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: Oct 21, 2022
On March 4, 2023, I purchased a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse from Landers Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram located in Norman, Oklahoma. Before actually purchasing the vehicle and after inspection it was stated to the dealership that the [XXX] would not purchase the vehicle with the various problems notated before purchase. After receiving a verbal agreement that the problems would be fixed my wife and I sign... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2023
Right headlight assembly defective. Turns out MANY 2019 Macans have this same problem. Only 2019 and only the right side. VERY expensive repair, and many would put it off causing a safety issue
Incident date: Apr 26, 2023
Headlight wiring has disintegrated and making headlight short
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2018) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 26, 2023
Incident date: Feb 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while the vehicle is in reverse, the rearview camera continuously displayed a white blur, obscuring the camera view. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V808000 (Exterior Lighting) and 22V644000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the m... Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2023
I was driving at night when both of my lower beam headlights went out at the exact same time. My high beams work but not the low beams and it wasn't a blown fuse. Also, my engine has been consuming 2 quarts of oil every 1,000 miles since it hit roughly 58,000 miles. The excessive oil consumption started about 2,000 miles before my next oil change was due. The oil indicator light never came on... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2022
I was driving at nighttime and my head lights cut off.. they were in auto light mode. I read that gmc knows about some sort of issue with this but only covers repairs up to 150k miles. My car is 156k miles. There was no warning lights and no indication anything was wrong. Luckily I was the only care on my side of the highway and was able to slam on the brakes and come to a complete stop. I turned ... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2016) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 26, 2023
Incident date: Apr 1, 2021
Low beam headlights have become very dim. By not adequately lighting the road ahead, a dangerous condition is being created for the driver. High beam headlights must be used to provide adequate lighting but must be switched to low beam to avoid blinding oncoming vehicle drivers. Based on internet searches on this matter, many other 2013, 2014, and 2015 Acura owners are having the same problem. Ac... Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2023
This vehicle has automatic headlights which turn off and on plus are supposed to automatically dim the headlights when oncoming vehicles approach. They automatic headlight dimming feature not only doesn't work properly, they go to bright (high beam) when cars approach, instead of dimming. I have taken it to a Honda Dealer twice for repair. They said they could not duplicate the issue but admit th... Read more
CHRYSLER
PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID
(2020) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 25, 2023
Incident date: Apr 24, 2023
Following completion of reporting Walnut Municipal Code (WMC) 3.40.010 violations at the end of my night, I walked out and found that my car was again vandalized in retaliation for filing a complaint related to the violation of Walnut Municipal Code 3.40.010. Such vandalism is intended to further disengage the workforce by causing expenses that are extreme, and such vandalism can occur as repeate... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
The reflectors on the low beam headlights have degraded to the point it has failed Virginia state inspection. The safety of myself and others is impacted by reduced nighttime visibility. Distance of vision at night is reduced to only as much distance as the parking lights provide. The dealer has inspected and rejected the vehicle from passing Virginia State inspection and is now not lawfully al... Read more
Incident date: Aug 25, 2022
I am reporting the headlights on my vehicle which will go "Light Inoperative" while driving, yes. Yes, I could not see down the road on a dark highway I had to pull over to gain my senses and get to safety clear of oncoming traffic. Yes, the issue has been inspected by the dealership Mercedes as well as a third party shop to indicate moisture in the lights which causes a malfunction. Yes, my ve... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2023
The front headlights have been on recall for some time now. When I last contacted the dealership they said they wouldn't fulfill the repair and also said that they would no longer be making parts for the car and may not ever fix the headlights but I waited to see if that wasn't the case. You can check the date the recall was first made officially compared to today to see the timeline.
