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: Aug 10, 2023
I was driving eastbound on interstate 8 with adaptive cruise control engaged and my Tesla suddenly stoppeg in the freeway. No one was behind me but it was frightening. 0930 hours
Incident date: Aug 10, 2023
Dead center steering feels as if it sticks and extra force is needed when coming to a light bend on the road or just trying to stay center in a lane.
Incident date: Nov 23, 2023
I was on lunch brake, going through a McDonalds drive thru, the car just shut off. I had to have it pushed out of drive thru. After several tries it did start again but shut off in the middle of traffic. I couldn’t shift it. I had to have it towed. VW dealer said I needed a new transmission at 62,000 miles. Then I read about the recall and knew that’s what was the matter with my car. Th... Read more
Incident date: Nov 23, 2023
I was on lunch brake, going through a McDonalds drive thru, the car just shut off. I had to have it pushed out of drive thru. After several tries it did start again but shut off in the middle of traffic. I couldn’t shift it. I had to have it towed. VW dealer said I needed a new transmission at 62,000 miles. Then I read about the recall and knew that’s what was the matter with my car. Th... Read more
Incident date: Oct 25, 2023
Brakes started going out at 20,000 miles along with tires falling apart.
Incident date: Dec 9, 2023
Went to have car serviced and was told lug nuts were swollen and it was a Ford defect, but had to pay over $120 to replace lug nuts in order to get my tires rotated.
Incident date: Dec 9, 2023
Sticky steering when trying to do small adjustments
Incident date: Dec 9, 2023
--Exhaust leak, at left first band clamp downstream from catalyst --Safety is of immediate concern due to exhaust leak directly under driver seat --Local Ford dealership service dept did not fix leak --Exhaust leak was inspected and reported to local Ford dealer service dept- NOT fixed On 20 November 2023, I purchased a 2021 Ford F-150 XL, VIN: [XXX] , from Crain Ford of Jacksonville, Arkansas, ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2023
I have had multiple engine problems with my trax. For starters, shortly after I bought it in 2021 I had to have the radiator replaced, then in Aug or Sept 2022 I had to have the coil pack replaced, the in Oct 2022 the turbo needed to be replaced. Exactly 1 year after replacing the turbo, I had to replace it again in Oct 2023. Now I'm being told that these cars are having problems with Piston rings... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2023
I've confirmed with the my Jeep dealer and the NHTSA that there's a safety recall for the battery on my Wrangler 4xe possibly catching fire. There's currently no remedy. It's the third recall on this vehicle. I'm also wondering why Jeep or anyone has contacted me about this. I had to find out on the internet then make phone calls to confirm. Telling us to no park our cars next to building or ot... Read more
Incident date: Dec 7, 2023
My back up camera isn't working and none of the locks work with the key fob. I bought my car from a car lot and it was a fleet car and it says all recalls have been fixed but my car hasn't been fixed at all and I don't know why. My car won't even charge my phone at all in either port so it has a big wiring problem. I have kids and grandkids in my car all the time and I can not see behind me becaus... Read more
Incident date: Dec 6, 2023
The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the front of the vehicle and the contact became aware that the power steering was not functioning properly. After a visual inspection of the exterior of the vehicle, the contact observed that the passenger’s side wheel appeared to have detached from the v... Read more
Incident date: Nov 29, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to complete a turn, due to the placement of the controls on the steering wheel, the contact unintentionally activated the cruise control. As a result, the vehicle quickly accelerated to the speed last set that had been stored in the memory, almost causing a collision with ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2023
Complained since buying car noise in motor was told it was fine on dec 7th car broke down 200 miles from home was told it was the rod bearings that was under recall
Incident date: Nov 18, 2023
I had exhaust work done, 2010 Ford Escape, and shop pointed out huge rust hole in ''subframe'' (engine cradle) This has been hundred thousand recalls but NOT all model years, yet they ALL have the same fault. Ford recall only puts a cheap ''brace'' on it but it is NOT a repair!! What kind of country allows these maggots to threaten the driver with complete !! loss of steering control and yet not r... Read more
Incident date: Nov 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2011 Mini Cooper. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V337000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who dia... Read more
Incident date: Dec 6, 2023
On May 26, 2023, I purchased my 2017 Acura TLX from Sterling McCall Acura Houston, TX. On July 16th, my son was driving the Acura TLX and the engine burst into a fire. After the engine fire, I had to replace the entire. On November 20, 2023, after reading an article and contacting American Honda ( [XXX] ) I became aware of a recall on my Acura TLX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Dec 3, 2023
When pressing the cruise control button, then pressing down on the toggle switch, the car accelerates to 80 MPH. I was doing this because that is how my old Honda worked. The Ford dealership claimed that one sets the speed by pressing up (+) on the toggle switch. This works as it should, however, I fear that someone else is going to use the wrong combination of buttons and crash at 80 MPH. Pressin... Read more
Incident date: Dec 6, 2023
CVT transmission skips in high gear and shudders randomly while driving down the road. Randy Marion in Hickory NC is where we purchased and replaced the rear transfer clutch and insists the problem has been corrected. It is not. Our regular mechanic and Moderna Subaru of Boone NC both agree the transmission is bad. It has been sitting at the dealership for 2 months while all parties argue ove... Read more
Incident date: Dec 6, 2023
Blown head gasket at 55,000 miles. Coolant intrusion into cylinder. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 2.0L EcoBoost - Coolant In Cylinders, White Exhaust Smoke And/Or Illuminated MIL 19-2346 19 December 2019 Ford Motor Company has known about this problem, but refuses to pay for the repairs, because the vehicle is 6 years old. Powertrain warranty: 5 years 60,000 miles.
