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, 2021
2017 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 LIMITED HAS LOOSE STEERING IN THE RAIN AND GOING DOWN HILLS. DRIFTS A LOT WITH CROSS WINDS VEHICLE HAD ALIGNMENT AND TIRE INSPECTION AND SUSPENSION CHECKED AND ALL WAS FINE BUT CAR STILL IS UNSTABLE IN BAD WEATHER. FEELS LIKE IT IS SWAYING AND THE TIRES ARE NOT ON THE GROUND. TIRES HAVE 13K MILES ON THEM AND ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. SHOCKS ARE FINE. REPAIR SHOPS CAN NOT DETERMINE... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
2017 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 LIMITED HAS LOOSE STEERING IN THE RAIN AND GOING DOWN HILLS. DRIFTS A LOT WITH CROSS WINDS VEHICLE HAD ALIGNMENT AND TIRE INSPECTION AND SUSPENSION CHECKED AND ALL WAS FINE BUT CAR STILL IS UNSTABLE IN BAD WEATHER. FEELS LIKE IT IS SWAYING AND THE TIRES ARE NOT ON THE GROUND. TIRES HAVE 13K MILES ON THEM AND ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. SHOCKS ARE FINE. REPAIR SHOPS CAN NOT DETERMINE... Read more
Incident date: Feb 29, 2020
Windshield durability is questioned. We have had a large crack form near the rearview mirror stem within 3 months of our purchase we have had more than a half dozen other crips and cracks occur during the past 18 months. My impression is the glass used in this vehicle, is not as durable as other windshields from other vehicle manufacturers. I understand other Subaru owners are reporting similar i... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2020
Smoke and oil burning smell entering cabin through vents. I have two young children. I’m concerned of toxic fumes. Coming from oil leaking onto exhaust manifold and at only 52,000 miles on odometer!
Incident date: Feb 2, 2022
I filed a NHTSA report on 7/19/2021 about having to replace my 2017 Subaru Forester's battery for the 3rd time in a 4 year old vehicle. I now am submitting another Complaint as now that #3 battery (all installed by Subaru Dealers) has FAILED, with #3 battery only 10 months old with approximately 6,000 miles driven with that battery. At about 8 months after the new battery install (battery #3), I... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2022
There is a parasitic drain on the electrical system, including when the vehicle is turned off and nothing is left running. As a result the vehicle will not start. aI replaced the battery and experienced the same problem with a month. This is most problematic when the vehicle has not been used for at least 2 days or it's very cold outside. It's happened at least 10 times in the last 2 years. Th... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2022
There is a parasitic drain on the electrical system, including when the vehicle is turned off and nothing is left running. As a result the vehicle will not start. aI replaced the battery and experienced the same problem with a month. This is most problematic when the vehicle has not been used for at least 2 days or it's very cold outside. It's happened at least 10 times in the last 2 years. Th... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2022
Issue started when one day my battery was dead. I thought I left the door or light one but that was not it. Dealer visit after dealer visit it’s the same thing. Keep getting the battery replaced with the same OEM. Works for a while and then it’s dead. Luckily I have not been stranded but I have been trying not to drive my Outback to avoid it. All the complaints about this battery is a shame... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2022
Windshield cracked at in the center at the base while car was sitting inside garage.
Incident date: Feb 3, 2022
I purchased my Subaru Forester new in 2012. After a few thousand miles it was brought to my attention by the service tech that there was a "small" oil leak coming from the engine. They said it was not significant. No one mentioned that SB 02-131-12R had been issued addressing these leaks because they were so prominent with the engine in my Forester. At a little over 60,000 miles all of a sudde... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2022
The battery dies and needs a jump start very often. Got the battery tested and there is no issue with the battery. My observation is when the vehicle is parked and the parking brake is ON then the battery discharges.
Incident date: Feb 3, 2022
Windshield cracks very easily with no outside force inflicting damage. Windshield has cracked 2 times in 2 years.
Incident date: Jan 30, 2022
MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED WHILE THE CAR WAS SITTING IN MY GARAGE. THE CRACK IS IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD JUST ABOVE THE DEFROSTER. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET LONG WITH 2 PERPENDICULAR CRACKS RADIATING FROM IT. I AM CONTACTING THE SUBARU DEALER FOR REPAIR.