Incident date: Apr 20, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 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 ex... Read more
LIONSHEAD
CASTLE ROCK
(9999) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 24, 2023
Incident date: Apr 19, 2023
The contact's daughter owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that the vehicle App displayed a Restraint Control System warning message. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V686000 (Exterior Lighting) and 22V859000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reaso... Read more
Incident date: Apr 24, 2023
Headlights are blinding on F-250s seems all late model Ford F-250, all models seems they always are on bright when at intersectionn across from one it's blinding to see anything else even when driving and the F-250 are coming at you blinding
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2014) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 24, 2023
Incident date: Mar 1, 2023
Vehicles equipped with the Xenon Headlight option that have spent time in warmer climates have very poor quality wiring inside the headlight itself, whose insulation degrades and falls off, exposing bare copper that shorts, causes lighting faults, and disables headlights. This happened in my own car, the driver side headlight Daytime Running Light just stopped working one day, first with no fault ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2020
My SUV was sitting for a few days at the airport and I when I got in the car, it started fine but the headlights, interior lights, power folding mirrors and the voltmeter were not working. I had to leave the car there since it was night time. The next day I drove it home in daylight and started checking fuses. I noticed two fuses (#2, #12) on the driver side fuse panel were failed. I replaced the ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Apr 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting) 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... Read more
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2018) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 23, 2023
Incident date: Apr 21, 2023
The high beams have went out without warning. Driving at night with only low beams can be very dangerous. I live in a rural community so not being able to see potential wild animals in the road is dangerous for me and my family. It has also not been fixed my replacing the lights.
Incident date: Mar 27, 2023
I can not drive the vehicle at night due to not being able to see the road using the low beam headlights. The low beam headlights have become so dim that I have to use the high beam in order to drive at night.
Incident date: Aug 17, 2022
Main head lights are not giving enough brightness to see the road. Visibility while driving during night is very hard and can’t see clearly an object which is at 5 to 6 feet distance also. It’s a 2015 Acura RDX AWD base and there are many complaints online in different forums also about head light visibility issue. I gone to Acura dealer but their suggestion is to cleanup external plastic head... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2018) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 21, 2023
Incident date: Apr 13, 2023
Dodge Durango Race track tail light. Whole lower left side bulb out and license plate lights due to water entering that area. When you lift the truck water pours out of the light area. Dangerous to drive not sure when the whole light will give out. This is a defect on tons of Durango’s and is a safety hazard to drive. You never know when the whole light will go out do to this defect. Some ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2021
Around 80,000 miles my headlights seemed to have become quite dim. I have changed out the head lightbulbs twice, 2nd time to the brightess bulbs available to buy. No change in brightness. I bought a kit to clean the outer surface lens still no change in brightness . They headlights are so dangerously dim it doesn’t look like I have headlights on. Also anyone who gets in the car with me always sa... Read more
Incident date: Apr 18, 2023
We have been having issues with very dim headlights in our vehicle that has presented numerous safety issues. From our research this seems to be a global problem with these headlights and something needs to be done about it. It is not safe for us or those around us to have to drive with our dim lights or with our high beams on to compensate. We have also filed into a class action lawsuit for resol... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2023
While at a red light after exiting the highway, the vehicle lost all power and functionality. The car was in drive, and the brake was pressed in. No buttons had been pressed to shut down the vehicle. I had no power and no ability to restart the vehicle. I placed the vehicle into park and attempted to turn on my hazard lights. Unfortunately, there was no response from the vehicle, and though I w... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
The dashboard screen and main screen have been stuck in night mode for months. This makes driving during daytime hours extremely difficult because the dashboard screen cannot be seen. This screen includes, but is not limited to, speed, tire pressure, lame departure warning, and temperature. The vehicle has been to the dealer multiple times and the manufacturer has been contacted. The problem has b... Read more
Incident date: Apr 21, 2022
Low beam light is dim.
Incident date: Apr 19, 2023
Notice a small crack on the led temperature display and it kept growing on its own and now starting to peel. Car is only 5 months old.
Incident date: Apr 4, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond. The "Stop Car, Check Brakes" message was displayed. The ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle, and stated that after restarting the vehicle, the warning lights were n... Read more
Incident date: Apr 20, 2023
Headlights shout off at night while vehicle is in motion. I have reported this issue to the manufacturer/dealership and was advised that vehicle needed to be brought in when issue is happening. Dealership is closed at night when issue occurs. No warning messages when lights shut off and first occurred 8/2021.
