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: Nov 4, 2022
My vin was not included in. The Fix Side Marker Light Software Glitch. Safety Recall Code: 97CB. There’s a lot of vehicles same model and year like mine with This safety issue. Audi refuses to fix it because my vin it’s not included in this fix. They will replace my whole lights for $9,500.00 this is insane. I will like to drive a safe car without having to pay for something that it’s ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
There is a known problem with ram headlights developing condensation within the headlight assembly. This is a problem as too much condensation can cause shorts and/or permanent damage to electronics. With standard halogen bulbs, the worst case is to replace the bulb and try to remove moisture and prevent future condensation build up. The problem with led lights, and especially pourly designed head... Read more
Incident date: Oct 24, 2022
The vehicle dash and center console lights flicker and/or dim between bright and dim lights while the headlights temporarily turn off at random intervals while driving. This random, but frequent occurrence happens often when applying the turn signal in either direction. The problem generally exist between 1 to 5 seconds, causing impaired driving during nighttime operation. The turn signal appears ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 5, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, a squeaking noise was present coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the front brake pads and rotors, but the failure continued. Additionally, while driving at night with the low beam headlights activated, the headlights were extremely dim, making vi... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 3500
(2014) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Nov 3, 2022
Incident date: Aug 31, 2022
Transmission control module failed. Reduced power to vehicle to first gear. Blinkers, speedometer door locks, and other Safety and driving devices did not work. Check engine turned on. Device is held at some gmc dealerships nationally however they will not sell the part to have the truck repaired.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2020
HEADLAMPS DON'T ILLUMINATE THE ROAD ON LOW SETTING. DEALER FIRST DENIED A PROBLEM APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO.RECENTLY RETURNED TO DEALER AND THEY SAID WE HAD MISSED THE RECALL DATE,WHICH WE NEVER RECEIVED.
Incident date: Oct 24, 2022
When activating the Tesla Autopilot, the lights are automatically controlled to activate the bright headlight mode. The vehicle does not permit the user to disable the automatic brights setting while the car is in Autopilot mode. While the Tesla vehicle attempts to turn off the brights when an oncoming vehicle approaches, the Tesla vehicle fails to detect the oncoming vehicle and the brights rem... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2018
The contact owns a 2004 Porsche Cayenne. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V656000 (Exterior Lighting), 19V446000 (Power Train), and 17V576000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the fuel gaug... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2022
Headlights are NOT bright enough for night driving.
Incident date: Nov 2, 2022
Headlight bulbs burn out within a few months of replacement. This past year 2022, they have been replaced four times. It's never the same headlight, both are faulty.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
Display on dash is stuck in "night mode", during the day I can not see my speedometer nor my gas gauge.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2022
THE HEADREST ON THE PASSENGER SEAT JUST POPPED OPEN WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. THE REAR VIEW CAMERA OFTEN DOESN'T RESPOND IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE OR JUST STAYS BLACK FOR AWHILE. NAVIGATION IS SLOW SOMETIMES. IT SEEMS TO BE THE THE SYSTEM KEEPS ON RESETTING BECAUSE MY RADIO STATIONS ARE ERASED WHEN I TURN ON THE CAR. THE REPROGRAM AND IT CONTINUES TO DO THAT. WHEN WE ARE DRIVING THE... Read more
Incident date: Oct 28, 2022
My wife and i have noticed the low beams on my RDX are extremely low, they barely light up the road. we are concerned this could be a safety hazard. i took the car to the dealership today and they confirmed "the bulbs do not project light properly. Headlight assemblies will need to be replaced" They charged me $74.50 to tell me this, and quoted me $2500 to replace the headlight assemblies. i hav... Read more
Incident date: Oct 24, 2022
The front marker LED light bulbs in the headlight housing is gradually turning yellow. The LED light bulbs can't be replaced. They were originally white and now they are turning yellow. It is my understanding that only the side markers should be yellow. The front markers being yellow may be mistaken for the side markers and there distorting the width of the vehicle.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
The automatic high beam does not work. When activated it will not turn on the high beams on a dark road with no other lights in view. I had a 2019 Ridgeline that worked fine, so I know how to use the feature.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
I was making a right hand turn and I noticed my turn signal was flashing very fast. So I pulled over once I had the opportunity to. I turned on my signal and checked to see if they were working and found my rear to be out. Went to the parts store purchased new bulbs and drove home. My husband changed the bulbs on both sides and it still did the same thing I checked the bulbs and they were the corr... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLDE
(2018) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Nov 1, 2022
Incident date: Oct 12, 2022
Faulty front brake light switch causes the brake light to remain on all the time. Comon failure and the part is on back order for two months. Issue has been confirmed by dealer.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
There is a long-standing problem with the instrument panel being very difficult to see when operating the vehicle on a very sunny day. It is very dim even when the "instrument panel light control" is adjusted, especially when wearing sunglasses. No response by dealer.
