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 128,460 complaints — component: AIR BAGS
Incident date: Jan 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V607000 (Seat Belts) and 26V034000 (Air Bags); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, and the seat belt was rel... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V034000 (Air Bags) and 25V607000 (Seat Belts); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
I bought a 2013 Honda Civic used off the first and only owner, got it at about 98,000 miles. A month later the check airbag system light came on. Brought it to the mechanic down the road from me and it threw a B0001-13 code - driver side airbags faulty. I ran my VIN and it looks like there are no recalls, although there is an investigation into airbag deflators for cars from this year. Really fru... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
The contact owns a 2010 Dodge Dakota. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 18V021000 (Air Bags) and 15V313000 (Air Bags). The dealer was contacted for the recall repairs and was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that it would take a while for the parts to be obtained. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact s... Read more
JEEP
GRAND WAGONEER
(2022) — AIR BAGS
Mar 19, 2026
Incident date: May 1, 2025
The front passenger seat lumbar/massage system malfunctioned and inflated without user input to maximum capacity. The lumbar air bladder became over-pressurized and created a large, hard, immovable bulge in the center of the seatback. The system will not properly deflate and remains in this condition. The failed component appears to be the lumbar/massage module and valve system, which is electron... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2023
I am reporting a safety-critical failure of the passenger-side Occupant Detection System (ODS) in my 2016 Subaru Forester, which deactivates the airbag while the seat is occupied. This issue was first documented at an authorized Subaru dealer on 11/15/2023, where the technician identified 'poor contact of connectors' (a known condition in Recall 19V-701). The initial remedy performed was to reconn... Read more
Incident date: Jun 23, 2025
Description: On June 23, 2025, I was involved in a traffic collision in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to the police report, another driver failed to yield while exiting a private driveway and struck the front of my vehicle while I was stopped in the center turn lane preparing to turn left. As the vehicle entered my lane, I pressed the horn continuously in an attempt to alert the driver. My right ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Mazda CX-30. The contact stated that while driving and sneezing, going through a green traffic light, another vehicle crashed into the front driver-side door. There was one individual in the vehicle. The driver-side air bag failed to deploy. The driver mentioned the air bag should have deployed based on the impact. No warning lights illuminated or sounds occurred prior to t... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 17, 2026
Driving on the interstate. Did not see or feel anything in the road. Airbags deployed and wrecked.
Crash
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
The Seat Occupancy Detection System is malfunctioning. The passenger airbag warning light activates when a passenger occupies the passenger seat and the passenger overhead reading light remains on when the seat is occupied including overnight. These are established symptoms of Seat Occupancy Detection System failure. The manufacturer issued a warranty extension specifically covering this defect fo... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2024) — AIR BAGS
Mar 18, 2026
Incident date: Mar 17, 2026
The same airbag error mentioned in recalls for other VINs of this vehicle is happening to this one. I think this VIN also needs to be included.
Incident date: Nov 25, 2025
On 11.25.25, my MDX was involved in a multi-car hit and run on highway 101 SB at the Laurel Drive off ramp. The vehicle sustained two points of impact: (1) substantial front/driver side impact (2) rear-passenger side impact. Despite the severity, location of impact and speed of travel at the time of the collision, all airbags deployed except for the driver side curtain airbag. Importantly, at t... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Mar 14, 2026
I have a 2007 Honda Pilot. While just taking off again from a stoplight, the passenger side, "curtain-side" airbags randomly deployed. The airbag light had been flickering on and off - it would then be on for a few moments, and turn back off, flicker again, and remain off, for about a day and a half, two days prior to this happening. There was no collision. There was no pothole. There was no harsh... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Jeep Cherokee. The contact stated that while she and her children were stopped at a light and making a left turn, another vehicle accelerated through the yellow light and collided with the front of her vehicle. The air bags did not deploy in her vehicle, but they deployed in the vehicle that collided with her vehicle. The contact stated no one in her vehicle sustained any i... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
I placed a bid on a vehicle at the co-part location in [XXX] . I reviewed the damage etc. and found it to be an acceptable risk. It was advertised that the car was in an accident with the passenger side and front grill damage. here was allegedly no damage to the motor and most importantly the airbags had not deployed. It was being sold with a salvaged title. Knowing these issues, I purchased th... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2026
