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: Oct 1, 2024
Sunroof is stuck in an open position unable to be closed. Upon attempting to open the sunroof, the deflector snapped off the assembly and the sunroof track broke. Took car to dealership (Raceway Kia, 4044 US-9, Freehold, NJ 07728) for service. Dealership indicated the sunroof is beyond repair and requires installation of an entirely brand new sunroof assembly at a cost of $5730 because it occurred... Read more
Incident date: Oct 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2023 BMW 760I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V104000 (Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact was unsure whethe... Read more
Incident date: Oct 23, 2024
The condensor, compressor & evapoartor core all broke down This is dangerous as this is our family vehicle and we have no A/C in the hot summer The dealer inspected the vehicle and confirmed the issue. They will only fix the first two (condensor & compressor) under warranty. They say Honda won't fix the evaporator core even though this one breaking is almost certainly a result of the condesor & ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 23, 2024
Internal mechanism of the driver-side door handle broke and the door would not open from the inside. Tne dealership confirmed that the inside door ah glue is broken. The cable retainer snapped apart and the cable cannot stay connected. This might be available for inspection. Driver must exit the vehicle by crawling over to the passenger side. The problem has been confirmed by a Chevrolet dealer. T... Read more
Incident date: Sep 18, 2024
The contact owned a 2015 BMW 328i. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, and while at a complete stop, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood and through the A/C vents. The contact stated that the vehicle was overheating. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the A/C only blew hot air. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the ti... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Sep 18, 2024
My lexus 300NX2018, received a dashboard random warning signal; take vehicle to get service while i was driving. Had my vehicle towed to Lexus of Cherry Hill, point of care for my vehicle services. Explained via text messaging with the Lexus Advisor (Jamie)the issue of vehicle (1) the sudden dashboard signal to get to service dealer soon, movement of my vehicle pressing gas oppose a serious saf... Read more
Incident date: Sep 27, 2024
I was driving on the highway at 60mph, I went over an uneven area on a highway bridge when my truck’s steering started to shake uncontrollably, I had both hands on the steering wheel and still started to swerve into the passing lane, I finally got it under control and was looking for an area to pull over as I wasn’t sure if I had a flat or not, the shaking finally stopped, I put my hazard ligh... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
Delamination of my pearl white paint started occurring at 44,000 miles on my 2019 Kia Sorento. Now at 54,000 miles it's gotten worse and continues to expand. Occurring on the hood and the roof.
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated upon depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after several attempts, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic where the ignition coils and spark plugs were re... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2024
The PTU on my 2014 Jeep Cherokee failed and was replaced. The attached documents were sent to Stellantis as a “reimbursement request”, was denied per the attached 10/17 email from Jeep Customer Care. As evidenced by numerous online complaints as well as NHTSA Recalls and class action lawsuits, replacement of the PTU was the result of a faulty design and safety concerns. The Stellantis refu... Read more
Incident date: Oct 8, 2024
My fuel pump has been failing multiple times over the last 4 months. It has left me stranded in the middle of intersections, freeways, and highways on multiple occasions that has cause back up traffic and areas of the road completely closed until I can move my car. I have had this car diagnosed twice with a certified mechanic shop and a master tech with these issues and it is confirmed both times ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2024
Loose steering wheel issues as described in existing recall Safety Recall 18S08 Dealer repaired at a cost, and was informed that the vehicle was not eligible for the recall. Bolt replaced and retorqued to sped. Service performed by Fiesta Lincoln 1720 S Mesa Dr, Mesa, AZ 85210 on 10/21/2024 with approx cost of $240 (final invoice not available at this time.)
Incident date: Aug 31, 2024
I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding a significant safety issue with my vehicle’s backup camera system. The backup camera consistently malfunctions, displaying glitchy images with distorted lines across the screen. This issue renders the camera essentially unusable, as it fails to provide a clear view of the area behind the vehicle, posing a serious safety hazard. This malfunction ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 18, 2024
Heading down the highway when my car started getting making a shuddering noise that got louder and the RPMs went up. Pulled off and check engine light came on. Ended up towing car and bringing it to auto repair shop where they determined it was a transmission issue, and suggested I take it to the Nissan dealer for more information.
Incident date: Oct 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Honda Pilot. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Jeep Wrangler. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V720000 (Electrical System); 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 dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufact... Read more
Incident date: Oct 11, 2024
My incident report is a non accident report, I am trying to be proactive and report problems I’ve experienced with this vehicle since I purchased this vehicle 2 years ago. The vehicle has been problematic since I purchased brand new in 2022. I’ve been reporting this issue for two years and the mechanic has not been able to resolve the issues.
