Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 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 2,215,138 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 34,453 complaints for SUBARU
Incident date: May 3, 2024
The DEF header failed on this truck and it causes the vehicle to be disabled. The DEF header is an emissions part. PART NUMBER 04-31354-004 HEADER-SSI,CONC,6 BOLT,CMNS
Incident date: May 3, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Forte. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle did not accelerate as intended. In addition, the RPMs were elevated extremely high. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, the contact was inf... Read more
Incident date: Jun 10, 2023
Passenger Airbag and seat are faulty. Received error message on my car “front passenger safety restraint system faulty”. Tesla is wanting to replace the airbag and passenger seat and seat belt and it will cost few thousands dollars.
Incident date: Jan 5, 2023
Had a deer run out in front of me on the road. When i hit the brakes the truck didn't stop as fast and pulled to the rt really hard making me go into the ditch. The service abs light is constantly goin on and off before that and is still doin the same now. Scan tool says abs hcu module. I have my son driving this truck at times as well and it is not safe. There are thousands of the same trucks wit... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2023
The contact owned a 2022 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated that while driving into their driveway at unknown speeds, the vehicle independently accelerated forward. The contact placed the vehicle in reverse, however, the vehicle continued to accelerate independently, and the contact's rear bumper crashed into the neighbor's garage. No injuries were sustained. The neighbor's garage was damaged. The ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 25, 2024
I backed out of a parking space, put my foot on the brake and shifted into Drive to finish maneuvering out of the space. Although I didn't remove my foot from the brake, my Forester immediately accelerated at extremely high speed, striking the two cars parked next to me, and seriously damaging both. Rather than slowing down after hitting the other two vehicles, my car continued to speed up, only c... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Apr 25, 2024
Recall 21-E-047 was a recall on HERH window assemblies. The window adhesion is faulty and causes the window to separate from the vent bracket. I experienced this with my Palazzo. While traveling this last weekend a window broke free and came close to smashing into the car behind me. An absolute nightmare. Not only a major distraction to the RV driver but a potential fatal hazard if the window... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the contact noticed a gasoline odor coming from the exhaust. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed. The mechanic stated that it was a known failure associated with the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Focus. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at approximately 65 MPH, the front A-Pillar trim detached from the windshield almost causing a crash. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repair. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2024
See attached document for complaint
Incident date: Apr 28, 2024
Vehicle not acting safely, speeding up to pass stopped school bus with stop sign out and yellow lights flashing. This is a generic VIN as it applies to the current software on all FSD cars.
Incident date: Apr 30, 2024
The vehicle's LCD screen has become delaminated which causes the control of the radio, air conditioning, navigation, and other features controlled by the "radio" portion of the car to become dysfunctional. The car will randomly beep, change air temperatures, start navigation, cause the loss of hands-free communication. This is a safety hazard as it causes the driver to be distracted in order to at... Read more
Incident date: Apr 12, 2024
I was driving and my car brakes suddenly then all of the lights came on and the vehicle shut down. Once I got the vehicle back started the malfunction light stayed on and is still on and it says to contact your nearest dealer in which I did and was told I would receive a callback and I am still waiting on the call. It has been over 5 hours.
Incident date: Mar 6, 2024
I'm encountering a sticky sensation in the steering wheel, accompanied by clunking noises when I turn it. This poses a significant safety concern, particularly during highway driving, as it impairs my ability to maintain smooth control of the vehicle. The issue persists even when driving off the highway.
