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: Oct 13, 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.
Incident date: Nov 29, 2023
Headlights are burning, melting and charged connections and causing dim lights. These headlights were recently replaced with new OEM healing’s for the second time and each replacement is burning out the connection. Please advise?
Incident date: Nov 29, 2023
Headlights are burning, melting and charged connections and causing dim lights. These headlights were recently replaced with new OEM healing’s for the second time and each replacement is burning out the connection. Please advise?
Incident date: Nov 29, 2023
While driving on the 215 (Southern California) freeway at approximately 70 miles per hour and without warning I experienced a sever wobble in the front end of the truck. it was so bad I had to pull over on the shoulder of the freeway. I was lucky traffic was light and could do this safely. I took the truck to a mechanic that specializes in ford trucks, and he recommended several components be repl... Read more
Incident date: Nov 18, 2023
rear view camera shows green/pink/yellow colors rather than clear image blocking visibility when backing up
Incident date: Nov 18, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70–75 MPH, the vehicle downshifted from sixth gear to third gear. The contact stated that the transmission had gone into Safe Mode. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission lead frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle wa... Read more
Incident date: Nov 18, 2023
The error message for air bag/seat belt warning comes on and off. It turns the passenger side air bag to off. It seems to be activated by weight on the seat.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle was idling rough. The contact stated that the vehicle was shuddering and nearly stalled. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal the vehicle hesitated before driving forward. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the f... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2023
The Motor/engine consumes excess oil creating a burnt smell and a lot of whitesmoke coming out of the muffler. The vehicle is stalling constantly and won’t accelerate properly while driving. Creating an unsafe environment for me and those driving near me. I have repair and install new piece but non of them would fix the problem. I took it to the dealer and they didn’t find the problem. I have ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2023
The Motor/engine consumes excess oil creating a burnt smell and a lot of whitesmoke coming out of the muffler. The vehicle is stalling constantly and won’t accelerate properly while driving. Creating an unsafe environment for me and those driving near me. I have repair and install new piece but non of them would fix the problem. I took it to the dealer and they didn’t find the problem. I have ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2023
The Motor/engine consumes excess oil creating a burnt smell and a lot of whitesmoke coming out of the muffler. The vehicle is stalling constantly and won’t accelerate properly while driving. Creating an unsafe environment for me and those driving near me. I have repair and install new piece but non of them would fix the problem. I took it to the dealer and they didn’t find the problem. I have ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 27, 2023
About 70,000 miles, bearings on the idler pulley and tensioner on serpentine belt failed. These have been replaced. About 75,000 miles, the rack and pinion began leaking from one end. I'm watching power steering fluid levels and expect to replace the rack and pinion soon. Note: I'm being told the design of this vehicle requires that the engine be partially pulled to replace the rack and pinion.
Incident date: Nov 24, 2023
I had a medium sized doe run in front of the vehicle while on the highway. I had the adaptive cruise control set to 62 MPH with lane keeping assist and all other safety features enabled. When the deer ran out out in front of the vehicle the emergency breaking did not engage, nor did it flash the warning or make the chime. It caused major damage to the front center and drivers side of the vehicle. ... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Nov 30, 2023
I bought the car and the next day it randomly locked up my steering in the middle of traffic. If I turn my car off then turn it on while jerking the wheel side to side it will allow me power steering for just a short moment. Once it worked for a month continuously without shutting off on me then it randomly started locking up again. There’s no symptoms or warning except for the car steers on its... Read more
Incident date: Nov 25, 2023
Brake ABS system dashboard lights warning system always always going off for the 9 years I've owned the car. Had the ABS system replaced and still the dashboard lights going off and the system not functioning properly.
Incident date: Nov 25, 2023
I was ready to leave for work and started the car. The steering wheel was locked and would not turn left or right. The car could be put in gear but, the steering wheel not move. I turned the car off several times and nothing helped. Hopefully, this will not happen while driving. Had to drive my other car to work.
Incident date: Nov 25, 2023
The compressor is not on the recall list but for a 2019 to have it failed requiring a new one not even close to the expected 10-12 year mark. This car part can lead to other safety concerns so I believe needs review for a potential recall.