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V034000 (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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Incident date: Apr 29, 2023
The contact owned a 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. The contact stated that while the son was driving at approximately 52 MPH, the vehicle crashed head-on into a second vehicle. During the crash, no air bags had deployed, and the driver sustained fatal injuries. Also, during the crash, the ignition key broke off inside the ignition switch, and the vehicle was destroyed. A police report was taken at the sce... Read more
Crash
1 deaths
Incident date: Mar 7, 2026
The contact owns a 2017 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while parked at her work, she had attempted to start the vehicle and was unable. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The contact had smelled the strong odor of gasoline from the ... Read more
3 injured
Incident date: Mar 17, 2026
I got in a car crash the airbag deployed a was
Crash
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
On 10/29/25 I brought the vehicle in to Richard Lucas Chevrolet due to the alert from my insurance co that there was a recall with parking brake system. The dealership checked the car and told me they had to order the part that was needed due to the recall. Prior I also made the dealer aware that the car had recently stalled on me in the middle of the street, I was told by the dealership that this... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
My car was t-boned on the driver side and no airbags deployed. The outer door and window exploded with the force. We were also hit from behind
Crash
2 injured
MERCEDES-BENZ
E350
(2016) — AIR BAGS
Mar 16, 2026
Incident date: Oct 9, 2025
Passenger seat capacity sensor fault. Will not activate passenger side air bag. Checked with obd scanner
Incident date: Sep 16, 2025
One day my pilot 2012 suddenly started turning on and off the passenger airbag then out of the blue the airbag system light when on. Scanned it an it reads the passenger weight sensor is not communicating the part is no longer available to purchase and it is in backorder with date of delivery to be determined. Car is not safe to operate and Honda is not selling the part anymore to get the repair. ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2026
The contact owned a 2025 Jeep Compass. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH on the expressway, the traffic came to a stop due to a stalled vehicle in the fast lane. The contact slammed on the brakes to avoid rear-ending the vehicle in front. When the vehicle behind the contact's vehicle could not stop on time and rear-ended the contact's vehicle, from the impact, the contact's vehicle w... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, another vehicle drove through a stop sign, causing the contact to T-bone the other vehicle, causing damage to the front end of the vehicle. The contact stated that no air bags did not deploy in his vehicle. The contact stated that he sustained whiplash to the neck and upper back. No medical attention was requ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 9, 2026
Purchased new August 29, 2025 On 12/3/25- Mileage 4495. Took vehicle in for first maintenance service. Tire rotation and oil change. On 1/7/26- Reported grinding noise we had began noticing when starting vehicle. Engine light Service ESC. Service Traction control. Reported to Ben Mynatt GM. On 1/8/26 Mileage 7120- Took Yukon in for service due to grinding noise. Due for 6 module updates and 3 sta... Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2026
It was smoking from the engine, I immediately stopped the vehicle. My safety was put at risk immediately while being in the vehicle when the air bags deployed hitting me in the face and causing my face to swell. The safety of others was put at risk due to others being right next to me and putting others at risk of engine blowing up. Yes, the vehicle has been inspected by police. There were no warn... Read more
Fire
1 injured
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2021) — AIR BAGS
Mar 16, 2026
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
Airbag light is flashing. Independent shop found code B00C1:93-8B. OCS Sensor B. Shop sent owner to dealer for inspection & repair. Charged $57.24. Dealer found DTC B00C1 passenger seat occupant classification sensor b. Replacement cost for the part $1,110.13, plus shop fess and tax for a total repair cost of this critical safety item would be $1,197.29. I did not have this service performed due... Read more
Incident date: Feb 26, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor located in front of the radiator had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired because the Part Number: 98581-9BD8A; had been on backorder for approximately 6-12 mon... Read more
Incident date: Apr 29, 2025
The contact owned a 2025 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the automatic emergency braking system inadvertently deactivated. The automatic emergency braking system and passenger air bag warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the suspension started lowering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer was unable to du... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 2500
(2024) — AIR BAGS
Mar 16, 2026
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
