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
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2016) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 8, 2022
Incident date: Nov 19, 2021
-The front right passenger electrical system that contains the wiring in order for the front headlight and front high beam to function properly suddenly started a short circuit and caused the front passenger light system wiring to catch fire to that part and the parts that surround it. The car is available for inspection at any time. -My safety was put at risk because my vehicle caught fire in a ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jan 1, 2021
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Headlight Assembly. Yes, it is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Visibility at night is significantly diminished. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. Car engine and body is in great shape.... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2022
The low beam headlights are to dim. The light from the fog lights projects further then the low beam headlights. I have changed the bulbs but there has been little to no improvement.
Incident date: Jan 4, 2022
The xenon projector bowls in the headlight assembly on both sides of the vehicle have slowly been burning. The bowl is made of plastic and with the heat of the xenons burns the plastic creating not only a fire hazard but also greatly reduces the effectiveness of the headlight beam, rendering it almost useless. This is specific to the OEM manufacture of the headlight assembly, ZKW. This has also be... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2022
JUST INFORMED BY MY DEALERSHIP WHILE WORKING ON RECALL , THAT MY HEADLIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 2400.00. IF NOT DONE MY CAR WILL NOT PAST INSPECTION DUE FEB 2022
Incident date: Jan 7, 2022
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lightning). The contact stated that the display screen for the cameras was inoperable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and sent an associate to the contact's residence to inspect the vehicle. The associate inspected the hood latch a... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2017) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 7, 2022
Incident date: Oct 25, 2021
Beginning two months ago my passenger side front window began rolling down on its own and the dash board lights would continually flash on and off. When at a stop sign or red light the vehicle idles down as low as 9. The battery was checked by the dealership and I was told it did not require replacement. The tachometer drops to zero while the vehicle is in motion and on two of those occasions the ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2020
Q. Basic Introduction: Like hundreds of people all over the internet, my 2014 Acura RDX base model's low-beam headlights deteriorated to the point of being of no use while driving. Quite literally, without exaggeration, at night, I saw nothing but a faint glow on the street immediately in front of the car. Q. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2022
Headlights have gotten so dim it is unsafe to drive at night. No change in brightness even after replacing the halogen bulbs with brighter than OEM version. The problem is apparently deterioration inside the headlight assembly/housing causing the light to not reflect out forward properly.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2019
Material used for tail light housing develop cracks from changes in temperature allowing water into the housing and impacting the function of brake and reverse lights.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2015) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 6, 2022
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
Seal deteriorated on 3rd brake light at top of cab, allowing water inside the light and the vehicle. Concerned about possible wire/electrical short circuit.
MERCEDES-BENZ
C300
(2008) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 6, 2022
Incident date: Mar 1, 2018
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300. The contact stated that the exterior headlights and taillights would independently illuminate while idle without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where a camera was placed on the vehicle for four days; however, the failure did not occur while in the mechanic's possession. While the contact stated that the failure was ... Read more
IMPORT PRODUCTS CO.,INC.
EURO HEADLAMP
(9999) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 5, 2022
Incident date: Jan 4, 2022
The new manufactures are creating LED headlights that are too bright. Cars coming to me and even cars behind me in the review mirror. Where are your guidelines on this matter? Large cars are shooting bright lights to my normal sedan which is lower. You should make a guideline to have large vehicles have lower headlights below my trunk. I have a Honda Accord. The more expensive the other car.... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2021
Seat belts do not lock in place when braking, but randomly lock in place while cruising. Severe electric discharge from vehicle, as well as power surges causing lights to burn out repeatedly.
MERCEDES-BENZ
ML550
(2008) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 5, 2022
Incident date: Jan 2, 2022
safety defect rear sam acting up after rain . no lights no fuel gauge no remote no turn signal while driving almost had an accident
Incident date: Dec 27, 2021
While driving in below zero temperatures I received a warning "Headlights Disabled" and my headlights were inoperable. I was able to use the high beams otherwise, complete darkness causing an immanent safety concern and potential for financial loss in terms of legality and ticketing. The failure remained in effect for approximately 10 minutes and then the warning disappeared and the light regained... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2022
Exterior headlights are almost non existent. The vehicle can not be driven safely at night. I must use high beams to safely drive at night.
Incident date: Oct 5, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the car wash, he noticed that the headliner had turned blue. The contact stated that the inside of the rear end of the vehicle was corroded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that water was leaking through the rear taillight on top of the cab into the headliner and rear end of the vehicle. The deal... Read more
Incident date: Oct 10, 2020
Headlights problems of the 2014 Acura RDX. Unable to see with headlights at night. I can't see the road. I have escaped couple of accidents luckily.