Incident date: Dec 6, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine revved however, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact called a local dealer and was provided the cost for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure... Read more
Incident date: Dec 6, 2023
automatic parking brake does not engage. Brake is totally not functional
Incident date: Nov 8, 2023
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) 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 manufa... Read more
Incident date: Nov 8, 2023
Vehicle reversing malfunctioned , may be a software defect. Vehicle while reversing without pressing the accelerator went berserk and hit another vehicle in the driveway. Vehicle data was provided by Tesla but there is no evidence of collision nor any video recording of the incident. No issues were seen nor any warnings displayed prior to the vehicle reversing itself. However insurance deemed it... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 8, 2023
Vehicle reversing malfunctioned , may be a software defect. Vehicle while reversing without pressing the accelerator went berserk and hit another vehicle in the driveway. Vehicle data was provided by Tesla but there is no evidence of collision nor any video recording of the incident. No issues were seen nor any warnings displayed prior to the vehicle reversing itself. However insurance deemed it... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jun 23, 2023
The contact's mother owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing an abnormal oil consumption. The contact stated that the vehicle consumed three quarts of oil after driving 367 miles. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the vehicle could be experiencing an internal oil leak. The ve... Read more
Incident date: Jun 23, 2023
The contact's mother owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing an abnormal oil consumption. The contact stated that the vehicle consumed three quarts of oil after driving 367 miles. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the vehicle could be experiencing an internal oil leak. The ve... Read more
Incident date: Jun 23, 2023
The contact's mother owns a 2015 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing an abnormal oil consumption. The contact stated that the vehicle consumed three quarts of oil after driving 367 miles. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the vehicle could be experiencing an internal oil leak. The ve... Read more
Incident date: Dec 5, 2023
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the significant reliability issues I have encountered with my 2019 Honda Odyssey. Unfortunately, these issues have led to inconveniences, unexpected expenses, and a reevaluation of my trust in the vehicle's long-term dependability. During the warranty period, the vehicle suffered from water infiltration in the trunk, resulting in flooding. Addressi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2023
Steering wheel is sticking while trying to make quick left or right turns from center while driving, with lane assist off or on. (New vehicle with less than 6000 miles.)
Incident date: Dec 2, 2023
Went to get in my 2021 Ford Escape opened the door a heard a metal sound clunking noise. Happened all of a sudden. Thought maybe someone hit my door but no sign of it being hit. Then Googled Ford Escape and that noise and found this has been a problem. Why has there not been a recall for this problem.
Incident date: Dec 2, 2023
This has happened multiple times: driving along, no cars in front of me or along the side. FCW suddenly appears along with emergency braking kicking in. I can be doing 35 mph or 60 mph, doesn't matter what speed. Scares the heck out of me, and creates a safety issue as vehicles behind run the risk of rear-ending me. The only way to clear the FCW is to come to a complete stop and shift between... Read more
Incident date: Nov 30, 2023
The car started stating "put in park" every time I would try to put the car in drive. I would shift back and forth from park to drive over and over and I could get it to clear. One time it lost all power and had zero control. Sat on the side of the road for an hour. Shifting back and forth until it stopped and let me engage the drive. The last time it happened in a parking lot and it would just sa... Read more
Incident date: Aug 21, 2023
This car has a recall which put my child and others at risk. It also has a recall for excessive corrosion, which has made the suspension unrepairable. It only has 124K miles. I would like Hyundai to take the car from me and give me the remaining value so I can reimburse my child, who had to buy a car that was safe to drive.
