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: Apr 4, 2025
So we were in a accident the front right of the bumper was completely destroyed and the airbags didn’t deploy
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Mar 21, 2025
i have read all the forums and there are many complaints on this same safety issue and why hasn't a recall been issued? Passenger restraint system light stay on !
VOLKSWAGEN
BEETLE
(2018) - AIR BAGS
Apr 5, 2025
Incident date: Apr 2, 2025
I am reporting that the fix for NHTSA recall #23V-865, Toyota recall #23TA15 has not been done in a timely manner & I am concerned for the safety of my passengers. The recall info came out December 2023 & Toyota was supposed to have a fix 3rd quarter 2024. We are now in 2nd quarter 2025 & there is still no fix. This is unacceptable. Again, I am concerned for the safety of my passengers, one of whi... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2025
I've owned this car for nearly two years. On April 3, 2025, I took my car to Niello VW. A service person told me he'd just had a VW Beetle with the same problem, just the passenger's side. Since there was nothing jamming the glide rails, there was no reason for the seat to be stuck. I took the car to a car upholstery shop because they specialize in removing car seats. The person had a hard time re... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2025
AIR BAG EXPLODE ON IMPACT OF ACCIDENT. HURT FACE BOTH HANDES WITH BURNS. NO WARNING LIGHTS INSURANCE YES FOR PAY OUT FOR ACCIDENT SMOKE FROM AIR BAG
1 injured
Incident date: Jul 12, 2011
The contact owns a 2002 Honda Civic. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V501000(Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
Incident date: Jul 4, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (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 experie... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2025
According to my Subaru service technician the Occupant detection control module is faulty on my car. Research has found that this is a known problem with 2020-2022 Subaru outbacks that is under recall. I believe the recall should be extended to include the 2019 year model because a faulty occupant detection module means that the air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash which is a serious sa... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 23V86500 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and Northridge Toyota (9550 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91324) were contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amou... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 Ram 1500. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 18V332000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 19V347000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES), and 17V302000 (AIR BAGS); 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 contact sta... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and several unknown dealers were contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall re... Read more
Incident date: Mar 29, 2025
There was a driver side collision and the airbags did not deploy. Brakes do not slowly apply they slam down causing vehicle to slide/skid in emergency braking, ABS does not function properly. The dealership recently did an appraisal (4/2/25) on the vehicle that states “Lost communication with side airbag sensor LH, Side airbag sensor LH initialization incomplete, front speed sensor RH & LH circu... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 3, 2025
The contact owned a 2022 Mercedes Benz EQS 450. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH and approaching a parked vehicle on the side of the road, the contact depressed the brake pedal; however, the vehicle failed to stop. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the brake failure, the front passenger’s side bumper crashed into the rear driver’s side bumper of the parke... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 3, 2025
My [XXX] daughter was a front seat passenger in her friend‘s car the 2017 Tiguan when the driver swerved to avoid another car and struck a pole. The damage was primarily on the front passenger side of the car. My daughter hit the windshield. It was broken in two places and she sustained several other injuries. The airbags never deployed. The car was totaled. I’m interested in knowing whether ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2022) - AIR BAGS
Apr 3, 2025
Incident date: Jul 1, 2023
Supplemental Restraint System Issue warning light illuminated on dash board. Immediately took to dealer and dealer diagnosed to be bad air bag sensor. No prior warning lights have been noticed
VOLKSWAGEN
BEETLE
(2013) - AIR BAGS
Apr 3, 2025
Incident date: Apr 3, 2025
Airbag recall occurred over a year ago, no repairs have been available to me.