Incident date: Oct 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2023 Fisker Ocean. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact slightly depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle jerked abnormally. No warning light was illuminated. The failure occurred on several occasions. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V499000 (Electrical System) and 24V623000 (Service Brakes, Electric). The vehicle wa... Read more
Incident date: Oct 12, 2024
•Parking Brake Issue: The parking brake failed to disengage after stopping, leading to an accident. •Intoxalock Device Malfunction: The Intoxalock device malfunctioned with incessant beeping and intermittent error messages, causing distractions. •Previous Complaints and Lack of Resolution: Previous complaints about the parking brake and Intoxalock device were dismissed without proper investi... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 12, 2024
•Parking Brake Issue: The parking brake failed to disengage after stopping, leading to an accident. •Intoxalock Device Malfunction: The Intoxalock device malfunctioned with incessant beeping and intermittent error messages, causing distractions. •Previous Complaints and Lack of Resolution: Previous complaints about the parking brake and Intoxalock device were dismissed without proper investi... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 12, 2024
The contact's wife owned a 2014 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 33-35 MPH, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact's passenger side fender hit a pole, the vehicle continued to a hill, and the vehicle's front passenger side crashed into a utility pole where the vehicle came to a stop. The contact mentioned the first pole that was crashed into was v... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 13, 2024
The AC compressor is failing as it’s blowing hot air at idle or when the vehicle is running at 20-40mph. During Texas hot summers, baby & toddlers are at risk for extreme heat as the AC blows hot/warm air. The problem has been reproduce at an automotive AC shop where they have inspected the AC for leaks, vacuumed refrigerant and replaced refrigerant. Still same issues without any leaks. Police o... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2024
tHE 6L90 TRANMISSION FAILED WITH NO WARNING AT 58,408 MILES. HAD TO BACK THE TRUCK UP IN TRAFFIC OVER 1/2 MILE TO REACH A SAFE SPOT. SEEMS GM IS HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND THEIR 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION. NO ASSISTANCE FROM GM TO REPAIR SEEING I WAS OUT OF THE 5 YEAR 100000 WARRANTY. SEEMS GM KNOW ABOUT THESES PROBLEMS. HAD TO SPEND $5K TO GET NO DEALER SERVICE TO INSTALL A... Read more
Incident date: Oct 20, 2024
The CVT experienced a catastrophic failure, later identified as "the chain" by a Subaru dealer mechanic. The night before the incident, the transmission "slipped" and made a metallic clunking noise when merging onto a highway. On the day of the incident, the transmission failed completely after turning onto a roadway from a stop sign. No forward or reverse power was available. Had the transmission... Read more
Incident date: Oct 20, 2024
I purchased a 2018 Mazda cx9 from a local used car dealer several weeks ago. Check engine light came on after a few weeks for cylinder 3 misfire and there was a steep decline of the vehicle performance (hard start, rough idle, lower mpg, sluggish driving). Took it to Berge Mazda who charged me for diagnostics/spark plugs, and ignition coil. They informed me the next steps were a compression tests,... Read more
Incident date: Oct 18, 2024
265/60R20 112H ALL 4 TIRES HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE EDGES, Lewis Toyota serviced the vehicle on 10/16/24 and recommended new tires, the vehicle has 16920 miles. Truck was in to dealer for 5000, 10000, and now 16000 mile service. Vehicle has been maintained to factory recommendations.
Incident date: Aug 28, 2024
On October 17th. The vehicle exhibited serious electrical issues when I attempted to start it in my school parking lot. Upon pressing the start button, the car would not start, and all electrical items began malfunctioning. The lights inside and outside the vehicle were flashing, the windshield wipers activated on their own, the horn was beeping intermittently, and the car was emitting alarming no... Read more
Incident date: Aug 28, 2024
Found hole in frame (chassis)
Incident date: Oct 18, 2024
I was stopped at a red light. When the light turned green and I pressed the gas, the engine sputtered and almost shut off. Just before I came to a stop, the engine revved up and the vehicle accelerated. The uneven acceleration is concerning. I recently replaced the gas cap and serviced the fuel system, which leads me to believe there is a defect with the engine. Later in the day, the check engine ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 18, 2024
I was stopped at a red light. When the light turned green and I pressed the gas, the engine sputtered and almost shut off. Just before I came to a stop, the engine revved up and the vehicle accelerated. The uneven acceleration is concerning. I recently replaced the gas cap and serviced the fuel system, which leads me to believe there is a defect with the engine. Later in the day, the check engine ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 18, 2024
A distracting message “a connected device is not supported” flashes on my console screen every 10 seconds. This occurs when there are no device or cable connected. It blocks the clock and driving directions if I am projecting them through CarPlay. The SOS emergency system lights flash back and forth from red to green.
