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: Sep 1, 2021
I had been pulled over for not having my lights on but they were, then pulled over again while driving with brights on,(had to drive with brights on to see road), Another day, I had turned off my brights to avoid getting pulled over for having them on. When I arrived at my destination I could barely see the road & hit a parked car. It just so happened I was in front of my daughters house, my dest... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Sep 9, 2021
I was driving the vehicle. All of a sudden, all the lights went out on the vehicle. This includes the instrumentation panel, interior lights, brake lights, etc. I drove the car to a safe location and stopped the engine. I then restarted the car and everything started normally.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2015
The rear "racetrack" tail light assembly fills with water and disables the lights. Also water gets in to the lights over the license plate and disables that light as well.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
Class action lawsuit was file for headlights that go dim after life of the vehicle. I never received letter in regards to lawsuit and dealer will not help to replace headlights. This should be a recall headlights are very important dealer and manufacture are aware of this headlight issue because of the class action lawsuit they settled. PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL HEADLIGHTS GO DIM NO VISIABILITY AT... Read more
Incident date: Jan 17, 2022
I purchased this vehicle used last April, 2020. Six months ago, I noticed while driving at the night that it seemed as if my headlights were not on. I even pulled over at one point to see if they WERE! I purchased a commercial lens cleaning kit to see if it helped the illumination. It did not. I purchased new bulbs with a higher lumen rating than the OEM bulbs. No change. I have spoken with a mast... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
The rear passenger tail light assembly keeps shorting out. The bulb has been replaced, the assembly has been replaced, no water is leaking into the assembly, and repair/replacement only temporarily fixes the problem. Vehicle has been inspected by a mechanic who had seen this problem before, but was unaware of an actual fix for the problem. We have been advised that this reoccurring problem could p... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2022
JL Wrangler equipped with LED headlight and fog light. When drive in snowstorm, snow quickly cover up headlight and fog light due to not enough heat generated from headlight fog light. Once snow covers headlight and fog light completely, the visibility reduced to couple feet at most. Make it extremely dangerous.
Incident date: Jan 19, 2022
Headlights have become so dim over the last year that I can longer see more than 10 ft in front of my car at night. There is a known headlight problem that Cadillac will not recall or offer a solution to. The dim headlights are very dangerous and will certainly result in fatal accidents.
Incident date: Jan 18, 2022
RDX 2015 57, 500 miles. This is my 5th Acura . Since OCt 2021 difficult driving at night due to low beams not deflecting enough light-now cannot drive vehicle when it gets dark-UNSAFE took the car to acura dealership and service advisor stated the panel where bulb deflects and receives lights from is shattered. "This is a common defect". He stated I would need to replace the whole headlight as... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2019
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that the low and high beam headlights failed to illuminate and was replaced on several occasions. Additionally, the driver’s and passenger’s side taillights were inoperable. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
MERCEDES-BENZ
ML350
(2006) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 18, 2022
Incident date: Dec 25, 2021
During a rainstorm Dec 25 2021 brake lights gas gauge windshield wipers and truck all stopped working. Trunk will not open no automatic interior lights.
Incident date: Jan 12, 2021
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the low-beam headlights were inadequate to provide illumination for safe driving. The high-beam headlights were activated for safe driving. The vehicle was not taken to the local dealer to be inspected. The contact contacted the local dealer and it was stated that the headlight assemblies needed to be replac... Read more
Incident date: Jan 10, 2022
Left low beam bulb went out. The right side was rendered inoperable. Had no operational low beam, just parking and high beam lights. Safety issue, generated a dangerous and lot of irate drivers in on coming vehicle’s, with inability to lower the high beams. Once the left low beam bulb was replaced right side became operable full low beam was operating. Don’t know if this a fluke with this ve... Read more
Incident date: Jan 17, 2022
Water gets into track lights, short circuiting entire tailgate lighting including license plate light, back up camera, and tailgate panel lighting.
Incident date: Nov 11, 2021
The original factory headlights (low beams specifically) are not bright enough to safely drive at night. We have attempted to just replace the bulbs to stronger LEDs but it resulted in such a minimal change - indicating a larger issue. There are several online accounts of the same issue with no sort of recall.
Incident date: Jun 1, 2021
I have observed that the headlights and fog lights flicker about every 1 minute while driving. Nothing running in the cab that would affect the voltage or amps to draw to cause this. I have read several online threads of dozens if not hundreds of others having the same issue with no solution or any dealership to help.
