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: Jul 19, 2022
SafeLite is Unable to calibrate vehicle EyeSight after non-OEM windshield replacement. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There have been two attempts to calibrate the vehicle EyeSight by SafeLite. The dealer says the EyeSight with a non-OEM windshield can not be properly cal... Read more
Incident date: Jul 19, 2022
SafeLite is Unable to calibrate vehicle EyeSight after non-OEM windshield replacement. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There have been two attempts to calibrate the vehicle EyeSight by SafeLite. The dealer says the EyeSight with a non-OEM windshield can not be properly cal... Read more
Incident date: Jul 19, 2022
Windshield spontaneously cracked while parked. I parked the vehicle around 3pm and at that time, no crack was present. I left the house at 5:30pm and in that 2.5 hours, a 12-18 inch crack appeared. There’s no visible impact point and it starts from the bottom edge of the glass on the passenger side. I have not brought it to the dealer yet as I’m working through a claim center for windshiel... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2022
I've had two fuel pumps replaced under warranty after the 2nd fuel pump failed hours after the Subaru dealership installed it. They installed the 3rd which worked until a week ago when my car stalled at a red light. The car would not start back up and it has since been diagnosed as a fuel issue.
Incident date: Jul 15, 2022
The electrical system in our Subaru is draining the battery prematurely, which could cause us to get stranded.
Incident date: May 27, 2022
Driving when all of the sudden the front windshield cracked it started on the passenger side.
Incident date: Jul 19, 2022
2020 SUBARU ASCENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER HAS EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME DETERMINING A FIX FOR THE TRANSMISSION DRIVE SLIP TRAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A NEIGHBOR SAID THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM, "THE TRANSMISSION FOR SUBARU ACCENT WAS DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED FOR THIS CAR AND UNDER... Read more
Incident date: Jun 18, 2022
DTC P26A3 thermo control valve ? All my safety features are disabled until the part becomes available- it is apparently on back order and/ or not part of an active recall or both ? Having difficulty getting information from my dealer/service dept
Incident date: Jul 18, 2022
We have had issues with the battery draining since early on in owning the car. First the power windows stopped working and they replaced the battery. We are now having more battery issues and the care is in the shop.
Incident date: Jul 7, 2022
Windshield cracked over night, and is getting bigger. There was no accident, nothing hit the windshield. It is in the drivers view point
Incident date: Jul 15, 2022
Our windshield cracked again to the edge. This is the third time it’s cracked and will be our fourth windshield on a 2018 model year car.
Incident date: Jul 18, 2022
The windshield was cracked. I heard a pop and then a 15 inch crack spread horizontally across the front windshield in a couple seconds. This is a safety issue because it impaired visibility and altered the integrity of the vehicle. I took pictures of it. It has not been inspected or fixed yet but I have an appointment to do so. There were no warning lights
Incident date: Jun 24, 2022
My windshield cracked overnight, in my driveway, with no possibility of a person or animal being the cause. The nearest neighbor is 2 miles away. Subaru warranty denied my claim and said they saw a rock chip in the pics. The glass repair shop that submitted the claim said their was no sign of force (rock) to the windshield being the cause of the crack.
Incident date: Jul 18, 2022
UNKNOWN - the windshield seems to have spontaneously cracked. It was parked overnight in an uncovered driveway, and now there is a large crack down the middle. There is no particular pattern to suggest impact (and regardless the driveway is not underneath any nearby trees or other structures).
Incident date: Jul 17, 2022
My charging system fails to keep my battery charged . This happens irregularly - even when the car has just sat in the garage for two or three days. We have not left the doors open or the lights on. It's very frustrating.
Incident date: Jul 18, 2022
The windshield on the Outback do not hold up. I have replaced my windshield 2 times. About to replace for a 3 time. All within 13 months. All Subaru windshields. I’m a cautious driver and do not drive close to others. A rock has hit the windshield but it automatically cracks over 8 inches. Not repairable. I’ve never had this problem with my other vehicles.
