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 129,250 complaints - component: AIR BAGS
Incident date: Sep 21, 2024
When someone sits in the passenger seat the airbag light/alarm goes on and off. My mechanic said I would need to take it to the dealer. I called dealer and they would need to diagnose if it is the seat belt or the seat weight sensor. Can cost upwards of $900. I just can't afford that. They should recall since I've researched so many complaints on this issue.
Incident date: Jun 23, 2024
Airbag front passenger side has defect will not deploy. The dashboard light alert is on, as per dealership review stated airbag defect will not deploy and needs to be replaced. Car has never used airbag. Other same vehicles have been recalled but this batch of atlas cross sport suvs were not included.
Incident date: Sep 17, 2024
These 3 things may be related to each other because they all are connected to the steering wheel. My car can be scheduled for an inspection regarding these safety problems. 1. The Airbag warning light is sometimes on when I drive the car. I'm worried it won't work if I'm in a wreck. 2. The horn doesn't work when I press on the part of the steering wheel that should make it work. It does make a l... Read more
Incident date: Sep 6, 2024
Once coming home, my airbag from steering wheel deployed. I did not get into an accident, just as i closed my door it went off. I worried about my safety especially because i have a baby. Any airbag could’ve gone off for no reason. I don’t feel safe in my car. After taking it to Viva Kia here in El Paso, they did not offer any inspections just a number to call. I was scared when they sent me o... Read more
Incident date: Mar 28, 2023
Honda notified me of a recall of a seat sensor for my 2021 Honda Accord over a year ago. The dealers I have called in San Diego, CA have all told me that they have the parts but won’t repair my vehicle because they are only allowed to repair cars with their airbag light on. A year ago rha mase sense, a year later knowing that the dealer is sitting on the parts and aren’t allowed to install t... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2023) - AIR BAGS
Sep 20, 2024
Incident date: Sep 20, 2024
I was involved in a accident where the airbags did not deploy. I was hit on my driver's side and the vehicle was totaled but the airbags never deployed. I also dealt with electrical issues the entire time I had the vehicle. I believe the electrical issues cause the airbags not to deploy. I did receive the vehicle in that condition.
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Sep 20, 2024
In February 2024 I became aware of a recall impacting my 2021 Acura TLX. When I called Acura, I was told more information would become available-- I did not hear back. Then In April 2024 I took my vehicle in for servicing and asked my dealership Radley Acura if they could also repair the recall, and the dealership informed me they did not have a part nor an estimate as to when it would become avai... Read more
Incident date: Sep 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact discovered that the front driver side curtain air bag cover panel was loose and unsecured. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the front driver’s side curtain air bag had partially deployed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle had not been involved in a crash to cause the partial deployment... Read more
Incident date: Aug 24, 2024
On [XXX], I was traveling back to Colorado from Missouri. The weather conditions turned poor while I was traveling just west of Topeka, Kansas. I lowered my speed to below the speed limit and continued. At one point, the car lost control. At this time, it veered to left and hit hard against median. Smashing the driver side front end substantially. Airbags did not deploy at this time. My he... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Sep 20, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Front Driver’s Side Safety Restraint Fault" remained displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,000.
