Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,245,377 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA, including 140,173 crashes, 56,794 fires, and 8,580 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 2,245,377 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 35,035 complaints for SUBARU
Incident date: Dec 1, 2022
Purchased a low mileage, 2019 Subaru Outback Limited, had 16,407 miles on vehicle, had accident damage reported by CARFAX. At 27,383 miles an oil leak in valve cover gasket was discovered, Subaru fixed leak under warranty, engine removed. Upon driving the vehicle home following repairs, the car lunged forward through the garage door, into the garage, and damaged vehicle and garage interior as I a... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 1, 2022
Purchased a low mileage, 2019 Subaru Outback Limited, had 16,407 miles on vehicle, had accident damage reported by CARFAX. At 27,383 miles an oil leak in valve cover gasket was discovered, Subaru fixed leak under warranty, engine removed. Upon driving the vehicle home following repairs, the car lunged forward through the garage door, into the garage, and damaged vehicle and garage interior as I a... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 5, 2022
I noticed when driving that my horn had stopped working. I am unsure if this is related to the airbag replacement or some other issue. The concern is that most people do not check their horns for functionality before it is really needed. I was able to get it repaired at a cost of 529.58
Incident date: Dec 25, 2022
The battery dies after 3 days of parking inside my garage. The battery passed a test. This is the third time the issue has taken place.
Incident date: Dec 22, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and activating the front window defroster, moments later while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front windshield started to crack. The contact stated that the crack started from the bottom of the windshield and extended toward the driver’s side of the windshield. The crack extended approximately 22 i... Read more
Incident date: Dec 11, 2022
My lane keeping assistance feature was turned on by someone else. Nobody has access to my vehicle and I keep it armed when away from the vehicle. In addition, I noted the vehicle was well within the street lines. There was no reason to take control of the wheel. Given I was not driving outside street lines, I worried about the possibility that someone was controlling the wheel. A dealer has... Read more
Incident date: Dec 11, 2022
My lane keeping assistance feature was turned on by someone else. Nobody has access to my vehicle and I keep it armed when away from the vehicle. In addition, I noted the vehicle was well within the street lines. There was no reason to take control of the wheel. Given I was not driving outside street lines, I worried about the possibility that someone was controlling the wheel. A dealer has... Read more
Incident date: Dec 19, 2022
The Subaru Forester 2019 Thermo Control Valve (TCV) fails. It is responsible for cabin temperature but also engine temperature and can result in overheating. There are numerous reports that this is a frequent problem and dealerships want to charge $1200+ to replace. It is certainly a design flaw and should be issued for recall. Mine is available for inspection and has been inspected by the dealer... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2022
2019 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD ILLUMINATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.
Incident date: Dec 19, 2022
3 months after purchase, in December 2021, my windscreen cracked for no apparent reason. I replaced it 4 months later with OEM glass from dealership waiting—due to no extra money. Now, 8 months after that, it cracked again. I woke up in the morning to a long crack coming from the edge of the seal that was not there when I parked for the evening.
Incident date: Dec 21, 2022
There have been multiple incidents where the automatic collision braking system has almost caused me to be in an accident. Although it can be turned off, you must remember to do it manually each time you turn the car on. The dealership has not offered a choice to have this dangerous feature permanently disabled. In this incident, traffic in front of me started to slow down significantly, and I st... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2022
There have been multiple incidents where the automatic collision braking system has almost caused me to be in an accident. Although it can be turned off, you must remember to do it manually each time you turn the car on. The dealership has not offered a choice to have this dangerous feature permanently disabled. In this incident, traffic in front of me started to slow down significantly, and I st... Read more
Incident date: Dec 16, 2022
Subaru battery drainage defect. CAN electrical system causing battery to drain when car isn't running. Car may unknowingly not start at any time battery could be dead. Just put new battery in 1 year ago this did not fix the issue. I shouldn't have to worry about being stranded with my child if my car doesn't start due to a known battery issue.
