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 23,203 complaints for TESLA
Incident date: May 7, 2024
The engine has shut off on multiple occasions since we bought it in 2022. It appears to shut off at traffic lights and we are given the indicator message to start car manually. Typically when this happens we have to put the car in park and restart the engine. Just the other day 5/13/24 this happened again while I was sitting at a traffic light and I put the car in park and restarted the engine ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 23, 2024
Bad design of the engine. Coolant leaks into cylinders. The manufacturer knows this is a design defect. Reference, TSB 22-2229 from Ford and NHTSA ID: 10214126
Incident date: Oct 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, a gunshot-like sound came from the vehicle. The contact stated that upon pulling back the sunroof shade, several glass pieces fell from the sunroof. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the independent mechanic could not repair the sunroof. The vehicle was then ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 14, 2023
While driving on the highway, I tried to open my panoramic sunroof, it made a grinding sound and was stuck in the open position with one corner for the sunroof slanted higher than the other. I was afraid that the sunroof would shatter or that the wind would blow off components. Afterward, the sunroof would not close even after I took it to the dealership. They informed me that they could not clos... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2024
On numerous occasions while cruising at highway speeds ability to accelerate disengages. There is no ability to accelerate and RPMs drop, car loses speed until transmission and acceleration re-engages. When the car does this you are unable to shift gears to attempt to engage and the vehicle still shows as though it is in drive. Vehicle has gone to dealer service numerous times and they are unable ... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2024
In Apr 2024 we had an issue with charging the vehicle at level 1 and level 2 took to dealer and they replaced the ICCU unit. A week later the car was DOA no lights nothing so we had to jump start it. We Took to dealer they did an update , week later DOA again. Took to dealer and found out the MSU part needs to be replaced Back ordered for a month and still at dealer was given a loaner, sound fami... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2024
In Apr 2024 we had an issue with charging the vehicle at level 1 and level 2 took to dealer and they replaced the ICCU unit. A week later the car was DOA no lights nothing so we had to jump start it. We Took to dealer they did an update , week later DOA again. Took to dealer and found out the MSU part needs to be replaced Back ordered for a month and still at dealer was given a loaner, sound fami... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that upon purchase of the vehicle, the rear driver’s side strut was replaced. Recently, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for a routine maintenance check; while being inspected, the contact was informed that the passenger’s side rear and driver’s side front struts had been saturated with oil. The passenger’s side fr... Read more
Incident date: Apr 27, 2024
Lost brakes and steering going 55 mph, and then many warning lights were on the screen saying that different systems were disabled. Was able to coast vehicle to a safe location. Had vehicle towed to dealership 4/29.
Incident date: Apr 27, 2024
Lost brakes and steering going 55 mph, and then many warning lights were on the screen saying that different systems were disabled. Was able to coast vehicle to a safe location. Had vehicle towed to dealership 4/29.
Incident date: May 11, 2024
I was driving on the interstate highway when I realize that when I was trying to accelerate, the car was not starting to move forward anymore was not able to drive at proper speed on freeway . prior to that, I realize my RPMs was going up and down Had to pull over on freeway shut my car off and let car cool down waited about 10 minutes with off and then restarted it and continue to go seem to be ... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2024
When traveling at highway speeds the steering “sticks”. This requires more force to keep the car going straight in the lane. When correcting the steering overcorrection is a hazard. Very unsafe travel at highway speeds.
Incident date: Jan 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Colorado. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with camshaft positioner actuator solenoid at #2. The contact was informed that the camshaft positioner actuator solenoid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the transmission downshifted causing the vehicle to abruptly decelerate. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the transmission failed to shift out of first gear. The local dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the transmission lead frame was faulty and ne... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2024
Making loud noises when turning and steering wheel shakes really bad
Incident date: May 15, 2024
I am writing to bring to your attention a critical safety issue with my 2019 Kia Optima SX 2.0 GDI Turbo, which has accumulated approximately 103,000 miles. This vehicle has recently developed several serious problems that I believe pose significant risks to both my safety and the safety of other road users. Firstly, my Kia Optima has been burning an excessive amount of oil. Specifically, it consu... Read more
Incident date: May 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 2500 HD. The contact stated that while driving at 64 MPH, he crashed head-on with a 350-pound deer. The deer went underneath the vehicle, and the driver ran over it with the passenger front tire. The driver's side air bag did not deploy. The air bag warning light was illuminated. There were no reported injuries or fire. A police report was filed. The contact was... Read more
Crash
Incident date: May 15, 2024
The brakes in our 2018 chevy equinox have went out three times in the past month. First time the car was parked fully functioning the night before, woke up the next morning for work and there was no brakes. Replaced the vacuum pump and they worked good as new. Second time we are driving down a busy highway and had been for half an hour. 2 minutes from our destination at the ONLY turn we had to mak... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2024
The brakes in our 2018 chevy equinox have went out three times in the past month. First time the car was parked fully functioning the night before, woke up the next morning for work and there was no brakes. Replaced the vacuum pump and they worked good as new. Second time we are driving down a busy highway and had been for half an hour. 2 minutes from our destination at the ONLY turn we had to mak... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2024
MySky Parts commonly break on Jeep Renegades and poise a safety concern that they do not close. During accident or inclement conditions this can endanger passengers and driver.
