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: Jan 1, 2024
In early October, 2023, the red airbag inoperative light (airbag "off") came on the dashboard when someone is sitting in the passenger seat. This was an intermittent issue with the light coming on at times and off for several days before reappearing. On , the vehicle was brought to the Suburu dealer (Subaru of Auburn, WA) for testing and repair. Suburu technicians tested the seat sensor unit and d... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2024
O2 System failed. System checked. The service light is still on. Agents assisted with inspecting.
Incident date: Feb 11, 2024
O2 System failed. System checked. The service light is still on. Agents assisted with inspecting.
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2024) - AIR BAGS
Feb 25, 2024
Incident date: Jan 8, 2024
O2 System failed. System checked. The service light is still on. Agents assisted with inspecting. Dealership had the vehicle non-recall. Seat belt light appeared and Agent was contacted. System is collected for revisiting my claim.
Incident date: Feb 23, 2024
My truck has roughly 26,000 miles and the airbag sensing module on it corroded due to water gathering around it in the acoustic padding. It happens because water runs down a line that enters the cab and gets absorbed by the acoustic padding. This is a known issue as there is a recall for other states. My state is not one even though Louisiana is one of the wettest states and we also use salt in th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2023
The airbag light came on in the vehicle. We took it into the dealership, they said we need a passenger airbag sensor mat and seat cushion for the passenger seat airbag system. This item was recalled in 2018 Porche Macon NHTSA Campain ID 21V131000/Recall AMA2. Porche said since our VIN was not included in the recall we have to pay to fix it. They said the only way to get our VIN added was to contac... Read more
Incident date: Feb 22, 2024
Brakes: Every day for past two years, on every startup car states Brake system problem, anti-lock brake problem, and TPMS problem; with it having no actual problem with brake system and message disappearing after a few minutes of driving. SRS: Intermittent display of SRS light while driving reading: airbag system or seat belt tensioners have a problem. Usually appears after Passenger airbag light... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE 4XE
(2022) - AIR BAGS
Feb 23, 2024
Incident date: Feb 22, 2024
i bought my jeep compass 2018 5 months ago and is a defected car and has been getting into issues and the dealer ship no cooperating at all and car now is parked cuz the TCM denied (transmission control module )also the engine coolant revoir broke suddenly and they made me pay for that when I don't really drive and the car came like that and I don't know what to do the people at the dealership..... Read more
Incident date: Feb 23, 2024
While driving with a passenger in the front seat, I noticed the passenger airbag was not enabled. Seems the passenger is not detected. Sometime having the passenger moving around or adjusting the seat/seatbelt would fix the issue and the airbag will enable. Randomly occurs and randomly fixes. Once it is enabled it seems to stay enabled for the remainder of the drive.
Incident date: Feb 23, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Traverse. 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 not made aware of the issue. 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 ha... Read more
Incident date: Jan 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that there was windy sound coming from the front passenger's side door while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that there was water accumulated between the front driver's side door and the body of the vehicle, which caused water to pour inside the vehicle while openi... Read more
HONDA
ACCORD HYBRID
(2023) - AIR BAGS
Feb 23, 2024
Incident date: Aug 12, 2023
1. Car got into an accident, another car hit my car front on... my Airbags never deployed but I side my front screen, it shows airbags deployed, and even button of airbags now flashes... 2. Seatbelt, malfunctions and got so tied on me that it was literally shocking me and then when I undid my seatblet, seatbelt shrunk and would not budge to work again to seatbelt myself and became short... 3. Wh... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side air bag inadvertently deployed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause for the air bag deployment. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was open... Read more
Incident date: Feb 22, 2024
I am experiencing issues related to the airbag sensor recall as the sensor does not know if someone is in the seat or not - it thinks someone is there when they aren't, and vice versa. This recall was announced in April of 2023, and since then, I have been unable to have any passengers ride in my front seat. Needless to say this is not only very inconvenient but also impacts my ability to trade i... Read more
TOYOTA
RAV4 PRIME
(2021) - AIR BAGS
Feb 22, 2024
Incident date: Feb 22, 2024
Driver side headrest has deployed, and there was no warning or notification prior to this happening. I should not have to pay hundreds of dollars on a replacement if clips or what may it be to hold device together are faulty. 1st vehicle with this problem, and now my 2nd Jeep Compass has this issue as well. No accidents, just deployed.
Incident date: Nov 22, 2023
Driver side headrest has deployed, and there was no warning or notification prior to this happening. I should not have to pay hundreds of dollars on a replacement if clips or what may it be to hold device together are faulty.
CHRYSLER
TOWN AND COUNTRY
(2014) - AIR BAGS
Feb 22, 2024
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
Recall 20V668000 Recall 18V774000
Incident date: Jan 6, 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 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 par... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2023
This is my second complaint to NHTSA. I purchased my certified pre owned Acura on 01/06/2024 After I added my Acura to my Car Insurance. They notified me and told me that there is an open Recall Associated with my vin number. That recall is for a (seat weight sensor) RECALL # 24v-064000 RECALL DATE 02/01/24 -- REMEDY NOT AVAILABLE. I filed a complaint with NHTSA ID# 11572570. After I filed my firs... Read more
Incident date: Feb 22, 2024
dealer told me that they will replace the passenger airbag but i need to sign a paper saying that if the dash board breaks while they work on it then they are not responsible and i need to pay to repair whatever damage there may be, they also said GM or Tekada would not pay to damage to dashboard because its old.....i did not let them replace airbag. my name is [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] Rydell Chevrole... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2023
Airbag light is on. P06DD Engine oil pressure control circuit performance /stuck off
Incident date: Feb 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V215000 (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. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that par... Read more
Incident date: Feb 22, 2024
Recall for air bag was issued in May or 2023. So far no information on repair time, etc. Local dealers unable to provide more information. We have a vehicle that is dangerous to drive and need help resolving the issue.
