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: Aug 1, 2024
While driving on a 55 mp road [XXX] the truck just stopped running. I had just turned from [XXX] onto [XXX] and had not gotten up to speed. I was only traveling at about 25 mph when the truck seized and stopped. No power to control vehicle. No power and no warning prior to no power. Only 18k miles on the truck and it died and wouldn't restart. It sat in the middle of the road and stayed in the mi... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
Starting on Feb 22, 2025, we observed that our Kia EV9 had dramatically reduced range. Normally, when charging was complete the dashboard would show well over 250 miles of range, even in cold weather. On Feb 22nd we started to see the range had dropped to around 60 miles, even when the dashboard reported the battery at 100% charge. The actual range seemed to be even worse, dropping dramatically ev... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
My car keeps showing the “shift to park” code when I try to turn off my car even though it’s already in park. I have to wiggle the shifter and turn the car repeatedly on and off to try to get it to stop.
Incident date: Feb 1, 2025
I am writing to express serious safety concerns regarding our 2023 GMC Yukon XL Denali, which has been in our possession for less than two years and has only 24,000 miles. On multiple occasions, while driving at high speeds on the freeway with our four young children, the vehicle unexpectedly lost power and shifted into neutral without warning. This occurred approximately four times on March 9, 20... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2025
I am writing to express serious safety concerns regarding our 2023 GMC Yukon XL Denali, which has been in our possession for less than two years and has only 24,000 miles. On multiple occasions, while driving at high speeds on the freeway with our four young children, the vehicle unexpectedly lost power and shifted into neutral without warning. This occurred approximately four times on March 9, 20... Read more
Incident date: Dec 16, 2024
The lower radiator blinds had to be replace and was causing the engineer light to come. I feel that this is a big problem with the BMW and should be cover under warranty.
Incident date: Mar 17, 2025
My 2018 BMW X3 xdrive30i G01 series has been experiencing persistent overheating issues, even in cold temperatures as low as 40 degrees. The coolant reservoir boils vigorously while driving, but the temperature gauge does not indicate overheating, and no warning lights appear. The only alert displayed is a low coolant warning instructing to refill coolant or to top off. Recently, I noticed coola... Read more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2025
After using the button on the door handle to lock the door, the door unlocks on its own. The handle sensor stays activated until the battery drains.
Incident date: Mar 17, 2025
I believe the 2016 Ford Explorer that I own was sold to me with the wrong front brake rotors. The issue with the rotors became apparent after removing the tires. Component has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, or insurance representative. No warning lights appear on instrument panel. A weird stutter is happening an I think it’s causing issues with the transmission.
Incident date: Mar 17, 2025
I got a car from coparts and they told me nothing was wrong! I recently bought the car
Incident date: Mar 9, 2021
The truck bed cover is not secure, it fits in via a channel with no straps or other protections and so when driving on the highway, it flies off from the connection to the cab and you can’t see behind you. It then smacks into the car until you can pull over. There is no protection against this.
Incident date: Mar 14, 2025
Rear brake light bulb housing assemblies melted plastic around metal bulbs contacts. Both tail light assemblies has failed three times each. This issue has occurred on multiple BMW X2s.
Incident date: Jan 10, 2025
My 2006 Dodge Charger stalls after refueling, and now stutters when driving as if not getting fuel. I have noticed when attempting to break and stopping at stops this is happening more often. The car shuts down and could cause a accident. After researching this issue I found that this has been addressed already under investigation number PE13-016 by the NHTSA.
Incident date: Mar 14, 2025
Shift Interlock Malfunction. Put the shifter in park. Car did not register in park but locked gear shifter. Car would not restart or return to park. Emergency Brake had to be deployed.
Incident date: Jan 17, 2025
Confirmed through dealership that the Clock Spring in the steering column needs to be replaced as it is defective. Ford has indicated that my vehicle vin is not a part of the current clock spring recall.
