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: Jan 20, 2026
This is my 8th report. Just after my 7th report, in May 2025, I had my tires rotated at 25,000ish miles. The car still did not record that still shows the last rotation at 8,000 miles. Furthermore, I was told at Discount Tire that I needed new tires because the tread was so thin. I was aghast...a new Tesla with tires that wear out at 25,000 miles? I was told that Tesla does not provide adequa... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2026
I am reporting a Sudden Unintended Deceleration event in my Subaru. The vehicle grinded to a halt without driver input. The car stopped in the left lane of a major highway. We put on our hazards and called the state police for help. They were unable to get to us in time. We were hit from the rear. The car's failure created a stationary hazard that led to a high-speed rear-end collision by a ... Read more
Crash
3 injured
Incident date: Jan 20, 2026
I am reporting a Sudden Unintended Deceleration event in my Subaru. The vehicle grinded to a halt without driver input. The car stopped in the left lane of a major highway. We put on our hazards and called the state police for help. They were unable to get to us in time. We were hit from the rear. The car's failure created a stationary hazard that led to a high-speed rear-end collision by a ... Read more
Crash
3 injured
Incident date: Feb 26, 2026
The car has very jerky and non-linear stop. While braking it feels like the vehicle is slipping
Incident date: Feb 27, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light unexpectedly illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the air bag had failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The a... Read more
Incident date: Feb 3, 2026
Service engineer light came in and it was diagnosed as coolant intrusion. Engine failure. No accident occurred.
Incident date: Feb 19, 2026
Why is the Crankcase Ventilation System P052E Code (PCV) covered in most Mercedes models, but not the GLA? This is an expensive repair that seems to cover other cars but penalizes GLA owners just to have a safe car to drive like the other models. I strongly believe GLA should be on the recall list for the matter, as it is dangerous to drive on the road, especially for those who cannot afford to fi... Read more
Incident date: Feb 19, 2026
My son, [XXX] is currently driving this car. The car only has 29,200 miles so far. Last week, while at the stop light on the hill, he had near fatal accident! Forester suddenly completed shut down. The only functioning part was the brake. My son had to put the car in park and restart the engine. I reported the incident to customer advocate at Subaru and taking the car in for inspection. We never s... Read more
Incident date: Feb 19, 2026
My son, [XXX] is currently driving this car. The car only has 29,200 miles so far. Last week, while at the stop light on the hill, he had near fatal accident! Forester suddenly completed shut down. The only functioning part was the brake. My son had to put the car in park and restart the engine. I reported the incident to customer advocate at Subaru and taking the car in for inspection. We never s... Read more
Incident date: Feb 26, 2026
The car randomly gives a warning on the dashboard in red, with red turtle symbol, to pull over and stop safely. A lot of the time we will be on the highway and can't pull over safely. It happens at any speed. 25, 80, 65, etc. It's been happening since we got the vehicle in 2023 and no dealership understands what the issue is even though there are clearly recall repairs for other same make and mode... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts for the recall repair were on backorder. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Incident date: Dec 31, 1969
The contact owned a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (AIR BAGS) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
Incident date: Feb 12, 2026
Vehicle developed hesitation. Message: "Reduced Acceleration Drive with Caution" Check Engine light comes on, fortunately near home. Scanner showed "PO 0747 Transmission Valve #1 stuck open." Research shows this is a common problem and a safety issue and can leave driver stranded or worse. Had vehicle "serviced" at selling dealer, but they did not touch the transmission. Said they drove it ar... Read more
Incident date: Jan 21, 2026
Car shut off while driving, prior have had issues. Have replaces TIPM module, ignition, grounding, etc
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
DEFECT: Steering wheel fails to fully return to center after turns, consistently stopping 1/2-1 inch off-center. Minor steering adjustments stick and don't self-correct. Pronounced binding zone near center prevents smooth return. SYMPTOMS: After curves, wheel returns 80% but stops visibly off-center requiring manual correction. Minor lane adjustments stick and require counter-correction. Constant ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the parts for the recall repair had been unavailable for almost two years. In addition, the vehicle had not been driven since the recall notification was received. The dealer was contact... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
The DPS6 clutch failed rapidly. It is available for inspection. The car will suddenly and aggressively speed up while trying to shift gears or will suddenly slow down when downshifting making a collision very likely. They problem has been confirmed by a dealer. It has been inspected by a ford dealership and confirmed bad. There were no warning lamps or other symptoms prior to failure. It first sta... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
I am filing this complaint regarding repeated premature strut failure on my 2022 Subaru Forester. The original set of struts failed at approximately 36,000 miles. The issue was not covered under warranty and required replacement. At approximately 60,000 miles, the replacement struts are again failing. This means two full sets of struts have failed before 100,000 miles, which is highly abnormal fo... Read more
Incident date: Feb 25, 2026
This a second report following a visit to the dealer for system check. At that service, we were advised that no issues were identified, we were told that sunlight could cause the Subaru “EyeSight” system to disengage. Today, 25 February, the vehicle EyeSight system continues to disable and enable itself seemingly at random. This morning, we travelled on well marked roadways with overcast ski... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and running, the transmission remained in neutral(N). There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to move the gear shifter, the transmission remained in neutral(N). The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The contact was able to drive... Read more