SUBARU
XV CROSSTREK
(2013) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Oct 18, 2024
Incident date: Sep 4, 2024
To the highway safety I would like to inform that I purchased a 2018 honda accord and it has been nothing but a nightmare and safety issue for me and my family. What happens is the car at random times will turn on the cmbs system basically when that happens it is hard to brake or even control the car all lights on the dashboard panel light up honda says it’s just bc we the people don’t underst... Read more
SUBARU
XV CROSSTREK
(2013) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Oct 18, 2024
Incident date: Sep 4, 2024
To the highway safety I would like to inform that I purchased a 2018 honda accord and it has been nothing but a nightmare and safety issue for me and my family. What happens is the car at random times will turn on the cmbs system basically when that happens it is hard to brake or even control the car all lights on the dashboard panel light up honda says it’s just bc we the people don’t underst... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 75 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was able to restart after several attempts. The contact's daughter resumed driving; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was able to restart. The overheating warning light w... Read more
Incident date: Oct 17, 2024
It's clear that my abs module is bad but it consists of three components. Mopar online doesn't have any components available to fix the problem. And the Dealer is selling the components separately and telling you which one they will sell you first and also at a higher price than what's available to you online
Incident date: Oct 17, 2024
One morning when I went to get into my car I noticed a large crack approximately 12in in length across my windshield. There had been no noticeable chips in the windshield prior and there was no sign of being hit of any kind. I took the car to be looked at by a family member in glass and he said the issue is a manufacturing issue and the glass is thin and unsafe. The dealer said they won’t replac... Read more
Incident date: Oct 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while parked, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the engine block and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact referenced Technical Service Bulletin 19-2346 as... Read more
Incident date: Oct 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Focus. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the repair was not yet available. No further information was provided. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not... Read more
Incident date: Oct 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The... Read more
Incident date: Oct 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2022 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V744000 (Steering) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH the steering wheel "was sticky." Th... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Oct 15, 2024
My clutch fork was nearly broken in two.(pics available). I asked the mechanic to save the old parts. My 6MT was never modified; the vehicle was neither raced, taken off-road nor used for towing. A friend discovered the following article online: [XXX] Based on said article , I believe the part on my vehicle was defective. How may other manual transmission Subarus have been affected by thi... Read more
Incident date: Oct 14, 2024
The air conditioner system has stopped blowing cold a/c air. Honda service says its an internal failure of the compressor and the entire system needs to be replaced at the cost of $5,500. Without working a/c, the front windshield defogger does not work. This is an issue in the humid southeast. Visibility issues persist every night when attempting to drive. Honda rejected a goodwill claim for re... Read more
Incident date: Oct 14, 2024
255/35R19 Failure of 1 tire in July. Replaced tire. No concerns noted by Discount tire when replacing it. 1 month later, another tire blew. Clear indication of safety concern so I replaced all tires. I have a picture of the damage, as well as of me literally changing the tire. Informed of recall - filed claim with Continental - Continental has denied my claim for reimbursement despite the pic... Read more
Incident date: Oct 14, 2024
255/35R19 Failure of 1 tire in July. Replaced tire. No concerns noted by Discount tire when replacing it. 1 month later, another tire blew. Clear indication of safety concern so I replaced all tires. I have a picture of the damage, as well as of me literally changing the tire. Informed of recall - filed claim with Continental - Continental has denied my claim for reimbursement despite the pic... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2017
I am writing to formally express my concern regarding a malfunction with the fuel pump in my vehicle, 2020 Honda Civic. The fuel pump almost failed, leading to unknown issues with the vehicle's operation. I can provide access to the vehicle for inspection at your convenience. This malfunction almost put my safety and the safety of others at risk. The vehicle almost stalled unexpectedly while ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 12, 2024
Front Passenger consistently has standing water, soaking carpet and has caused deep molding needing to replace carpeting and crash pad. Vehicle issue confirmed by Ford Dealership; diagnostic test did not pick up on it. Lead to manufacturing installation concerns. Dealership has inspected. Reported the issue and proceedings at Ford Dealership with Ford Company (corporate) Customer Service. Despit... Read more
Incident date: Sep 19, 2024
Regarding Toyota TSB T-SB-0008-21, ‘Whine or Grind Noise From the Transmission’, issued February 2021: Some 2021 model year Avalon, Highlander, and Camry vehicles equipped with UA80E or UA80F transmissions may exhibit a whine or grind noise from the transmission. This condition may be caused by an issue with the front carrier assembly pinion shafts. This is a widespread problem with these sp... Read more
Incident date: Oct 12, 2024
Hesitation upon accelerating from a stopped position. When pulling out from a stop into a busy intersection the vehicle hesitates for several seconds. I have almost been broadsided when attempting to pull out onto a busier roadway. The vehicle feels as though it is stalled, then suddenly lunges. Apparently this is a known feature of the Hyundai hybrid after reading that it is the top complaint. Th... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2024
The rear subframe has plastic "stone guards" to protect the frame from being damaged in off-road conditions. Where these stone guards are attached, the subframe has rotted/rusted large holes. Water and salt from winter seasons can get trapped behind these guards. A subframe on a vehicle at this age should NOT have complete holes rotted through. Let alone a vehicle brand such as Audi, known for qua... Read more