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: Apr 9, 2026
Common problem with the headlights of this model. The regular headlights become too dim, causing danger to driver at night. Using brights is mandatory during night time driving. Entire light housing must be replaced due to dimming. Replacing bulbs does not solve issue.
Incident date: Sep 15, 2025
The contact owns 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that after the State Inspection was completed, the State Inspector informed the contact that the vehicle had failed the inspection due to an inoperable driver's side tailgate light. The contact was also informed that there was moisture inside the tailgate lid light assembly, and that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V259000 (Ex... Read more
Incident date: Mar 5, 2026
The information cluster behind the steering wheel is not turning on. Started all of a sudden. Can’t show speed, none of the advance driving features are working , and not showing gas level.
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
I own a 2025 Ram 2500 that is affected by Recall 03D involving the Trailer Brake Control Module. This recall is related to a potential failure of the trailer braking system and trailer lighting system, which creates a serious safety risk while towing. I regularly use this truck for towing, and due to this issue, the vehicle may not safely tow trailers, increasing the risk of an accident. I have ex... Read more
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 8, 2026
Incident date: Nov 7, 2020
Our 2025 Ram 1500 is subject to a safety recall involving the trailer brake system. The dealer confirmed that the defect may cause trailer brakes and trailer lighting to fail. We were advised that there is currently no repair available and that parts may not be available for up to a year. Because of this defect, we are unable to safely tow our travel trailer, which is a primary intended use of th... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2022) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 7, 2026
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Ram 2500. The contact stated that the message "Service Trailer Lighting" was displayed while driving. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and several other dealers were contacted and informed that the recall part was not... Read more
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2017) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 7, 2026
Incident date: Nov 30, 2025
The driver-side rear tail lamp on my 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning developed a crack and internal condensation/moisture without a known impact event. The condition was confirmed by a Ford dealer, which recommended replacement of the LH tail lamp assembly. Ford denied warranty coverage and classified the lamp as non-warrantable cracked housing / outside-force damage. My concern is that cracking and moi... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Front right turn signal went out after three years and I’m told I need to replace the entire light which is $1400 by itself. These led lights are supposed to last a long time.
HYUNDAI
SANTA FE SPORT
(2018) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 7, 2026
Incident date: Mar 3, 2026
My driver side front headlight fan is malfunctioning. It stays on and makes a loud noise when the car is parked and off and the lights are still on. This is a known defect and my dealership is asking for 2k to pay for it. I am concerned the light will go out causing safety concerns. (TSB) SA01323 and 09-015/23. This should be recalled as is it not a general wear and tear issue, it is a manufacturi... Read more
Incident date: Mar 22, 2026
I'm reporting moisture in the driver headlight. I noticed a little moisture when I purchased it in October 25(used). Of course the warranty is up and the extended warranty doesn't cover replacement of assembly. Which is very pricey over $2000. I took it to the dealership to get it looked at but at the time it was still working but flickering alot, now it's completely out. I asked was it cracked an... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
Headlights on Nissan Altima started to dim, even when replacing bulbs. There was a settlement to get the bulbs replaced: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
Since October 2025 I have had Tail Lamp Assembly VW Part #17A-945-093-D (the trunk rear light) on order with no expected delivery date. Once the lens is cracked or broken you can not properly maintain the car and are at risk of receiving a ticket due to the broken light. The last time I checked their was 130 on back order. That is affecting 130 vehicles which have a broken tail lamp assemble. ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
I am a Amazon driver and my dsp makes us drive with very bad safety hazards on the vehicle the step up platform on the vehicle is broken brakes are terrible and the airbag sensors and tire pressure sensors are not working and very bad.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
The car gets stuck and will not shift out of park. I've had to use the manual override. And when the ambulance came to my house, I could not move my car out of the way fast enough and this delayed emergency response team. I thought it was a one time fluke, but it started happening again this week (4/1/26) Every time I use the car. This cannot be safe.