Incident date: Jul 18, 2022
The windshield on the Outback do not hold up. I have replaced my windshield 2 times. About to replace for a 3 time. All within 13 months. All Subaru windshields. I’m a cautious driver and do not drive close to others. A rock has hit the windshield but it automatically cracks over 8 inches. Not repairable. I’ve never had this problem with my other vehicles.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2022
Electrical system freezes/reboots spontaneously during operation; electrical system fails to power off after engine stops; electrical system stays on and drains battery, leading to car not starting; car has refused to start while away from the house due to battery drain from electrical system; car will sometimes start with all systems disabled (RAB, eyesight, cruise, etc.) due to electrical issue;... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2022
The engine block of our car caught fire while it was parked and turned off. It melted the engine and hood of the car, totaling it. Thankfully, we were not in the vehicle when the incident occurred, so no one was injured. At the time of the incident, our car was parked outside our apartment building under a low-hanging tree, which was burned in the fire. Had a neighbor not noticed and called 911, t... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jul 3, 2022
The engine block of our car caught fire while it was parked and turned off. It melted the engine and hood of the car, totaling it. Thankfully, we were not in the vehicle when the incident occurred, so no one was injured. At the time of the incident, our car was parked outside our apartment building under a low-hanging tree, which was burned in the fire. Had a neighbor not noticed and called 911, t... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jul 18, 2022
SUBARU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO MISDIAGNOSED VEHICLE ISSUE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION AND GEARBOX FAILED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION AND GEAR BOX REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE DEALER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST DUE TO THEM NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINING THE VEHICLE. *JS
Incident date: Jul 8, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, there was an abnormal clanking noise coming from the steering wheel. Additionally, the steering wheel became loose without warning. The contact pulled over and upon inspection, the front lower control arm had severed due to severe corrosion. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 11... Read more
Incident date: Jul 17, 2022
ON 17JUL2022 A LONG CRACK APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD(FRONT). THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS AS THE WINDSHIELD CAN BREAK AND IMPACT MY SAFETY IN THE CAR AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AROUND THE CAR.
Incident date: Jul 17, 2022
The brake light bulbs keep burning out. As much as 1 per year the last four years.
Incident date: Jul 3, 2022
after less than two years into my lease, the car was completely 'dead'. I could not start it or 'jump' it. It cost me out of pocket money to have it towed 50 miles to dealership. They replaced battery. They car was recalled a year or so. Took it into dealership for repair. After I noticed that automatic headlight dimmer would not work.-Still doesn't. 2 weeks ago, car would not start. Was told agai... Read more
Incident date: Jul 3, 2022
after less than two years into my lease, the car was completely 'dead'. I could not start it or 'jump' it. It cost me out of pocket money to have it towed 50 miles to dealership. They replaced battery. They car was recalled a year or so. Took it into dealership for repair. After I noticed that automatic headlight dimmer would not work.-Still doesn't. 2 weeks ago, car would not start. Was told agai... Read more
Incident date: Jul 17, 2022
A windshield that was replaced July 14, 2021 at a Subaru dealership developed a crack for no apparent reason within 6 months (December 2021). The crack began at the bottom passenger-side edge and as of July 17, 2022 the crack has now extended 3/4 the distance across the windshield (upwards towards the top edge of the windshield). This is a very expensive replacement cost ($1,400) at the Subaru dea... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2022
Driving on the highway all of a sudden my windshield cracked. It was due to stress nothing hit the window
Incident date: Jul 1, 2022
Driving on the highway all of a sudden my windshield cracked. It was due to stress nothing hit the window
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
The driver side visor hangs in the face of the driver. It will not stay up against the window, so it blocks the drivers ability to see. The driver must take a hand off the steering wheel to hold it out of the way, and have it block the blazing sun so that she can see the road. This is very unsafe. The passenger side visor fell right off, so the sun shines right in the driver's eyes from that side ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
The driver side visor hangs in the face of the driver. It will not stay up against the window, so it blocks the drivers ability to see. The driver must take a hand off the steering wheel to hold it out of the way, and have it block the blazing sun so that she can see the road. This is very unsafe. The passenger side visor fell right off, so the sun shines right in the driver's eyes from that side ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 16, 2022
While driving on highway, knee contacted key causing the ignition to turn off engine. Car began to decelerate. While care was still in drive, turned ignition switch on and engine returned.
Incident date: Jun 15, 2022
Windshield was cracked and spread across the windshield. I wasn’t aware that it was broken until my sister got in the car and asked me if I knew it was broken! I don’t know when it happened or the mileage.
