENGNE, XMODE FLASHING, ADAS DISABLE AND MAJOR ELECRTICAL PARASITIC DRAW AND TRANSMISSION AND OVERHEATING. I believe the past major leg relay was replaced during first recall, it was not performed correctly and tied into accesssorry aux into same wiring. defrost/ ac failure and clutch hums upon shutting down
Incident date: Oct 1, 2022
NOKIAN 175/70 R13. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TREAD SEPARATING ON TIRES.
Incident date: Apr 24, 2023
Car is overheating, mechanic stated head gasket bolts are stripped and it's a defect in these Kia Sorento 3.3L V6 engines. I am the 2nd owner even though it was purchased in the same year it became available (2016). On November 14th, 2023 it will be 7 years old, with 110,000 miles. It's regularly serviced with no issues until the overheating which started on April 22, 2023. My portfolio warranty e... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2023
Vehicle had lifter and valve noise Lifters and valves became stuck due to Active Fuel Management system failure Transmission shifted poorly due to this condition. Resulting in engine failure and engine replacement at my expense Total cost $12,000
Incident date: Apr 23, 2023
My vehicle has approx 50,000 miles and the right rear shock tower, mounted to frame, rusted and broke away from the frame.
Incident date: May 20, 2022
On May 20, 2022, I was attempting to back into a parking space when my car lunged forward and crashed into two parked cars. I suffered a cracked sternum. No one else was hurt but I was just a few feet from the ground-level windows of a motel. Much body damage to my car (in excess of $13,000) and the other two cars. Police report was filed. Insurance claim filed. No reproduction of problem sought f... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: May 20, 2022
The sunroof exploded while driving on the highway. I was traveling about 60-65 miles per hour. Luckily the slide was closed otherwise glass would have showered down upon the driver and passenger. I took the vehicle into the dealership. They inspected and sent the quote to my insurance claims adjuster so payment could be issued for the repairs. There was no warning signs or messages prior to it exp... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2022
The trunk will not close properly. It appears as if the trunk itself is not even. There is a gap on the side that is larger than the area on the left side. Almost as if the trunk was pulled from another vehicle that wasn't quite the same model. The trunk latch does not close on the first try nor the second or third. Now its not closing at all. Just bought the vehicle Feb. 28, 2023 and already ha... Read more
Incident date: Apr 12, 2023
This is the fourth lugnut/stud that has failed. This time it was during routine maintenance at an authorized dealership during tire rotation.
Incident date: Apr 22, 2021
Fifth lug nut failure within a span of less than 6 months. Today during winter to summer tire snow change, front passenger side lug nut broke while it was being removed. This is the 4th incident in my vehicle with regards to the lug nuts. Less than two weeks ago, during routine maintenance at a Hyundai dealership, another lugnut broke and I have also registered a complaint here.
Incident date: Oct 15, 2022
12 volt battery not recharging from the main EV 77kw battery. This makes it so that car systems cannot start that started late March and went into the dealer April 14,2023, after it happened a dozen or so times.
Incident date: Oct 15, 2022
The truck has “death wobble“ or steering oscillation. When travelling on any road between 55 and 75 miles per hour, the truck will shake violently when you cross a bridge, train tracks, or imperfections in the road. You must nearly come to a complete stop as quickly as possible. It is difficult to turn or stop while this is happening. My vehichle has been well maintained and only has 105k mile... Read more
Incident date: Apr 19, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Sportage. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to push the vehicle to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 107,000.
Incident date: Apr 21, 2023
I like to have metric units active in my vehicle and this Colorado enables me to switch to metric (i.e. 24h clock, temperature in Celsius, mileage in km,...) It is my understanding that, in the US, this function is allowed but the current speed must also always be displayed somewhere. This is not the case. When switching to metric ALL units everywhere switch to metric, also the current speed is ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 18, 2023
This vehicle was sold unlawfully to me, with an open recall on it. I purchased the brand-new vehicle from Sterling Heights Dodge, Chrysler Jeep New car dealership on 3/23/23. I got at open of business 9am left shortly after 11am with the new car.3/24 The vehicle engine lights came on, RPM's were revved high, engine was making loud noises. I called the dealership to make an appointment with service... Read more
Incident date: Apr 21, 2022
An oil leak has formed at 46k miles and it is dripping all over the engine and the entire under carriage of the truck. This is common in the 6.7 cummins. The truck is under warranty but mopar refused to fix the truck. The oil gets on things that cause smoking snd burning smells. This has caused the engine to lose oil pressure and shut off on the highway.