Incident date: Mar 14, 2025
Recall Campaign No. 24V-104 Status Remedy not available Issued FEB 12, 2024 Last Updated Mar 14, 2025 It has been over a year since this recall came out and they have yet to have a fix for all of them. I asked the BMW dealerships near me, they are only fixing: cars that are currently sitting on the lot so they can sell them and cars that are actually experiencing the issue. My car does not have t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2025
I have recall on my vehicle for driver frontal airbag. I contactes both my local dealerships and VW USA. I have been told that the part needed in on backorder and they have no ETA for availablity. I feel extremely unsafe driving a car with malfunctioned driver airbag which may explode any time and cause fatal injuries. I asked VW to provide me a loaner or to reimburse me for rental but they didn... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2025
Truck dashboard is showing warning/hazard lamps for Automatic Braking (ABS), Emergency Breaking, and trailer breaking. The cruise control is also not working. Error code C2200 is registered. I've taken it to a RAM dealer and Firestone. Both say that the ABS module (68228991AB) needs to be replaced, but parts are not available. This problem was initially identified May 2024. I call every mont... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the "Blind Spot Detection System Fault" message was displayed. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the trailer tow wiring harness (Part Number: LX6Z-15A416-B). The contact was informed that the wiring harness was damage... Read more
Incident date: Feb 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle started to shake. The contact stated that after shifting into gear the vehicle became difficult to drive. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle was diagnos... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2025
All of my safety light came on dash. ABS, front end collision, back up, skid, lane assist as well as ABS. Took car in paid 6,000 for the lane assist as well as ABS car worked for only one month before it would not back up nor would it accelerate after it finally got to drive. All lights came back on and now it’s another 2100 for throttle body and MAF and sonar control unit. Car is very unstable ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH in the driveway and depressing the brake pedal to make a turn, the vehicle lunged forward and accelerated unintendedly. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact continuously depressed the brake pedal until the vehicle responded as needed. There was no warning ligh... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 7, 2025
CRANK NO START WITH A P129F SET DUE TO INTERNAL SPEED FAILURE BETWEEN FUEL PUMP AND FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. UPDATED DESIGN MODULE AND PUMP MUST BE REPLACED TOGETHER SE APAGO DEJANDONOS EN MEDIO DE 2 CARRILES EN UNA CURVA Y NO FUNCIONABAN LAS INTERMITENTES PASABAN MUCHOS AUTOS Y TRAILERS ESTABAMOS MI ESPOSO MI HIJO DE [XXX] Y YO GRACIAS A DIOS NO SE NOS ESTAMPO UN TRAILER MI HIJO ES [XXX] Y DE ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2025
This vehicle is using oil in a rate of about 7-8 quarts every 2000-2500 miles. When the oil dipstick is checked there is not a drop of oil on the dipstick. I have spoken with the dealership concerning this matter and the suggestion from FORD was to purchase another dipstick, which would cost my pocket book around $600. The dealership indicated that there is a service bulletin out at FORD addressi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 13, 2019
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The transmission independently downshifted into first gear. The vehicle was uncontrollable and crashed into the median. The contact stated the failure was persistent and had occurred several times. In addition,... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 1, 2023
This system has no driver controls. While we ideally would like to maintain a huge space between the vehicle in front of us, in real world driving heavy traffic precludes us from being able to do so. When traffic is heavy and cars and trucks are pulling in around and in front of you this system starts beeping loudly and at a increasing rate. You are in a stressful situation with vehicles all ar... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
I started hearing a "noise" over the course of 2 weeks. When the accelerator was depressed, the vehicle never accelerated. The vehicle also seemed as though it was losing power, but no lights ever came on. I have only taken my vehicle to the dealership to be serviced. The maintenance has been done regularly and without fail. When I brought the car in for regular maintenance I had them check for th... Read more
Incident date: Apr 10, 2024
Bought it back in July. Had it taken back that first month for the 3rd row headrest issue. Then the check engine light kept coming on, 1st time they said it was a cylinder misfire code, they rest it and said try getting gas from a different station.. light came on 3 more times, but by the time we took it in, they “can’t replicate the issues”. Then the tire sensors went out, took it in and th... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2025
Received a system error "Gear box fault error". This is the second time I've received this message. The car makes a static noise that is loud. Also makes a loud grinding noise. Took car into local dealership for repair. Also received High Voltage error. Get the same Gear Box Fault error 3/6/25 . This time the car stop in the middle of the street. Luckily no one was injured or hurt.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
This is my second 2019 Honda Odyssey that has Multipurpose camera unit internal electronic failure(error code U3000-49). Failed camera causing the whole ADAS system to stop functioning. This part shouldn't fail in 6 year old 50000 miles car. I will also report on my second Honda Odyssey which I had the same issue last year.
Incident date: Mar 10, 2025
The car would act like it would die or cut off after idling for a while at a drive thru or school pick up. Took the car twice to the dealership they couldn't replicate it. Then the car died and shut off in the middle of a busy intersection at a red light. I was nearly hit head on and rear ended. I got the car started and out of the way and I had it towed to the dealership. The cars check engine li... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2025
Driving at 50 coasting down a hill the engine seized. No warning lights no noises. It was towed to a dealership and I have been waiting 1month for engine replacement
Incident date: Mar 6, 2025
This May of been a cause of a defective Harness Assembly that has taken a few tries to get repaired (Harness is fixed but problem still continues randomly). Since then, my car has stalling problems, randomly, sometimes multiple time in one drive. I have no way to replicate it on my own just that it "can happen" anytime and has subjected me to waiting on the side of the road for the engine compute... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2025
Hard Downshifting and Jerking. Valve body replaced 10/2024 for the same issue. Complaint filed at that time as well.
