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: Nov 20, 2023
I was informed of the active airbag recall on my vehicle when it was taken in on 1/26/24 to have diagnostic work done on the AC. The GM repair center would not repair the vehicle. Every person and agency I have spoken to has refused to help me because there is currently no remedy available. If there is no remedy, my airbag should simply be replaced.
Incident date: Jun 30, 2023
Driver side and left back side airbags deployed while driving on the highway in the fast lane. No impact to the car occurred to lead this to happen. No damaged to the car occurred. No other vehicles were involved. Turned I hard turned the wheel and all left side window and driver seat airbags deployed. No warning or messages problem was seen prior to accident. Sustained a TBI as a result.
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 29, 2024
I was t boned while driving aprox 25 30 non of my air bags deployed and to bolts holding the door had the head shear off while bolts were still stuck in door frame
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Dec 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) 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 fail... Read more
Incident date: May 10, 2023
As there is a NHTSA recall notice on the 2004 Toyota Matrix for a Takata air bag risk of explosion with shrapnel, should there also be a similar notice on the 2004 Pontiac Vibe, which is practically the same vehicle and was manufactured at the same plant in CA?
Incident date: Jan 10, 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts ... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2018) - AIR BAGS
Jan 30, 2024
Incident date: Jan 30, 2024
My safety and the safety of my family continues to be at risk due to GM’s failure to resolve this issue nearly a year after the recall was issued. I’ve been patient, but this is unacceptable to still have no timeline for resolution.
Incident date: Jan 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, another driver who was driving approximately 55 MPH ran the red light and crashed into the front driver's side of the vehicle. The vehicle then made 180 degrees spin. The contact stated that the fender, the bumpers, the hood, the front driver's side suspension, and the front and rear driver's side doors, were damag... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
The NHTSA has issued a recall due to a safety concern with the airbag since the airbag inflator may rupture causing metal fragments to explode into the vehicle interior causing death or harm to passengers. As a result these vehicles have been designated as not safe to drive. While it appears through the Working Capital Assistance Program some type of compensation or assistance is being provided f... Read more
Incident date: Oct 7, 2023
The 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe was manufactured by Toyota and is for all intent and purposes is a 2003 Toyota Matrix. The 2003-04 Pontiac Vibe should be included in the "Do not drive" advisory issued by Toyota 20 Jan 30th 2024. Only the body is different than the Toyota Matrix and everything internal is the same. Please do not let this model fall through the cracks. January 30, 2024, Toyota issued ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2023
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
COOPER
CLASSIC TOUR
(9999) - AIR BAGS
Jan 30, 2024
Incident date: Jan 29, 2024
Airbag light appeared on 1/29/24 next to engine light.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
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 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: Jan 20, 2024
The Airbags lights showing it is off and not functioning.
Incident date: Jan 21, 2024
I was involved in a motor vehicle accident on January 14, 2024. My vehicle was struck head on, left driver side. The airbag did not deploy. I sprain my shoulder, fractured my chest rib, and have a knee contusion. My insurance company deemed my vehicle a total loss. I contacted Hyundai and they advised that because I did not currently have vehicle in my possession, they could not inspect it. I gave... Read more
Crash
2 injured
FORD
FUSION ENERGI
(2020) - AIR BAGS
Jan 30, 2024
Incident date: Jun 16, 2023
On 01/27/2024 I went to Mungenast Saint Louis Honda because my SRS airbag lights keep coming on for passenger seat, I paid $89 for a diagnosis fee and found out that I was told there is a sensor malfunction that is causing this. I was told that if that light is in the airbags will not deploy during an accident. I asked them to replace this part for free, they refused stated vehicle out of warranty... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2024
Engine failure fluid leek and wire burning smells engine burst into flames from the under carriage of the engine. The contact wants to see if there are any recalls and if so should the car be sold at msrp price.
Fire
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
Last year around December the passenger side airbag started separating from the cover it is in. I contacted toyota told was nit in recall list . Also called dealer they said to contact toyota. You can pop it back in but afraid airbag may explode open
HYUNDAI
SONATA HYBRID
(2023) - AIR BAGS
Jan 29, 2024
Incident date: Jan 29, 2024
It has been over 9 months since VW issued a recall of the front passenger airbag. We were instructed not to use the front passenger seat. With children and sports equipment to haul around it is extremely inconvenient, bordering on making the vehicle obsolete with an inability to use the front passenger seat. We have not heard anything from VW regarding a fix and they have not responded to my attem... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2024
would like to know what is being done to remedy this...been a year since the recall has been issued and nothing has been done to fix the cars. im uncomfortable driving the car especially when my children are in it...this is absolutely ridiculous. something needs to be done about this before more lives are lost.
Incident date: Jan 29, 2024
I have a failure occurring with the air bag system in my 2015 GMC Terrain SLE. There seems to be other air bag issues with this vehicle. This is yet another problem. I am aware that there is a technical bulletin that the manufacture has published concerning the failure I am experiencing, but there appears to be no recall. Specifically, I have a service air bag light on in the vehicle. The pro... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2024
This is in line with the 2023 Audi Q5 (VIN: [XXX] with only 4k miles on the odometer), which has several system malfunctioning errors that populate periodically. The same error occurred while running on the first day I collected this Audi Q5 from Audi Dallas showroom on [XXX]. This error was permanent and appeared every time i started the vehicle. As suggested by the Audi Dallas service departme... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2022
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 time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was... Read more
Incident date: Jan 11, 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. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts wer... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2024
I was in a in a 70 miles an hour highway accident and was hit in front driver side door, went up embankment and hit a tree then rolled backwards onto the highway. No airbags deployed.