Incident date: Mar 25, 2026
Headlight on the passenger side. Very common for this year and model Porsche. We took the car to a carwash. We entered with both headlights working. We went straight home and as we pulled into the garage we saw that the passenger side headlight wasn't working. There was no indication on the dashboard or warning that the headlight was out. I had to drive home in the dark in unsafe conditions wit... Read more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2026
On March 6th, 2026, I spent the day running errands in normal driving conditions and it created a situation that did not charge the battery or switch to gasoline. Several error lights displayed seconds before the car died. The hazard lights failed within 15 minutes of waiting for a tow truck. The dealership service department charged the battery and gave me advice to run the car at least 30 minut... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2019) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 6, 2026
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
The driver-side rear taillight assembly suffers from a persistent seal failure, allowing significant moisture accumulation and water droplets to build up inside the lamp housing. This defect was documented by the Polestar Delivery Specialist at the time of vehicle handover and has persisted despite two prior warranty replacements of the lamp assemblies (authorized under Polestar TIE case 01943145)... Read more
Incident date: Mar 30, 2026
The driver side headlight low beam will not work. Dealership said 1700+ labor to replace. I have looked into this and several other ford explorer platinum owners have same issue.
Incident date: Feb 21, 2026
The Toyota 4Runner (5th and 6th Generations) lacks a dedicated 'Approach Lighting' function, creating a critical personal safety and trip-and-fall hazard during nighttime entry. Users are forced to navigate the vehicle's perimeter in total darkness, increasing the risk of injury from unseen obstacles or security threats. I am requesting an investigation into this lighting logic omission and a reme... Read more
Incident date: Nov 15, 2025
Dear National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding my 2022 Nissan Leaf due to repeated and sudden battery failure that has created unsafe driving conditions. Over the past several months, my vehicle has experienced severe and unpredictable battery drain. Even after a full charge (approximately 100 miles indicated), the battery rapidly... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2020) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 4, 2026
Incident date: Mar 2, 2026
While driving on the highway on 4/4/26 at 10:40 pm the dashboard and the headlights went out. The outage lasted about 5 seconds and then they came back on. I drove another 40 minutes and did not have another problem. My safety was put at risk because I could not see the road and others could not see me! There were no warnings prior to the problem. This is the second time in a year that this incide... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2018) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 4, 2026
Incident date: Mar 23, 2026
The LED DRLs failed in the first 28000 miles leaving no DRLs. Researching this issues shows it it a known defect but not considered a safety issue. I disagree as visibility is greatly diminished without the lights. Numerous online complaints and LRJ reuses to compensate owners out of warranty.
Incident date: Feb 2, 2026
When attempting to engage the Left turn signal, the lever has to be pushed down several times to "catch or engage" and stay engaged. Frequently it won't stay engaged and turns off before the turn is completed. (The Right turn signal works properly). This happens 8 out of 10 times on a consistent basis. The dealer shop supervisor and tech test drove it as well as another brand new lot vehicle... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
Low beam halogen headlights are dangerously dim. It is not possible to see in darkness without the high beams on. New factory bulbs have been replaced. Lens cleaning restoration has been performed. This widely known flaw will cause accidents if it hasn't already. Hundreds of complains have been filed with the NHTSA. There are dozens of forums highlighting this important design flaw. The issue lies... Read more
Incident date: Aug 3, 2025
2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L Obsidian. Water intrudes into the left headlight assembly through a defective seal, destroying the LED driver module (OEM part #68590086AD) and burning the internal wiring harness connector. This has caused: (1) complete headlight failure while driving in winter conditions with passengers; (2) sudden loss of engine power while in operation; (3) battery failure with stand... Read more
Incident date: Mar 22, 2026
The vehicle experienced a serious and ongoing electrical and system malfunction shortly after being returned from repairs related to a prior accident. Within a short period of driving, multiple warning messages and system errors began appearing simultaneously, indicating failures across several vehicle systems. The issues included repeated computer system faults affecting critical functions. The ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 3, 2026
Vehicle: 2026 Honda Civic Sport Hatchback VIN: [XXX] Mileage at time of complaint: 1,500 miles Description of Problem: The vehicle jerks/shudders when turning at low RPM. This occurs consistently during low-speed maneuvers such as parking lot turns and slow cornering. The issue is repeatable and has been present since purchase. Multiple passengers have independently noticed and remarked on the is... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2025
I own a 2020 Honda Accord EX-L with a 1.5T turbo engine. The problem happened on January 20, 2026, when my car had 66,988 miles. While my husband was driving it, the engine warning light came on, and the car suddenly lost power in the middle of the road. Fortunately, there was no car behind me at the time. Otherwise, he could have been in a serious accident. He was able to pull into a nearby parki... Read more
Incident date: Mar 22, 2026
Significant issues with adaptive headlights having a large shadow in middle of beam as well as two smaller dark shadows at end of beam that are very distracting. It also dims very low at times severely reducing my visibility especially at different grades of the road. The headlights were so bad from the first week I tried to get the sales manager at Ciocca Subaru in Allentown to take this car back... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
Rear light bar has water inside. Recall has not been fix since October 2025. Rear light flickering on and off. Been pulled over by the police
Incident date: Nov 7, 2025
Taillights holding water/condensation and making lights go dark.