Incident date: Apr 19, 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 and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufact... Read more
Incident date: Oct 31, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V544000 (Exterior Lighting) 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 con... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
I purchased my 2014 Ford Edge SEL ON JANUARY 2015. I have electrical problems suspicion problems & recall on my Airbags! I have always taken it to a Ford Dealership to have my regular service done…oil charge etc. it those times I have told them the other problems I was having example electrical problem started a month after I bought my vehicle every time they told me nothing is wrong or they rep... Read more
Crash
4 injured
Incident date: Apr 13, 2023
When the sun is facing the rear of the car, the rear turn signals do not activate, and the turn signals flash rapidly. It is exactly what happens in this youtube video: https://youtu.be/dHwMCdlJfYQ This is a danger, because my car will not properly signal when I change lanes or take a turn. I have taken my car to Toyota multiple times now and they have been unable to properly fix my turn signal... Read more
Incident date: Apr 18, 2023
I purchased a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta from North Coast Auto Mall on March 19, 2023 and the following day several issues went wrong with the vehicle like: The car reeked of gasoline, oil and engine lights came on, driver side head light blew out. Also, I was told that the car had an inspection, come to find out they didn't do an inspection by North Coast Service manager, so they lied. Also, the reaso... Read more
Incident date: Dec 24, 2022
problems with the seals in the headlight lamp, water entered it and it was damaged
Incident date: Jan 9, 2023
The headlights on this vehicle are defective. They do not project light and over time deteriorated to a point where you cannot see when driving in the dark. NOTE, this is not a result of the bulb as we went to great expense to twice change it out with new bulbs. The first time we used an OEM new bulb matched what was originally installed with no improvement. After that, we tried a newer style ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2023
My windshield cracked out of no where. My bright lights stopped working while driving home.
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
The lights on my 2015 Acura RDx became so dim it was no longer safe to drive. I took it to my mechanic and he agreed saying he also felt it was a safety issue. I contacted the dealer as well as Acura and they were aware of the issue but said it was not covered under our extended warranty. The car has limited miles and we decide to replace the lights at a cost of $1859.42. The replacement of th... Read more
Incident date: Apr 17, 2023
My exterior headlights have dimmed over time and are now DANGEROUSLY low. This is a known issue with 2013 Acura RDXs that cannot be fixed without completely replacing the lights for about $2,000. This is a safety issue.
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
This issue is from Aug 2022 - my front lights are low that makes it hard to see when the weather is upon us like rain/snow/fog. Other cars barely can see my lights are on. I have a DMV check in 2 months and thought this may not let it pass.
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2016) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 17, 2023
Incident date: Apr 14, 2023
Vehicle is available for inspection. Soon after I bought this car last April I realized it's VERY difficult to see how fast I am going in certain areas that are shadowed, especially on cloudy/overcast days. I have the lights set as bright as they will go but when I get in darker areas during the day I can just barely make out the tips to the 50/60 mph marks and a lot of times when it's cloudy over... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2014) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 16, 2023
Incident date: Apr 1, 2016
Adaptive headlight, turn signals, daytime/parking lamp and headlamp vehicle aim malfunctions. it is available for inspection. Hand signals are required due to the front signals inoperability. It is reason to be aware certain enviromental conditions can prevent hands signals and or other to see the signals. an inability to signal as vehicles are mandated to provide, potentially can be a dire situat... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2014) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 16, 2023
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
The headlights on the car are dangerously dim. The lights have been frustratingly dim for years (at least 5+ years since I’ve owned the car) but now I’m genuinely concerned for my family’s safety—they’ve continued to get dimmer and dimmer. The only way I can make it home at night is by using my brights. And even the brights present a dangerous situation for me and other cars on the road... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2023
Condensation build up in tail lights in which causes other drivers not to visibly see when braking during the day.
Incident date: Apr 15, 2023
I love my Rivian but . . . the headlights are LED or something, and the bulbs have a plastic cover. The bulbs do not generate much heat and we have been driving in snow storms and the snow accumulates on the plastic headlight covers and the bulbs do not generate enough heat to melt the snow, so the snow accumulates and the illumination decreases to the point they are no longer functional. Drivin... Read more
Incident date: Apr 13, 2023
High beams no longer work
Incident date: Apr 13, 2023
Rear back left light keeps going out. Could be an electrical issue. I have had to change light 5 times. The rear left back light blinker keeps going out.
Incident date: Mar 20, 2023
Highbeams not changing from low beam to high beam. I was unable to see driving in dark areas. The dealership found a short causing the curtain to not open fully keeping the low beams on. The dealer replaced the head lamp assembly under warranty.