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: Apr 17, 2026
This is an electric vehicle. I experienced a sudden loss of all power while traveling on the interstate in heavy traffic. I nearly lost control of the vehicle as it would not respond to my inputs. I had to cross two lanes of dense interstate traffic to get to a safe area to pull over and it was terrifying because the car just suddenly shut down while traveling at highway speeds. The dealership tha... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2026
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the check engine warning and a " engine fault service now message appeared and also idled roughly. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed as a coolant leak into the engine block that caused misfires in cylinder two and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle wa... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2026
The daytime running lights are not working. It is a safety concern by not being seen easily by oncoming drivers. No warnings were given prior to going out. This seems to be a common problem among same vehicle make and model according to forums on the internet. The only way to be repaired is to replace the entire headlamp assembly at a cost of $1500-$2000 which is not feasible.
Incident date: May 8, 2026
The light appears on my dash indicating low oil level frequently between oil changes. I have to add oil to my car every 2-3 weeks. An abundant amount of white smoke comes from the exhaust pipes. I’ve been told it’s burning oil. This could ruin my engine or become catastrophic by fire. I was told it could be something to do with the pistons or cylinder head. Mechanic shops don’t want to/have ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 21, 2026
My cars check engine light keeps coming on and the first time it came on with an engine under boost failure and I took it to a 3rd party shop to get fixed and they had to replace the turbo charger. I paid $2500.00 for that. 2 weeks later the same light came on and they had to replace it again. Well now the light came on again after a month for the same thing and I am taking it back into the shop ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2025
On April 19, 2026 at approximately 9:40 PM, I was driving my leased 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan southbound on [XXX] [XXX] . I had three minor passengers with me — my daughters ages [XXX] and [XXX] , and their stepsister age [XXX] . We were returning home to [XXX] from a family trip to Walt Disney World. Without any warning — no dashboard lights, no sounds, no hesitation — the engine completely... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2025
I bought the 2024 Santa Fe XRT Pro new off the lot Sept. 2024. Brought it in for 3 different recalls but the electronic system panel is new: The panel lit up with every warning sign it can convey: from the engine light to the coffee break, to the emergency warnings. This has happened twice; once a few weeks ago and again a few days ago. My car is back at the dealership for repair to the electron... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the all-wheel drive (AWD) system became inoperable. The contact stated that when attempting to engage the AWD function, the system failed to operate and the vehicle would transition into four-wheel drive operation. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer refer... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Gladiator. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the infotainment center display blinked on and off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed instrument cluster panel. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. In addition, the contact was informed of a recall... Read more
Incident date: May 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH, depressing the accelerator pedal the vehicle to respond as intended and the contact could smell smoke while stopped. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to where the diagnosed the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, as the shift selector switch was replaced. The ma... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2026
While driving on the interstate over 2 hours from home the car put itself into neutral and almost caused us to get into a collision. While accelerating after a construction zone, the lights on the dash of the vehicle lit up with transmission, emissions, electronic parking brake, and more codes. The car shifted itself into neutral while running between 65-70 mph on the interstate. Multiple vehicles... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2026
Driving on Interstate 10 eastbound on May 9th, the lane departure system suddenly stopped working and would not turn back on and a warning on the dash stating Driver Facing Camera is Blocked but there was nothing in front of the camera which is on top of the steering wheel column. Then when returning home later that same day, the system began operating again but now it would continually go directl... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2026
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle experienced an apparent engine failure involving the engine cooling system and possible head gasket and/or engine damage. Prior to failure, the vehicle had a strong sweet coolant smell and was later diagnosed by the servicing dealership as having a coolant leak and possible engine-related... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2026
When we brought it in for first oil change at the dealership ; when we got it back it had a broken axle which they tried to say we just needed new tires , after contacting service manager and he and I go for a ride in it they kept it for several weeks and put over 300 miles on it and got ford engineering involved to determine the cause was broken axle. It has been replaced again since then suppos... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2026
When the headlights are on at night, any bump or movement of the vehicle over rough surfaces causes the headlights to visibly shake. It is especially noticeable when the low beams are on. Even the reflection in vehicles or signs, you can see the lights shake. It caused quite a distraction when trying to drive. Dealer states this is normal and all other variants of this car do the same. I have neve... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2026
It is burning much more oil per 1000 miles than the Hyundai website says is normal. It has kept burning oil at a very high and abnormal rate. To the point of having to carry oil while driving. Nothing happened to make this start, it just began!
Incident date: May 8, 2026
When I was backing from a parking space, another car drove behind mine and the car's maneuvering braking kicked in and decelerated the vehicle. When I stepped on the brake, the car then accelerated backwards and caused me to collide with the crossing vehicle.
