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 15,069 complaints for VOLVO
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
The touch screen in my car has developed a malfunction known as “ghost touch,” where the screen glitches and registers inputs I am not making. This failure involves the infotainment system, and the component is still available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the screen can suddenly change settings, including navigation, phone, and climat... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Never in all my years of driving have I or anyone i know experienced a vehicle with such a sensitive windshield that cracks with even minimal impact. I've owned this Ford maverick for under 3 years with 3 chip repairs and 2 replacements. This is unfair to consumers as often we are not aware of this issue until it is too late to change undo the purchases on these vehicles and have to drive faulty... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2025
Going approximately 55 Miles an hour on the freeway and my car starts profusely shaking. I pulled to the side of the highway tow truck comes up behind me. Ann, my cylinder 4 was noted to be misfiring. I had it towed to Midas and that is where it was determined that engine coolant leaked into my cylinders and now being told that my car requires a new engine!! Mind you i have already paid 5K to repl... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
I was driving over to walk my friends dog and I was pulling into the overflow parking area and my car just speed up and it would not stop. I went up a curb and I hit a small tree went down another curb crossed the street and then up another curb and the break would not stop the car. I finally just cut the car off
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH in inclement weather, the windshield wipers were operating slower than normal before becoming inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the wiper motor was intermittently inoperative. The wiper linkage was removed, and the dealer became aware that the passenger’s side ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
I have been having intermittent problems for well over 1 year with my vehicle not accelerating. I try to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle does not respond. I have the accelerator pedal pressed to the floor nothing happens for 10-15 seconds, then vehicle will lurch forward and start responding. This has happened several times as I am pulling into traffic. Major safety concern that could cause se... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2025
Electric Power Steering shuts off while driving.
Incident date: Aug 20, 2025
parked car, getting ready to leave and would not shift into gear. Finally shifted into gear and there was little to no power when accelerating. shifting into gears is hard, jerks vehicle when it does drop into a gear. No acceleration and when it does shifts gear with a lot of difficulty
Incident date: Aug 1, 2021
For a fourth time this year, the vehicle suddenly loses power while travelling on the freeway. It completely shuts off acceleration for 30-60 seconds and then picks back up by itself. The last two ocassions it happened was between 8:10 am and 8:12 am on August 18,2025. It happened on the freeway again on August 22 at about 8:13 am. I fear for my safety and life driving on the freeway
Incident date: Aug 1, 2021
For a fourth time this year, the vehicle suddenly loses power while travelling on the freeway. It completely shuts off acceleration for 30-60 seconds and then picks back up by itself. The last two ocassions it happened was between 8:10 am and 8:12 am on August 18,2025. It happened on the freeway again on August 22 at about 8:13 am. I fear for my safety and life driving on the freeway
Incident date: Aug 1, 2021
Rotor seems to have worn out much quicker than expected. When I break, I can feel certain vibration / bumps. When breaking while going down on a hill, front break also has made screeching noise. Steering feels stiff at times. generally, I have always been topping up gas more than the advertised mileage performance / EPA
Incident date: Aug 31, 2025
Safety Concern Regarding Left Rear Brake and Turn Light Malfunction in a BMW 328i I want to outline a significant safety concern related to the electrical system. specifically involving the left rear brake and turn signal lights. For several months, intermittent warnings indicated a malfunction in these lights. On New Years, the warnings ceased to be intermittent, and the lights failed completel... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2015
The vehicles electrical system failed or faulted while operating. Engine went into a slow mode while operating in traffic. After stopping vehicle would not restart. very dangerous for an elderly person operating the vehicle.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2015
The vehicles electrical system failed or faulted while operating. Engine went into a slow mode while operating in traffic. After stopping vehicle would not restart. very dangerous for an elderly person operating the vehicle.
Incident date: Dec 30, 2024
When you shift to park it tells you shift to park and you can't turn the car off.