Incident date: Mar 6, 2024
While driving on the highway, the Panoramic Roof Window started lifting up along the leading edge of the glass panel. I was to slow down and get off the highway before the panel came completely out of the recessed window frame. Ford has told me that my VIN shows the recall repair on the roof was performed already by Ford for a previous owner. A local Ford dealership looked into redoing the repa... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-350 SD. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the message "Pre-Collision Assist Not Available" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who stated that the Pre-Collision Assist Module was faulty and required a software update. The contact was informed that the software update was not yet available and that the vehicle was not repaired. The m... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2023
The head gasket that was repaired failed and the radiator system also failed. Im not sure if these issues are dealer related or manufacture related as i spoke to the previous owner and they stated they had the vehicle serviced at a manufacturer prior to doing a trade in with the dealer
Incident date: Apr 25, 2024
The accelerator pedal broke off completely while driving on the highway (this is the second time this has happened). Accelerator pedal felt as if it were stuck when going from full self driving to manual and pedal broke off when more pressure was applied. The car began coming to a rapid stop on the highway due to regenerative braking and I was forced to quickly get to emergency lane, narrowly avo... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Cadillac XT6. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission malfunctioned, and the vehicle failed to properly accelerate. Also, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission erroneously switched from the automatic mode to the manual mode and the vehicle would not remain in the proper gear. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who d... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2024
In under 36 months failure of the front sensing camera disabled parking brake, traction control, emergency braking assistant, traction control, lane keeping assistance and lane departure warning
Incident date: Apr 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the contact detected an abnormally strong fuel odor. Upon inspection, the contact noticed a leak coming from underneath the rear driver's side door. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failu... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2024
At 25,768 miles, multiple warning messages appeared including: service advanced track, 4WD fault, no cruise control ability, no pre-collision assist, hill side assist fault, and no traction control. BC self test was performed by a mechanic. The vehicle was purchased 3 months prior at the same dealership that performed the test. Results: No communication with AWD module found. The issue was AWD ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2024
While driving on a highway at ~60 mph, the check engine light came on (plus other indicator lights) and the car immediately dropped to ~45 mph. ~20 seconds later, while trying to pull into a school parking lot, the hybrid system fault warning came on and the car dropped to ~5-10 mph and then became extremely difficult to control. The car was towed ~80 miles to my home dealership and it was diagn... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2024
While driving on a highway at ~60 mph, the check engine light came on (plus other indicator lights) and the car immediately dropped to ~45 mph. ~20 seconds later, while trying to pull into a school parking lot, the hybrid system fault warning came on and the car dropped to ~5-10 mph and then became extremely difficult to control. The car was towed ~80 miles to my home dealership and it was diagn... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2024
One day i turned on vehicle and all the warning lights turned on, the lkas system. Automatic emergency breaking, lane departure warning. Cruise control, brake system. More lights that i cant remember. I took it to the honda dealership and they found that it was an internal front multi purpose camera failure that caused all these features to not work which i was told is a safety issue because the ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2024
Driving down 4 lane state highway adaptive cruise on. Car in front of us pulled into left turn lane, was no longer in front of us. Dash lit up emergency notification and slammed us on breaks. Reported to VW told “likely a sensor issue tech just not there yet”. Happened again on state hwy. traveling at 65 mph. NO cars on hwy with us emergent message on dash and slammed on breaks. Recently ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2024
3/28/24 My 2022 Ford Maverick Hybrid’s engine shut down and lost acceleration driving 70-80 miles an hour on a highway going through hills after 100 miles. Vehicle displayed a bunch of dashboard alerts as it soon lost all acceleration and would only drive slowly in Electric mode. I pulled over and tried again, but it was stuck in electric mode with barely any acceleration and displayed Check en... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2024
Multiple dashboard lights are on including starlink, eyesight, check engine, thermostat, and a blinking s. A quick Google search shows that this exact combination is a known issue. Safety concern is that all the accident prevention systems are down leaving me at risk.
Incident date: Apr 23, 2024
I was driving down a highway traveling 59 mph around 5:20AM when my infotainment system and lights inside all went dark. The speedometer stayed lit up but changed to an alternate color while I was traveling. I slowed down to make sure I could brake and that all was working. Within about 20-30 seconds the whole system restarted and came back online. This was not necessarily a safety hazard, howeve... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2024
I was driving down a highway traveling 59 mph around 5:20AM when my infotainment system and lights inside all went dark. The speedometer stayed lit up but changed to an alternate color while I was traveling. I slowed down to make sure I could brake and that all was working. Within about 20-30 seconds the whole system restarted and came back online. This was not necessarily a safety hazard, howeve... Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2024
I was driving to work and many of my warning lights suddenly came on. This includes my check engine light, my lane assist light, my auto collision braking, my eye sight disabled and my cool engine light keeps going on and off. My cabin heating also isn’t working. There is no reason for this happening other than my thermo control valve failing.