Incident date: Jul 15, 2022
I have 2022 Subaru Outback Limited XT. The windshield cracked 7 days after purchase. Only have 200 miles on it. Drove at 60mph and suddenly saw a crack on the passenger side of the windshield. Didn't hear any pop sound. The crack was about 17 inch long spreading from the bottom edge passenger side to the center of the windshield. Took the car to the dealership and was told the windshield is not un... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2022
The gas pedal and brake pedal are not adjustable due to them being digitally programmed. The position of the brake is higher than the gas pedal, which causes stress on my knee, ankle, and hip joints and has caused me significant pain so I can't drive. The gas pedal needs to be pressed hard to get the car going, which has been causing me knee pain. I asked the Premier Subaru of Fremont, where I le... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2022
The gas pedal and brake pedal are not adjustable due to them being digitally programmed. The position of the brake is higher than the gas pedal, which causes stress on my knee, ankle, and hip joints and has caused me significant pain so I can't drive. The gas pedal needs to be pressed hard to get the car going, which has been causing me knee pain. I asked the Premier Subaru of Fremont, where I le... Read more
Incident date: Jun 22, 2022
I am experiencing battery drain. I have replaced the battery and had the starter and alternator checked. Everything is fine, but the battery continues to drain inappropriately. Yes, the battery and electrical system are available for inspectioon. My son and I have been left stranded on multiple occasions, risking our safety. The vehicle was inspected and the problem confirmed by an independent ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 2, 2022
Touch screen began to get bubbles underneath factory glass and is causing spontaneous touch-activation and inability to use touch screen. This also affects navigation and other issues. Might cause an accident.
Incident date: Dec 26, 2021
I believe Low Beam Head lights must be carefully inspected in low light environments, when driving at around 60mph at 2 lanes highway where you cannot use high beam lights, the sight is clear at the sides of the road but its to low down at at the speed driven if something shows up at the road it would be impossible to see and to stop at a safe distance. I believe the lights from your car ahead are... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2022
Upon placing the vehicle in park, the key will not be released from the ignition. This has happened intermittently for months. The vehicle has not yet been inspected, but I do believe this is a known issue with this model/year, along with other Subaru models/years. I have had to leave me key in the ignition with the vehicle unlocked, on city streets, due to having to make work appointments on t... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2022
Three times within a 1 year period, the windshield cracked without an object hitting it. First time in July, 2021, second time in September, 2021, and third time in June, 2022. After the first time, I had the windshield replaced at my own expense. The second time, Subaru completed the replacement at no cost. The third time, Subaru completed the replacement but refused to pay for it, claiming that ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2022
The front subframe is rusted through on the driver's and passenger side. I am arranging to have it replaced now so it may not be available for inspection in the near future. A collapse of the subframe would obviously be a serious safety issue. I am a fairly competent amateur mechanic and found this issue myself. I've seen several instances of this discussed in online forums. This is the commu... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the contact heard a ding on the windshield as a horizontal crack formed on the middle, passenger side windshield. The crack expanded to the driver’s side of the windshield and the contact took the vehicle to the dealer where the windshield replaced. After the repair, two small chips were formed on the windshield whi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 9, 2021
******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE THE CONSUMER PLACED THE REQUEST.*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******
Incident date: Jul 14, 2022
Battery is draining for no apparent reason. As stated in several class action law suits, defects in these vehicles ( Subaru Outback 2015-2020) cause the batteries to drain, replacement batteries also drain. The Subaru Outback battery drains because of the Controller area network (CAN). When the vehicle is shut off, the CAN system should enter sleep mode so only a limited amount of electrical cu... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2022
I have the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness, which is supposed to have "Gorilla Glass" for the windshield (which looks like two windshields sandwiched together), but only the outer glass was cracked. The windshield developed a cracked starting from the mid-height passenger side edge, and continued towards the driver side, stopping just prior to the middle of the windshield and then looping under. ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2022
Windshield cracked completely without impact
SUBARU
XV CROSSTREK
(2013) - STEERING
Jul 14, 2022
Incident date: Dec 9, 2021
The stall led to a collision, bent cam shaft and need for total engine repair.
Crash
SUBARU
XV CROSSTREK
(2013) - ENGINE
Jul 14, 2022
Incident date: Dec 9, 2021
The stall led to a collision, bent cam shaft and need for total engine repair.
Crash
SUBARU
XV CROSSTREK
(2013) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Jul 14, 2022
Incident date: Dec 9, 2021
The stall led to a collision, bent cam shaft and need for total engine repair.
Crash