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 29, 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 made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was contacted and was unable to confirm when the... Read more
FORD
ESCAPE PHEV
(2021) - AIR BAGS
Jan 29, 2024
Incident date: Jan 29, 2023
ALL WARNING LIGHTS HAVE BEEN COMING ON FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS FIRST TIME i WAS ALMOST RUN OVER BY 18 WHEELER ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE CAR LOST POWER AND i COULD NOT TURN ON HAZARD LIGHTS HAD TO WAVE HANDS OUT WINDOW TO ALERT TRAFFIC THAT MY CAR WAS MALFUNCTIONING SECOND TIME i WAS IN ON GOING TRAFFIC AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR LOST POWER HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KEEP FROM GETTING HIT ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2023
I started the car to make a trip to town to run some errands. When I cranked the engine the Check Engine light came on. The S for Sport Mode was flashing and a No Eyesight warning came on. Also SRS Side Airbag light came on to indicate it was not working. And another light came on showing a car going out of its lane, but I don't know if it was the Lane Keep Assist light or not.
Incident date: Jan 10, 2019
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. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts wer... Read more
Incident date: Dec 14, 2023
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 contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer and local dealer were not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 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 not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experience... Read more
Incident date: Nov 9, 2023
The contact owned a 2008 Nissan Frontier. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the driver's side air bag suddenly deployed without an impact. As a result, the contact swerved into a drainage ditch, and the vehicle flipped completely over on its top. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact was transported by airlift to an area hospital and treated for several ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Sep 12, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 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 dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced... Read more
Incident date: Jan 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 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 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 experienc... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2023
Nothing has happened yet, but there still isn't any progress on a fix from the manufacturer. I worry everyday that I or my children will be killed by my airbags if they deploy. It has been almost 1 year. Shouldn't the manufacturers get to fixing these recalls in a timely manner or update vehicle owners?
Incident date: Jan 2, 2024
There is an active recall that has been going on for many months, possibly years, with failure of the front passenger airbag to deploy. There is STILL no fix. When will you light a fire under VW to hold it accountable for a timely fix that is well past-due?
Incident date: Aug 23, 2023
Air bad light is on all the time and the horn does not work.
Incident date: Oct 15, 2023
This vehicle has had an unresolved recall for quite a while. It was purchased to be a company vehicle, but now a complete waste because Buick issued a recall without any attempt to remedy.
Incident date: Nov 23, 2023
Driver airbag randomly went off while driving down the road. Did NOT hit anything, no potholes, or anything that could have set the airbag off. Additionally, the airbag was extremely hot when it went off and burned the drivers arms and face.
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 24, 2024
Air bag warning light stays on and will not reset. Driver power seat controls buttons out of plastic control cover and jammed in metal part of seat. Can not get seat control unjammed and no way to adjust driver seat.
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
Passenger air bag no longer functions. Passenger airbag shows as off when a passenger is in seat. Display shows that safety restrain system has an error. According to dealer, air bag system is disabled and requires the replacement of the passenger air bag. Air bags are on back order and dealer cannot provide timeline for repair.
Incident date: Mar 22, 2021
Received recall notice and have been waiting ever since for GM to actually follow through with the recall. They don’t seem to care and I have two vehicles that falls under the recall. How the government hasn’t stepped up knowing that this issue can cause death is beyond me. What’s the point of a national recall if the manufacture isn’t forced to do something about the recall? No more GM pr... Read more
Incident date: Mar 22, 2021
Received recall notice and have been waiting ever since for GM to actually follow through with the recall. They don’t seem to care and I have two vehicles that falls under the recall. How the government hasn’t stepped up knowing that this issue can cause death is beyond me. What’s the point of a national recall if the manufacture isn’t forced to do something about the recall? No more GM pr... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2023
My EMS light came on one afternoon while driving home. I took it to the dealer and they stated it was an issue with the air bag system in the passenger side of the vehicle. It would not be covered and would cost me more than $2000 to have it repaired.
Incident date: Sep 20, 2022
My air bag light has been on and I've check everything and my seat belt don't lock when its on and the light to the seat belt goes off contented, I've tried to go to the dealer to have them fix my airbags and senses I don't have recall on it they won't fix it ,The air bag is very important and so is the seat belt
Incident date: Jan 24, 2024
The vehicle was in a frontal crash and the knee airbags exploded the glovebox and broke my leg in 3 different places.
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 26, 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 made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that p... Read more
Incident date: Jan 26, 2024
2016 Ford Explorer. the air bag warning light was illuminated it was coming off and on and now stays on. took the vehicle to the dealer who confirmed that the vehicle was not under recall for the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired.
Incident date: Jan 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro. The contact stated that after a visual inspection of the exterior of the vehicle, he observed that the air bag safety information sticker peeling away from the driver’s and passenger’s side windows. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred... Read more
Incident date: Jan 24, 2024
The contact owns a 2017 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 dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced... Read more