Incident date: Dec 15, 2021
My backup lights kept burning out and are no longer functional. My directional and taillights have both burned out excessively. Last time I changed my left tail light I noticed the socket the bulb goes into looked a bit charred. My right directional recently burned out and this time the bulb is melted into the socket. I have an appt to have a mechanic change ALL REAR SOCKETS. Upon discovering the... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2022
Newer cars have headlights that are too intense! Low beams on new cars are often as intense as high beams on older cars. The lights are blinding. The blue color and intensity causes my eyes to strain and I actually feel pain from it. Trucks seem to be the worst. They are also very sensitive to the angle of view. They hit the tiniest bump and flare very strongly into my eyes. With one of these car... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2021
Headlights will randomly flash off/on while driving. Using turn signals will also make the headlights (and some interior lighting) flicker off/on. Headlights were replaced, but problem still exists. This is a major safety issue for me as other drivers believe I'm flashing my lights intentionally, not to mention, driving at night and having your headlights turn off randomly isn't very safe. We feel... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
The current mileage on my odometer is 69,125. Over the past few weeks (last few hundred miles), I have noticed that my low beam headlights have become very dim and are continually getting dimmer. Having read MANY other complaints about this problem with this particular year model, I took my car to our local Acura dealership to be diagnosed. The findings were that the internal reflector has deterio... Read more
Incident date: Jan 4, 2022
THIS OUR 2ND HONDA VEHICLE - QUALITY VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHTING SYSTEM IS HIGHLY INADEQUATE IN NIGHT DRIVING IN LOW LIGHT AND VERY DANGERIOUS. CONTACTED DEALER SERVICE DIRECTOR ,BUT THE RESPONCE WAS"I NEVER HEARD ANY THING ABOUT THAT ! THE DEALER NEED TO BE ALERTED ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS HEADLIGHTS ! I HAVE FOUND OUT THRU RESEARCH, THIS IN ADEQUATE HEAD LIGHTING IS SOMEWHAT COMMON ! THIS DEALERSH... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2021
Low beam headlight projectors reflective backing has deteriorated causing loss of reflected light end result very dim low beam headlights. Obviously everyone in my vehicle or on the roadway around me is at risk of injury or death due to poor forward lighting. Problem has been confirmed by a 30 year Master ASE certified technician. Manufacturer has not inspected the vehicle but has notified me that... Read more
Incident date: Dec 9, 2021
marker lights on the right side won't work both went off line and licence light same side is out same time and bulbs ,fuse replaced and still not working the kia service will not fix in kia of manharttan in kansas andi have 68,000 miles and they didn't offer a basic warrantty to be long when online for my my car and suppose to be under warranty for 110;00
Incident date: Jan 2, 2022
Unknown: On 1/2/2021 at approximately 11:30pm, we were awakened by neighbors to warn us that our home was on fire. Neighbors witnesses an explosion from our truck, that blew up most of the Ford F-150 and cause major damage to my van next to it. The fire department has investigated the explosion and listed cause of fire to Be electrical issues from the Ford F-150. Thankfully no lives were lost, but... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jan 2, 2022
My left tail light is having a lot of leakage of water - & has caused my tail light, & license plate light to completely stop working.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2018
Both my tail lights have failed. Dealer wants insane amount of money for new ones, so I opened up the lights and there is an obvious design flaw in the lights, to me it seems intentional at worst, incompetent at best. I am an electrical engineer, and there is no reason they should put a friction connection in the LED power bar, it is a glaring design flaw. Also having steering assist issue at l... Read more
Incident date: Apr 25, 2021
When driving at night with my headlights on regular low beam, I can't see a [XXX] thing! It is beyond dangerous to drive with low beams on. Unfortunately it has resulted in me driving with my brights on causing oncoming motorists to deal with being vision impaired, making it another dangerous situation! This is completely ridiculous that Cadillac will not recall these headlamps. I am not able to a... Read more
Incident date: Apr 20, 2021
My 2014 (bought 2017) Cadillac SRX headlights are inadequate for night vision. I don't want to drive at night. The lights are too dim to be safe. When I went on online, I found about 30 people with the same problem on CarComplaint.com and GM is not helping us.
Incident date: Jan 2, 2022
Brake light tail light and rear blinker housing keeps melting leaving us with no working lights what so ever. Costly and dangerous
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
Front headlights (low beams) are very dim even after replacing the bulb. This was noticed on a long drive back home during the night. While passing opposing traffic it was almost impossible to keep visibility of the lane markers and road.
Incident date: Oct 6, 2021
Low beams are extremely dim after bulb replacement. Dealership confirmed known issue. I hit debris in roadway due to low lighting causing damage to my undercarriage. No lamp warnings.
