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 24, 2022
The battery has drained twice in the time that I have owned this vehicle. Once I was able to recharge the battery by jumpstarting and letting it run. The second time it required a battery replacement. This was approximately 12 months after the first incident. The electrical system also has unpredictable quirks related to the window functions and lighting. I am uncertain to other resulting irregul... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2022
Electrical system issue causing premature battery drain/failure.
Incident date: Sep 26, 2022
The vehicle has developed an exhaust leak which allows exhaust to enter the cabin of the vehicle especially at lower speeds and when stopped. There is a crack which develops in the exhaust manifold which causes this issue. This is a known problem and there have been recalls in the past with this exact same issue for Subarus with the same engines. This poses a safety issue given the exposure to Car... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2022
Battery is poorly charged , as indicated by idle battery voltage below 12.1 volts, and in one case the car would not strat and I had to call road service to get the battery jumped/boosted.
Incident date: Oct 22, 2021
Car was purchased in 9/2020. Battery died in March 2021 (needed jump start) and again in October 2021 (battery replaced)
Incident date: Sep 27, 2022
Open CVT recall is not being taken care of in a timely manner. Safety sensitive issue and it’s been open coming up on a year.
Incident date: Sep 5, 2022
Unexplained battery drain on my 2017 Subaru Legacy. Had to jump the vehicle on two different occasions. Brought the vehicle to the dealer and was told I needed a new battery. Cost to me was $235.78. I now hear that there has been an issue with Subaru batteries and a class action lawsuit has been filed. How do I join the lawsuit or file for a reimbursement for the battery I had to buy?
Incident date: Jul 17, 2022
Battery Fail on 2018 Legacy Sport Model. No warning or indication. Went in the car evening of July 17, 2022 . Vehicle was not responsive to starting - battery dead Had to go to 3rd party and obtain a battery as it was the weekend - had no other form of transportation. Had not indication there was in-fact an issue with Subaru and their batteries draining vehicles leaving cars stranded. When I ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 17, 2022
I forgot to add a item to my issue with the battery change - With changing the battery items acted odd in the vehicle - window issue with windows not working and Radio issues in which the car would randomly start controlling the electronic features of the phone, radio, cd player and maps. Car will randomly beep as to act like someone is touching the screen, it will also change radio channels, ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 20, 2022
1. Over the past months at different times the dashboard lights all start flashing the check engine cruise control breaks Flash on and off 2. Our safety's at risk because we don't know if the engine is needing repair or if it's an electrical problem or if the car's just gonna stop dead 3. We took the car in and they charged me $1500 for a new fan coil and it's still doing it 4. Yes there were ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 20, 2022
1. Over the past months at different times the dashboard lights all start flashing the check engine cruise control breaks Flash on and off 2. Our safety's at risk because we don't know if the engine is needing repair or if it's an electrical problem or if the car's just gonna stop dead 3. We took the car in and they charged me $1500 for a new fan coil and it's still doing it 4. Yes there were ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2022
Spontaneous windshield crack developed beginning on drivers side edge of windshield. dealer confirmed that there was no sign of impact to cause the crack and agreed to replace windshield free of charge.
Incident date: Jul 15, 2022
Windshield cracks from pressure from initial installation.
Incident date: Sep 19, 2022
I own a 2015 Suburu Forester with just under 60,000 miles. i have noticed the engine does not start right off, making me nervous. I drive a lot and don't want to get stranded. On 9/19/2022 I went to the Battery Outlet in Quakertown and they said i have a battery drain. They did not think the battery needed to be replaced but to me, the greater issue is WHY IS MY BATTERY DRAINING TO BEGIN WITH.... Read more
Incident date: Sep 23, 2022
Keep getting check engine light. Blue cold engine light stays on. Getting code P26A5 Engine Coolant Bypass Valve 'A' Position Sensor Circuit Range. Parts are unavailable at the dealer. They can’t give me a time frame when they become available.
