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: Jul 3, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (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 a f... Read more
Incident date: Nov 16, 2023
The contact owned a 2007 Mercedes Benz C230. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V918000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The manufacturer was notified. The local dealer was not contacted regarding the matter.
Incident date: Jun 3, 2024
Passenger Airbag occupancy light stays in off position when seat is occupied. When this occurs the airbag system warning light comes on. Took it to the dealership and they said the problem is the seat sensor, which they say is not covered by the earlier wiring harness for the sensor recall. Cost of part is 1,200 and with labor is 2,000. Part is on back order minimum 3 months. Dealer indicated they... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the front passenger’s side seat belt buckle tension sensor needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the failure code for the seat belt tension sensor had been actively showing.... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (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 experie... Read more
Incident date: Jun 25, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); 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 manufacturer was mad... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Buick Enclave. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) 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 manufacturer was made... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
GLS 580
(2023) - AIR BAGS
Jul 9, 2024
Incident date: Jul 7, 2024
I was driving home and while stopped at a light, the passenger headrest popped off its frame without being triggered by a collision or other event. Researching online, it seems this is the same issue that many others have had with the Active Head Restraint deploying randomly due to a failed piece of plastic used in the design.
Incident date: Jul 8, 2024
I just had a forth occurence of the "safety restraint system error" message on my Tesla. I say forth, because the three times previous, I had to go into Tesla to have them "fix" the issue, only for it now, to happen again for the 4th time. I don't think this is a small issue, and you guys need to know about it. Not sure, this is just faulty service teams, or inexperience, or. they are just fai... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Acadia. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000(Air Bags) 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 manufacturer was made awa... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distributi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2023
The contact's mother owns a 2017 Buick Enclave. The contact’s mother received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (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 ... Read more
THOR MOTOR COACH
ACE
(2021) - AIR BAGS
Jul 8, 2024
Incident date: Jul 6, 2024
2004 VOLVO S60 PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN SEPT 04. On 7/8/24 STRANDED AT 7-11 CAR WOULDN'T START. ACTING AS IF THERE WAS POWER LOSS, AC WENT OFF, BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT ON PANEL, POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS DID NOT WORK, TEMP 105 OUTSIDE , THEN DRIVER PANEL WENT BLACK., I WAS SCARED. ENGINE WOULDN'T START. FINALLY, AFTER WAITING 10 MINUTES...IT STARTED RUNNING BUT WAS SLUGGISH. RADIO WAS ON, POWER DOOR, ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2024
My car has an airbag recall from May of 2023, which has no remedy. This has not been resolved in a timely manner.
Incident date: Jul 8, 2024
clockspring malfunction causing horn, cruise control, and air bag not functioning
Incident date: Jul 7, 2024
1-The front air bag sensor will nor register if a person is sitting in the sear, no matter the weight. 2-The modem keeps direction the vehicle to steer right. No matter how many alignments and parts are replaced, the ECM will not correct itself 3-KIA dealers will only repair the problem if the customer pays $$$$$$$$
Incident date: Apr 1, 2024
The accelerator on my vehicle malfunctioned and got stuck. While making turn with no acceleration, the acceleration of the vehicle got stuck and the brakes did not respond causing the vehicle to hit a sidewalk and breaking the passenger side suspension and control arm and axel of the vehicle. Airbags deployed. Controlled the vehicle until it stopped completely. When vehicle was completely stopped ... Read more
Crash
FOREST RIVER
CARDINAL
(2001) - AIR BAGS
Jul 8, 2024
Incident date: Jun 11, 2024
Dash is cracking badly on its own. Is cracking also where airbag is held. Pieces can fly as projectiles and cause bodily harm when airbag deploys.
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS CROSS SPORT
(2024) - AIR BAGS
Jul 8, 2024
Incident date: Jan 26, 2024
I was involved in a significant vehicle crash with my Tesla Model S, the vehicle wa a complete write-off and was towed away. I was taken via ambulance unconscious from my injuries. The vehicle was struck by a perpendicular vehicle who ran a stop sign and hit the front driver's side firewall/door area. The impact was hard enough to drive my car sideways against all wheels into the curb, over the cu... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jun 13, 2024
Driver steering wheel airbag deployed while parking van at work. Nothing was hit just went off causing burns and wrist pain and swelling. Wife stated that the front windshield wipers started turning on randomly while driving to work and then airbag blew while parking.