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
Large crack in windshield on the driver's side while car was parked at work, further investigation found a tiny chip point of impact, Subaru is known to use specific, thinner glass due to eye sight technology. If a small chip can crack half the windshield what will a significant impact cause? I live in a rural area and have had some significant damage done on other vehicles by animals and such, no... Read more
Incident date: Nov 11, 2022
This car is equipped with adaptive headlights. When the headlights are turned on, each projects a rectangular shadow. These shadows move when you drive and look like animals coming across the road. Apparently, Subaru says this is normal operation. The dealer noted that it is an issue but Subaru has no remedy. This is a safety issue as your eyes automatically follow the shadows as it seems like the... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
The Solterra's rear window in mounted at a flat angle and lacks a rear window wiper. It also has a black "spoiler" at the bottom of the window. These features combine to drive a significant accumulation of snow on the rear window that blocks all rear view in just a few miles. With no way to clear this without exiting the car that may be unsafe in many situations. . Under snow or rain conditi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
The Solterra's rear window in mounted at a flat angle and lacks a rear window wiper. It also has a black "spoiler" at the bottom of the window. These features combine to drive a significant accumulation of snow on the rear window that blocks all rear view in just a few miles. With no way to clear this without exiting the car that may be unsafe in many situations. . Under snow or rain conditi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
The Solterra's rear window in mounted at a flat angle and lacks a rear window wiper. It also has a black "spoiler" at the bottom of the window. These features combine to drive a significant accumulation of snow on the rear window that blocks all rear view in just a few miles. With no way to clear this without exiting the car that may be unsafe in many situations. . Under snow or rain conditi... Read more
SUBARU
XV CROSSTREK
(2013) - ENGINE
Dec 20, 2022
Incident date: Mar 30, 2022
Driving on the freeway my car lost power i pulled off to the side and tried to restart it. As I have the ignition turned over for 30 to 40 seconds the starter sounded erratic and the oil temperature light was flashing. I sat there for about ten minutes and tried again and it did the same thing but it started. This power loss has happened twice. The erratic noise coming from the ignition, and th... Read more
SUBARU
XV CROSSTREK
(2013) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Dec 20, 2022
Incident date: Mar 30, 2022
Driving on the freeway my car lost power i pulled off to the side and tried to restart it. As I have the ignition turned over for 30 to 40 seconds the starter sounded erratic and the oil temperature light was flashing. I sat there for about ten minutes and tried again and it did the same thing but it started. This power loss has happened twice. The erratic noise coming from the ignition, and th... Read more
SUBARU
XV CROSSTREK
(2013) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Dec 20, 2022
Incident date: Mar 30, 2022
Driving on the freeway my car lost power i pulled off to the side and tried to restart it. As I have the ignition turned over for 30 to 40 seconds the starter sounded erratic and the oil temperature light was flashing. I sat there for about ten minutes and tried again and it did the same thing but it started. This power loss has happened twice. The erratic noise coming from the ignition, and th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started smoking from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as an oil consumption and cam carriers failure. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where the diagnostic result was confirmed. The contact repaired... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2022
Feel very uncomfortable during driving, steering wheel moving left or right
Incident date: Dec 18, 2022
Windshield has cracked twice in last month, in separate areas. I replaced the windshield on 11/9/22 and identified a new crack on 12/18/22.
Incident date: Oct 19, 2022
The airbag SHOULD automatically turn on and off when someone is in the passenger seat. Most of the time when there is a passenger in the seat the airbag won't turn on, so we're driving around with no airbag in the passengers seat This sounds like the issue with NHTSA 19V701 but we are not covered in that vin range. This vehicle was also equipped with heated seats.
Incident date: Dec 15, 2022
The engines shut down or stalled on me while driving completely. It did not accelerate when I was trying to move the car off the road. the engines sputtered / shaken , all the lights came up on the dash board, smokes started to come out of my engines. this problem is similar to the recent Subaru recall on the fuel pump. Please add 2019 Forester on your list of recalls. This is a serious and d... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2022
The engines shut down or stalled on me while driving completely. It did not accelerate when I was trying to move the car off the road. the engines sputtered / shaken , all the lights came up on the dash board, smokes started to come out of my engines. this problem is similar to the recent Subaru recall on the fuel pump. Please add 2019 Forester on your list of recalls. This is a serious and d... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2022
The engines shut down or stalled on me while driving completely. It did not accelerate when I was trying to move the car off the road. the engines sputtered / shaken , all the lights came up on the dash board, smokes started to come out of my engines. this problem is similar to the recent Subaru recall on the fuel pump. Please add 2019 Forester on your list of recalls. This is a serious and d... Read more
Incident date: Dec 17, 2022
I was warming up my car and clearing it off after a snow storm. The windshield had no problems when I wiped it clear of the snow with the wipers up (I always leave them up before a storm to prevent damage to the blades). When I put the drivers side wiper down, a large crack formed on the windshield starting at the blade on the passenger side and crossing over the driver's side. This was clearly ca... Read more
Incident date: Dec 17, 2022
Transmission is lurching and surging when driving. Pressing gas pedal from a stop the belt continues to slip. Took it to Paul Moak Subaru they claimed to do the inspection told me they don’t do test drives for malfunction checks. They said they completed the inspection for transmission recall. The Ascent continues lurch and slip with grinding noise and loss of speed. I told them about the issues... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2022
Subarus forward looking eyesight and rear auto braking functions will stop working periodically also the stereo/infotainment system will go blank causing you to no longer access the the safety features of the car or any controls for the heating/AC system.