Incident date: Feb 2, 2022
Upon entering my car I noticed a 7-8” crack on the driver side of my windshield. There was no evidence of anything chipping or causing the crack. It seems to be spontaneous. If the crack continues to spread it will affect visibility and the windshield cannot be replaced on site due to the forward facing camera and anti collision system. I will have to drive over and hour to get it repaired. A... Read more
Incident date: Aug 7, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while having routine maintenance performed at an independent mechanic, he was informed that the control arm and ball joints were rusted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the vehicle was diagnosed that the control bushings were worn, and the lower control arm was inspected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 28, 2022
Battery Failure for the second time since purchase. Yesterday, 2/1/2022, I took my Subaru in due to the battery they replace about 15 months ago went dead two days ago. I was able to jump start to get back home. After sitting in my driveway after getting home two days ago I trie to start my car and again the battery was almost depleted. Not enough energy in the battery to start the car. Summary:... Read more
Incident date: Oct 18, 2018
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Ascent. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, she heard a cracking sound coming from the windshield and saw a minor crack on the driver's side of the windshield. The contact drove the vehicle to her residence and parked it. The next day, the contact noticed that the crack had extended to approximately 5-feet long. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who re... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2022
Subaru water pump pulley center hole was improperly machined
Incident date: Nov 9, 2020
The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that she noticed an abnormal odor coming from the exhaust. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the seals needed to be replaced. Additionally, the spark plug gaskets and gasket rocker needed to be replaced... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2021
Windshield spontaneously cracked
Incident date: Jan 27, 2022
Subaru windshields still crack. Owned this car for less than one week and a crack on the passenger side appeared overnight. Cracked windshields reduce ability to see and can worsen over time. The dealer refused to replace the windshield. So, we took the car to a shop and they replaced the windshield at our expense for the insurance deductible.
Incident date: Jan 27, 2022
On Thursday evening, January 27, 2022, when I was driving slowly in a parking lot preparing to park, my car unexpectedly accelerated even though I had NOT pressed on the gas pedal. (I would describe it as lurching). After it accelerated on its own, I quickly pressed on the brake pedal, and the car came to a stop. My car is available for inspection upon request. Had this happened when a perso... Read more
Incident date: Dec 17, 2021
In a class action lawsuit filed against Subaru of America, it is alleged that several models have defective Controller Area Network (CAN) modules that cause premature battery drainage. New Jersey Judge [XXX] arbitrarily dismissed two models, Forester and Legacy, from the lawsuit even though they have the same problem because none of the plaintiffs owned either of those model vehicles. I own a 2020... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2022
Crack in windshield that came out of nowhere and just keeps expanding
Incident date: Jan 30, 2022
Front windshield developed an 8" crack in one day that continues to grow. Crack is near one front-facing camera, leading to concern that safety features related to the camera may not be effective. Dealer acknowledges a number of complaints about windshield cracking, but will not cover in this case due to it failing a "pen-head" check. In 40+ years of car ownership, I've never seen a crack just ta... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2022
My car spontaneously burst into flames after I parked it. I had left the car parked and locked in a parking lot next to a rental house and went in to prepare dinner. 20 minutes later my friends arrived at the scene and alerted us to the fact that my car was engulfed in flames. It seems that the fire originated in the engine somehow, but exactly what started it is unclear. There was no accident o... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jan 29, 2022
My car spontaneously burst into flames after I parked it. I had left the car parked and locked in a parking lot next to a rental house and went in to prepare dinner. 20 minutes later my friends arrived at the scene and alerted us to the fact that my car was engulfed in flames. It seems that the fire originated in the engine somehow, but exactly what started it is unclear. There was no accident o... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Nov 20, 2020
The battery keeps draining, leaving us without a vehicle. After numerous jump starts, the dealership replaced the first battery. Within a few months, the new battery has the same issues. So back to the dealership, now with the knowledge that many Subaru owners are experiencing the same issue with their Outbacks.
Incident date: Jan 5, 2022
Battery Failure. Auto-start would shut engine off at light and no restart car. Took 3 trips to Subaru to fails their test. Once replaced car is fine now.
Incident date: Jan 10, 2022
When opening the sun roof cover I heard a "PING" noise like a mouth harp or piece of metal being flicked. Took it into dealer and they found the roof reinforcements (Most likely Part Number: 53700AN03A9P) had come loose and detached from roof structure. They are waiting on Suburu to agree to re-attached it (been two weeks)
Incident date: Jan 31, 2022
I have a 2020 Subaru outback that I purchased brand new one and a half years ago. It has 31,472 miles on it on December 28, 2021 and then again on January 31, 2021 my car would not start on the battery had to be replaced.
Incident date: Sep 15, 2021
The vehicle keeps discharging my battery after multiple short trips. I have reported to dealer, they said it was a faulty tailgate sensor but after the repair, it still happens, with increased frequency over time.
Incident date: Jun 16, 2021
My front windshield cracked one day on its own sitting in my driveway.