Incident date: Apr 28, 2024
This complaint relates to safety recall campaigns work regarding my 2003 Acura TL car's SRS (air bags). I took my car to the Acura Service Center in Guaynabo, PR, for recall related repairs at various times during 2022 and 2023. The last time was [XXX]. The PROBLEM is that the Acura center's initial recall-related repair may have been faulty, thus causing the SRS warning light to turn on and stay ... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
REDUNDANT EQE 350 4MATIC
(2023) - AIR BAGS
Sep 20, 2024
Incident date: Sep 16, 2024
I received an SRS airbag, service urgent, drive to workshop warning. I took the car in six times the first two times they said it was a software update and they failed to update the software the third time they updated the software. It didn’t work the fourth time they said it was the passenger seat and the scale wasn’t working or connecting so it was throwing off the airbag. They fixed that, i... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 2500
(2020) - AIR BAGS
Sep 20, 2024
Incident date: Sep 9, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V461000 (Air Bags); 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had n... Read more
Incident date: Sep 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags); 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts... Read more
Incident date: Aug 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the sternum of the steering wheel where the front driver's side air bag was located was popping out, and the front driver's side air bag was visible and seemed to be partially deployed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the c... Read more
Incident date: Sep 18, 2024
The contact owned a 2015 Volkswagen GTI A7. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, while accelerating from a stop the vehicle was involved in a front collision caused by loose gravel on the road. The contact stated she lost control and drove into a ditch that struck a concrete culvert. The contact sustained minor injuries such as bruises on her elbows, knees, and head but did no... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Sep 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V720000 (Structure) and 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were 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 ... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2024) - AIR BAGS
Sep 19, 2024
Incident date: Aug 31, 2024
TRIM ELECTRICAL - Upon dealer service inspection, technician found the air bag light on. DTCS code B0020-13 left side airbag deployment control circuit open due to the wiring harness routed under the driver's seat becoming chafed as a result of the automatic seat adjustment resulting in a nondeployment or late deployment of airbag. Dealer recommended replacement of the wiring harness. THIS IS A DE... Read more
Incident date: Sep 17, 2024
The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V363000 (Air Bags) however, it failed to prevent the recall safety risk. The contact stated that while his mother was driving at approximately 45 MPH with the grandmother seated in the front passenger seat, another vehicle cut in front abruptly and switched back into thei... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Jul 30, 2024
Nothing has happened currently but I have reported this issue to have it serviced and was told that since the status is stuck in limbo there is nothing I can do, this isn’t safe for me nor my family taking that risk every day as a every day driver.
Incident date: Jul 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Passport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags); 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 dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.... Read more
Incident date: Sep 3, 2024
On Monday, [XXX], I was at the CVS pharmacy drive through when the failure occurred. There was no accident and otherwise no warning before it happened. I attempted to pull out when I noticed the car was drifting and the steering was extremely stiff. I looked down to see that the airbag light and BRAKE light were both on. I coasted into a spot I happened to be aligned with. As I did, I felt the bra... Read more
Incident date: Sep 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, the brake pedal depressed the floorboard without warning and failed to slow down as needed. During the second failure, the contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle initially accelerated upon depression of the brake pedal before the vehicle started to slow down. As the contact depressed the... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Sep 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V344000 (Air Bags); 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconn... Read more
Incident date: Sep 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the driver's side air bag needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V947000 (Air Bags). The contact call... Read more
Incident date: May 18, 2024
My 5.4 v8 triton motor timing came phasers are bad the truck runs fine when cold when it gets warmer up it rattles and shakes and stalls air bag light stays on I had to pull the fuse bc it beeps and warning light so it's not active
Incident date: Sep 10, 2024
Was in a car accident was hit from left front side and left rear passenger door. Other vehicle was going 62 mph when impacted. None of the air bags deployed in the vehicle. I hit my head twice on the window and was knocked unconscious. Insurance will be inspecting vehicle. No lights or failure before accident about airbags.
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Jun 14, 2024
Passenger in front, light flashes on and off. Venice unable to be repaired at dealership. Dealership reporting they are recommending no front seat passenger in my vehicle. Repair unavailable since June 2024. The car is brand new and poses a serious safety risk to my family and I. We are unable to use the car for personal family use due to high safety risk to passengers.
Incident date: Jul 23, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V461000 (Air Bags); 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2024
This is related to the ODS recall (October 3, 2019 NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V701000) where the sensor mat harness was replaced. Turns out the ODS sensor mat also needs to be replaced. The issue was happening intermittently throughout 2024 and I have brought the car in for service but the part is on back order for 2 months now.