Incident date: Jan 14, 2022
Instrument panel went blank. No visual indication of how fast I was traveling. Also frontal collision stop working.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2020
I Dont no why but my Engine will randomly stall out even in the middle of making a.left or a right-hand turn and it's scary when I a.m. at an intersection intersection and I doll out then I have to shut my car off completely turn it back on and pump the gas. Till it starts . few days later my warning lights came on the meters and lights shot up quick and. Then the car shut down I was so freaked ou... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2021
The low beams to high beam headlight stared working intermittently in Aug 2021. Maybe one side worked or the other or neither. I took it to KIA and they said a bulb was about burned out. Replaced both bulbs but was still having the same issue. Took it back in Sept 2021, they said they did a diagnostic test and everything showed it was ok. Left, same problem. Called again had appointment in October... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2022
Tail and brake light for the second time has failed. A safety function of this nature should not be this difficult to fix and replace. The item should be available and affordable. You literally have to take out a lone to get it fixed. So now I can't go to work or anything else with this vehicle. This is supposed to be an affordable car. So the only way for me right now to fix is park it. I hear... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2021
Went to unlock vehicle but found it was unlocked. Tried to start car and noticed there was nothing in the car that worked, interior lights, dashboard monitors, all computer functions were out and could not open the rear hatch. Called Lincoln assist and they sent AAA. They tested battery and it was good, tried a jump start and nothing happened. Saw on the internet (Lincolnforum.org) that disconnect... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2022
Water Intrusion caused rear lift gate "racetrack light" tail lights including license plate lights to become inoperable. This poses an obvious risk to safety as the lighting is relied upon by drivers, in dark conditions, to detect the rear of my vehicle. If a driver behind me were to fail to detect the rear of my vehicle, in dark conditions, they could easily collide with the rear of my vehicle. I... Read more
Incident date: Jan 14, 2022
Tesla recently release their version 11 user interface. This update took a lot of safety features and put them behind menus. Windshield wipers, defrosters, seat warmers were all easily accessible in the previous version. Now they are wall hidden behind menus. If you need one of these features while driving, you get distracted while trying to find it which is dangerous. But these features are neces... Read more
Incident date: Jun 7, 2021
Driver side high beam light went out so bulb was changed. A couple weeks later light went back out again. Thought it was a defect bulb purchased another and changed it again. Now it goes in and out. The driver window will not let down when the high beam light is working.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
The headlights are extremely dim, dangerously so. I have tried troubleshooting and the voltage at the headlamp connector is 3 volts. The fusebox and headlamp relay are 14 volts. Searching for an answer online, I find there are a myriad of other owners with the same dim headlamp problem. Dealerships seem unable to fix to the issue.
Incident date: Apr 30, 2021
UNKNOWN. however there has been a safety recall about the brake lights not illuminating. I have tried three times to make an appointment with nissan dealership to get this problem fixed but i have had no luck with them helping. Im worrried about my daughters safety. She is not even two years old yet, i dont want her or anyone else on the road getting hurt because of a faulty safety feature.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
HEADLIGHTS: It is available for inspection upon request. There have been no accident so far, however you cannot drive at night due to low beam of headlights are so very dim that it is an absolute hazard to be out on the road and deal with oncoming vehicles because you cant see. When asking a dealer representative about my headlight issue, he stated it would cost around $1500, as these were very... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2022
Due to the deterioration of the headlight assembly and the reflectors, my headlights do not give me enough light to safely see after dark without using the bright lights. I have to drive with them on bright all the time, even in oncoming traffic, or risk incident or accident. To date I have experienced only minor, thankfully, incident. I have missed turns and even missed the road and drove off the... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2022
Headlight low-beam bulbs are too dim for safe night time driving. I have had numerous safety incidents arise during night time driving, do to the dim factory installed low-beam bulbs on the automobile. GM should assume responsibility for the in-effective low-beam bulbs used for the CADILLAC SRX 2013 and initiate a SAFETY RECALL concerning the low-beam bulbs installed in all model CADILLAC affecte... Read more
Incident date: Oct 3, 2021
The contact owns a 2017 Audi Q7. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an intermittent warning message about the headlights would appear on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where she was informed that the only way to remove the warning message would be to replace the entire headlight housing. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Cam... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2021
At roughly 9,000 miles we noticed that the lights illuminating the climate control buttons stopped working. We also noticed the gear shift indicators (P, R, N, D) were not lighting up either, and neither was the light that told you what gear you were in. At night it is impossible to see what gear you are in or what button to push to change anything on the climate control. My wife took the car to a... Read more
Incident date: May 20, 2021
Head light connector is burning out too fast. Had to replace it 2x in 1 year.
