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 42,929 complaints - component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident date: Jun 27, 2023
Last August, a recall on Subaru Impreza headlamps was issued. To date, these have not been remedied and Subaru has no information about repair dates.
Incident date: Aug 9, 2023
While driving, my dash went out completely. I can’t see how fast I’m going, or any information concerning my car.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2023
I was driving home with my 3 kids in the car. Age 13,10,2 We were almost home and my daughter shouted from the back seat… “ there’s a fire .. there’s a fire” my self and my 13 year old son proceeded to look outside the car for a fire. We both kept saying where? My daughter then said “ right there look up” we both looked and the passenger side visor was in flames where it connects to ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jun 1, 2023
The daytime running light is out only on driver side
Incident date: Aug 8, 2023
The daytime running light is out only on driver side
Incident date: Sep 13, 2021
My entire Electrical system failed, the engine wouldnt start , the warning flashers would not work, the vehicle wouldnt go into neutral to be pushed. So I was blocking an intersection for about 2 hrs waiting on a tow truck to tow it to the nearest dealership. The dealership was unable to reproduce the problem just wants to replace the end result of a 150 amp fuse block blown at $400 for a $50 part... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2015) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 8, 2023
Incident date: Jun 21, 2021
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat would no longer slide backwards. The contact was concerned that the front passenger was too close to the air bag system due to the seat malfunction. Additionally, the trunk door handle had malfunctioned, and the trunk door could not be opened from outside the vehicle. The contact stated... Read more
Incident date: Aug 8, 2023
Headlights will randomly turn off when driving. I then have to quickly turn the headlight switch from auto to off to on to get them to come back on. There are numerous complaints online regarding this very same problem with Kia Optimas and other Kia vehicles. This is extremely dangerous.
Incident date: Nov 10, 2020
Air bag light will not go out. Had it “repaired” twice by Nissan dealership in past 2 years. Light again on and will not go out. I saw a couple of recalls pertaining to air bag sensors (16V911000, 16V244000, 22V024000) but was told these do not apply to my VIN. Also, since August 1, 2023, the rear hatch back door will not stay up and came down unexpectedly on my head. I saw there was a re... Read more
1 injured
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2019) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 8, 2023
Incident date: Sep 30, 2021
7/17/21 (about 94500 miles) - While driving in heavy rain on a congested highway, with my windshield wipers turned on (of course), the wipers suddenly stopped working. This could have easily killed me and my family. The wipers would not turn back on, no matter what I did. At a rest stop that afternoon, and then later during extensive testing, I found that turning the wipers on would never actua... Read more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2023
I have a 2012 Hyundai Sonta. The brake lights are not working properly. I have been changing the tail light for some time now but it doesn't seem to be working. At first all lights came on and they wouldn't go off until I took the battery cable wire off. Then on another day the brake light in the back window, got stuck and the turn signal wasn't lighting up(no brake , nor turn signal lights but... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 2500
(2024) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 7, 2023
Incident date: Jul 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) 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 ha... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2022
Problem 1 there is insufficient visibility of the road at night to drive the car safely. The local police officer helped me measure the distance of road visibility from the front of the car and it was 78 feet. At night with the lights on the top 3/4 of the windshield appears black (opaque) - cannot be seen through. I can only see through the bottom 1/4 of the windshield (left to right, the whol... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2021
The contact owns a 2017 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting) 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 contact stated that while reversing at 5 MPH, the back over pre... Read more
Incident date: Aug 5, 2023
My brake lights constantly go out new bulbs don't work either...it sems to be a malfunction in the wiring for the lights. The seatbelt on driver side will not latch no matter what. All electrical has issues, dash will go in and out as well as radio and heating/ac lights.