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Vehicle equipped with operation red and blue auxiliary emergency lights, prohibited and protected by law for law enforcement use only, facilitates impersonation of a police officer, false detention, harassment, legal scrutiny for police, seller has actual knowledge, strictly liable upon a purchase agreement with a buyer, and can be liable for crimes committed by another by aiding an offender under... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
Vehicle equipped with red and blue emergency lights, excessive auxiliary lights prohibited by law, facilitates color of law violations, poses a risk to general public regarding harassment, impersonation of police officer, seller has actual knowledge, strictly liable upon a purchase agreement with buyer, and can be liable for crimes committed by others as a coconspirator.
Incident date: Dec 3, 2024
Vehicle equipped with operational red and blue emergency lights prohibited by law, facilitates criminal activity such as impersonation of a police officer, civil regulatory laws regarding excess auxiliary lights, etc. Seller has actual knowledge and can be liable under color of law upon a purchase agreement with a buyer. Vehicle has open recalls and unresolved mechanical/electrical maintenance.
Incident date: Dec 23, 2025
Vehicle is equipped with operational red and blue lights that are prohibited under the color of law, and facilitates criminal activity upon a purchase agreement. Seller has actual knowledge and can be liable under the color of law. Vehicle has open recalls.
Incident date: Mar 18, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the dealer 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 ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy, VIN [XXX] , purchased March 6, 2026 with under 2,200 miles at time of incident. SAFETY INCIDENT: While operating under adaptive cruise control at highway speed, the vehicle experienced sudden unintended acceleration followed by severely delayed braking response. At least three trailing vehicles were forced into emergency evasive action to avoid a multi-vehicle co... Read more
Incident date: Jun 9, 2025
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that the rear brake lights failed to illuminate when the vehicle was parked. The contact depressed the brake pedal to disengage the brake lights. While driving at various speeds, the brake lights illuminated without the brake pedal being depressed. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that there were recalls associated with the VIN re... Read more
Incident date: Mar 26, 2026
If you turn the air or heat off it turns itself back on. Sometimes none of the botton on the dash responds to any command including turning the radio air or anything off or on.
Incident date: Mar 28, 2026
several recalls but dealer my did not have any
Incident date: Mar 24, 2026
The contact owns a 2023 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers : 25V512000 (Power Train) and 26V104000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear axle shaft assemblies had failed and needed to be replaced. The ve... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
There is a recall on the towing control module that prevents me from towing with the vehicle, which is the reason I purchased the vehicle. They are unable to get the parts required to complete the repair. The recall started in february, it is now april with no parts ordered , avaliable, or repair scheduled. If I dont tow my boat it a few weeks, I will start incurring fees for storage. I called d... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2026
See attached document for complaint.
Incident date: Mar 13, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Telluride. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the high beam headlights failed to illuminate as intended, and the vehicle shuddered before losing automotive power. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the warning lights failed to illuminate as designed when the engine oil level was low. The vehicle was taken to a lo... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V104000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer wa... Read more
Incident date: Feb 24, 2026
A little scary, it just got released from my hospital.From having cancer just wanna have my recalls repaired
Incident date: Jan 8, 2026
Trailer brakes and lights come and go. I start with having everything then loose brakes and lights when I’m driving. This is apparently a known issue that they have a fix for but I have never received anything about a recall.
Incident date: Mar 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System). The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the dealer was only receiving one part for a recall repair every 90 days. The contact was placed on a waiting list. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contac... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLTRT
(2023) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 31, 2026
Incident date: Feb 6, 2026
I saw previous warning when I pulled my credit report on Experian, but I am not seeing any recalls currently. My driver side taillight is malfunctioning. It appears there is a problem with the seal which is allowing water to get inside the assembly, causing it to short out. I realize this vehicle is a 2015 but thought I would mention in case this is still an issue under recall.
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
Low beam headlights extremely dim. Feels like driving with parking lights only. Very difficult to see. While checking different positions of the headlight switch discovered that in the parking light position ALL lights go off.