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER HYBRID
(2022) - AIR BAGS
Sep 17, 2024
Incident date: May 7, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); 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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienc... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Accord. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V06400 (Air Bags); 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnec... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2020) - AIR BAGS
Sep 17, 2024
Incident date: Sep 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to turn on the headlights, the air bags deployed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to Special Coverage Adjustment: 23520 Passenger Presence Sensor (PPS) Module; however, the VIN was not included in the Spe... Read more
Incident date: Sep 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags); 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 not... Read more
Incident date: Sep 17, 2024
A safety recall has been placed on this vehicle, but no remedy remains. I haven't even had this vehicle for a year, and I am scared to drive it. I purchased it because I have toddlers and needed the space. I need a solution.
Incident date: Mar 29, 2024
When stop at the stop sign and step in the brake... the car momentary accelerates by its self. Its very dangerous. Pls fix the problems Toyota.
MERCEDES-BENZ
GLE 450
(2022) - AIR BAGS
Sep 16, 2024
Incident date: Jul 24, 2023
Volkswagen has issued an interim safety recall for certain VW vehicles. We believe this also incorporates VW Arteon. The Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) detects a malfunction, switches off the passenger airbag, displays an Airbag error and renders the passenger seat inoperable due to increased risk of injury. I’m alerted by the illumination of the airbag warning light, an acoustic ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 4, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES300H. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); 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 not experienced ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V464000 (Air Bags); 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool co... Read more
Incident date: Aug 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus RX350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); 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 manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2023
The contact owned a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 35-40 MPH, another vehicle unexpectedly cut in front of the vehicle. The contact's wife veered to the right to avoid the other vehicle, and the front driver's side of the vehicle crashed into an electric pole. The air bags failed to deploy, causing the contact's wife to hit her forehead against the st... Read more
Crash
1 injured
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2020) - AIR BAGS
Sep 16, 2024
Incident date: Jul 16, 2024
The passenger side airbag notification shows that the airbag is disabled when a passenger is seated in the seat and the car is moving. This happens very frequently when driving at various speed. If the passenger is not seated exactly at 90 degrees deeply in the seat in a perfect position, the airbag will be disabled. The sensitivity of the airbag sensor is very concerning. No one will sit straigh... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2020
Front passenger air bag seat occupancy sensor (OC3) mat warning "Passenger restraint system. Fault in passenger restraint system affecting airbag" BMW has an extended warranty for this exact issue on several other models, but not the 1 series which should be included. This is a huge safety issue and shouldn't be the customer's responsibility.
Incident date: Sep 15, 2024
Passenger airbag sensor does not detect passenger reliably. My 13 year old son and my wife both have issues. They are both over 120 lbs, so I think they should trigger the sensor. I have had it serviced for this issue, but it did not fix the problem. It also will detect a person in the seat during a drive and turn off later in that same trip without stopping the car. It seems to me that the sens... Read more
FIAT
124 SPIDER
(2017) - AIR BAGS
Sep 16, 2024
Incident date: Nov 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Suzuki Kizashi. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V187000 (Seats, Air Bags); however, the contact was informed that the dealer could not repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the dealer and the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not e... Read more
Incident date: May 8, 2024
Vehicle was involved in a front end collision and was determined to be a total loss . None of the air bags deployed
Crash
Incident date: Sep 13, 2024
A safety recall was issued for my Lexus RX450h on 12/19/2023. I immediately contacted the dealership from whom I purchase the vehicle from. They informed me that "the part was on back order and would be there in September. On 09/12/2024, my partner took the vehicle in due to a nail in the tire and additionally to schedule for the vehicle to have the safety recall repaired, as they told us th... Read more
Incident date: Sep 16, 2024
On multiple occasions this vehicle has failed to operate, a red hazard light goes on along with many other failure light indicators. I've been stranded where the car does nothing and also experienced the car dying while driving. When the vehicle comes to the airbag indicators come on warning that the airbags are not functioning. I have had to drive the vehicle this way. It's not the first time... Read more
Incident date: Sep 16, 2024
Landlord damage my car by moving it without a key and without my permission and mist up the whole car by doing that and the police said it a civil matter wen it's not her car !