Incident date: Feb 21, 2026
The contact owns a 2016 Dodge Journey. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH and turning left, the steering wheel was extremely stiff. The contact stopped, exited the vehicle, opened the hood, and became aware that the power steering hoses were disconnected. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and the failure was associated with NHTSA ID Number: 16V273000 (STEERING);... Read more
Incident date: Feb 18, 2026
While driving my 2019 GMC Sierra with approximately 119,000 miles the engine suddenly made a loud bang, started shaking violently, backfiring, and missing out. Took it to dealer. They diagnosed the problem as a rod failure with camshaft damage. Quoted repair cost $12,000. After repair, they were doing a 25 mile test drive before returning the truck to me. After only 20 miles, the engine comple... Read more
Incident date: Feb 21, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to two separate dealers, where the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The contact was given a diagnostic fee from the dealers, bu... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2026
The PCS2 threw an alert that the Cybertruck could no longer charge with AC, but I was unable to do DC charging either. The truck is now a brick. Had I been out of town this would have been a serious safety issue. Think of it as an ICE car not being able to be filled at a gas station.
Incident date: Feb 3, 2026
Vehicle experiences a persistent and abrupt harsh downshift (jerk/thud) specifically during 2nd-to-1st gear transitions when rolling to a stop. This issue persists despite the dealership performing the recommended Transmission Control Module (TCM) software update at 5,000 miles. The smooth shifting returned briefly for approximately 500 miles post-update before the abruptness returned. Additionall... Read more
Incident date: Sep 11, 2025
Front Stationary Sunroof Panel with a panoramic sunroof, the stationary panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof cracked and ultimately shattered. Needed removal of the bonded panel and installation of a new front panel. There was a RECALL CAMPAIGN BULLETIN 2021070010 issued August 2021 but did NOT identify problems for SUV's having later year models such as 2022 GLE. The pan... Read more
Incident date: Sep 11, 2025
car just locking on its own as you're driving down the road cruise control light blinking on and off randomly had a brake light gets stuck when I got home and got other vehicle the other night it took you forever to get that off but I have received takata airbag recall notice do not drive and no one can be in the passenger seat also definitely progressed as time went on these unusual symptoms most... Read more
Incident date: Sep 11, 2025
car just locking on its own as you're driving down the road cruise control light blinking on and off randomly had a brake light gets stuck when I got home and got other vehicle the other night it took you forever to get that off but I have received takata airbag recall notice do not drive and no one can be in the passenger seat also definitely progressed as time went on these unusual symptoms most... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2026
Throttle body replacement at only 23294 miles. Replaced under warranty . Did some searching and Honda is aware of coolant seeping into throttle body. This could cause failure while on road or hwy causing injury or death. This issue should have a priority permanent fix as my family is riding in this vehicle. This is unacceptable Thank You for your time into this report
Incident date: Nov 30, 2021
Low oil, burnt oil on dip stick, engine running dangerous hot, lights on on dash, engine knocking
Incident date: Nov 30, 2021
Oil Leak(s) (found cam carriers leaking, front timing cover leaking, oil cooler leaking, upper and lower oil pan leaking. recommend engine reseal). Massive oil leaks found in car due to RTV sealant. Subaru uses RTV silicone sealant (formed-in-place gaskets) instead of traditional rubber gaskets for many sealing surfaces (cam carriers to heads, timing cover, oil pans, etc.). Transmission failure... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2025
My vehicle was recalled by the manufacturer for possibly defective intake valves. The manufacturer did a destructive test on the valves, This test consisted of running the car at 4500 rpm (approximately 120 mph) for a period of approximately 50 minutes. Since this test my car has undergone 3 transmission repairs. Any of these conditions could have resulted in being stranded on the road or poss... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2025
The airbag system has a sensor issue and I keep getting warnings from Subaru to get it fixed because it affects the seatbelts. The garage where I take my car says they are unable to get the part needed for the passenger sensor. And, Subaru says they need to replace the whole harness for $6000. Makes me wonder why a safety issue like this one seen in other Subaru’s have been recalled but not my... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2025
The airbag system has a sensor issue and I keep getting warnings from Subaru to get it fixed because it affects the seatbelts. The garage where I take my car says they are unable to get the part needed for the passenger sensor. And, Subaru says they need to replace the whole harness for $6000. Makes me wonder why a safety issue like this one seen in other Subaru’s have been recalled but not my... Read more
Incident date: Feb 13, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that bubbles or air spaces were forming on the rear windshield. The contact stated that some air bubbles the size of a dime were on the windshield. The contact stated that the bubbles were forming where the tinted portion of the windshield ended, and the clear glass started. The contact stated that the bubbles were obstructing visibility whi... Read more
Incident date: Feb 15, 2026
I am submitting a safety concern regarding the 2025 Ford Bronco Off‑Road. Within 24 hours of purchasing my vehicle, a front sensor failed. The dealership reported that the sensor was damaged by a small rock while driving on normal paved roads. The repair cost is approximately $1,500 and is not covered under warranty. My concern is that a critical sensor—part of the vehicle’s safety and dri... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2025
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2007 Honda Odyssey. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase of the vehicle. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 147,279. It was later discovered that the mileage was 138,556. However, based on a Carfax report the actual mileage was 176,401.