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: May 8, 2026
The dashboard will randomly not work upon start up or stop working while driving... this only occurs for no longer than 1 min and will self correct. I have had multiple mechanics look for the cause of the issue and have replaced everything short of the instrument cluster and the wiring harness of the truck. While this doesn't seem to interfere with the function of my vehicle, this is/can be very... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2026
My 2019 Honda CR-V experienced a malfunction involving multiple dashboard warning lights illuminating at the same time, including warning messages related to vehicle systems and safety features. There is concern about the vehicle entering limp mode and being unable to accelerate normally. This creates a safety concern because the vehicle may not respond properly in traffic or during highway drivin... Read more
Incident date: Feb 5, 2026
Per Honda, the standard maintenance of replacing a timing belt and tensioner has put more tension on the crankshaft, which causes a tapping noise from the connecting rod bearings when the vehicle is accelerating under load. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Honda has said that this does not harm the engine, but a noise of this kind is not normal and any noise of this kind assoc... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2026
Upon taking my 2021 Rav4 Hybrid in for the rear traction motor cable corrosion recall (25TD01) on 5/7/2026, I was told there are no parts, no estimated arrival time, and therefore not even a rough estimate for a timeframe of repair. I was told that no one would inspect or evaluate the part in question to indicate if the car was safe to drive. I expressed my extreme concern given the recall include... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2026
Upon taking my 2021 Rav4 Hybrid in for the rear traction motor cable corrosion recall (25TD01) on 5/7/2026, I was told there are no parts, no estimated arrival time, and therefore not even a rough estimate for a timeframe of repair. I was told that no one would inspect or evaluate the part in question to indicate if the car was safe to drive. I expressed my extreme concern given the recall include... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2026
Noticed noise. Took to dealer. Dealer confirmed bad front pinion/bearing and need front differential. Will be very dangerous if not fixed! Dealer has had this issue before and online forums state big issues
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
The issue involves the vehicle’s drivetrain and hybrid/electronic control system, where the car suddenly jerked forward in stop-and-go traffic on the freeway as if it had been struck from behind. Immediately following this event, the vehicle would not accelerate beyond approximately 40 mph, indicating a loss of normal power. This created a significant safety risk, as the sudden jerking could hav... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
The issue involves the vehicle’s drivetrain and hybrid/electronic control system, where the car suddenly jerked forward in stop-and-go traffic on the freeway as if it had been struck from behind. Immediately following this event, the vehicle would not accelerate beyond approximately 40 mph, indicating a loss of normal power. This created a significant safety risk, as the sudden jerking could hav... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2026
[XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] VIA CERTIFIED MAIL – RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Compliance Division (NVS-210) 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 Wednesday, May 6, 2026 RE: SAFETY DEFECT COMPLAINT – 2026 Subaru Forester VIN: [XXX] Honorable, Eileen Sullivan Associate Administrator, En... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2026
Transmission failure without any warning while driving. Vehicle engine immediately shut down resulting in no power and loss of power steering. Vehicle came to a complete stop within seconds. Fortunately I was on a country road with no traffic. Had I been traveling on a highway I could have been rear ended and suffered major injuries! I had to push the vehicle to the side of the road since there ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2026
Engine Coolant bypass Valve B control circuit high check engine light
Incident date: Feb 22, 2026
The transmissions down shifts extremely hard, causing an abrupt wheel speed reduction. It starts doing this after you have driven the vehicle about 15 minutes....before that it operates correctly but once you hit 15 minutes of drive time, it is neck jolting! Driver and Passenger Mirrors have a mind of their own. They will be in position, you start backing out of a spot and they start moving unti... Read more
Incident date: Feb 22, 2026
A vehicle fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. NHTSA ID Number: 26V073000 Manufacturer Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Potential Number of Units Affected: 11895 Summary Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023-2024 EQB 250+, 2022-2024 EQB 300 4MATIC, and EQB 350 4MATIC vehicles. The high voltage battery may fail internally and lead... Read more
Incident date: Feb 22, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V789000 (Electrical System) and 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention) and 26V117000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that the remedy parts were not yet available. The ma... Read more
Incident date: Dec 5, 2024
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Automatic braking system brakes for no reason when I am not near any cars traveling at high speed or even when I am already at a complete stop or moving very slowly but not anywhere near hitting the car in front of me. This has happened multiple times since I leased this car in July 2025 and it seems... Read more
Incident date: Dec 24, 2024
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly hard shifted and the check engine warning light along with the reduced engine power warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with trouble codes P0700, indicating a transmission control module (TCM) failure, and P2717, indi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 24, 2024
The SOS module has failed. THIS MEANS AUTOMATIC NOTIFICATION OF A CRASH OR SIGNIFICANT MECHANICAL FAILURE IS NOT FUNCTIONAL. THE MODLE HAS A BATTERY THAT FAILS IS IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS REPLACEMENT OF THE MODULE AT A COST OF $600 TO $800.