Incident date: May 12, 2024
Honda Odyssey 2019 slips during highway speed and has no acceleration while the engines rpm goes up. Very dangerous at highway speed and then will have a large clank noise and go into gear. Honda doesn't acknowledge the issue with their 9 speed transmission but their are tons of complaints on the web with the same issue I have. It happens at lower speed too at stop lights and is a safety concern... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2024
Rear sub frame, critical fail- rusted through. Needs new rear subframe. Wheel pulling to right, unable to align. I bought this car 2 weeks ago for my 16 year old daughter and was told today it needs to be scrapped. She is devastated . We are out 4500 with no recourse. I bought a Mazda because I trusted the safety. I am so disappointed. If the front was recalled the rear should have been too.
Incident date: Apr 5, 2024
I was driving to work that morning traveling about 40 into the city when all of a sudden I heard a loud noise, I barely could handle the steering wheel to coast it to the side before it came to a complete hault, I look out my window and my drive shaft broke in 2 pieces was passing me on the main road. Front end was on the side shoulder, back end was out in the road. I jumped out of the truck and g... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2024
The auxiliary fuel pump, located inside the passenger cabin under the right rear passenger seat, has been leaking fuel, leading to discoloration of the part and a strong scent of fuel inside the cabin. Additionally, a pool of gasoline sat atop the pump only separated by a thin plastic lid from the electrical cables leading to the battery in the vehicle's trunk. This gasoline could be ignited by t... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact h... Read more
Incident date: Apr 10, 2024
There hasn't been an incident yet. But, I want a record of this somewhere. I'm assuming there may be an incident in the future; and, I'm concerned about that. Either an incident with my truck or an incident with the 100s of thousands of Ford and Lincoln vehicles from 2017-2023 that have this issue. The issue is Ford SSM 51939 - a whining noise coming from the bellhousing and the front of the t... Read more
Incident date: May 3, 2024
When driving, the steering wheel wants to turn to the left on its own and is hard to turn to the right. The car will literately make a u-turn if you your hands off the wheel at slow speeds.
Incident date: May 3, 2024
Was 8 days out of warranty so Toyota would not honor offer to replace the brake booster/actuator. Paid personally to have it done with genuine Toyota parts. 16 months later same parts need replacing. Toyota refuses to help.
Incident date: May 3, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware of a leak underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer discovered a coolant leak; however, the dealer was unable to determine the location of the leak. The contact was instructed to wait several weeks and then insert a dye to determine the source of the... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. 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 while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was a flapping sound coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact observed that the rubber seal around the... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2024
THERE IS A COOLANT LEAK. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP IN APRIL 2024 . THE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY IN 3 WEEKS. I FILLED IT BACK UP AND IT RAN EMTY AGAIN IN 3 WEEKS.
Incident date: Mar 20, 2024
It has been over a month and there is no fix for the recall, this is extremely scary and dangerous as the car can lose power at any time.