Incident date: Dec 15, 2022
Subarus forward looking eyesight and rear auto braking functions will stop working periodically also the stereo/infotainment system will go blank causing you to no longer access the the safety features of the car or any controls for the heating/AC system.
Incident date: Dec 15, 2022
Subarus forward looking eyesight and rear auto braking functions will stop working periodically also the stereo/infotainment system will go blank causing you to no longer access the the safety features of the car or any controls for the heating/AC system.
Incident date: Oct 17, 2022
Because of your regulations mandating the black spot in cars with HID/LED headlights, we notice a dark line in our windshield when driving in unlit areas at night. This makes it hard to see. Using the brights help, but this is an infraction within our neighborhood and similar dark, forested places. It seems that you have solved one problem but created a new one. This dark windshield line is pa... Read more
Incident date: Dec 16, 2017
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph when the check engine illuminated and a loud rattling noise emitted from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle then suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer had replaced the engine. Approximately after the repair while they were driving approximately 40 mph when the... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Dec 16, 2017
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph when the check engine illuminated and a loud rattling noise emitted from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle then suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer had replaced the engine. Approximately after the repair while they were driving approximately 40 mph when the... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jul 15, 2020
******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE IT IS AN INADVERTENT DUPLICATE OF ODI# 11497752*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******
Fire
Incident date: Dec 10, 2022
The Thermo Control Valve has stopped working It causes the engine to overheat while drive. The windows fog up in the cold making it hard to because the defrost does not work Yes by an independent service center No No the engine light came while I was drive.
Incident date: Dec 10, 2022
The Thermo Control Valve has stopped working It causes the engine to overheat while drive. The windows fog up in the cold making it hard to because the defrost does not work Yes by an independent service center No No the engine light came while I was drive.
Incident date: Dec 16, 2022
Random crack in lower passenger side windshield area. Nothing hit windshield. Appeared during the day as temperatures warmed up. Crack goes from the bottom to the center.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat was extremely hot. Additionally, air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that the taillights were inoperable. While his wife was driving at an undetermined speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the tailligh... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat was extremely hot. Additionally, air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that the taillights were inoperable. While his wife was driving at an undetermined speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the tailligh... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat was extremely hot. Additionally, air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that the taillights were inoperable. While his wife was driving at an undetermined speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the tailligh... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2022
On Saturday 12/10/2022 at approximately 5PM, I was driving my 2020 Subaru Outback on the left lane of a highway in South Miami at a speed of 65+ miles per hour when the vehicle lost all power. The vehicle’s Eye Sight" system alerted me to "Keep your eyes on the road”, then all of the instrumentation on the dashboard lit up. I was able to maneuver my vehicle through traffic to the relative sa... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2022
On Saturday 12/10/2022 at approximately 5PM, I was driving my 2020 Subaru Outback on the left lane of a highway in South Miami at a speed of 65+ miles per hour when the vehicle lost all power. The vehicle’s Eye Sight" system alerted me to "Keep your eyes on the road”, then all of the instrumentation on the dashboard lit up. I was able to maneuver my vehicle through traffic to the relative sa... Read more
Incident date: Nov 22, 2022
I experienced a sudden unintended acceleration of my 2013 Subaru Outback while braking to make a left hand turn at a stoplight on Federal Road in Brookfield, CT. I was able to squeeze the brake hard while shifting into neutral to avoid slamming into the car in front of me while the engine raced. The car would have gone out of control had I not been able to press very hard on the brake pedal. Thi... Read more
Incident date: Nov 22, 2022
I experienced a sudden unintended acceleration of my 2013 Subaru Outback while braking to make a left hand turn at a stoplight on Federal Road in Brookfield, CT. I was able to squeeze the brake hard while shifting into neutral to avoid slamming into the car in front of me while the engine raced. The car would have gone out of control had I not been able to press very hard on the brake pedal. Thi... Read more
Incident date: Aug 12, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer was notified of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 9, 2021
At around 18,000 miles when applying the brakes, the vehicle would shake and vibrate. By 20,000 miles the vibration was excessive affecting the ability to steer straight when braking. The dealer told me that they were aware of the issue with this year/model. Diagnosis, warped rotors. Dealer resurfaced rotors and replaced pads under warranty. Vehicle performed fine for a while. At around 36000 mile... Read more