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: Mar 18, 2024
Persistent and Dangerous Malfunction of Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Traffic Assist The safety features of Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Traffic Assist, designed to enhance driving safety, have unfortunately been plagued by a persistent and alarming malfunction. Despite the dealership's diligent efforts to troubleshoot the issue, the sudden and unannounced shutdown of these critical systems co... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2024
Transmission shifts hard Torque converter problems have been reported by many owners online and Honda has apparently extended warranties for some but says my vin is not recalled I would like you to investigate and resolve this issue
Incident date: Mar 17, 2024
Recall was issued on June 9, 2022. As of today, 3/18/2024, this recall has not been fixed. Dealer claims: "Waiting for parts". Recall letter states: "Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of motive power, which can cause a vehicle to crash without prior warning". Great! Good to know! And they can't fix it! What can you do to help me and many others with this issue? Thanks, [XXX] IN... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2024
The MMCS system has a known bug. As of October 2023 the date and time of the system has defaulted back to 2004. The defect has disabled features such as maintenance records that are logged since new. The defect has been reported to the dealer and they have acknowledged there is currently no fix. The dealer also noted that replacing the GPS receiver does not correct the problem and it is likely... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2024
The driver side headlight went out approximately 8 months after purchasing the vehicle used which was out of the 6 months that the dealer had a warranty. I have replaced the headlight and ballast and it is still not working properly. I have checked and confirmed voltage by testing the driver side against the passenger side which does work and all voltages match going into the rear plug of the head... Read more
Incident date: Dec 17, 2023
My 07 Xterra has extreme rust in the door jams and rear panels. The rack-n-pinion, power steering system leaks fluid.
Incident date: Mar 15, 2024
Basically it has the recall for clogged cats and O2 sensors it has [XXX] my pistons I use quart oil every 100 miles I talked to customer service last night was told all ve fixed and I could have rental went to get it cause my car dies at every stop from not having right fuel mixture. Now they changed story . Lawsuit ? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2024
There was an electrical burning smell in the cabin of the truck and then the radio stopped working. I called the dealership who confirmed that they had issues with previous models and newer models as well but said my 2017 silverado lt was not included in the fix. I took it in and asked them to see if there were any error codes and I was told no error codes everything was clear. There were no warni... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
The compounder drum in the transmission exploded on me, while driving, nearly causing me to wreck. The 62TE transmission used in many vehicles, but specifically the ram pro master master 2014 to 2021. there is a recall for the compounded drum that I am aware of at least in the 2019, but for some reason my van the 2014 with the same exact transmission does not fall under that recall.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
Torque converter got stuck off
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
1 year ago I started getting the “Charge System Fault” alert on my truck, took to the shop and they advised the battery needed to be replaced. After replacing, a few weeks later it started happening again, so they did further testing and advised the alternator was bad. Replaced the alternator and 6 months later the alert started intermittently again. It has been sporadically ever since when at... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2024
The transmission jerking/shuddering problem has been ongoing in the Nissan Pathfinder ever since a safety recall in 2014. Passenger airbag light is always on, even if an adult is seated there. The airbag warning light flashes on the dashboard. Nissan’s OCS system seems to be frequently complained about online. Dealers say it’s just wear and tear which is just unbelievable. Dealers quote repai... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2024
engine failure. Driving and heard a noise then oil pressure drops to zero psi and warning came one. Oil pressure would go back up during driving but during stop/idle would go back to zero. removal of oil filter and visual inspection showed metal particles. Oil was always changed ontime.