Incident date: May 12, 2024
-vehicle will stop accelerating in traffic -accelerate suddenly even when your foot is not on the pedal
Incident date: May 9, 2024
I called Courtesy KIA in Altoona, PA. I informed them that I have another recall addressing this latest issue "The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit," as I was there last month addressing another recall. That situation was resolved. However, I called today 5/13/24 at about 12:50PM and was told by service dept. member Toby that we already have all the parts we can order for recall. He also told... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2023 BMW X1. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V104000 (Electronic Stability Control - ESC, Service Brakes) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for ... Read more
Incident date: May 10, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed turbocharger and that the turbocharger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repa... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2024
2 issues to report 1) when under medium consistent breaking(slowing down for a light) there are instances where the breaks feel like they let up or slipping. This issue has been reported and with the car since the first year of ownership but Toyota says it’s all within spec 2) second issue is an issue with the rear captions seatbelt and has also been reported since 2022 where upon normal dri... Read more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2024
My dashboard is turning into a liquid. Florida heat has effected this vehical since purchase. Currently my visability is through windshield is serverly affected. Since a large portion of the dash is liquid under a black dashboard it is reflecting onto my windshield serverly limiting my viewing the road and traffic. This is a known problem needing an immediate solution. Thank you for any immediate ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2024
My dashboard is turning into a liquid. Florida heat has effected this vehical since purchase. Currently my visability is through windshield is serverly affected. Since a large portion of the dash is liquid under a black dashboard it is reflecting onto my windshield serverly limiting my viewing the road and traffic. This is a known problem needing an immediate solution. Thank you for any immediate ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2024
I purchased 2024 Tesla cybertruck and got the delivery of the truck on May 11th 2024. One the very first day I experienced a critical warning that stated " Critical Steering issue detected" and it started beeping loudly and I was unable to steer it. Now I am unable to drive the car as I have a whole lust of critical alerts that pop up on the screen. I am concerned about my safety and others on th... Read more
TESLA
CYBERTRUCK
(2024) - SERVICE BRAKES
May 12, 2024
Incident date: May 11, 2024
ABS MODULE IS NOT WORKING. THIS IS HAPPENING TO NOT JUSY MY VEHICLEHOWEVER MANY AS I CAN SEE ONLINE AND WHEN FORD IS TOLD SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH IT THEY SAY ITS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I ALMOST GOT IBTO A VERY BAD ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE BRAKES WENT TO BEING OK TO SPONGY AND HAD TO PUSH TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THIS CAR. SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIX THIS OR IT WILL END IN SOMEONE GETTI... Read more
TESLA
CYBERTRUCK
(2024) - ENGINE
May 12, 2024
Incident date: May 11, 2024
My vehicle will randomly stop driving and then might be fine. The check engine light has been in for over a year and the dealership says it leaks oil and builds up sludge when we were only taking it to them. When checking the code for the check engine light it says it’s the cam shaft sensors. The dealership said it was fine and cannot figure out why there is a light or why it stops driving. Last... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2024
Been over a year and there is still no parts to fix this open safety recall.
Incident date: May 11, 2024
I have an inclusion (crack?) on the frame web of both main frames just forward of the axle assembly. I have seen this similar inclusion on other RVs that are the same model. There seems to be a major defect with this model. Also I have missing fasteners in the structural wall assembly that also seems to be chronic.
Incident date: May 12, 2024
Vehicle sometimes picks up blacked out or repaved cracks in road as departing the lane. The vehicles steering wheels shakes and vibrates then steers back into what it thinks is the center of the lane. Mind you as I’m already centered. It begins pushing car into on coming traffic and lane. Also the bottom aluminum transmission cover has come loose causing the skid plate or cover to come down on... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2024
Vehicle sometimes picks up blacked out or repaved cracks in road as departing the lane. The vehicles steering wheels shakes and vibrates then steers back into what it thinks is the center of the lane. Mind you as I’m already centered. It begins pushing car into on coming traffic and lane. Also the bottom aluminum transmission cover has come loose causing the skid plate or cover to come down on... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2024
2018 Subaru Forester has another cracked windshield. I do not drive this car a lot and all of a sudden there is a crack. It happened in 2021 too, it is exactly in the same spot this time. Subaru refused to fix it the last time, so I am not expecting them to fix it this time. This is not safe to drive when there is a crack like that. It is a matter of time before someone gets hurt or even w... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2024
The service abs and service electrical brake system flashes on and off, dings. Occurs at all speeds, in town driving seems to make it ding worse on and off on and off Some days it doesn’t hardly do it, some days it is non stop. This prohibits the use of cruise control also, with a faulty braking alert the cruise aUto disengages From looking at dodge forums this is a very common issue in 2018 250... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2024
The service abs and service electrical brake system flashes on and off, dings. Occurs at all speeds, in town driving seems to make it ding worse on and off on and off Some days it doesn’t hardly do it, some days it is non stop. This prohibits the use of cruise control also, with a faulty braking alert the cruise aUto disengages From looking at dodge forums this is a very common issue in 2018 250... Read more