FORD
ESCAPE HYBRID
(2020) - AIR BAGS
Feb 22, 2024
Incident date: Feb 19, 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 ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 11, 2024
There was nothing wrong with my car previously. I was driving down a main road in my town and accidentally tried turning in somewhere that wasn't a road, going under 10mph I rode atop an island in the road and my steering wheel airbag popped. I do not know if that is supposed to happen when driving at such a speed but I believe it shouldn't have. The damage has not yet been inspected. My safety wa... Read more
Incident date: Feb 10, 2020
See attached document for complaint
Incident date: Jan 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message “Passenger Restraint Air Bag Malfunction" was displayed. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 132,000.
Incident date: Feb 22, 2024
I was t-boned by a f-150, airbags didn’t deploy and my seat belt didn’t lock. With no safety features deploying, I sustained injuries. No one wants to inspect it, due to there being no fatalities or permanent dismemberment. There were no warnings or lights on prior to the accident, the seatbelts still latch and are able to be buckled which they shouldn’t be.
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Dec 31, 2023
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 not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienc... Read more
Incident date: Feb 22, 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 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: Feb 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage after two weeks, he started the vehicle and reversed onto the driveway. The driver's side and passenger's side air bags deployed without impact or warning. There were no reported injuries. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer w... Read more
Incident date: Feb 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the air bag warning light had been illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure where it was confirmed there was no warranty or recall coverage on the vehicle. The failure mil... Read more
Incident date: Feb 13, 2024
My car it’s just 124400 miles and suddenly started to showing me a service safety restraint system then the airbag light goes on and shows that the hood is open when I start the car and stays like that for 20 seconds then goes off
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2021) - AIR BAGS
Feb 21, 2024
Incident date: Dec 28, 2023
My 2014 Subaru Forester has a defective passenger weight sensor in the passenger seat. This sensor has been subject to recall for the 2015-2018 model years. [XXX] Shouldn’t that be extended to the 2014 model year? It appears to be the same problem and is widely reported online. 1. The airbag is set to not deploy when the weight sensor is not talking to the control computer. A clear safety haza... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2024
In a collision where there was front end damage, no airbag deployed
Crash
Incident date: Jul 21, 2023
On February 16th at about 6 AM, I was in a collision. I was first hit in the front by a pickup truck impacting my frontside, from right to left. I expected my Kia Telluride to engage it's safety features such as, Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, and at the very least the Airbags, which none of them deployed at anytime during this collision. I was then rear-ended by an 18-whe... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Feb 21, 2024
Wrecked and no emergency buttons would work nor did then the air bag didnt deploy when it should of. It busted but didnt come out
Crash
Incident date: Feb 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 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 made... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2016
Vehicle sat in driveway for one week while on cruise. The day of return the sonata caught on fire without any person touching the car for one week. Brother who’s house it was at was woken by neighbors at 7sm. Home had minor damage, but it could of been bad if it was in someone’s garage. Fire started in engine and console. Fire department could not find out a reason. Car was totaled. Had to ren... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Dec 18, 2023
I brought car told dealer of air bag light on to service and tire monitor light I had my steering lock and ESC light on dealership did nothing to comply to safety of this called don't return calls
Incident date: Jun 9, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact received notification 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 repairs. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the parts were not yet available. The manuf... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 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 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 m... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2006 Volvo S60. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V766000 (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 to schedule an appointment for the recall repair; however, the contact was unable to secu... Read more
Incident date: Jan 17, 2024
See attached letter for details
Incident date: Feb 20, 2024
The sam box (electrical system fuze panel) located under the hood is in a spot where if the lid isn't on correctly water will drain from the windshield right into the sam box and cause the vehicles electrical system to deploy the steering wheel airbag. That's at least what happened to me. It was raining out that day and I guess I went over a bump that caused the lid of the sam to get out of place.... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2024
My airbag warning light comes on intermittently. When the light is on, the airbags are non-functional. It comes on at various times while driving, and at various speeds. The official diagnosis is a flaw in the "internal resistance in driver's airbag inflator." This is a well-established problem in this model, and Honda offers extended warranty coverage for the passenger side airbag for this probl... Read more
Incident date: Feb 28, 2023
Brakes have failed. Cannot even get to dealership because of this for the repair. Also, airbag light is still on and no repair listed for recall issue.
Crash
Incident date: Feb 13, 2024
The air bag light and sound are going off without any collision or accident type. Just randomly started going off. Airbags have never been deployed and goes off with or without weight on the seats.
Incident date: Feb 20, 2024
Tried to make an appointment with Ray Brandt Toyota in Kenner Louisiana. Made the appointment online, but could not get someone to call me back telling me if the airbag part was in I tried calling countless times I tried going through their website. Chat nothing. I’m going to have to drive over an hour away to another Toyota dealership, due to this once lack of concern towards their customers. I... Read more