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: Feb 20, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Chrysler 300. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (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. The contact had not expe... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the air bags warning light illuminated and the message "Front Passenger Safety Restraint Fault - Service Required" was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger seat occupancy system had ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Jeep Compass. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated intermittently. The contact inquired with the dealer if there was a recall associated with the VIN. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the vehicle was not under... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2014 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags); was performed; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the failure was related to the front passenger's side air bag. The vehicle was not rep... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2025
The contact owns a 2012 Chrysler Town and Country. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the front driver's side head restraint deployed. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred immediately after the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the fai... Read more
Incident date: Mar 29, 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 unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failu... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (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 dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2025
The contact owned a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH on a heavy snow weather condition, the vehicle lost traction, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a tree, where the vehicle came to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. No air bags deployed. The contact sustained injuries to his neck, chest, and shou... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 30, 2025
Went and started my car and the air bag warning light on the dash came on. I am worried that the air bag won't deploy properly also when the lights are on dim they don't shine very good and the lens are cracked
Incident date: Feb 25, 2025
The airbag light comes on intermittently when a passenger is sitting in the front seat. Took to a LaCrosse WI Hyundai dealer for OBD code. The dealer reported the following: “Body Elect Concern. ODS ECU and Seat Mat Failure. Inspected found code b149000 found code due to ECU failure. Tested seat mat and found mat also failed due to high resistance outside of spec range. Repair estimate given at ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2024
This August will make two years since my airbags deployed. When closing the passenger door, all of the airbags deployed(with the exception of the dashboard). This normal amount of force caused this to happen. I have also read many complaints with the same issue as mine, and a lot of them are not on the recall list. I want to file this complaint to hopefully bring forward a resolution. Also... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2020
During a routine maintenance appointment with my mechanic, the airbag warning light illuminated on the dashboard immediately following service. I brought the vehicle to a dealership for diagnosis and was informed that the issue is due to a manufacturer-issued recall affecting the airbag system. However, I was also told that no replacement parts are currently available and there is no estimated dat... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2025
Failed clock spring. Airbag light was present and a rattling noise, when turning, was noticed. Less than 72 hours later, the buttons on the steering wheel, including horn, stopped working, and a louder crack/pop was heard.
Incident date: Oct 28, 2024
RCM_a021 alert: Front left safety restraint system fault. Seems like an issue caused by seat movement back & forth.
Incident date: Oct 20, 2023
The contact owned a 2005 GMC Envoy. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, another vehicle driven by a drunk driver swerved into the front of the vehicle, causing a front collision. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact hit his face again on the steering wheel, but did not seek medical assistance. The contact's wife, who was occupying the front passenger seat and wearing ... Read more
Crash
2 injured
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE L
(2024) - AIR BAGS
Mar 28, 2025
Incident date: Mar 16, 2025
My vehicle showing service safety restraint system and airbag light . When check with dealer code b14dc has appeared ( Driver inboard seat side air bag high control).
Incident date: Mar 17, 2025
The contact owned a 2003 Honda Odyssey. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 16V344000 (Air Bags), 15V320000 (Air Bags), and 15V045000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
Incident date: Aug 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact stated that the air bag and seat belt failure warning lights were illuminated. After filling the fuel tank and attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that the battery and fuse box water pump had failed and were replaced. The failure persisted. The dealer inspected the ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2025
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 experien... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2024
I got into a Crash that destroyed the car completelt and Totaled it, But the airbags didnt come and work like it was supposed to. After The accident I got a message on MYCHEVROLET app saying theres was an issue with my airbags and I need to see a dealer.It didnt tell me before but after and I got injured In the crash resulting a total loss of the car,0 Airbags deployed and this was brand new with ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle at 2 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward. The vehicle jumped the curb, embankment, bushes, and crashed into the building in front. Parts of the vehicle caught onto the bushes, holding the vehicle while still crashing into the building. The air bags did not deploy. The police were not contacted. No pol... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer 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 experienced a fa... Read more
Incident date: Mar 25, 2025
Clock spring failures are a well known issue with Hyundai/Kia models from the early 2010s. Hyundai has offered an extended warranty on most models, but has excluded the GT models, even though they use the same parts. My clock spring has failed, disabling the horn and driver air bag functionality.
Incident date: Aug 15, 2020
The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while the vehicle was at the dealer for the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags); the contact was informed that the SDM module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.