Incident date: Nov 20, 2023
I received a recall notice in October for my 2012 Hyundai Accent. According to the recall, my car is safe to drive but should not be parked in my garage or near my home due to fire risk. The letter said a remedy would be available as of 11/21. It is now 11/29 and there's still no remedy available. Because I'm in upstate NY, the temperature has plummeted and my car is having a harder time starting ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 17, 2023
the slide door of my van (kia Sedona 2017 has been having issues when it is closing it does not close priority , the brakes as well has a strange movement when i release the brake . and it is making the car shake when i drive
Incident date: Nov 24, 2023
I got into my car with my wife and turned on my car an heard a loud boom followed by static in the tweeter speakers. It was startling, distracting and dangerous.
Incident date: Nov 28, 2023
On June 1, 2023 I was driving on a highway, suddenly lost the ability to accelerate, the car suddenly losing power and a warning message said to leave the road and have hybrid system checked. I pulled over, car idling, reentered highway only able to use low speed ( was 55 mph zone) to get to an exit a short distance away I had to be towed, the warning message still appearing at the dealership bu... Read more
Incident date: Nov 28, 2023
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was unable to use the electrical features in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the purge pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The approximate failure mil... Read more
Incident date: Nov 28, 2023
I get a light that comes on my dash board that says “Failed FCW System”.. most of the time it is on. Rarely it will go off the screen. Sometimes my car will randomly beep to signal that something is infront of me when there is nothing infront of me, which is what I believe to be an issue with the FCW system. This is startling and distracting to me while driving, as it is supposed to signal and... Read more
Incident date: Nov 28, 2023
I get a light that comes on my dash board that says “Failed FCW System”.. most of the time it is on. Rarely it will go off the screen. Sometimes my car will randomly beep to signal that something is infront of me when there is nothing infront of me, which is what I believe to be an issue with the FCW system. This is startling and distracting to me while driving, as it is supposed to signal and... Read more
Incident date: Nov 26, 2023
While I was driving the rear window suddenly shattered creating a loud thud. Chunks of shattering glass fell into the back section of the car. No foreign object hit the car. This was just a spontaneous event. We often transport our grand children and it is possible that they could have been seriously injured if they would have been in the car at the time. The car is unsafe to drive at this... Read more
Incident date: Nov 26, 2023
Without any warning electric fuel pump failed it show no signs of failing or going bad with fuel being flammable and the pump being electric aside from the risk of the car loosing power while in use the fact of it being flammable and faulty resorts to much bigger issues.
Incident date: Nov 25, 2023
Engine, power train, malfunction changing my speed control. No warning lights, first ticking noise from engine then knocking loud noise from engine. Noticed ticking about 4 days ago at first, today on freeway going 60-70 mph just changed to loud knocking, immediately engine warning starts to flash on dash board then speed just drops from 60-70 mph to 35 mph almost got hit by trucker and another c... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2023
"On August 18, 2023, I was driving at 70 mph on I-95 near the 100-mile mark using Full Self-Drive. The front driver-side suspension housing cracked, causing the bottom part of the suspension to detach. This led to the front tire striking the upper part of the wheel, resulting in a tire blowout. A piece of metal from the suspension fell onto the road and hit the rear driver-side tire, causing it to... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Aug 18, 2023
The sunroof on my Jeep opened by itself. There are issues all over the internet with same said problem with the Jeep Renegade MySky sunroof system. Jeep wants people to spend $3,500 to fix. can count on both hounds how many times I’ve actually opened the sunroof to use it.
Incident date: Aug 18, 2023
I have a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, it is over 5 years. So we all know our warranties are either expired and meaning out of pocket expenses will come. I mainly drive back and forth to work so my vehicle only 43,924 miles to be exact. So tell me why GM allows us to purchase a vehicle with defect oil in the transmission knowing the Torque converter will start shuttering causing some of us to purchase a... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2023
The engine head has cracked. It is very difficult to find a motor because it is such a common problem.
Incident date: Oct 19, 2023
I bought this carseat in March and began using it August 2nd for my infant who was born July 31st. The straps have slowly become an issue. We try so hard to tighten the straps but to no avail. This puts my child at risk if we were to get in accident as he is not secure and the straps are still loose. I did reach out to graco who informed me I had to do a warranty claim. I am not sure yet if thet p... Read more
Incident date: Oct 19, 2023
I bought this carseat in March and began using it August 2nd for my infant who was born July 31st. The straps have slowly become an issue. We try so hard to tighten the straps but to no avail. This puts my child at risk if we were to get in accident as he is not secure and the straps are still loose. I did reach out to graco who informed me I had to do a warranty claim. I am not sure yet if thet p... Read more
Incident date: Nov 26, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Chrysler 200. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly shifted into neutral before shifting back into drive. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to diagn... Read more
Incident date: Nov 26, 2023
The contact owns a 2010 BMW 328I. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) 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 while his girlfriend was driving 45 MPH, the contact heard a whistling sou... Read more
Incident date: Oct 5, 2023
The car does not accelerate from a stopped position and when driving it does not shift or allow acceleration. This is especially an issue on hills or when trying to increase speed on the highway.