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2014) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 2, 2022
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
Over the course of several years' use, the OEM HID headlights lenses have been burnt by the OEM headlights which has incrementally diminished the headlight effectiveness. There is a frost like haze that has been burnt into the interior of the lens. This should be covered by the manufacturer given that the headlight cover lenses used on the headlight assembly were not adequate. I have experienced ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 25, 2021
Taillights and brake lights inoperative. GMC knows of problem and refuses to repair vehicle outside of manufacturer warranty (lights failed after warranty period). I have seen SEVERAL other Yukons on the road with NO brake lights or tail lights. Extremely dangerous situation.
Incident date: Dec 30, 2021
The tail light flooded during rain and the tail light would not turn on. I was notified of this issue after an officer pulled me over and gave me a notice. There were no warning signs. In search of the issue online, it appears that it is a very common issue with the Model S tail lights.
Incident date: Dec 11, 2021
we bought this Acura RDX in 2015 and noticed the headlights are dim; as we drive more often in nights recently, it becomes obvious that this kind dim headlights are very dangerous for driving in nights, particularly on high way. I was looking for repairing but was told this was all without faulty from the original equipment. I searched online and realized this was a safety problems many drivers h... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2021
Daytime running burnt out.
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2007) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 1, 2022
Incident date: Jan 1, 2022
I BOUGHT A 2007 SILVERADO TRUCK FROM A DEALER WITH OUT THE WARRANTY,BUT WERE TOLD LATER THAT IF YOU DO NOT BUY THE WARRANTY WE DO NOT FIX ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK.IT HAD SAFTEY ISSUES LIKE THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING,BAD TIRE STEM,WIPPERS CONTROL NOT WORKING ALL THE TIME,AND A BAD REAL SEAL LEAK PUTTING OIL ON THE ROADS.WHEN I TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS THEY MADE NO EFFERTED TO FIX T... Read more
FOREST RIVER
BERKSHIRE
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 1, 2022
Incident date: Dec 20, 2021
The headlights on my early 2021 Berkshire XL 37A motorhome are not safe to drive at night, the headlights do not provide ANY help in seeing the road at night, in many consumer complaints the same issue is addressed. Forest river corp, is NO HELP they are in denile of any issues, but yet have had many many complaints. I am very affraid of getting in a accident if i have to drive at night, they real... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 2500
(2015) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 1, 2022
Incident date: Jun 30, 2021
Headlights were about as bright as a candle while using high beams changed the bulbs and used a head light restoration kit and within a week headlight lenses were hazed over again high beams are no brighter than low beams
Incident date: Dec 27, 2021
Cadillac Escalade was struck in a rear end collision in Georgia. Driver of trailing car stated that the Escalade "suddenly stopped". After reviewing dash cam footage from the trailing car it can be seen that the Escalade was very slowly decelerating for ~4 seconds before suddenly stopping, the trailing driver did not react to the initial deceleration, only the sudden stop. Closer inspection of th... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 31, 2021
Headlights go on and off while driving at night, especially when using turn signals. We cannot use Kia Sorento at night. All bulbs are OK
Incident date: Dec 29, 2021
Turn signal causes excessive glare effect on the side repeater cameras during nighttime use. Driver is unable to view blind spot camera feed properly when engaging in a lane change.
Incident date: Dec 28, 2021
The high beam headlights fail to activate, yet the blue dash indicator shows lights are on high beam. Furthermore, when on low beam the headlights do not broadcast a sufficient distance ahead or to the side to enable driver to see the road sufficiently for safe driving. This issue has been reported by almost 100 other drivers, many of whom have North Carolina addresses, but the reports also list... Read more
RAM
PROMASTER CITY
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 30, 2021
Incident date: Nov 16, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Ram Promaster City. The contact had initially received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V728000 (Exterior Lighting). He then called the dealer and was informed that there was an additional recall on the vehicle for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V699000 (Seat Belts) however, the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. He was informed that if he were to tak... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2019) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 30, 2021
Incident date: Jul 29, 2019
This is a safety issue where this can be dangerous for drivers like myself and their families life, and others life at risk. This reporting is to prevent and avert future accidents. Headlights brightness in 2019-2020 Atlas Se with Tec is very poor. Due to dull brightness (Low Beam) night driving is very exhaustive and need to very extreme alert state. This causes strain eyes and causes fatigue... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2021
Adaptive headlamp assembly on my 2020 Ford Explorer Platinum AWD has failed twice in 2-years. First, upon receiving the vehicle, the passenger side had to be replaced (dealer was unable to fix the problem, so had to replace the whole headlamp assembly which requires a complete removal of the front bumper). Now the driver side headlamp has failed - and I haven't even had the car 2-years yet (will b... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
Headlight premature failure