Incident date: Mar 4, 2025
While I was driving to work, with Cruise control set at 65, I hit a deer head on. All airbags deployed and engine ceased and I was able to brake car to a stop on the shoulder of the road. Within minutes, the engine erupted in fire and thankfully I wasn't trapped inside and was able to get out, because by the time I got 4-500 feet from the car, it had been totally engulfed in flames. From the time ... Read more
Crash
Fire
Incident date: Feb 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 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 made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed through an intersection, the vehicle was struck on the passenger side front quarter panel by another vehicle that had failed to yield. As a result, the vehicle spun out of control through the intersection before coming to a complete stop, causing the driver to hit her head on the dr... Read more
Crash
1 injured
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2014) - AIR BAGS
Mar 27, 2025
Incident date: Mar 26, 2025
Service air bag notification is on. Which is a safety issue.
Incident date: Mar 27, 2025
I received a recall notice a long time ago and I have checked multiple times with 2 different Honda dealerships (Located in Hickory, NC & Morganton, NC) about a remedy to fix and have been told every time they don't have the parts to fix and not sure when they will. It has been a long time now and I am concerned. NHTSA Recall Number 24V-064
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2024) - AIR BAGS
Mar 27, 2025
Incident date: Mar 18, 2025
Was driving down the highway coming back from Orlando when my air bag light went off. Heard cracking in my head test and all of a sudden it expired and deployed and hit me in the back of the head and almost knocked me out. Made me dizzy and I had my kids in the car. This should not have happend if I was not in a car crash and dodge refuses to fix it. It was faulty without any warning. There are ma... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2024) - AIR BAGS
Mar 27, 2025
Incident date: Jan 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES300H. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2025
The contact owned a 2014 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, an 18-wheeler driving at 65 MPH crashed into the front-end driver's side. The vehicles came to a stop upon impact.There was no property damage. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact vehicle was towed to a tow yard. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destro... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Mar 27, 2025
Passenger air bag not working light of airbag system stays on
Incident date: Dec 10, 2024
I am writing to formally express my deep concern and frustration regarding the prolonged recall of the passenger-side airbag in my 2020 Lexus ES350 (VIN #[XXX]). The recall numbers are (23LA03, 23LB03 and 23V865) these were issued in December of 2023, which has been more than a year. Lexus has provided a rental car for all this time, which demonstrates this recall is a safety issue. Despite repe... Read more
Incident date: Nov 25, 2024
Water intrusion from front sunroof when vehicle is parked at a 5% grade with the nose downward. Multiple vehicles exhibit this issue. Toyota is not creating any TSB and will mot even remedy it even if we have an extended warranty. Here is a link to the discussion thread: [XXX] I have not posted on this thread but I have the exact same issue for years. Toyota dealerships want me to first pay $100... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 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 unavailable. 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. VIN tool confirms part... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V227000 (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: Jan 1, 2023
there was a recall regarding air bags. was notified during COVID with part backordered. never heard back. I now have a warning on my dashboard that will prevent getting a new state inspection sticker. please advise
Incident date: Mar 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (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 manufa... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2017 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 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 experi... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made a... Read more
Incident date: Mar 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2019 Chrysler 300. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V198000 (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 dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failur... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2025
The vehicle is displaying "service hybrid system" when driving at highway speeds. We have been told by the service center that this is just a code b273c-00, an error with the airbag system, and we should not worry about this since it is a computer glitch. I have confirmed with the service advisor that it is now impossible to distinguish a real hybrid system malfunction from a "fake" airbag syste... Read more
Incident date: Mar 25, 2025
The airbag light is staying on, the horn is not working, inoperable steering wheel buttons (for switching between dashboard options like mileage, temperature, and information) as well as radio and cruise control buttons. Occasionally, all dashboard lights will come and and flicker, the dome light and all interior lights will flicker as well for a few seconds. I believe the Jeep is affected by the... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2025
Driving straight on side road. Vehicle entered road by attempting a left turn onto road without yielding to me. I swerved to the left and slammed on the breaks but was t boned by their vehicle. Airbags didn’t deploy and we got a message on dashboard indicating faulty airbag. Also upon impact our seatbelts were released.
Crash
Incident date: Feb 26, 2025
There is a clean slit on my dashboard where the passenger airbags are it’s started to form a complete square around the air bag placement and I’m worried it might have a problem with the airbags and its not just cosmetic. When I googled the issue there are tons of kia drivers with the same clean sit appearing over the passenger air bag. I contacted Kia dealership and they said I’d have to pa... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2025
Received the safety recall notice on December 20, 2023. However, to this date, there is still no remedy available. Contacted Lexus dealership and they confirmed that there is no remedy yet. This is a potential safety issues that will put my passenger at risk and it should not take this long to find a remedy.
Incident date: Mar 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that he received notice of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags) in January of 2025. The dealer was contacted on February 11, 2025, to schedule the recall repair appointment and was informed that the parts would be ordered. The contact called back on March 20, 2025, and was informed that the parts order was cancelled due to the ta... Read more