Incident date: May 7, 2026
I own a 2021 Ford Explorer ST (3.0L EcoBoost) with 47,680 miles. The vehicle is exhibiting a severe metallic knocking noise at idle, a flashing Check Engine Light, and a dangerous loss of motive power while driving. A certified Ford dealership technician (Kendall Ford) diagnosed the vehicle with catastrophic engine failure, requiring a full engine replacement estimated at $13,000.My vehicle is exh... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an abnormal ticking sound. In addition, the contact stated that the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel was hard to turn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed rear differential. The cont... Read more
Incident date: May 7, 2026
Frame is rusted to the point of failure
Incident date: May 3, 2026
Telematics (OnStar) Module Dealership has checked it, the telmatic module is bad. And the dealership i went to Dossit big 4 in Tupelo MS told me this has been a problem with this truck. And are wanting me to pay $645 to fix it. After they just did some recalls and updated the software. This was working before then.
Incident date: May 5, 2026
On 05/05/2026 I was driving my 2026 Honda Passport, while driving I suddenly had multiple warning lights display. The following alerts popped up on my dash, electric power steering problem, hill start assist problem, road departure mitigation system problem, trailer assist system problem, collision mitigation system problem, hill descent system problem. Once these alerts popped up, I immediately t... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2017
I was driving on the Highway, and went to accelerate and my car went into Limp Mode in the middle of the highway and I was almost not able to get to the emergency lane due to not being able to accelerate. I took it to the nearest auto mechanic shop, and they informed they could not work on it or diagnose due to it being a Volkswagen. I then took it to the nearest Volkswagen dealership, and they sa... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V034000 (Air Bags) and 25V607000 (Seat Belts); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not y... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2026
I was driving down the road with no cars around me at all going 40 mph when my car started braking saying "Brake" and automatically braked to almost a full stop int he middle of the busy road. If there was a car behind me we most definitely would have been rear ended at a very fast pace. We could've been seriously injured and I have little children in the car and a baby. There wasn't rain or fog o... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2026
In February, on my car that I had had for six months with less than 3500 miles on it, I was driving and got a “driver assist warning“ on my car and I no longer have the ability to apply gas to the car. Thankfully, I was able to pull over safely. I restarted the car and everything was fine. I called the dealership and they said it is probably a bad sensor and I made an appointment to bring in m... Read more
Incident date: May 3, 2026
I called FCA for recall information on May 6, 2026 - NHTSA Recall Number24V-896. FCA advised the part is not available yet. I checked [XXX] for a HCU/ABS part and it is available for purchase and explained to FCA it is available. Then FCA says you can go ahead and replace it and file for reimbursement with no timeline for reimbursement. Local RAM service deparment said not parts available. ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 22, 2026
My 2020 Subaru Crosstrek experienced a sudden loss of motive power and stalled due to a blown ignition fuse. Diagnostic code P1604 (Startability Malfunction) was stored. Inspection by Wayne Subaru (Invoice #25340) confirmed the Cylinder 3 ignition coil had shorted and physically melted. This is the exact failure mode described in Subaru Safety Recall WRE-21 (NHTSA Campaign 21V825000), which curren... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2026
The vehicle experienced repeated electrical and no-start issues believed to be related to the RF/electrical communication system. The truck has been returned to the dealership repeatedly for this issue and recently spent approximately two months at the dealership for diagnosis and repair. After finally being returned, the vehicle was completely dead the very next morning and would not start. The ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2026
Vehicle with 42k miles and regular dealer maintenance suddenly stalled out in traffic, creating dangerous situation for driver and children passengers. Towed to dealership from which it was purchased. Told it was a catastrophic engine failure and had coolant and oil mixed. Dealer unwilling to explore exact cause. Vehicle 11 months past 5 year power train warranty but well under mileage.
Incident date: Apr 19, 2026
going down highway (60mph) a sudden rear wheels lock up jerking the steering wheel out of my hand sudden down shift causing me to be put in the median...wrench symbol pops up trucks in limp mode... no 1-6 gear light or light to show if i am in P.R.N.D.M.1.2. Truck won't start back up until it wants too if you cut it off in limp mode (factory reset) unhooking negative battery cable dosent work. C... Read more
Incident date: Apr 19, 2026
My 6 year old son and I were coming down the road and came up on 2 deer and I was coming up on a sharp curve and when I hit my brakes my steering wheel LOCKED up completely and the steering wheel is so bent where I tried my best to control it but I failed and we hit a tree head on. Broke my nose and my sons leg broke in between the back seat air bag and door air bag
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: May 4, 2023
once full self-driving is disengaged a pop-up menu shows up at the main part of the screen requesting a feedback why full self-driving was disengaged you cannot dismiss the questionnaire easily without being distracted during the driving extremely dangerous The only way to dismiss the compulsory questionnaire is to make a selection of 1 option or double click on a microphone button on the steering... Read more