My vehicle is affected ny the ejection mitigation recall. I have small children who sit in my third row of which hyundai corporate advised is not safe. Hyundai has no foreseeable mitigation for this and is leaving me with an unusable third row resulting in a huge issue with transporting my family. I am also pregnant. After 4 weeks of back and forth with hyundai they have refused to buy back my veh... Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2025 BMW X5. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, for an unknown reason, she lost control of the vehicle and hit a telephone pole, where the vehicle came to a stop. The driver-side and passenger-side air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed. The contact's wife was taken to the hospital by ambula... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 11, 2026
I own a 2023 Hyundai Palisade Limited that currently has confirmed active safety recalls affecting critical passenger safety systems, including the third-row side-curtain airbag recall and the second-row seat belt buckle recall. We have experienced firsthand the seat belts coming unbuckled during driving. These recalls affect hundreds of thousands of Palisade vehicles and involve defects where t... Read more
Incident date: Feb 19, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the brake light failed to turn off. The service, seat belt, brake, and air bag warning lights were illuminated. The buzzer and lights were making a continuous sound. The local dealer was contacted, and the ABS module was replaced. The dealer informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN or the failure. The... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2019) — AIR BAGS
Mar 16, 2026
Incident date: Mar 9, 2026
Front passenger head restraint deployed without any accident or reason. Just deployed without cause snapping a plastic bracket so it can’t be manually pushed back into place you have to purchase the entire component. The other oddity is the piece that you need to replace in question has been discontinued. Stellantis has a recall referenced as (20c) but my particular vehicle doesn’t fit in ther... Read more
Incident date: Oct 16, 2024
Error code RCM_a021 front left safety restraint system fault. An issue that arises purely due to poor seat design. It is the fault of the seat pinching a wire from moving back and forth. This safety issue is an inevitability and not a one off chance. This issue is publicly noted on forms throughout all the years of this car’s production. This error results in airbags not being properly deployed ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2002
I hit a pothole and my airbags deployed. The Right side airbags and the front passenger seat airbags were deployed.
Incident date: Dec 20, 2002
Airbags failed to deploy in a collision where the front end of the vehicle was crushed, and a driver wearing a seat belt hit the steering wheel with enough force to fracture their sternum and cause two cervical fractures as well.
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
My vehicle has had a recall for seat belt issues for a while. My dealer has been unable to make corrections as hyundai has not/does not have the equipment to repair the issue. Its been months. Now theres another issue with airbags, and rumors of another issue with headrests. They have sold me a lemon and they are not providing a remedy.
Incident date: Dec 31, 2025
Airbag recall Recall Engine knock sensors bad
Incident date: Mar 18, 2021
I was driving about 20mph, my airbag deployed for no reason. No recalls, no warnings, nothing. I had my [XXX] daughter in the car and it was all filled with white smoke. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Incident date: Jun 1, 2025
I have already reported a crash due to sudden loos of power and submitted everything except the info that the air bags did not deploy and they should definitely
Crash
Incident date: Mar 12, 2026
My 2013 nissan rouge looses power and makes a jarring noise immediately after stopping at every stop when I accelerate it suddenly losses almost all power its already caused a crash I got hit right after take off because its immediate deceleration
Crash
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
While I was driving in the middle lane through an intersection, a car from the opposite side failed to yield while turning and hit me on my driver's side. My car was traveling at approximately 35 MPH, and the other vehicle was exceeding the speed limit. The impact caused my car to veer in the opposite direction and I lost consciousness immediately. The fire department had to extract me from the pa... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 10, 2026
I am filing a formal safety complaint regarding my 2020 Hyundai Palisade due to severe and ongoing engine oil consumption that presents a safety risk, combined with an active federal airbag safety recall. For approximately one year, my vehicle has been consuming excessive engine oil. Approximately 1,500–2,000 miles after an oil change, the vehicle becomes dangerously low on oil. On January 19, 2... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2025
Error message "Supplemental Restraint System Problem. See Your Dealer." comes on everyday. I understand this is a Honda well known issue and they refuse to recall.
Incident date: Feb 20, 2026
I was involved in an accident which resulted in my C-RV being totaled. Another vehicle pulled out immediately in front of me and I crashed into it. None of my airbags deployed. My vehicle's emergency response system was activated- it called emergency response and kept repeating that a crash had been detected. The front of my car was crushed in and the impact sent the vehicle that pulled out in f... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
Airbag light comes on due to some failure in the passenger seat. This vehicle year has had a recall on the same issue but this VIN number was not included for some reason. Another consumer posted his assessment which I have attached. My vehicle falls under his category. He has sold his since his was never resolved.