Incident date: Apr 15, 2025
Immediately after an over-the-air (OTA) update on Aug 8, 2025, my vehicle began showing camera connection errors and disabled multiple safety/ADAS features. Over the following days, I repeatedly received alerts that AEB was unavailable. The vehicle remained drivable, but AEB and related safety functions were inactive. Chronology: Aug 8, 2025: OTA software update to 2025.26.6 completed. Right aft... Read more
Incident date: Feb 28, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission independently upshifted and then shifted into neutral. The contact stated that the transmission temperature gauge became elevated, and the vehicle shuddered while accelerating. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagno... Read more
Incident date: Feb 28, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH and exiting a highway, the contact heard a chime and became aware of the "Service Power Steering" warning light. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact used additional force on the steering wheel to turn the steering wheel to the right and jerked the steering wheel... Read more
Incident date: Aug 25, 2025
Recall issue with Catalytic converters causing check engine light to come on. I took in for recall to reset check engine light. Repair did not do anything to vehicle as check engine light comes on for a few days and goes away for a few days and the cycle repeats up until this day it continues to happen. When they did the reset Ford let me know that they reset the check engine issue for recall b... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2025
Vehicle applied brakes for no reason. Lost ability to see reverse camera during backing up. Half of the instrument cluster went dim to become barely visible. Radio screen freezes randomly. Engine cuts out or shudders intermittently.
Incident date: Aug 15, 2025
i had steve white motors 3470 hwy 70 se newton nc 28658 828-464-3458 service this recall;but, the recall says incomplete.
Incident date: Oct 7, 2022
Suspension failure - shock absorbers Sever bouncing caused - unsafe for rear passengers Replaced absorbers - problem reoccurred within 5k miles Dealership inspection - part failure again no warnings, sudden popping sound with increased bouncing. This makes the car unsuitable to drive safely.
Incident date: Aug 22, 2025
The vehicle is subject to NHTSA Recall 25V-282 for a rearview camera failure that increases the risk of a crash. First Repair Attempt (August 15, 2025): A Volvo dealership performed the prescribed software update but failed to fix the safety defect. The vehicle was returned to me in the same unsafe condition. Second Repair Attempt (August 20, 2025): The dealership identified the root cause as a ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 22, 2025
The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2022 IC BUS CESB. The contact works as the district mechanic for the Chase County Schools District. The contact stated that while driving the bus on a rural road, the alarm buzzer sensor on the emergency exit windows activated independently. Due to the rough conditions, the buzzer alarm activated. The windows were not loosened; however, the alarm soun... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2025
In our 2018 Honda Odyssey EX-L, a few weeks ago 5 different warning lights started coming on when the vehicle was started and continued while the car was driven. Lane Assist, collision warning, auto high beams, braking system and adaptive cruise control. Just yesterday the rear hatch started to malfunction; currently the rear hatch can be opened and closed manually but the power lift does not func... Read more
Incident date: Aug 22, 2025
2017: transmission replacement UW 2021: Vehicle stopped/ lost power on I44 at a speed of 70 mph. I immediately pulled over and called Roper on a recorded line per roper Honda. Took it to roper- needs a new motor. 2021: motor replacement Not UW 2024: vehicle was called in about hatch defect . Apparently, Roper reports that it is fixed yet- it IS NOT. I was unaware of the rods recall. That would... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford EcoSport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V905000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, after contacting several local dealers, the contact was advised that the vehicle would not be inspected unless a failure had occurred that was related to the recall, and then the recall repair would be provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired... Read more
Incident date: Jul 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was later taken for routine maintenance, and the mechanic discovered that the rear axle bolts had sheared off and were inside the wheel hub caps. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the rea... Read more
Incident date: Aug 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the blind spot detector alert system stopped functioning on the driver's and passenger’s side. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer who advised that there was water inside the rear driver's side taillight through a hairline fracture and was causing the short circuit of the feature. T... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2025
Auto started for about 5 minutes. Got in started vehicle and drove off. Immediately sounded like a motorcycle, loud exhaust. Volume of noise increased, upon acceleration. Checked under vehicle for exhaust problems when got to destination, 30 minutes drive, found nothing. Stayed about 90 minutes. Drove back home, same noise. Had vehicle towed to dealership. Informed transmission fluid pump was crac... Read more
Incident date: Aug 6, 2025
VTC rattles on startup. Please email me at [XXX] so we can start another lawsuit against Honda. This is a known problem that everyone from honda to your backyard mechanic are aware of. I used to love Honda. I even paid extra to get this specific Honda CRV. Kind of feel like a fool now. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Incident date: Aug 17, 2025
Suspension fault message would keep popping up.
Incident date: Aug 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); 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 ABS and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning lights illuminated and a... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2025
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 87,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 220,717.