Incident date: Apr 26, 2024
I have an oil consumption issue. There is a technical service Bulletin# 19-2243 indicating this is a known problem with my SUV. My Lincoln Protection Plan and Lincoln Corporate refuse to assist in replacing the engine.
Incident date: Apr 26, 2024
Vehicle windshield spontaneously cracked with large crack extending across most of passenger side. Vehicle has 10K miles. No offroad driving. No rock or foreign object struck vehicle. Driven on smooth roads. Weather was not issue. This is clearly a SAFETY issue. Crack will likely extend and I will need to replace windshield in vehicle less than 1 year old. I will take a picture of it. It needs ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2021
My Car's warranty expired in Dec 2022 and a few months later the engine light came on. It stayed on for a few weeks than was turned off by itself. In Dec 2023, the engine light came back on again. I also noted jerks when driving slow (10 miles/h). Upon checking with Mercedes Benz of Tri Cities-Richland, WA, spending $400 on diagnostics, the staff quoted me $3500 for Crank Case Ventilation replacem... Read more
Incident date: Apr 20, 2024
The piece that keeps my driver side door from opening to the point of breaking has broken from the door, and in turn is preventing my driver side window from opening/closing. The cause of this problem is that the solder came loose from the inside of the door. If the wind catches my door, I risk the chance of it buckling at the hinge of the driver door. I have taken it to the dealership in my area ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2024
While driving temperature light, check engine light, all ADAS lights came on as inoperable (cameras, warning, ABS, BSD/RCTA), no heat (including defrost) available to defrost or for cabin. Appointment 3/13 replaced thermo control valve assembly , coolant bypass valve, intake gaskets, fuel line, coolant, total charges $2070. Luckily had extended warranty I bought, that I had to make a claim on. Da... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V132000 (Suspension, Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was inspected, and the dealer determined that the upper control arm pinch bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V132000 (Suspension, Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was inspected, and the dealer determined that the upper control arm pinch bolts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated... Read more
Incident date: Dec 31, 2022
The contact owns a 2022 GMC Sierra Denali 3500 equipped with Goodyear Tires, Tire Line: Wrangler, Tire Size: LT275/65/R20. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 60 MPH and hauling a camper, the passenger’s side rear tire experienced a blowout. The driver was able to change the tire. The tire struck the camper and caused damages. The vehicle was taken to a tire center, where it wa... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Apr 4, 2024
See attached document for complaint
Incident date: May 5, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Terrain. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start, and the steering wheel was locked. A tow truck driver was able to start the vehicle after several attempts. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the failure recurred. The mechanic was able to restart the... Read more
Incident date: May 5, 2023
Catastrophic lifter failure. Was able to safely deliver vehicle to dealership service department. If not handled properly, engine failure could occur while driving and hurt/kill someone.
Incident date: Apr 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a knock sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and during an inspection, the engine seized, after which the dealer diagnosed a failure with the rod bearings. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notifi... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2024
Vehicle would not start, indicator displayed check owners manual, battery low. Vehicle towed to dealer
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
Power steering went out and has a recall for it on the website but under the car doesn't, have it but it went out all of sudden
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
Power steering went out and has a recall for it on the website but under the car doesn't, have it but it went out all of sudden
Incident date: Apr 24, 2024
Vehicle is equipped with Subaru EyeSight Driver Assist which includes reverse automatic braking. Vehicle was reversing towards a parked vehicle on the street and the RAB feature failed to apply the brakes and the vehicle collided with the parked vehicle. I am extremely disappointed that the safety system in this car failed to work as advertised/expected resulting in damages to both cars.
Crash
Incident date: Apr 24, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, and ascending a medium grade in the road, the contact heard a "pinging" sound and the "Stop Safely - Vehicle will Shut Off Soon" warning light and a turtle symbol and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle lost motive power but was able to drive to the side of the road and ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, and ascending a medium grade in the road, the contact heard a "pinging" sound and the "Stop Safely - Vehicle will Shut Off Soon" warning light and a turtle symbol and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle lost motive power but was able to drive to the side of the road and ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2024
The contact owned a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to approximately 80 MPH unintendedly. The contact stated that she depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle spun several times, causing her to lose control of the vehicle. The contact... Read more
Crash
1 injured