Incident date: Apr 17, 2023
Control screen is delaminating causing ghost controls and making it impossible to adjust or turn on/off climate controls- AC, heating, dehumidifier… making it UNSAFE to drive. In addition radio stations jump from one to another - a mere distraction in comparison to the climate control problems Please recall !!
Incident date: Mar 9, 2023
Transmission failure. Problem confirmed by dealer and two other certified mechanics, in 2022 and 2023. No warning lights or messages given on dashboard. Technicians found codes when vehicle was scanned. Problem only become noticeable when driving vehicle by then it was to late. Transmission would not shift properly coming to stops and trying to accelerate after stops or very minimal speed slowin... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2022
The driver owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra with 37,657 miles. While slowly turning left into a parking space, the car had a sudden acceleration event. The Elantra sped into the parking space and ran over two concrete parking spot blocks. The Elantra glanced off a grey pickup truck and scraped by a grey SUV. The Elantra entered the empty parking space opposite the SUV and proceeded to impact the side o... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 20, 2023
Gear switching to Neutral while driving, stops abruptly, steering locks up, and the vehicle shuts down completely. In order to restart, the battery requires a jump. The battery is fairly new and shows good voltage. 05/29/2023 (UPDATE) The issue was corrected with the installation of a new battery. Although the battery (2.5 years old) was indicating good voltage levels during testing, it would... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2020
The manufacturer has failed to repair an open recall in a timely manner. Our Crosstrek Hybrid's 12-volt battery frequently needs charging and has been jumped a half dozen times in as many months and replaced twice since November.
Incident date: Mar 30, 2023
2011 gmc Acadia slt gear shift does not lock causing it to slip into neutral with slightest bump of shifter or sudden hard breaking Also passenger seat belt does not.lock at all when breaking and driver side seat belt never unlocks there are safty recalls on these issues for this model but.says mine has zero unfixed recall also defrosting and mirror defrost does not work properly causing me to hav... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2023
Driving home the car said 26 miles to E. while in gear going down the road it popped engine system malfunction and the whole car shut off and wouldn't start. Didn't drive the vehicle for 2 days- filled the gas tank and it drove fine for 5 days. Day 6- 4/8/2023, fine driving down the highway 45 minutes. Go down about a mile and it still doesn't seem right, I move lanes and the thermostat light star... Read more
Incident date: Apr 19, 2023
The V6 version is under recall. However, this vehicle should be as well. The car fails to accelerate. My car was at the Honda Dealership for over ten days. I came in because my car was unexpectedly unable to accelerate. Honda advised me there wasn't a code but I needed a new battery and other maintenance. I picked up my car, and within 1 mile, I could not accelerate when exiting and was nearly in ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 19, 2023
The V6 version is under recall. However, this vehicle should be as well. The car fails to accelerate. My car was at the Honda Dealership for over ten days. I came in because my car was unexpectedly unable to accelerate. Honda advised me there wasn't a code but I needed a new battery and other maintenance. I picked up my car, and within 1 mile, I could not accelerate when exiting and was nearly in ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2023
Check Engine Light Stays on. Computerized message states check Electrical Service Throttle. When I get new gas in the car. The car stops in the middle of the highway or at the stop lights/signs and dies. Car has a very hard time starting back up. I had $1110.00 of repairs and took the car back to the same repair shop 4 times. It has never been able to be repaired. It is very dangerous to be ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2023
It was time to replace my original equipment tires after approximately 30,000 miles (41,622 car miles, remainder 11,622 on separate snow tires). The car rode smoothly. I purchased four YOKOHAMA AVID Ascend LX SIZE 195/65R15 tires. The tires were balanced professionally at VIP Tires in Watertown, MA. Since the original tires had a little bit of uneven wear, I also had the car aligned at the same ti... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, he noticed a burning smell coming through the A/C vents. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that unknown frontal air bag had deployed under the hood and burned; however, the mechanic could not repair the vehicle. The vehic... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, he noticed a burning smell coming through the A/C vents. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that unknown frontal air bag had deployed under the hood and burned; however, the mechanic could not repair the vehicle. The vehic... Read more
Incident date: Apr 17, 2023
Issues with both driver and passenger windows. There are times when windows don’t close all the way or just go back down. Wind and rain while driving is very unpleasant. This has been addressed 3 times at dealership and still we have issues.
