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: Dec 30, 2021
I purchased this vehicle new in June 2021. It is the hatchback model. Prior to that I drove a motorcycle since 2015. I noticed right at the beginning that the headlights don't illuminate far enough ahead at night for what I consider safe. My ability to see off into the distance ahead of the vehicle is far less than what I would get from my motorcycle, which doesn't make any sense to me becaus... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2021
My husband recently asked if I had encountered any problems using the cruise control in this vehicle. Since I seldom drive any distance with that vehicle, I never noticed anything. But he had traveled onto the interstate, and when attempting to set the cruise, noticed it didn't work. Yesterday, I had to follow him somewhere, and I noticed the brake lights weren't coming on. We tested all the ot... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2021
The steering system failed. I'm not sure about the availability for inspection. My safety was put at risk when my car collided with another car. I had just pulled out of my driveway and turned to go down the street a short distance from a stop sign where I would turn left. From a video taken by one of the car's cameras, the car went to the left side of the street and started toward the intersecti... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Feb 6, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called the local dealer who confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the rec... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2018) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 30, 2021
Incident date: May 1, 2021
The turn signals in the front headlights have a known wiring issue and stop working. The unit is all one part, non serviceable and you have to replace the entire headlight assembly at $2055. This causes a significant safety risk to everyone on the road as you are not able to notify your signals/turns. The problem has been reproduced by the dealer, I also have video evidence as well as several ot... Read more
Incident date: Oct 16, 2021
When my car got to the 80000 mile mark, my headlights became progressively dimmer. I have cleaned the lens, and replaced the bulbs 3 times in the last 3 months, and now they are so bad that I don't dare drive the car at night. I googled the problem and found a whole litany of Acura RDX owners who have experienced the same problem at the same time. see: https://www.carproblemzoo.com/acura/rdx/head... Read more
Incident date: Dec 25, 2021
On 12/25/2021, I was driving in the country side under darkness and under heavy rain and I had a hard time seeing the road. There were no road lights so I could not make out where the divider, curve of the road or side of the road was. It was quite a safety hazards because cars were coming from the front, or a few inches off the road would be dirt field. I discovered that the headlamps of my 201... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
In the last several months I have noticed a dimenished light output of the low beam headlights. It has gotten to the point where the light emitted is not adequate to drive at night and is unsafe. The only way to safely drive at night is with the high beam headlights.
Incident date: Nov 17, 2021
1.) Headlights. They are extremely bright to oncoming traffic and oncoming traffic is always flashing or beaming you with their high beams as they think your brights are on when they are not. This is dangerous. Also LED lights do not put off enough heat and the headlamp body itself freezes over in cold rain or snowy conditions severely reducing your ability to see during low light situations. ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2021
The low beam lights on our 2016 Cadillac SRX are extremely dim and very dangerous to drive at night. This is a know issue and there have been numerous class action Law suits regarding the issue. P.lease help to make my wife's commute to work safer Thanks
Incident date: Dec 8, 2020
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the front headlights were dim. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer to be inspected. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2021
Auto leveling headlights are pointed too low, not providing enough lit view of the road at night. This is a constant issue and not intermittent. Not being able to see far enough ahead of a vehicle travelling at the speed limit, could cause harm or even death to the operator, passengers or objects in the road. Dealer confirmed lights are pointed too low. Vehicle has not been inspected by the Manufa... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2021
When stoped car turned off. Car cant turn on and I need to wait a while. When stoped and going to turn it turns off. It stalls a lot especially when stoped at a light or stop sign.
Incident date: Apr 2, 2014
I have has headlight problems since 2014. Replaced bulbs, no difference. I have to drive with high beam on at night. Dealer can only replace with same problem type lights. GMC knows of the problem. There is no permanent repair for the issue.
Incident date: Dec 7, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, they would smell a burning odor and saw smoke exiting the hood. The contact stated they did not see any visible fire. The contact stated two weeks later, they received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V749000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System). The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Dec 22, 2021
I have had several incidents when driving at night that I keep getting flashed by other drivers thinking my truck head lights are on high beam. I see there is a recall for other year models for the DRL is not dimming when the low beams are on. I am thinking this is happening to this truck. I am going to have ford look at it but they are just going to check light alignment.