Incident date: Oct 12, 2022
Water has collect in race strip light, since then I’ve been experiencing electrical problems with the car.
Incident date: Jun 1, 2021
My Jeep has had intermittently headlight issues, along w/ blind spot not working on driver side, + start/stop doesn’t work. I’ve had the headlights replaced, didn’t work. Been told that because issue isn’t happening when in dealers care, then they can’t fix for other issues.
this didn’t start happening until UCONNECT bricked my radio system with an update and I had to get it repa... Read more
Incident date: Oct 31, 2022
This cocksucker blasts oncoming traffic with DISCO HIGHBEAMS every single fucking time there's a lonely oncoming car on the highway. Someone's gonna shoot my ass for blasting them repeatedly with highbeams. Because autosteer is connected to auto highbeams, I can't turn it off unless I turn autosteer off and drive like a 1995 peasant.
KARAVAN
BOAT TRAILER
(2022) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Oct 31, 2022
Incident date: Oct 26, 2022
Wiring has been pulled out at some point in transport which has made all running lights inoperable especially my brake lights on a very dark black boat with no other reflective markers that help notify drivers.This was a very bad situation that could of been avoided at the dealership.I would like a investigation of how this design with black trailer,black boat and bad wiring could of caused a fata... Read more
Incident date: Oct 31, 2022
Unknown… The car has been having on going issues with shutting off while driving. With new battery, starter, tune up, plugs, and still no fix. The signal lights do keep busting. The headlights and brake lights. It’s expensive to keep changing the headlights that do not last more than 2 months. Driver side in particular.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2020
The headlights on our Acura have grown dangerously dim. The process happened gradually over the last few years. It is nearly impossible to see at night unless the high beams are on. The dealer advised that this is a problem for our model, but that no factory recall has been initiated by Acura. We have replaced the headlights, which did not help much at all and are now in the process of replac... Read more
Incident date: Oct 31, 2022
Rear middle light (brake) bar that attaches to the rear trunk cracks repeatedly. Has been replaced twice by Audi Indianapolis under warranty. Third middle brake light has curing issue with plastic that causes light to crack on its own. Part has been sent back to Audi for inspection on the first replacement ; however, even the second replacement has now begun to crack. In time this will affect th... Read more
Incident date: Oct 29, 2022
I was parked at a store, engine off. Was in there 3 minutes and another customer ran inside and said a car was on fire, the employee asked if it was mine. I ran outside and it was indeed mine. The rear tail light was all melted and on fire, billowing smoke was coming out the sides of the hatch so I opened it quickly to get the fire out. The store employee put the fire out with his fire extinguish... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jan 12, 2022
The vehicle has a continental system in it that I cannot explain where it came from or how it ended up in the vehicle and it has caused my vehicle to drive horribly and it will not even start a times and it has even sped out of control at times it does not allow the air system meaning heat and air conditioning to work or the touch screen and it causes all kinds of weird noises in the vehicle also ... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 1, 2022
Both headlights are very dim making it unsafe to drive at night. I replaced the bulbs twice, but they are still too dim. Need to replace both assemblies.
Incident date: Sep 15, 2018
After purchasing the car in 2018 I noticed the low beam headlights were dimmer than other vehicles I've owned but gradually, they have gotten much, much worse. I have to drive with high beams on at night or I can barely see the road in front of me. Without the high beams engaged, visibility is limited to maybe 5-10 feet in front of the vehicle with virtually no visibility to the sides of the road.... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2022
Tesla designs a single piece headlight with no serviceable parts. This includes headlights, high beams, and namely daytime running lights. All of these components are on an LED strip that overheats and un-solders due to this high heat, which causes premature failure. Some owners have reported as little as 3 months of life before failing. The daytime running lights are essential for safety driving... Read more
Incident date: Aug 6, 2022
Right Headlight and running light failed. Can or replace bulbs. Tesla wants $1500 Ro replace a headlight!