Incident date: Aug 17, 2025
My F150 constantly needs oil and seems to lag when the oil tank is low. 163000km on the engine. I've heard other 2019 f150 drivers have the same problem. It also has a hard shift after sitting for the night, it will drop gears while going uphill which seems to be from third gear to fourth but instead drops to 3rd again creating a clunk noise. It hasn't caused an accident or anything yet but from m... Read more
Incident date: Aug 17, 2025
While performing a right turn, under normal acceleration a loud "pop/clunk" occurred. I immediately pulled into a parking lot as the vehicle was still able to drive. The vehicle runs as normal, no leaks of any kind present. Nothing visibly broken. Afterwards, I was able to determine with the vehicle suspended off of the ground, I am getting power only to the front wheels. Utilizing google, it's... Read more
Incident date: Aug 17, 2025
Purchased this vehicle in June 17 2025 from a used car dealer, as i was driving from time to time, i noticed that the vehecle would hesatate, and at times would stall, i had the spark plugs and coild replaced along with a new high pressure fuel pump, it still hesatates when pulling out into traffic, from a stop, this places the vehicle in a very dangerous position in that it can be broadsided, or... Read more
Incident date: Jul 13, 2025
Smoke, burning smell came from ac control unit. Ac wiring unit, knob completely burned/melted. Reported to Hyundai local and corporate office no resolution other then I just have to replace the unit. Please note this happened in 2022 (40,000 miles today vehicle had 58,000miles) and I paid in full for the replacement the 1st time.
Fire
Incident date: Aug 16, 2025
Horn not blowing. It started giving a low sound and now it has stopped working completely. I went online and saw where this problem is wide spread.
Incident date: Feb 15, 2025
I was driving my vehicle. I pulled into a gas station to buy something. When I stopped, smoke was coming out of the engine bay. When I popped the hood, the engine bay was on fire! I put it out with a fire extinguisher. Side Note: I bought this vehicle from a friend. It has not been registered in my name. It will be registered today, 08/15/2025 in Butler County Kansas. Augusta, KS.
Fire
Incident date: Feb 15, 2025
I was driving my vehicle. I pulled into a gas station to buy something. When I stopped, smoke was coming out of the engine bay. When I popped the hood, the engine bay was on fire! I put it out with a fire extinguisher. Side Note: I bought this vehicle from a friend. It has not been registered in my name. It will be registered today, 08/15/2025 in Butler County Kansas. Augusta, KS.
Fire
Incident date: Feb 15, 2025
I have documented 42 issues with this vehicle over the past 9 months of ownership, supported by multiple videos. These issues range from minor annoyances to serious safety concerns. The most alarming incidents include: a) Sudden disengagement of the powertrain b) Stability control system disabling unexpectedly c) Malfunctioning airbags d) Faulty or inoperative lighting systems e) Malfunctioning wi... Read more
Incident date: Aug 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Volvo C40 BEV. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle lunge forward. The contact also stated that the steering wheel became inoperable with several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while driving to and arriving at the residence, the contact was unable to shut off the vehicle. The ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that on several occasions while attempting to park the vehicle, after placing the gear shifter in park(P), while attempting to turn off the vehicle, the message "Shift to Park" was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.
Incident date: Jul 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V404000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made awar... Read more
Incident date: Aug 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle received an oil change, and the contact checked the fluids. The contact stated that all the fluid levels were sufficient. The following day that the fiancé checked the fluids, and the coolant level was low. The fiancé refilled the coolant reservoir.... Read more
Incident date: Aug 8, 2025
Very bumpy rides on the smooth highways Also creaky loud noise when given breaks. Specially when reversed driving.
Incident date: Aug 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the vehicle was cold-started, the vehicle was idling roughly and vibrated abnormally before the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed an... Read more
Incident date: Jul 30, 2025
On [XXX] - vehicle was started and when turning out of the driveway I notice a puddle which was coolant. The vehicle started to overheat. I turned back and went home then called a tow truck to retrieve the vehicle which they were able to do on Monday. The vehicle was towed and investigated by Fosters Towing in Fraser, MI. They found no evidence of a leak but there was a code (which they did no... Read more
Incident date: Jul 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the failure was the result of an unrepaired recall. The contact was informed that the parts were not yet available. The contact had received notific... Read more