Incident date: Feb 1, 2025
I’m filing this complaint regarding the Takata airbag recall on my 2013 Volkswagen Beetle. I took my vehicle to the dealership, but they informed me that the replacement part is on national backorder with no clear timeframe for availability. I called Volkswagen Customer CARE on April 3, 2025 and spoke with a representative named Dawn (Case #[XXX]). I was told that no loaner vehicles or rental a... Read more
Incident date: Feb 14, 2025
The Dealer did not complete this Safety Recall, They refused to follow up with the repair description of 73A which is part of this 66A they both have the same NHSTA Number. The vehicle seems to be more difficult to drive after getting it back from the dealer. I also noticed new cosmetic damages, and a missing cover under the fender-well. The vehicle was returned to me with an incomplete recall. ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2025
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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experience... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2025
Received recall notice, called dealer to make appointment for repair service, as the recall notice instructs, regarding airbag inflator and was told that there is "no remedy" at this time so no repair or replacement to airbag would be done at this time. I was told I would receive another notice when a remedy was decided on. I asked why couldn't my airbag be replaced and was told that, that was not... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2008 Saturn Sky. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the module kit, the OCS sensor, and the four retainers were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 19, 2024
I filed a complaint a couple months ago, about my car driving erratic and slipping of gears , jolting, cutting off in traffic etc; Now this complaint is about an accident caused by the jolting of the car which crashed my car into the back of someone else’s… this car is a death trap… Nissan needs to be held responsible for these death trap cars Cvt transmission is its major problem… this se... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Dodge Charger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (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 experie... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2025
Multiple Electrical parts became faulty starting with 3 tire sensors, then the front passenger airbag sensor, immediately followed by both rear sensor control modules. Milage at onset was approx 85000. Brought to dealer for dx due to my vehicle applying breaks when it shouldn’t, when auto start/stop was still on, the vehicle powersteering would stop working intermittently when going from a stopp... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2021) - AIR BAGS
Apr 2, 2025
Incident date: Apr 3, 2023
I repeatedly requested to fix the safety recall on vehicle. I always worry to drive in the high way when my family members are the front passenger seat. It's has been almost two Years now since I received a safety recall 'UNKOWN"
Incident date: Feb 10, 2025
While I was going 5-10mph over a railroad crossing, the steering wheel airbag deployed as my front tires went over the grade crossing. The airbag also went left instead of straight. My hand is bruised and it sounded like a gunshot went off in my vehicle. After the deployment, the vehicle was still driveable. I drove it to a Honda dealership and they were very concerned and called corporate.
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 31, 2025
2018 Subaru Forester Safety air bag recall I drive my grandchildren in front passenger seat. There’s a safety recall. No incident yet. What has to happen before this air bag problem is fixed?
Incident date: Apr 2, 2025
The contact owned a 2024 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while stopped in traffic on a three-lane highway, another vehicle with a distracted driver crashed into the rear driver’s side and side-swiped the vehicle up to the front driver’s side door of the contact’s vehicle at approximately 50 MPH and pushed the contact’s vehicle into rear-end of the vehicle in front, causing that ve... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Apr 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Corolla. 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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts n... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2023
My question is I’m getting ready to buy a 2007 Ford edge for my mother and she’s already put three water pumps on this car and it cost like almost 1000 bucks to do it every time. I don’t even know if it’s worth it but I was just wondering if there’s any recalls on something like that or if it’s something wrong with why it keeps going keeps messing up
Incident date: Mar 27, 2025
I brought my Kia Optima into the dealership in October 0f 2024, because my airbag light came on. It has not been there over 6 months because my passenger airbag module is not operable and rending all my airbags useless; it is also on backorder with no ETA. The dealership wouldn't help with my escalation it has taken me 6 months to get to the escalations department and now they will not offer addit... Read more
Incident date: Sep 13, 2023
The day after I purchased this 2018 Used Hyundai Santa Fe, the passenger air bag light came on. July 2024. I have been working with the dealership where I purchased the vehicle (Larry H Miller Chevrolet, in Murray Utah), and calling Hyundai Corporation for months. Hyundai called me every 3 days for almost 3 months with a customer update and they would say is "We have no updates". This is extremely... Read more
Incident date: Dec 24, 2024
Porsche dashboard leather has shrunk and now doesn’t properly cover airbag which is a major safety hazard. Porsche said they would not cover cost to replace which they quoted $9k. There are tons of reports of this happening to other Porsche cayenne owners and need to be addressed via recall