Incident date: Dec 25, 2021
Tesla issues an update to software that forces drivers to go through a jumble of menus to do important tasks like turning on defrosters and windshield wipers. These used to be one touch items on the home screen, but now require drivers to take their eyes off the road for a dangerous amount of time.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, both front headlights would intermittently go dim without warning. The contact then received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V688000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of th... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2021
The low beam headlights have become so dim that they are virtually useless for night driving. The only way I can drive after dark is with the brights which creates a safety blinding hazard for oncoming vehicles. In going on line I have found this has been an ongoing problem for several years but GM or Cadillac Motors has never announced a recall. The problem is not the bulb or even the globe.
Incident date: Dec 24, 2021
At night, headlights do not come on. Only daytime running lights come on. You cannot see properly without headlights.
Incident date: Dec 27, 2021
When driving at below freezing temperatures at night during snow storms, snow/ice will accumulate on and completely cover the headlight lenses rendering the headlights unusable. This is a problem primarily for vehicles with LED headlights. The problem happens on both the primary headlights and the fog lights
Incident date: Dec 15, 2021
The passenger low beam head light keeps burning out. I have had the wiring replaced twice because it keeps melting. The brake light blow at least every 2 months
Incident date: Dec 21, 2021
Left rear light side-marker assembly is not functional after 3 years in service and less than 29,000 miles. The side marker indicator inside the vehicle flashes rapidly (in quick succession) when the left blinker is applied. This indicated to me that a bulb was out. Initially, all lights were working when inspecting and inside flasher was quickly blinking. After checking multiple times, the le... Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
Dome lights keep flickering. Not specific to any light. All of them flash sporadically. Looks like a camera flash at night. It is beyond distracting at night and the dealership could not find what is causing it to happen. It is making driving at night dangerous because it is distracting because it can sometimes flash non stop like a strobe light.
Incident date: Apr 10, 2021
Headlights: They have a shadow blocking full view. They are not shining equally on both sides. Instead the beam drops off the field of vision abruptly and you now faced with a blind spot of darkness. Basically, if something or someone came out in front of you, you would not see them until it was too late. For instance, driving in the neighbor alley without lighting, if a child, animal or ball came... Read more
Incident date: Nov 17, 2021
HEAD LIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH MY BRIGHTS ON.
Incident date: Nov 22, 2021
My tail light is faulty. It is working some, shorts out, stops working, I hit a bump, it starts working again. Almost caused a crash, the lady followed me to the store to tell me it was out. Took it to the mechanic and it was working again without any repair. Does this everyday.
FORD
FIVE HUNDRED
(2006) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 25, 2021
Incident date: Nov 1, 2021
when I’m The vehicle and the temperature reaches middle temp ,the car starts to beep and all the dashboard lights go completely out and the head lights and tail lights be blinking as if they are about to go off . Even when I have the heater or a/c on they turns off and I’m a afraid that if or when I’m on the highway all my lights will just stop working on the middle of the highway at night ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
My car is undriveable after sunset because of low beam dim headlights. My car is a 2014 Cadillac SRX with 74971 miles. I've had a estimate of $1763.24 to fix problem at Labadie Cadillac in Bay City, MI. After investigation this has been a problem known to you for years, I don't understand why a safety recall has not already been ordered against GM, we can't see where we're going at night, that so... Read more
Incident date: Dec 24, 2021
Rear LED brake light stopped working. Supposed to have a vehicle lifetime lifespan. i.e. never require replacing. This light assembly was found to be defective in the previous year model and not fixed.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
Driver side, rear lighting fixture not working. All lights for brakes, reverse, do not work. I had to replace the entire light assembly on the Passenger side previously.
Incident date: Dec 23, 2021
Driver's side low beam light went out. High beam and marker lights remained in working order. Spontaneously came back on. A few days later 12/23/2021, both the driver's side and the passenger side front low beams did not illuminate. Again, the high beam lights and marker lights remained in working order. I tapped the plastic on the lens, and both of them came back on. Vehicle is available for ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2021
After purchasing our 2016 Cadillac SRX we began to notice the head lites were becoming dimmer over time and now to a point that we are unable to drive at nite and need to put high beams on if subjected to nite driving .This creates a blinding hazard for oncoming vehicles. After several attempts of replacing bulbs to improve condition of lites I began to investigate and found that there is a recal... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2021
Shortly after purchasing my vehicle I was informed that one of my lights had “blown out” but upon further inspection the light still works but is very dim due to a black lense. I recently noticed that the other light is starting to turn black also. My mother has a 2017 jeep renegade and one of hers is also having this issue.