Incident date: Mar 8, 2025
On 6/27/24 while starting my car in the morning an ABS failure light came on, various other system failure lights came on and have stayed on since that day including Cruise Control and Auto Hold. My car only had 33,250 miles on it! I purchased for an OBDII Reader hoping the failure was just a Wheel Speed Sensor. Unfortunately, the error code registered in the ECU was C240201 “Motor Failure” ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2025
On 6/27/24 while starting my car in the morning an ABS failure light came on, various other system failure lights came on and have stayed on since that day including Cruise Control and Auto Hold. My car only had 33,250 miles on it! I purchased for an OBDII Reader hoping the failure was just a Wheel Speed Sensor. Unfortunately, the error code registered in the ECU was C240201 “Motor Failure” ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
Towards the end of January, my car computer was reset because the car was telling me that I needed an oil change early and the dealership told me it could just be a computer issue. I then took my car to get an oil change and full vehicle inspection on February 24th, 2 days after that on the 26th I was leaving my school parking lot when the vehicle accelerated awkwardly when I was leaving out of a ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 10, 2024
205/65R16C 107/105T Achillies Mulitvan Both front tires on vehicle failed along the entire inside sidewall approximately 1” from the rim. They cracked all the way through the rubber about 1/4” wide exposing the sidewall ply's. The tires were purchased in March of 2023 and have roughly 6000 miles on them. The outside sidewall was in perfect condition. The cracks were observed during a r... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2024
The vehicles emergency brake engages itself while the vehicle is in drive. I’ve reported this to my dealership, they say they’ve never heard of this issue. I’ve reported the issue twice. This is an obvious safety issue because the vehicle is randomly braking and coming to a complete stop while it is in drive. The brake signal comes on and there is no way to regain control of the vehicle unl... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2025
Today while driving the screen behind the driver steering wheel suddenly shut off and went black. I was unable to see if I am in Drive or reverse or what my speed is.
Incident date: Nov 10, 2024
All of a sudden my 2024 Tucson gages indicated emergency braking for about 1 to 3 seconds and the front end went down as though I was stopping (scared me ). I was so happy no one was behind me. No one really behind me or to my left. Only one car to the right of me in another lane. Also, had to replace air bag at 6176 miles
Incident date: Nov 10, 2024
All of a sudden my 2024 Tucson gages indicated emergency braking for about 1 to 3 seconds and the front end went down as though I was stopping (scared me ). I was so happy no one was behind me. No one really behind me or to my left. Only one car to the right of me in another lane. Also, had to replace air bag at 6176 miles
Incident date: Nov 10, 2024
All of a sudden my 2024 Tucson gages indicated emergency braking for about 1 to 3 seconds and the front end went down as though I was stopping (scared me ). I was so happy no one was behind me. No one really behind me or to my left. Only one car to the right of me in another lane. Also, had to replace air bag at 6176 miles
Incident date: Jul 15, 2024
Jeep, and they confirmed that my vehicle is unsafe to drive. Jeep’s only offered solution is a rental car, but they are requiring me to pay for it upfront and then seek reimbursement. I cannot afford to pay for a rental upfront, and Jeep has refused to cover the cost directly. This means I am being forced to drive a vehicle that Jeep has deemed unsafe because they will not provide a viable sol... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2025
It's been 2 months and there's no fix. Ill happily accept a repair but I want a refund or another vehicle if they can't fix it. I have no ABS or electronic braking system. I've been unable to drive it for years. The part needed is unavailable and dealerships tell me it will be a software update when a fix becomes available when the recall notice says new part. I just want to be able to drive the t... Read more
Incident date: Feb 27, 2025
The circuit board for the module that controls the power lift gate is damaged from water. Water seeps in the roof rail and wets the panel causing the the power tailgate to lock shut and unable to be opened.
Incident date: Feb 27, 2025
While traveling from Massachusetts to South Carolina we stopped at a rest area for a break. when we re-started the S.U.V., a message was displayed that the power steering assist was no longer working. No warning and it was running fine before stop. Because the same thing happened on my other Ford Edge, I knew what I needed to do. We had to have the car towed off highway to a local Ford dealership,... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
My car seat is part of the recall Nuna has issued. They have failed to inform me of the recall, I had to learn through a third party about it. I have spoken to Nuna multiple times that I do not feel comfortable or secure in using a seat that has been recalled with just a remedy kit of cleaning brush and a new seat cover. I have informed Nuna that the straps have become lose without touching the l... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
The gauge / instrument cluster failed and went black, unable to view vital information.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
When it rains(or car wash) my power locks don't work. I get locked out of my car. My car reset itself in the middle of an intersection(like I turned it off and back on again). One of my gauges is always not working. The sunroof doesn't work right. Water is getting in the electrical area somehow. I've taken it to two chevrolet dealerships, but no help.