Incident date: Jun 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2005 Ford F-350. The contact stated while driving approximately 60-65 MPH and coming up to a bridge, the contact stated that the roadway was a bit wet from ice and rain, and the contact stated that the vehicle ahead entered the bridge and started skidding, so the contact let up off the accelerator pedal; however, when the vehicle entered the bridge, the vehicle started sliding a... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Sep 24, 2024
I have been trying to get this recall done for 1 year. I have placed 3 calls over this time and they say the part is on back order. This is dangerous as it is a recall on the driver airbag. A year is too long to wait. Please advise on what can be done. Dealership: GMC Thompson Raleigh, NC
Incident date: Jan 7, 2025
I have a 2013 Nissan Rouge. If the car is outside, every time it rains, it floods the driver's side. Which eventually resulted in some electrical malfunction and the driver's side airbag malfunction light. Last year, I noticed that I kept the car outside and not in the garage. I found there is a recall on that. The same issue. But when I called Nissan, they told me that my particular car was not ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Service Air Bag" intermittently flashed on and off. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the driver’s side curtain air bag sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The contact was inform... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2025
This vehicle was owned by my husband and I was the primary driver, with our two young children as passengers on a daily basis. I was in auto accident 5/4/06 and again 10/31/06 without the airbags deployment- due to the fact they were not installed in the car. The airbags were never replaced after a previous accident, they were being stored under a desk in the automotive repair facility. I was rea... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Sep 21, 2024
The contact owned a 2008 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 - 40 MPH, the air bags suddenly deployed independently. The contact stated that his view was obstructed due to the air bag deployment, and he briefly lost control the vehicle and the vehicle came to a complete stop after crashing into a light pole. The remaining air bags did deploy. No warning lights were ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated, and a message "Belt Monitor Service Required" was displayed. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed because the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced Customer Satisfaction Program: 24N08; as a possible cause for the failure... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2025
The driver side seatbelt/presence sensor intermittently fails due to faulty wiring. This causes a warning stating 'front left safety restraint system fault' and the driver side airbag to turn off when the warning is present causing a severe safety issue. This is a well documented common safety failure of these vehicles
Incident date: Mar 31, 2025
I started my truck up one morning and the airbag system light came on. Took it to the dealership and they reported fault code B007F-13 and recommended immediately replacing faulty passenger seatbelt retractor. For some reason my truck was not included in safety recall W67. Dealership quoted out-of-pocket fix was $800. I drove around for several months with the airbag light on because I could not ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2025
The contact owned a 2006 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while at a stop light, a crash occurred involving two other vehicles. During the crash, one of the other vehicles crashed into the contact’s vehicle, causing severe damages to the front-end of the vehicle; however, the air bags failed to deploy. The Fire Department was called to the scene and removed the front driver’s side door to ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
When setting something on my passenger seat such as a water bottle filled with water and a purse, the SRS light is triggered on the dashboard. After doing some research there was a safety recall for the passenger weight sensor on my vehicle model however my vin was not included.
Incident date: Oct 5, 2024
I purchased a used 2015 Nissan Pathfinder last year. Recently the passenger airbag light does not turn off. After searching the internet, I found their was a recall for this issue in the past. I contacted Nissan, and to my dismay they claim the issue had been addressed for my vehicle and will not pay to have the issue resolved. I am unsure that having a passenger in my car is safe.
Incident date: Mar 3, 2025
The airbag error light has come on my car multiple times since I have bought it new in 2021 at VW dealership. I have brought it many times to VW service center. Last week I had a coolant leak which they did repair, I paid $1400 for it already. But at the same time, I was told there is a recall on my vehicle. I told advisor that I thought it was taken care of already but was told it is not. So the... Read more
Incident date: Mar 25, 2025
I don't know what happen, but Friday March 28, 2024 after getting gas and I started my vehicle a noticed appeared "Passenger Restraint System Malfunctioned. This is related to my Air Bag, and I am told this is not covered under my extended warranty. This is something should be Bmw responsibility.
Incident date: Jul 21, 2024
I have been in contact with Michael Hohl Subaru for the last 1 1/2 years or more regarding airbag turning off while seats are occupied. I have continuously been told that the part to fix it is on eternal back order. Contacted to Shalana at Subaru of America and was told there is nothing they can do. They cannot give us a rental car or loaner car. Steve Dix at Michael Hohl said they cannot help us ... Read more