Incident date: Oct 5, 2023
The car does not accelerate from a stopped position and when driving it does not shift or allow acceleration. This is especially an issue on hills or when trying to increase speed on the highway.
Incident date: Nov 25, 2023
When I put my car on reverse the sensors beep continuously and give the impression that there are obstacles behind your car. I cleaned all the sensors, but noise is still there. I see a lot of posts regarding same issue.
Incident date: Oct 10, 2023
2013 Elantra GT purchased new less than 63,000 miles. Airbag warning light on constantly. Hyundai has issued an extended lifetime warranty on clock spring. 2 local Dealers are 45 days behind in scheduling repairs and will not look at clockspring without agreement to pay $200.00 diagnostic fee to find what other issue may be at fault. This makes the extended warranty bait and switch smokescreen wo... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2023
2013 Elantra GT purchased new less than 63,000 miles. Airbag warning light on constantly. Hyundai has issued an extended lifetime warranty on clock spring. 2 local Dealers are 45 days behind in scheduling repairs and will not look at clockspring without agreement to pay $200.00 diagnostic fee to find what other issue may be at fault. This makes the extended warranty bait and switch smokescreen wo... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2023
2013 Elantra GT purchased new less than 63,000 miles. Airbag warning light on constantly. Hyundai has issued an extended lifetime warranty on clock spring. 2 local Dealers are 45 days behind in scheduling repairs and will not look at clockspring without agreement to pay $200.00 diagnostic fee to find what other issue may be at fault. This makes the extended warranty bait and switch smokescreen wo... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
Sticky steering when travelling above 25mph--both driving straight and in a turn. Must over-correct to compensate for sticky electronic steering.
Incident date: Nov 25, 2023
On Highway with no warning truck started to shake with smoke. Lost power. Engine seized. 92000kms. Injector stuck open cracked piston... had to buy new engine, Nissan didn t want to hear Ianything, I live in Canada
Incident date: Nov 25, 2023
My 2018 Hyundai Sonata began running low on oil around May 2022 when the car had 86,400 miles on it. I informed the local dealership where I bought the car and had all maintenance completed. The dealership and myself contacted Hyundai Corp. Hyundai Corp approved oil consumption testing which resulted in an induction cleaning in Sept. 2022. This did not resolve the oil burning issue. The dealership... Read more
Incident date: Nov 24, 2023
While driving on highway radio, turn to full max volume and became unresponsive to any other inputs. Steering wheel volume control as well as radio volume control and power buttons were not responsive. Max volume was only resolved by turning vehicle off and back on 30 minutes later. This has happened several times in 2 years.
Incident date: Nov 11, 2023
Drivers side front door check arm attachment points separated. Door malfunctioning which renders window inoperable. Ford service indicated only recourse is a replacement of the full door assembly. There was no incident of over opening the door!
Incident date: Nov 11, 2023
Sticky steering , feels like the wheel is stuck and takes a bit of power to move the wheel and it could cause an over turn or an accident at worst . It only has 66,000 kms and I just bought it and it's a touring trim and I don't know if it's one of the safety things Honda has added but I've never felt anything like this in any other car. It is annoying but could see it causing an accident when it... Read more
Incident date: Nov 23, 2023
Dashboard cracked in multiple areas lifting up. Seatbelt jams up
Incident date: Nov 23, 2023
Engine cuts out while driving. Engine light comes on. Unavailable to turn on hazard blinkers. Can restart engine after a few minutes . Also gas mileage has gone down.
Incident date: Nov 23, 2023
The ABS Module has failed on my 2013 Honda Accord LX. The ABS system may not function properly in reducing braking distances and could cause the car to slide in wet or slippery conditions increasing the chances of a collision or loss of vehicular control while driving. The car was taken to a Honda Specialist and upon inspection, the vehicle was diagnosed to have a faulty ABS module. The quo... Read more