Incident date: Jan 20, 2022
My front windshield has cracked 2 times within the last year. The first time my wife was driving and thought she heard something hit the windshield but wasn’t sure. It created a crack across the whole windshield and Subaru replaced it free of charge. Last week I’m driving 01/20/2022 and I do see a very small object hit the windshield and creates a crack again. I spoke with the service advisor ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 28, 2022
my subaru has 12,ooo miles on it and in the past week has died on me. When you try to start the car and depress the brake, the brake locks and you cannot push it anymore, in addition, the battery does not turn over. On the first occasion, we tried to jump start the car but the battery read as normal activity and the car would not start after that. The car just started up for no apparent reason t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 28, 2022
my subaru has 12,ooo miles on it and in the past week has died on me. When you try to start the car and depress the brake, the brake locks and you cannot push it anymore, in addition, the battery does not turn over. On the first occasion, we tried to jump start the car but the battery read as normal activity and the car would not start after that. The car just started up for no apparent reason t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 28, 2022
my subaru has 12,ooo miles on it and in the past week has died on me. When you try to start the car and depress the brake, the brake locks and you cannot push it anymore, in addition, the battery does not turn over. On the first occasion, we tried to jump start the car but the battery read as normal activity and the car would not start after that. The car just started up for no apparent reason t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2022
The vehicle seems to randomly die and bog out then all of the lights appear on the dash, I myself had to pay out of pocket for a new battery because autonation subaru arapahoe in colorado decided not to check it like I had asked and after getting my car back the issue was still there which is why I replaced it today. not only this but they sold me a highly modified vehicle without disclosing any o... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2022
The vehicle seems to randomly die and bog out then all of the lights appear on the dash, I myself had to pay out of pocket for a new battery because autonation subaru arapahoe in colorado decided not to check it like I had asked and after getting my car back the issue was still there which is why I replaced it today. not only this but they sold me a highly modified vehicle without disclosing any o... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2022
The vehicle seems to randomly die and bog out then all of the lights appear on the dash, I myself had to pay out of pocket for a new battery because autonation subaru arapahoe in colorado decided not to check it like I had asked and after getting my car back the issue was still there which is why I replaced it today. not only this but they sold me a highly modified vehicle without disclosing any o... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2022
The battery drained suddenly and unexpectedly overnight. The last it was driven was during the day and I'm certain that no lights had been left on. This easily could have stranded me somewhere unsafe if the drain had not happened at home.
Incident date: Jan 24, 2022
My parked Car, engine off, has not started six times in the last 9 months. Battery is dead. Parasitic battery drain with this model car. Battery and Alternator has been checked by mechanics 4 times, both are good. Also checked by Interstate battery. They took the battery out and checked it overnight. The battery is less than 18 months old, all say it is good, not the problem. Six times I have had... Read more
Incident date: Oct 2, 2021
Front brakes squealing at low speed stops. This was confirmed at the dealership when pulling into the service department. And, severe vibration and shuttering in the steering wheel and break pedal when applying brakes at high speeds. This could not be replicated at the dealership. Dealership inspected front brakes and 're surfaced front rotors twice during same visit. Same symptoms still occur... Read more
Incident date: Jun 22, 2020
The battery in my car continually dies. It all started about 2 years ago, we replaced the battery, but I have to charge it frequently. The car never dies while I’m driving it, but sometimes I will come to start my car and it won’t start. This happens about 1-2 times a month.
Incident date: Jan 29, 2022
Battery 620 CCA. Batter is 28 months old. Inspected by dealer. Dealer determined low battery voltage unknown cause.
Incident date: Jan 28, 2022
my windshield has an edge crack starting yesterday. Rapidly, it has grown to 7~10 inches and it's still happening even when i'm not driving. I have not observed any obvious reasons for this to happen and it's now start impacting the front side visibility during driving.
Incident date: Jan 4, 2022
Spontaneous front windshield break, no rock impact or prior chip contributed to the window breaking. The car was simply turned on and the passenger side of the window cracked - the crack has since grown considerably in size. I have attempted to put a claim down at the dealership (visited on site, they have inspected), but there has been no follow-up in the last 3+ weeks. I have also reached out ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 18, 2019
Car was purchased in October 2018. In April 2019, just six months after purchase, the windshield was hit by a small rock. This small collision caused a crack to spread across the entire windshield requiring replacement. Windshield was replaced with Original Equipment Manufacturer glass. In December 2021, just over two years later, another small rock hit the windshield causing another large crack ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2021
Car was purchased in October 2018. Just six months later in April 2019, a small rock hit the windshield and led to a crack going across the entire windshield. This was replaced with Original Equipment Manufacturer glass. In December 2021, just over two years later, another small rock hit the windshield, again causing a crack to spread across the windshield. We are now looking at getting our front... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2022
The battery drains prematurely due to defective electrical system.