Incident date: Aug 15, 2022
check engine light came on end of August. Took into dealership early September (9/6/22) to find that the P26A3 code or Engine Coolant bypass Valve is defective. I have 47k miles on my 2019 Forester, so luckily it is under the powertrain warranty ( up to 60k). however, dealership is backlogged and waiting on parts . they were giving out loaners but can no longer do it due to the long lead time on p... Read more
Incident date: Jun 2, 2021
Battery will not hold a charge. Battery frequently needs to be recharged. Bought a portable jumper, to ensure vehicle will start away from home where the battery would otherwise be charged in the garage.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2022
Check engine light came on at 92,355 odometer miles. Dealer diagnosis was code P0171, airflow sensor intermittent failure causing rich fuel and affecting mileage. Failure of the air fuel sensor was due to oil leakage from the camshaft carrier covers located above the exhaust manifold where the A/F sensor is located. This could have resulted in a fire. The repair necessitated engine removal to acc... Read more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2021
We have discovered that our 2019 Forester has a parasitic battery drain of almost 1 amp when the car is off and the hatchback is open. This resulted in full battery drain several times until we did several tests to determine the root cause of the problem (Subaru was of no help). This led to replacement of the OEM battery at about 52,000 miles.
Incident date: Jul 25, 2022
In July my car kept dying and I had to jump the battery frequently. i Had it serviced at Hayesville firestone and was told it was ok. Problem continued. had a mechanic suggest I get another battery , whick I di at car quest. Has been fine since. I just received a notice of battery drains on Sub forester, so I am reporting this to you. No injury was involved
Incident date: Dec 31, 2021
Auto start failed multiple times leaving car disabled for a short period of time in traffic creating safety hazard. After asking the Subaru service center about it they said there was nothing they could do about it because there was no lights on the dashboard. Eventually they informed me at the last service that the battery needed to be replaced.
Incident date: Sep 26, 2022
I've owned this car for less than a week and already have to replace a battery that was said to be completely fine. It does not retain charge or replenish when parked.
Incident date: Sep 26, 2022
Start up issues, often need to jump vehicle with a relatively new battery. Power window issues
Incident date: Sep 15, 2022
puddle of brake fluid under car no brakes after looking at it 4way joint connector at rear of car is leaking . online says recall was done but specifications for the repair are ludacris to spray wax over corrosion ! the lines are already damaged and that would just seal the corrosion in and continue to deteriorate! that recall in itself is a safety hazard and needs to be reevaluated!
Incident date: Nov 20, 2017
I am reporting this deficiency as it is related to: Subaru Battery Drain Products Liability Litigation, No. 1:20-cv-03095-JHR-MJS Deficiency: Battery will discharge to an unusable degree within a relatively short amount of time (10 to 20 min.) when any power is used (radio, cabin lights) while engine is off. This has happened 4 times since m... Read more
Incident date: Aug 30, 2022
The battery has died multiple times from minor power draw. For example, opening the windows when the engine was off or briefly charging and iPhone with the key in auxiliary. I have replaced the battery at my own expense and this continues to happen.
Incident date: Sep 26, 2022
Battery was defective.
Incident date: Sep 26, 2022
Battery was defective.
Incident date: Sep 26, 2022
I have had to buy 2 batteries since I bought the vehicle!! I have 60038 miles on it- One within 6 months of purchase Subaru Tyler Tx and the second roughly one year ago Patriot Subara Saco,Maine I’ve had to get jumped by AAA at least 3 times in past 2 years No one can give me a definitive answer to why my batteries don’t last…
Incident date: Apr 1, 2020
Battery has failed twice, original battery was replaced, then the 1st replaced battery has died. A new battery and the software update needed asap.
Incident date: Apr 1, 2020
Battery has failed twice, original battery was replaced, then the 1st replaced battery has died. A new battery and the software update needed asap.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2022
Battery died quickly.
Incident date: Sep 26, 2022
Attempted to start vehicle, discovered battery was drained.