Incident date: May 14, 2021
Tesla designs a single piece headlight with no serviceable parts. This includes headlights, high beams, and namely daytime running lights. All of these components are on an LED strip that overheats and un-solders due to this high heat, which causes premature failure. Some owners have reported as little as 3 months of life before failing. The day
Incident date: Sep 4, 2022
Unknown. Both left and right daytime running lights are failing. Problem started about two months ago. The bright LED lights are slowly turning an amber color. Daytime running lights are part of the assembly of the headlight so all headlight and daytime running light would have to be replaced just to fix the daytime running light problem. I use daytime running lights for safety reasons while dr... Read more
Incident date: Sep 22, 2022
If breaks you to change the entire head light at the cost of about 2500USD
Incident date: Oct 1, 2022
Warning doors are opening by itself headlights are not working and parking sensors emergency braking as well a lot of issues with this car.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2022
Tesla designs a single piece headlight with no serviceable parts. This includes headlights, high beams, and namely daytime running lights. All of these components are on an LED strip that overheats and un-solders due to this high heat, which causes premature failure. Some owners have reported as little as 3 months of life before failing. The daytime running lights are essential for safety driving... Read more
Incident date: Jul 22, 2022
Headlight daytime running lights (eyebrows) have experienced a failure. Progressively turning yellow, then eventually failing to light up. Tesla designs a single piece headlight with no serviceable parts. This includes headlights, high beams, and namely daytime running lights. All of these components are on an LED strip that overheats and un-solders due to this high heat, which causes premature ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 29, 2022
DEALER NOT ASSISTING IN RECALL REPAIRS THAT WEREN’T CORRECTED.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2022
Tesla designs a single piece headlight with no serviceable parts. This includes headlights, high beams, and namely daytime running lights. All of these components are on an LED strip that overheats and un-solders due to this high heat, which causes premature failure. Some owners have reported as little as 3 months of life before failing. The day
Incident date: Oct 30, 2022
The headlights on this model are not effective enough to see safely at night. I have trouble seeing pedestrians and wildlife. I have adjusted the headlights and seen several complaints online about this same issue. I spoke with a dealership about it and they stated it’s a common complaint they get as well, and they offered to upgrade my headlights to an LED model for roughly $2,000. In todays ti... Read more
Incident date: Oct 22, 2022
Tesla designs a single piece headlight with no serviceable parts. This includes headlights, high beams, and namely daytime running lights. All of these components are on an LED strip that overheats and un-solders due to this high heat, which causes premature failure. Some owners have reported as little as 3 months of life before failing. The day
Incident date: Oct 30, 2022
Tesla designs a single piece headlight with no serviceable parts. This includes headlights, high beams, and namely daytime running lights. All of these components are on an LED strip that overheats and un-solders due to this high heat, which causes premature failure. Some owners have reported as little as 3 months of life before failing. The daytime running lights are essential for safety driving... Read more
Incident date: Oct 29, 2022
My headlights on left side (low beam)and right side (high beam) have each burned out three times. My high mounted brake light has been replaced at least five times as well as my left and right brake lights. Now both of my tag lights went out and a right tail light. Also brakes keep grinding even after I replaced pads and rotors and NTB National Tire is telling me it’s in electrical braking sys... Read more
MERCURY
GRAND MARQUIS
(2003) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Oct 29, 2022
Incident date: Oct 10, 2022
The LCM has failed during nightly driving causing a complete loss of headlights.
Incident date: Oct 29, 2022
Brake lights automatically come on when you don't touch the brakes and go off when you do. GM has had at least 2 recalls on this problem which this vehicle has gone through and now at 177,000 miles there was a 3 recall which GM won't honor due to high mileage. If it was unsafe at 150,000 miles why is it not unsafe now? We've had it fixed on our own which cost $200.00 and lasted all of 5-6 months... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2022
My headlights, dome lights and tail lights were flickering changed alternator. Kept doing it took it to the dealership in Daphne, Alabama. Had it put on the machine. They told me it was because it was a refurbished alternator. I finally found a new one in Tampa fla. So I ordered it and had it put on. And it is still doing it. The danger of this is that sometimes they will go off. And you can't see... Read more
Incident date: Jul 21, 2022
I was driving my car & listening to music. All of a sudden my passenger side dash speaker started smoking, then was shooting fire. I had a Bubbler drink & splashed it across the dash onto the speaker. It was scary, as I thought my engine might blow up. I took it to the shop, but they were so busy, it sat for a week, & I finally said forget it(I would have been too costly) & I needed my vehicle... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2022
High beams stopped working
TOYOTA
COROLLA CROSS
(2022) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Oct 28, 2022
Incident date: Oct 27, 2022
I am concerned with the visibility of my car in the night/dark. When driving my car in the night I get flashed by divers behind me. I am almost completely sure it is because the rear lights are so small and dim. This car was not available for a test drive and often isn’t so how is a potential buyer to know of this issue unless it is pointed out? All of the demonstration videos are of the highest... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2022
Since I purchased this car secondhand, the headlights are very dim at night, and it is unable to see in the dark, unless if I have my highbeams on which is a big safety hazard. The class action act expired by the time I purchase a vehicle, and I was unaware of this at the purchase of the vehicle. I have been in contact with two different aftermarket warranty companies, and they are refusing to cov... Read more