Incident date: Aug 21, 2023
This car has a recall which put my child and others at risk. It also has a recall for excessive corrosion, which has made the suspension unrepairable. It only has 124K miles. I would like Hyundai to take the car from me and give me the remaining value so I can reimburse my child, who had to buy a car that was safe to drive.
Incident date: Nov 26, 2023
With no warning my 2016 equinox’s engine began to fail functioning, reduced engine power warning displayed, then the vehicle stalled and would not restart. Professional mechanical review has indicated excessive oil consumption and timing chain issues regardless of a regular documented maintenance and oil changes
Incident date: Nov 26, 2023
System Failed: Shut off in traffic. Vehicle can be inspected upon request. Safety risk: Potential for collision. Input from Dealership: Dealerships error code/diagnostic code was P213800. Reset system and recharge battery. Warning lights came on at the same time as the car shut down. One month prior check engine light came on, but car was operating normally. Dealership ran diagnostic test whi... Read more
Incident date: Nov 26, 2023
The issue concerns the steering column control module, when the turn signal is used or activate the turn signal self-canceling feature may not function properly. Either issue can cause confusion or reduce visibility for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. I have asked the dealer to fix the issue but have told me they have been out of stock of the part and I have been waiting over 6 mo... Read more
Incident date: Oct 9, 2023
Forester in known for chronic exhaust leak into cabin through AC vents. Reported this to dealership and they "could not find the problem." Cabin of vehicle smells heavily of exhaust. Driver gets headache from smell/gas while driving. Internet forums show this is a common unaddressed issue by dealerships. Car is a 2017 and should not be leaking exhaust into the cabin.
Incident date: Oct 9, 2023
Forester in known for chronic exhaust leak into cabin through AC vents. Reported this to dealership and they "could not find the problem." Cabin of vehicle smells heavily of exhaust. Driver gets headache from smell/gas while driving. Internet forums show this is a common unaddressed issue by dealerships. Car is a 2017 and should not be leaking exhaust into the cabin.
Incident date: Oct 9, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Soul. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) 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 the recall repair. The ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2023
My Ariya 2023 died on middle of Interstate while I was on bridge during rush hour battery was at 54 % when this happened. I had the vehicle towed to a charging station thinking i ran out of charge but car didnt charge. After couple hours car started at 54% battery even though I was not able charge.
Incident date: Dec 4, 2023
Drove The Car to Work As Me Return To The Car …. car won’t rollover or starters …. After 2 1/2 week from purchase it from the dealership Eastern Motors… After calling me in a taking away the warranty back … Car stops working 3 days afterwards
Incident date: Oct 18, 2023
While traveling westbound on I-64 at highway speed (~65 MPH), I experienced a complete tire failure of the driver's side front fire. It was first experienced as severe front-end vibration that made control of the vehicle difficult; there were no warnings or other indications of imminent failure. Fortunately, I was able to get the vehicle to the roadway's shoulder without injury or accident. Upo... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2023
I had just left my house about to enter the on-ramp to Interstate 95 south when my 2016 Volt abruptly and without warning stopped. I was unable to coast or pull the car to the side of the road. I was in the middle of the lane in a dangerous place to stop a car and a dangerous place to get out of the car due to the steady traffic entering the interstate. My car would not restart and I had it towed ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 29, 2023
When the car is warmed up, the steering becomes a little more difficult. Turning the wheel slowly is not smooth, feels sticky. This started occurring around 8000 miles on the vehicle.
Incident date: Nov 29, 2023
Both low beam headlight out at same time with no indication or warning . On dash it showed lights operational
Incident date: Nov 29, 2023
The seals on the oil filter housing and the valve covers go bad. I have been smiling a burning oil smell off an on for the last 8 months. I reported this to the dealership and was told that the seals on the PCV valve seep they all doit should be ok. As time rolled on the van went put of warranty and the smell got worse. I went back to the dealer and they finally looked the way they should have 8 m... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2023
Purchased brand new in January of 2023, engine problems, engine knocks while driving or idle, hesitates when accelerating. stalling when driving, heavy gas smell, bad plastic oil pan, breaks during oil change, cause oil leaks, and engine failure. Vehicle vibrates when braking, bad lower fuel pump.