Incident date: Mar 6, 2024
My complaint relates to Campaign Number 07V435000 We are the original and only owner of this vehicle. While driving the vehicle I started to notice a fuel smell, after several attempts to locate the source, one day I added fuel, I noticed a small puddle in my driveway the following morning. I removed the wheel and the fender well cover to find the fuel filler neck had rotted through and fuel had w... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
Tesla's decision to place the horn activation within a button on the steering wheel has impeded my ability to safely activate the horn in pretty much every emergency situation. It requires a glance down to find the button every time. This pulls focus off of the road and situation at-hand, posing major risk to all parties involved and increasing the chance of catastrophe. Further, the turn signals... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
This relates to Campaign Number 11V244000 We are the original and only owners of the vehicle I originally brought the vehicle in for the recall and they simply sprayed some undercoating in the wheel wells. Less than a month later both strut towers separated from the body of the vehicle while my wife was driving home, she lost steering and could have had a serious or fatal accident. I towed to the ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
This relates to Campaign Number 11V244000 We are the original and only owners of the vehicle I originally brought the vehicle in for the recall and they simply sprayed some undercoating in the wheel wells. Less than a month later both strut towers separated from the body of the vehicle while my wife was driving home, she lost steering and could have had a serious or fatal accident. I towed to the ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 24, 2023
I want to file a safety complaint against Ford car company for their vehicle in which I purchased which is a 2008 Ford Fusion SEL for excessive and dangerous rot and rust problem on the frame and suspension and under component which can lead to accidents if one of these components fall apart . I purchased a 2008 Ford fusion SEL in Connecticut which used to be a Massachusetts state government vehic... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2024
See attached document for complaint
Incident date: Feb 23, 2024
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328I. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, he observed a tumbling noise emanating from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2024
The car losses acceleration power all of sudden while driving. The engine light comes on and car starts shaking. Once you turn off the car and restart it, the engine light goes away and car starts functioning normal. This is dangerous as you are on highway, among fast moving traffic. This has been going for over a year.
Incident date: Mar 11, 2024
I’ve had issues with the side view mirrors with this vehicle since the day that i took delivery. They were always wobbly. Honda issued a recall on them and the replacement mirrors look like “fun house” mirrors. They are super distorted and make me nauseous looking out of them. This is not an isolated incident. Many people are experiencing issues with the recalled mirrors being distorted. Hon... Read more
Incident date: Mar 11, 2024
the problem is the constant pressure felt in the cabin especially most at the driver side. the pressure is felt by my ears persistently when all windows, sunroof are closed. it's the worst when driving slowly (between 10 to 30 mph), any uneven road bumps magnify to constant "cabin boom". After a long (45 minutes) commute to work on local roads, my ears are hurt, humming persist for few hours. T... Read more
Incident date: Mar 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the RPM decreased without warning. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact opened the hood and noticed that the coolant level significantly low and water had entered the oil gasket. The contact stated that the engine had misfired. The coolant temperature warning light was illuminat... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2024
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS RECENTLY ILLUMINATED. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SCAN TOOL READING ON 3/15/24 SHOWS THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG TO HAVE COMPLETELY FAILED AND BECOME INOPERABLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY IMPACTS OR COLLISIONS.
Incident date: Mar 14, 2024
Truck is equipped with a power up/down tailgate. I was driving on a rainy day and stopped for gas. Upon putting the vehicle in Park and shutting off the engine, the driver information center alerted with a dinging sound several times. Upon returning and starting the engine the information center alerted that the tailgate was open. I got out and checked and the tailgate was open. I closed the t... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine) 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 ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V877000 (Engine) 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 contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and failed to properly accelerate. The conta... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2024
In December 2022 while driving at various speeds, the vehicle began to overheat. No warning lights illuminated. I pulled over and let the engine cool down. Then coolant was added to the reservoir. I waited before restarting the vehicle. I took the vehicle to an independent mechanic the next day and was informed that the head gasket was blown, and the engine would likely need to be replaced. Kia d... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2023
The brakes just went to the floor causing the car hard to stop. This is my daugthers car with my two grandbabies in the car. She took it to a local Ford dealer and they stated that it just needed to be updated (computer update I guess). The car worked after that until today. She hit a bump in the road and the brakes went to the floor again when she tried to stop. She has no warning lights that app... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V418000 (Exterior Lighting) 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 contact stated that the tailgate light bar had failed to illuminate. The dealer was contacted. The m... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with two electric parking brakes. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the electric parking brake engaged independently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear brake calipers were defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not rep... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the antifreeze was leaking and that the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additional anti-freeze was added. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that there was a misfire in cylinder #2. The spark plugs and coil pack were replaced. The contact added a reservoir to the vehicle. The contact st... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2024
It is commonly known that the drive shafts on the Model X fail. This is not a wear component and should be a recall. The suspension is also part of this issue and there are after market solutions to fix the suspension that is causing the failure of the half shafts.