Incident date: Jan 12, 2022
Very poor visibility from low beam lights. The daytime running lights are brighter than my low beams. Had bulbs replaced with upgraded bulbs still unable to drive this vehicle at night. I'm the original owner purchased new no accidents. Acura has a recall or warranty enhancement for other models with the same problems. I was told by the dealer only way to correct my issues is by replacing th... Read more
Incident date: Jan 12, 2022
Volvo rushed the 2022 model year XC60 with the new Google infotainment to market before all the bugs were worked out. While driving after 4 weeks of ownership, the HVAC was not working so unable to defog the windshield, the turn signal lights were not working, maps and speed limit alerts not working. Had to manually reboot the infotainment to regain these necessary safety features. There are nu... Read more
Incident date: Feb 8, 2021
Both headlights are very dim. The headlights have been gradually dimming. It is very dangerous to drive at night. Headlights should fail in this manner.
Incident date: Jan 4, 2022
The low beam reflector surface is failing and the quality of the lighting on the road at night at standard low beam is a danger to me and to pedestrians. This almost resulted in serious injury to someone was when I was driving in the early evening last week and did not see a pedestrian walking along the side of the road until the very last second and swerved to avoid them. They were not wearing br... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
I noticed while driving at night, my headlights are extremely dim. After researching the problem, I discovered that there is a problem with the headlights having to do with moisture and corrosion and that Cadillac is aware of the problem, but will not issue a recall. There are several lawsuits pending including a Class Action filed in Detroit, MI. I contacted the dealership who informed me that ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 10, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Dodge Durango. The contact stated that the taillights failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the taillights to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
LAND ROVER
DISCOVERY
(2017) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 11, 2022
Incident date: Jan 6, 2022
I was driving on th highway when all my electrical went out no lights no signal noting the car is in the shop it has happened multiple times
Incident date: Nov 1, 2021
Adaptive front lighting system error. For the last several months, and more frequently in the last 2 weeks when the weather has been colder, the dashboard warning light for the adaptive headlights has come on -- initially intermittently, but now solid nearly every time I turn on the vehicle. Bluedriver OBDII tool tells me this is error code B2325: "Swivel module fault left short circuit or over ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 11, 2022
The headlights keep blowing. This is not safe nor normal.
Incident date: Jan 3, 2022
Optional LED headlight buckets fog up and will not dry out. Kia has a service bulletin out regarding this issue, it was performed and the situation has not improved. Recently, in minus 20-30 degree F weather, the condensation inside the housing frosted up the entire inside of the housing. The LED headlights do not generate enough heat to adequately melt the frost creating decreased headlight pe... Read more
Incident date: Jan 10, 2022
When the headlights are set to automatic and driving at night, the headlights and daytime running lights will spontaneously turn off when signaling a turn. This is an intermittent problem.The dash indicator still shows that the headlights are on but they are off and it has nearly caused an accident. When the selector is set to “on” the issue has not yet happened. Dealership stated that it woul... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2022
Low beam headlights shine very dimly. Can not see at night without using high beams Problem has not yet been reported to dealer. Vehicle has not yet been inspected by dealer, police or insurance representative No warning lights activated to warn about problem
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
Vehicle occasionally makes a clicking sound in the dash by steering column. Only lasts few seconds. Happens when you either use key fob to unlock door (not even in vehicle yet) or when you start vehicle. Vehicle is usually not running when this happens. Also, several times my headlights came on for no reason the past few weeks draining the battery. Keys were hanging up in house when it happened!
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
I was driving down the rd and all of the sudden my truck jumps into 2nd gear and looses all power to speed up and it seems like I'm in neutral my relay box is messing up everything electrical now it shuts off at stop signs and If it keeps doing all this I'll have to replace transmission. I've already replace tipm 2 times
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 10, 2022
Incident date: Jan 3, 2022
Headlight cracked even though it is made of plastic. Brand new car, only 3 months old and Ford claims that a “foreign object” must have hit it. Although in all the vehicles I have driven in the state of Maine, never has a rocket broken my headlight. Not to mention the cost to fix it is $2,600 for one headlight.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
There have been several times recently when both of the headlights flicker on and off while driving or while parked over the past 2 weeks. Most of the time it seems to happen when using the turn signal, but not always. Most times it has only flickered off for a second and it has happened for as long as several seconds until the driver could quickly turn the lights off and back on again for them to... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2020
Headlamp failure. Headlamp light getting progressively dimmer, forcing me to drive with the brights on at all times after sunset, even on highways and on well - lit roads - causing hazard to other drivers. I can barely see the cars ahead of me. Inclimate weather is practically impossible to see at all - does not illuminate lane lines. I had the dealer change out the bulbs and inspect the outer... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 9, 2022
Incident date: Jan 9, 2022
When driving in reverse my vehicle does not have a clear view based on the rear lights installed. The lighting design does not light the area behind the vehicle sufficiently and poses great risk of hitting child or object behind vehicle. Rear camera is essentially rendered useless during nighttime driving and or parking.
Crash