Incident date: Jan 12, 2020
The windshield was pitted by something no larger than a grain of sand. Needed to use a magnifying glass to see it. Within 24 hours of no driving a 6" long crack developed.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2022
I found a lot of oil leaking from the oil filter cup and that would splash all around the filter area. I brought the car at the dealership and they have replaced the filter but when I checked after few days ( smoke was coming out of the hood) there was oil all over again. I bought an aftermarket filter and I installed it myself. No one drop of oil found. So I believe this a is a safety concern b... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2022
The battery died after 2 years and 15000 miles. I was with my whole family ( 2 months old, 2 and 4 years old) away from home. I was able to reach the dealership leaving my family in a store and they said that nothing was wrong with the battery. Next day the car wouldn’t start and they finally replaced the battery under my extended warranty. Today I discover that there is a class action settleme... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2022
Windshield cracked while driving did not see anything large object hit
Incident date: Sep 4, 2019
Throw-Out bearing design defective flaw for 2015 2016 2017 2018 SUBARU WRX PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE. Bearing has been making noises since before 10,000 miles and dealers fail to diagnose or repair under warranty. Searches on the internet show it is a common problem affecting hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles.
Incident date: Jul 3, 2022
On multiple occasions I have had the tailgate open and the light has drained the battery to the point that it needs a jump start or a battery charging to get it to start back up. On one occasion the tailgate was only left open for 30 minutes and the car would not start due to the battery being drained from it. The battery is in perfect condition as it would start fine any other time.
Incident date: Sep 7, 2022
Replaced battery. Two and a half years after replacing battery, I had to replace the battery again. No warning, just didn't start one morning. Battery was dead.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2022
Battery drains very fast. Speakers stop working, window won’t go up, audio system freezes
Incident date: Apr 16, 2016
My 2016 Subaru Outback has required 3 battery replacements between Jan 2020 and July 2022. I have been stranded with a dead battery on 4 separate occasions beginning around April/May of 2016, leaving me unsafe and vulnerable until help could arrive. AAA provided battery jump service twice and strangers helped twice. AAA has provided the 3 battery replacements and I have retained those receipts.... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2021
Our car battery does not hold a charge. One year ago January we had Triple AAA replace the battery after several problems starting. This year we have had 3 calls to Triple AAA to charge the battery. It starts right up when they apply the charger--alternator tests as working properly, battery tests OK once charged--but the problem keeps happening. I am now afraid to take it anywhere where I might... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2021
Our car battery does not hold a charge. One year ago January we had Triple AAA replace the battery after several problems starting. This year we have had 3 calls to Triple AAA to charge the battery. It starts right up when they apply the charger--alternator tests as working properly, battery tests OK once charged--but the problem keeps happening. I am now afraid to take it anywhere where I might... Read more
Incident date: Jun 19, 2022
Battery failed and had to be replaced Wheel Bearing replacement
Incident date: Jun 19, 2022
Battery failed and had to be replaced Wheel Bearing replacement
Incident date: Sep 24, 2022
Suddenly lost acceleration and engine stopped - without any dashboard signal of low gas or engine issue. Car was able to start after couple of minutes. At the time of losing acceleration and stopping gas indicator was showing two bars - and car was not running with low fuel indicator. My whole family was in the car and stopping in the middle lane of a busy national highway of 65 miles speed limi... Read more
Incident date: Sep 24, 2022
Suddenly lost acceleration and engine stopped - without any dashboard signal of low gas or engine issue. Car was able to start after couple of minutes. At the time of losing acceleration and stopping gas indicator was showing two bars - and car was not running with low fuel indicator. My whole family was in the car and stopping in the middle lane of a busy national highway of 65 miles speed limi... Read more
Incident date: Sep 17, 2022
We had driven up Mt Washington in NH (about 6000ft high) and were returning back. We had used the X mode (hill assist) intermittently on the way down. Had driven almost 150 miles back to home, when the car suddenly lost power and started to shudder. We were able to coast to the side. We tried to start again and again the same problem. We noticed that the brakes seemed quite warm. After about 5 mi... Read more
Incident date: Sep 17, 2022
We had driven up Mt Washington in NH (about 6000ft high) and were returning back. We had used the X mode (hill assist) intermittently on the way down. Had driven almost 150 miles back to home, when the car suddenly lost power and started to shudder. We were able to coast to the side. We tried to start again and again the same problem. We noticed that the brakes seemed quite warm. After about 5 mi... Read more