Incident date: Jul 6, 2023
The headlights of the RDX have grown very dim. In 2022, to pass inspection, the mechanics had us change the lamps. While they passed us for inspection, I noticed very little difference in light output. This weekend I nearly hit an under-lit bicyclist, while battling head-on lights in a bit of drizzle. In these conditions the forward light from the RDX headlights is non existent, leaving the driv... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2015) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 7, 2023
Incident date: Jul 15, 2023
While driven the vehicle, the head of the driver front seat opened and broke where you can see the broken plastic support in the interior. After a month the head of the seat of the passenger were broke in the same way. They were open and broke and expose the interior of the head seat noticed the plastic pin support broken.,06
TOYOTA
REDUNDANT SIENNA
(2022) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 5, 2023
Incident date: Aug 2, 2023
I have not had a wreck but the fact that when you press the brake pedal the dome lights blink and when you turn on the left turn signal, the dome lights blink. If you hold down the brake like if you’re at a traffic light the dome lights blink continuously until you let off the brake. Now, during the day, that’s no big problem but at night it poses a serious safety risk. A bright light in your ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 14, 2023
Unexpectedly and without any indication or warning, at [XXX] on [XXX] I experienced multiple system failures/engine light/critical warning lights/. Transmission error message states do not shift into gear, take for service. Engine check light on. Car would not start, car was unable to be put into park. Door alarm for transmission not in park was alarming audible. After car shut off and attempt to ... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
GLC 300
(2023) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 5, 2023
Incident date: Aug 4, 2023
Digital Light Inactivean High Beam Assist messages Also, when you engage the inoperative warning the actuates blinker it off [brights/high blinds beams even when drivers. auto adaptive setting is day with lights off see the high beam blue light on with headlight malfunctions vehicle 248595-Connected LEst sensor FaultY batterse causing, adaptive found fault C151E29 currentiy present charger inval... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
GLC 300
(2023) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 5, 2023
Incident date: May 5, 2023
The moon roof will not close. There is also a sloshing sound of water in an unidentified area, it has not rained. The blind spot monitor function of the digital light projection works intermittently and is barely visible marking on the roadway. The exit assist also does not activate the ambient lighting when opening door and car Is approaching in the travel Lane. Digital lights have jagged outp... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2022
WHEN DRIVING AFTER DARK IT LOOKS LIKE A SHADE GOT PULLED DOWN OVER 1/2 OF THE WINDSHIELD PLUS ANOTHER BLACK SPOT UNDER THAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS. I HAD THEM ADJUST THE HEAdlamps up a little bit but now everyone is blinking brites at me and even pulling off the road the next thing will be a road rage driver. it is impossible to drive after dark w... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
This week was the SECOND time our van lost both low beam headlights at the same time while driving at night. Both times the dealership wanted over $500 to replace them. Our drive train will catch while driving. We took our van in for this problem and were told by the dealership that "its just the way the transmission is made" When we bought the vehicle it was two years old and had rust spots on... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2023
headlights too dim And won’t pass inspection
TOYOTA
HIGHLANDER
(2023) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 3, 2023
Incident date: Mar 31, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting); 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 e... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2023
Air conditioner in my 2016 Honda Civic has never worked. Condenser or compressor needs to be replaced continues to leak throughout system and is defective. Emergency Brake malfunction does not work and poses as a safety issue. Left head lamp doesn’t work due to excessive heat exposure in Nevada.
MERCURY
MOUNTAINEER
(2005) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 3, 2023
Incident date: Jul 26, 2023
My headlights quit working while I was driving with no warning
Incident date: Jul 18, 2023
The right rear tail light assembly module which regulates the backup and braking light has not been operable since 05/18/2023. I was informed by Audi online I need to order a new assembly because the bulbs that are installed cannot be changed. I ordered the new part on 05/19/2023 from Audi of Chandler, AZ. and was informed it will take anywhere from 4-6 weeks. I was informed there are currently tw... Read more
Incident date: Feb 15, 2023
The head light turn off occasionally when the turn signal is used and does not always come back on with out playing with it or jiggle it. It has put mine and others safety at risk at dark. The dealer recommends replacing the multifunction switch. Part is on a national back order.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2008) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 3, 2023
Incident date: Jan 1, 2023
The interior displays, instrument panel, and touch screen are stuck in bright day mode. The dimmer switch in the dash will not respond or change the brightness but still turns the overhead lights on and off. At night this causes blinding conditions and a glare on the windows decreasing visibility. The issue is to be investigated by the dealer, there was a wait to get it checked. There are no warni... Read more
Incident date: Feb 20, 2021
I, along with many others according to the internet, am experiencing very low, unsafe visibility at night due to poor low beam performance. New bulbs make no difference and most of the time the vehicle must be operated using the high beams, which is a safety issue for other drivers.