Incident date: Jan 9, 2025
1.) Eyesight constantly turns off on a whim. No reason or rhyme to it but just turns off. Meaning none of my "safety" systems (lane departure, crash avoidance, emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, collision warnings, collision braking) are functioning. Then it turns on when it decides it wants to turns back on after awhile but will happen in the middle of a 30+mile drive. When has this... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2025
1.) Eyesight constantly turns off on a whim. No reason or rhyme to it but just turns off. Meaning none of my "safety" systems (lane departure, crash avoidance, emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, collision warnings, collision braking) are functioning. Then it turns on when it decides it wants to turns back on after awhile but will happen in the middle of a 30+mile drive. When has this... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2026
The airbag occupancy detectors on the passenger side are faulty. I noticed that other similar models of the VW Atlas are having this issue and it has an active recall, but my particular model has not.
Incident date: Jan 8, 2026
1.) Lane departure is not operating until way over the line on right side of vehicle. 2.) Collision Warning is going off regularly with no cars in front or behind. Randomly goes off. This makes it impossible to use the Automatic Emergency Braking feature if it went off in the middle of the freeway which would cause a wreck. 3.) Blind Spot warning goes off on driver side when there is no car there... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2026
1.) Lane departure is not operating until way over the line on right side of vehicle. 2.) Collision Warning is going off regularly with no cars in front or behind. Randomly goes off. This makes it impossible to use the Automatic Emergency Braking feature if it went off in the middle of the freeway which would cause a wreck. 3.) Blind Spot warning goes off on driver side when there is no car there... Read more
Incident date: Feb 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic, where the contact purchased a new battery and had the battery replaced. After the battery replacement, the failure recur... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2025
Travelling with my young daughter on the Freeway at Freeway speeds at 9pm (nighttime). The entire vehicle just shut down. EVERYTHING - completely dark. Steering went out. Brakes went out. I had to get the car to basically drift to a shoulder and slow down gradually in a spot where we would be safely out of the way of traffic. Again no brakes or steering and completely dead. Hazzard lights ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle hesitated and almost stalled. The failure was intermittent but caused the vehicle to stall on several occasions. The check engine warning light and the low oil pressure warning lights recently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2026
Issue with camshaft. Dealership said there has been an influx of vehicles with the same engine and the same issues.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
My vehicles turn signal audio indicator is extremely quiet and cannot be heard at speeds above 45MPH creating a safety issue. I have checked the vehicle audio settings in addition to the vehicle owner manual and there is no user setting to adjust audio. I asked the dealer where i purchased my vehicle (Northtown Ford, Menomonie, WI) about the issue and they did not have a solution.
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
Electrical/Motor~ Yes, Myself, [XXX] daughter and others safety is at risk from stalling in a busy intersection. yes, its happened multiple times. The dealerships says its not throwing a code and have nothing to go off of. No, the manufacturer hasnt checked it. the RPM went up and down. No other lights on the dash. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.... Read more
Incident date: Nov 7, 2025
The vehicle has a feature that puts a message on the dashboard that reads “Consider taking a break “ that is not able to be adjusted by the consumer or the dealer. This message can come up repeatedly and has an audio portion that overrides the audio in the vehicle. Weather conditions, back roads, and unmarked lanes of traffic will trigger this message and without the ability to adjust the se... Read more
Incident date: Nov 7, 2025
The electrical system fails, and the battery is not charging sufficiently. When the auto start/stop engages, the car does not restart in traffic. Requested a battery test at the dealership in May 2025; was told it could not be done that day because it would require leaving the dealer service shop. Eventually, the electrical system became unstable, and the car stopped in traffic on 11/07/2025. Repl... Read more