Incident date: Dec 21, 2021
In 2013 I bought a new Dodge Dart Limited from a Dodge dealer. I bought the car in March and by October when it got cooler outside, it was evident there were some electrical issues related to the Uconnect screen blanking out and dash lights flickering while driving or when ABS engaged, and engine and battery lights on. The whole car seemed like it was resetting as everything electrical flickered a... Read more
Incident date: Dec 6, 2017
The low beam headlights on my 2015 Nissan Altima S are dangerously dim. I can barely see the road at night unless I have my high beams on. I have replaced the bulbs with high performance bulbs and there was no improvement. I cleaned the headlight covers with no improvement. I have read online that this is a problem with 5th generation Nissan The low-beam headlights in the 5th generation Altima... Read more
Incident date: Oct 11, 2021
aftermarket drive side corner light will not stay on and work
Incident date: Mar 2, 2021
The low beam headlights are too bright causing vehicles in the opposite direction to flash their high beams thinking that my high beams are on. This is a safety factor as I am often blinded by other drivers who flash their high beams and in many cases keep their high beams on. I've visited Palisade chat rooms and have found that other drivers have the same complaint. I have contacted Hyundai head... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph when the head lamps had failed. The contact stated they now had to drive with the high beams illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who were unable to identify a failure. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who stated that the way the head lamps were made the halog... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 22, 2021
Incident date: Dec 22, 2021
The back up camera lighting is so poor it poses a danger at night. Backing up at night even in well lit areas poses a threat to those around the car. If you apply the brakes this emits some light but if not braking the screen is almost black so it is difficult to see if you are on the road/driveway and if an object was below the camera would pose a threat to life or damage to the vehicle.
Incident date: Aug 27, 2019
The system has not failed yet, but the exterior lights of this car are a safety concern to me and my family. There is no visibility at night, when it is raining, or any tough conditions on the road. With no proper illumination, the risk for an accident is higher. These exterior lights need to be replaced with better quality lights. I called the Ford dealership where I bought the car and I gave the... Read more
Incident date: Dec 16, 2021
Having intermittent issues with the headlights turning of while driving at night. The headlights were set on "Auto". I have had this happen multiple times! Went to local dealer to report the problem & was told that they would have to drive it at night to replicate the issue. I asked if I would be charged for this & was told that if the technician could find anything that I would be charged for ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 19, 2021
The automatic high beam system is very erratic. It fluctuates between high and low beam randomly on rural roads when it should be in steady high beam. It also randomly changes to high beam when oncoming vehicles are approaching causing the other driver to be blinded and flash their high beams. Vehicle has been in for service twice and the service center says the system is functioning as designe... Read more
Incident date: Nov 10, 2021
The headlights are damaged from normal use. the lights leak water which shorts out the light ballast , the repair requires removal of the front facia of the car which is a $400 repair. the interior lens of the light is heat damaged which dims the headlight. Gm wants 1300 for each headlight plus labor. Apparently the enginers at cadillac did not know how to build a headlight, so them made tem... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2021
Headlights are too dim. Known issue in this car.
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2013) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 20, 2021
Incident date: Dec 20, 2021
Both left and right low beam headlights became inoperable leave vehicle with only high beams. There has been a recall submitted by VW for the exact year/make/model/and production date. I have contacted closest dealership and have been given several reasons from the vehicle isn’t included in the recall but no explanation as to why it isn’t even though it meets every single criteria listed which... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2021
My 2014 Chevrolet the radio /air conditioning and a/c controls,overhead lightning and now the blinkers are popping cracking lighting up my electronics in the center console and it is very scary. The a/c clicks on and off my turn signals are effected and now I am having to get a jump to start my car and I have a 1 year new battery. I am afraid with this going on and it is a known problem for this ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2021
Steering is so sensitive that it exhausted driver. Lane control is exhausting. Transmission looses power, but mechanics say nothing registering. The car smokes on cold start and white exhaust smells terrible. This is worse in summer when transmission is hot. Hatch can’t be left open when camping because it ran my battery dead. There is no lighting at the back of car and front interior lig... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2021
The running lights on the front and rear drivers side work half of the time, the plate light seems to turn off when they do. They'll come on for a split second and then go out, or on a good day they'll stay on. Seems like a short in the wiring. It could be a safety issue at night!!!