Incident date: Jul 10, 2023
My head lamps have water in them, and is making my lights too dim to
Incident date: Jul 15, 2023
When using low beam lights there are two dark spots being projected
Incident date: Aug 2, 2023
The blindspot sensor on my truck appears to have gotten very hot. It melted the tail light and the wiring harness.
Incident date: Jul 16, 2023
The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving at night, the low-beam headlights turned off and turned on independently, causing a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V23200... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact stated that the check engine warning light had remained illuminated. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VN. The vehi... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 2, 2023
Incident date: Aug 2, 2023
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated that upon turning on the headlights, the taillights intermittently failed to illuminate. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact called two local dealers and was informed that there were no open recalls associated with the VIN. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The manufacturer ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 2, 2023
Infotainment system and dashboard lighting is stuck on the brightest setting and not able to be turned down. Seems to be a software glitch or something. Driving at night is more difficult as blinded by the bright displays.
Incident date: Jul 14, 2023
The backup camera and reverse taillights stopped functioning soon after I bought this vehicle in 2020. I am the 2nd owner and bought it from Peterson Toyota dealership in Boise, ID. There was no particular incident, i just noticed that the backup camera no longer showed an image when putting the car into reverse. I later found out while getting an oil change that the reverse taillights were not fu... Read more
Incident date: Jul 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Harley Davidson FLHTCUTG Tri Glide Ultra Motorcycle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V781000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The... Read more
Incident date: Jul 22, 2023
As the trunk hatch opens and closes, the wiring to the hatch wears down, frays, and then shorts or breaks. This killed our rear view camera, which is a safety issue. This also can cut off light to the license plate. The rear hatch also cannot then be opened from the rear of the car, as the handle is electrical and gets disconnected, possible causing another safety issue.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2023
Stopped at a stop sign. The vehicle suddenly lost all electrical power. Lights began flashing. Traction control system turned off and on. Then it went back to normal driving. I just had the Chassis Control Module Recall taken care of as well. The air conditioning is intermittently cutting its ability to cool then suddenly cooling again during this time. When the vehicle turned back on, the strong... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
GOLF
(2017) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jul 31, 2023
Incident date: Jul 29, 2023
I was driving on the highway, operating vehicle at posted speed limit, traveling about 70mph when vehicle experienced complete power loss for a short duration of time. All electrical off, loss of braking, loss of power steering. Power subsequently returned and vehicle resumed normal operation. This is not the first time this has occurred, but this episode has me concerned since I was driving on th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night on an undulating roadway, the contact noticed that due to the narrow vertical area of illumination of the head lights, front visibility was severely reduced, with the lowest portion of the area in front of the vehicle receiving little to no illumination. The contact stated that the failu... Read more
Incident date: Jul 26, 2023
My vehicle had 2 recalls and I took it to the local Chevy dealer where I had purchased the car in 2018. The windshield wiper problem was repaired but I was told they did not have the correct parts to repair the headlights. After 3 days I was told the car was ready and I was assured by the service manager that the car was done. However, the headlights were not repaired..
Incident date: Jul 28, 2023
The front Xenon Headlight Wiring protective plastic coating has degraded and prematurely failed on both headlight assemblies. This caused headlight bulb shorting and poses a potential fire hazard in the front engine compartment of the vehicle. The wiring used in the headlight assemblies was not up to proper standards and failed. The wiring used in other areas of the engine bay seems to be okay.... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jul 3, 2023
My car's headlights are manufactured improperly so that the driver's side is far more illuminated than the passenger side. To be more clear, the cone of which the headlight service, around 10 to 15 degrees near the edge is not similar in brightness. If an animal or a person were to cross in front of my vehicle from the right. I would be less aware of them than I would on the left. This would put m... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2023
3rd brake light cracked on both sides.
Incident date: May 10, 2023
Automatic high beam head lights have not work properly ever since I bought the Honda in oct 2022.
Incident date: Jun 15, 2023
On many occasions while driving at night (happens almost every night when we are driving), the headlights turn off on their own. This is when the headlights are set to "auto". This is a very dangerous situation - especially when driving on poorly lit roads. When it happens, I can get the lights to come back on by switching from "auto" to "off" and back to "auto". Drivers should not need to do t... Read more