Incident date: Mar 7, 2024
See attached document for complaint
Incident date: Feb 15, 2024
Jeep stuttered and jerked on the freeway and then dropped out of gear. I managed to get to the shoulder but the engine would just rev and not go fwd while in drive or manual mode. I could not engage the parking break and when in park, the jeep would still roll forward. I turned the jeep off and on several times but it would not engage in forward gear, but the rpms would go up. I could put the ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle would not properly accelerate. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who determined that coolant was present inside the cylinders of the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced but the vehicle continued to experience ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2024
On [XXX] we experienced sudden loss of electronic power steering while driving, at the same time the power steering indicator light came on the dash. We were not able to turn the wheel and had to stop in the middle of the road. We had the vehicle brought to Chevrolet of Turnersville NJ on [XXX] and they diagnosed the problem as need torque sensor replaced. This is the exact same symptom/issue and ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2024
I was driving on the highway when my car started operating like it was in neutral. RPMs was high but the car started to stall and slow down and because of it I had to immediately pull over. The car would not go into gear. I attempted to put it in drive ajd press the acceleration pedal but it just revved. Same with putting it in reverse. It's a safety concern because my car could not maintain ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2024
Rear sliding glass on 19’ + model silverados. Water has entered into the cabin specifically to the left back passenger side. My vehicle to include multiple other people across the nation have been effected by this also. Specifically to mine, water has entered and stained the interior cabin panel. This is a safety/health concern to people experiencing this as it can cause asthmatic individuals an... Read more
Incident date: Mar 22, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at various speed, the transmission was slipping while downshifting and upshifting. The contact also stated that there was a hard shift, and the vehicle would lose motive power and lunge forward. The wrench warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that a dealer representative went to the residence to perform a softwa... Read more
Incident date: Mar 22, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 15-20 MPH, the vehicle temporarily lost power before and after shifting into gear. Additionally, the transmission was skipping gears. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission dual clutch had failed and neede... Read more
Incident date: Mar 22, 2023
The turbo started leaking coolant internally making a few components fail in the motor. It has a really strong smell of burnt coolant. It started leaking about one year and half ago according to the service manger it was leaking before replacing the turbo and there was a failure to inform me about that issue. Due to this leak motor has to be replaced. Prior to the repair a warning lamp or any othe... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2024
mechanical brake booster pump failure. Has been inspected by ford dealerships twice and also with a third party certified mechanic. The vehicle has a tough time stopping upon ignition and brake has to be pumped hard. Ford claims 2021 was the last service date on this but still there a reserve records that show that its not resolved but no recall is out for this. [XXX] parents are traveling in mx... Read more
Incident date: Mar 2, 2024
Check forwarded collision was on and it has disabled my traction control and abs light was on kia had me make an appointment 3 weeks out. Was leaving for work and it was rainy I was doing 30 in a 40 and I tried stopping to slow down because there was a car in front of me stopped at a yeld so I tired to stop harder but back of car stating sliding our so I had to quickly make a move to get to the la... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 2, 2024
Check forwarded collision was on and it has disabled my traction control and abs light was on kia had me make an appointment 3 weeks out. Was leaving for work and it was rainy I was doing 30 in a 40 and I tried stopping to slow down because there was a car in front of me stopped at a yeld so I tired to stop harder but back of car stating sliding our so I had to quickly make a move to get to the la... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 2, 2024
Check forwarded collision was on and it has disabled my traction control and abs light was on kia had me make an appointment 3 weeks out. Was leaving for work and it was rainy I was doing 30 in a 40 and I tried stopping to slow down because there was a car in front of me stopped at a yeld so I tired to stop harder but back of car stating sliding our so I had to quickly make a move to get to the la... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jun 1, 2020
When driving the car will false brake or alert to brake when nothing is directly in front of the car. Many instances the car will catch a car in the lane beside it and brake because it thinks the car is in front of it and will begin alerts and braking the car while driving on the interstate. Internal electronics like the infotainment will stop working and no longer play music, pull information fro... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2020
When driving the car will false brake or alert to brake when nothing is directly in front of the car. Many instances the car will catch a car in the lane beside it and brake because it thinks the car is in front of it and will begin alerts and braking the car while driving on the interstate. Internal electronics like the infotainment will stop working and no longer play music, pull information fro... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Odyssey. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the "Passenger’s Sliding Door Failure" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that the rear passenger’s side sliding door failed to fully open upon entering or exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to two dealers, Honda of Fort Myers (3550 Colonial Blvd, Fort Mye... Read more