Incident date: Apr 14, 2023
Both passenger and driver doors leak water onto floor while using the car wash. The dealership has replaced the door moldings but it still leaks.
Incident date: Apr 5, 2023
I was driving 40 mph, when warnings appeared on my dash. "Service Stabalizor control", "Traction control turned off", "power is reduced", and the check engine light came on. I lost power as if engine quit, no acceration, but then came back intermittent. If I had been on a highway going 65 mph, in heavy traffic, there may have been an accident. Power steering remained on. I took to an auto service ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 18, 2023
I was driving 40 mph, when warnings appeared on my dash. "Service Stabalizor control", "Traction control turned off", "power is reduced", and the check engine light came on. I lost power as if engine quit, no acceration, but then came back intermittent. If I had been on a highway going 65 mph, in heavy traffic, there may have been an accident. Power steering remained on. I took to an auto service ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2023
Infotainment screen goes blank. It has been addressed at dealership but still happens.
Incident date: Apr 11, 2023
As i attempted to start my vehicle, it continuously made a clicking noise until i finally hit the gas and made it crank up. About halfway through my work commute, the forward collision warning came on with no visible forward threat on the road. All of a sudden the car slammed on its brakes without me even touching the break and continued to do so anytime I put my foot on the gas above 50mph. I tri... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2023
While driving the vehicle suddenly stalled and stopped running. The dashboard illuminated with most lights and the check engine message came on the screen. I was thankfully able to get into the shoulder on the road safely without creating an accident or getting injured. The vehicle would not start again and had to be towed to the dealership. I am now out $1800 because I am slightly over my powertr... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2023
My vehicle keeps giving me the message that “Park Pilot is not working” and the backup camera does not work.
Incident date: Apr 13, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that the seat belt alarm for the front driver’s and front passenger’s side seat belts failed to notify the driver whenever the seats were occupied but the seat belts were not buckled. The symbol showing that the seat belts needed to be buckled was displayed; however, the warning chime failed to sound as designed. The vehicle was taken to... Read more
Incident date: Oct 17, 2022
The lights on my 2015 Acura RDx became so dim it was no longer safe to drive. I took it to my mechanic and he agreed saying he also felt it was a safety issue. I contacted the dealer as well as Acura and they were aware of the issue but said it was not covered under our extended warranty. The car has limited miles and we decide to replace the lights at a cost of $1859.42. The replacement of th... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2023
2012 Kia Soul 4dr wagon engine fail no warning lights sudden strange noise driving on highway with grandbabies. Heard a strange noise under hood then the vehicle lost acceleration and right before shutting down and dying the oil light came on and car went dead. No warning to any problem. Had the oil changed and double checked new oil was replaced. When I opened the hood and checked the oil their w... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2023
The front lower subframe cracked where the driver's side front wheel attaches to it in our 2011 Subaru Outback. This resulted in loss of steering control of vehicle. The issue has been confirmed by independent mechanic. Vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, or insurance agent. It is available for inspection at [XXX]. There were no warning lights when this failure occurred. INFO... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2023
After a routine oil change my air bag sensor light illuminated after turning the car on. Tried the reset, still on. I took it to a mechanic who told me this is a common problem with KIA Sorentos. He also said that it is likely some sensor or the airbag itself and it being on it is very unsafe to drive because it won’t deploy if there is an accident. There has never been a collision or any other ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Xterra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (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... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2022
Description: My 3 year old daughter was getting out of the rear of the vehicle on the drivers side. The door is automatic and closes via button in the passenger compartment or the remote keyfob. She pushed the button to close the door and the door closed on her wrist and hand, the door did not automatically reverse and the door latched with her hand still inside. She was injured and needed to go t... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Apr 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver’s side seat pivoted back requiring the contact to stand on her left foot to reach the brake pedal while the seat inadvertently adjusted backward without warning. The contact then stated that the rear passenger’s and driver’s side door failed to ope... Read more