1 injured
Incident date: Jun 30, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); 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 manufacturer was mad... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (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
SUBARU
XV CROSSTREK
(2013) - AIR BAGS
Jul 8, 2024
Incident date: Jun 3, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not expe... Read more
Incident date: Jul 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the air bag warning light was flashing. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failure was due to a fault with the air bag. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was app... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2024
The contact's father owned a 2010 Subaru Outback. The contact's father received recall notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V001000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list because he no longer owns the vehicle, and the vehicle was exported to Canada. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted.
Incident date: Jun 17, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Enclave. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags). The local dealer was made aware of the issue and three separate appointments were scheduled to have the recall repair performed. The contact arrived for the appointments and was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2021) - AIR BAGS
Jul 8, 2024
Incident date: Jul 7, 2024
The airbag Service light keeps coming on. There has been no accidents to this vehicle. There was a airbag safety recall on Chrysler 2016, but when I contacted Chrysler, they said my vehicle fell out of the date range that they assigned the recall to it was manufactured before a certain date reference number 90517639. Chrysler should be responsible to ensure that buyers are safe in their vehicles a... Read more
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2023) - AIR BAGS
Jul 8, 2024
Incident date: Jul 8, 2024
When I open the driver's side when car running, the check SRS airbag system warning light comes on. It also comes on if I start car with door open.
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
A recall was issued May of 2023 regarding potential fatal consequences from air bag deployment. As of today, July 8, 2024, there is still no remedy. I am afraid to drive my vehicle, the dealer will not fix the issue, and I can't sell the vehicle due to the potential danger that may occur.
Incident date: Jul 4, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander. 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 experien... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (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 experie... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Civic. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V064000 (Air Bags) and 23V458000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) 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 not made awa... Read more
Incident date: Jun 23, 2024
The contact owned a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while the daughter was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle collided with a second vehicle and flipped over one and a half times. During the crash, the vehicle sustained front-end damage, and the bumper was partially separated from the vehicle but the front driver's air bag did not deploy. The driver sustained a head injury a... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Sep 15, 2021
As documented in the previous report.
Incident date: Jul 6, 2024
Passenger side active headrest deployed without accident while sitting in driveway no one in or around vehicle and also not running.
Incident date: Jul 5, 2024
The Horn has stopped working and it appears to be the Clock Spring. This is a safety hazard as it can cause the airbags to engage randomly or NOT engage in the case of a crash. This is an expensive repair that should not be at the expense of the owner since it is a defect in the Clock Spring. I am aware that there have been Clock Spring recalls on other models of Jeeps, but not on this one.
Incident date: Jul 6, 2024
N212328760 Recall preformed on 8/4/2022. Airbag warning light still coming on while driving! Evidently, my problem was never fixed.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2015
Driver side airbag system completely broken. No crashes or accidents caused this. It happened out of nowhere one day.
Incident date: Feb 24, 2024
Falla en abs y ruedas riesgo al frenar tarda demasiado luces de abs vdc off AWD y tpms
Incident date: Jul 7, 2023
There has been an open recall WITHOUT resolution for over 6 months
LAND ROVER
DEFENDER
(2023) - AIR BAGS
Jul 7, 2024
Incident date: Jul 6, 2024
We have had a recall on our vehicle for over a year now. The finance and car dealership we are leasing our vehicle from is completely useless and has had zero interest in returning my phone call or assisting me in repairing our vehicle. I need emergency assistance ASAP as mine and my families life depend on it.
Incident date: Jul 6, 2024
My vechile service airbag system light keep coming on when driving. I check my my storage memory on the cluster and there is nothing stored. I took it to auto zone where they hook up the computer and everything check out good. they said check to see if there a recall on it since everything check out and it is a saftely issue.
Incident date: Jul 6, 2024
I received a critical safety recall regarding side air bags from Rivian regarding my 2023 R1S on June 14. After multiple attempts by me to connect with their Customer Service, I was informed that a mobile service technician would come to fix the issue on August 26, 2024. This would be more than 60 days after Rivian's initial notification. Additionally, on July 6 2024, when I turned on the vehicle,... Read more
Incident date: Jul 5, 2024
B1B02 driver airbag squib 1 circuit open. Airbag light keeps going on and off with loud beep. Googled code saying clocking spring
ALFA ROMEO
GIULIA
(2017) - AIR BAGS
Jul 5, 2024
Incident date: Feb 22, 2024
Car hit a ditch at over 40MPH and rolled over on its side and no airbags deployed
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Dec 5, 2023
Getting a airbag control module open code.
HYUNDAI
TUCSON HYBRID
(2024) - AIR BAGS
Jul 5, 2024
Incident date: Jun 24, 2024
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Camry. 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienc... Read more
Incident date: Jul 4, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (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 not exp... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) 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 contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienc... Read more