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: Oct 1, 2014
Entire panel system shuts down when driving at various times. Non-functioning lights, speedometer, and warning systems. Entire panel across Ford Edge goes black. Driving at night and the entire cabin and headlamps shut off immediately. No hazard lights. Ford stated my vehicle is not recalled due to being manufactured at another plant from other recalls of the same year, model and make. Vehicl... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2020
The dim headlights are a safety issue. I can't see how to drive at night or in the evening. I have to turn bright lights on, and it is putting other drivers at risk. Nissan is aware of this issue and wants to say that if you are out of your basic warranty you may not be able to get the light repair under goodwill. This is not the fault of their customers and they should be responsible for their ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 16, 2020
Passenger side brake light goes in and out and often time stays out. I have read about numerous other people dealing with same issue as it is a manufacturing/quality issue. This is very dangerous. GMG apparently puts the same faulty brake parts back in car while under warranty then when the issue arises again when not in warranty sell customers a pricey part that actually works. Again, very un... Read more
Incident date: May 10, 2021
Issue appears to be similar to existing recall 97CB exterior side marker lights to which my year, make, and model is included, but by specific vehicle /VIN is not. Warning lamps are present. In a situation where the parking lights are switched on and the vehicle is locked, the side marker lights do not illuminate, which is contrary to the requirements of the standard (Federal Motor Vehicle Safet... Read more
Incident date: Jun 18, 2018
My 2016 Subaru OUTBACK has experienced 6 separate incidents where my vehicle battery was inexplicably drained, and hence the entire electrical system was shut down. I was unable to start it without an external boost in each occasion. Fortunately these incidents posed no safety threat to me or others as the car was parked at my home, or in a parking lot. Unfortunately, the problem has not been r... Read more
Incident date: May 24, 2021
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Sentra. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a fa... Read more
Incident date: May 10, 2021
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was notified about the recall and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable a... Read more
Incident date: May 21, 2021
1st ALL of the interior lights won’t turn off no matter what you do. Doors all closed locked still stay on while driving can’t manually switch them off 2nd yesterday I went to pick up my daughter at school and the car all of a sudden just stopped running. It won’t start. Before it would do that and I had to exit the vehicle and use the remote start. Tried it this time and it said fob deacti... Read more
Incident date: Apr 26, 2021
Water in the rear tailgate light(race track)
Incident date: May 22, 2021
My break lights and head lights are constantly blowing out, I've had multiple repair orders to prove this & can have records pulled from my pull overs. My back up camera now has an electrical issue and will no longer come on. Also when I'm driving the gas pedal just stops working while driving!!! Very very dangerous. My car is well kept and maintained there is NO reason for these issues to be happ... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2019) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
May 21, 2021
Incident date: Nov 15, 2020
Brake sensor went off,lights stayed on inside cab,radio screen and lights inside went out,tailgate went down while being driven and tools etc were lost. Radio came on and changed channels non stop for almost an hour even after shutting vehicle off 4 timea. After 8 hrs it was back to normal.
Incident date: May 15, 2021
The headlight assemblies "chrome" reflective material for the low beam bulbs has faded and blackened. This has resulted in very low light being emitted from the low beam light setting. This is a very dangerous problem that Nissan needs to address.
Incident date: May 1, 2018
The CHMSL 3rd brake light has failed in my 2013 RAM 1500. A Virginia State Inspection shop (AAA) indicated no power to the bulb. A RAM dealership's technician indicated it was the TIPM. A second dealership technician stated it is the Body Control Module. The cargo lamp lights do work fine. This was replicated using 2 sets of CHMSL lighting packages (no brake light, working cargo lights). The tail ... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ROUTAN
(2010) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
May 20, 2021
Incident date: May 20, 2021
The TIPM is failing which is a common issue with the vehicle make/model. My particular vehicle was not covered under any recalls, however, I have the same tell tale TIPM failure issues as all of the cars that were part of the recall. My lights intermittently work which causes a safety hazard. They will either not turn at all, will turn on and start flashing, or will appear to be working as normal ... Read more
Incident date: May 18, 2021
Good day! According to the VIN code of my car, there are revocable companies, the dealer refuses to replace it.
Incident date: Apr 24, 2019
Purchased car used from buckalew chevrolet 4/27/2019 headlight was a little dim.headlight it not bright ei to see now.i was not told of a headlight problem when I purchased vehicle and I never received any notice from the manufacturer since I have owned it about a headlight issues.noe I'm told it will be thousands of dollars for me to fix what should be a factory recall due to safety
Incident date: May 16, 2021
Extremely poor lighting condition. It only illuminates approximately 10 feet ahead. Would have to manually use high beams to make night time driving even possible. Extremely poor design and not even sure how it passed safety tests and ratings. I have been warning Nissan since I purchased the car. Now I have learned that the 2021 is improved because of this major defect. This will definitely cause ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 17, 2020
When purchased, it was discovered that the OE Passenger Side (Right) brake light/indicator housing of this vehicle had melted from the heat of the standard OE halogen brake bulb, causing the brake light to fall out of its placement in the housing. This results in the brake light indicator to emit little or no visible warning to other drivers, since the indicator bulb has fallen down outside of the... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2020
Side rear brake lights work intermittently, often cutting out and losing all power while driving.
Incident date: May 14, 2021
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN SHE SAW THE REAR VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING AND SHE DECIDED TO SPEED UP AND HIT THE HIGH CURB WITH HER TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THE WARNING MALFUNCTION SEE OWNER MANUAL A WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A BYSTANDER SHE HAD NO BRAKES LIGHTS. THE CONTACT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION O... Read more
Crash
Incident date: May 18, 2021
The headlights are not bright enough they've never been bright enough it's almost like you don't have any headlights at night time if it's dark out. I even change them out once and it's like there wasn't enough power to them to make them bright. I have not very good Vision at night and I can't even really drive the car at night unless it's in the city. A couple of people I have told me they had th... Read more
Incident date: May 18, 2021
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V135000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MAN... Read more
Incident date: May 13, 2021
Car battery has failed no less than three times. Upon failure, car is completely inoperable. Used Subaru roadside assistance to jump the car. The battery has drained on more than one occasion. No inspections. No warnings or prior symptoms before the dead battery. Available for inspection upon request.
Incident date: May 14, 2021
High beam lights not working its say it have to be taking to Hyundai specialist.
Incident date: Apr 26, 2021
Water intrusion into the rear tail lights.
Incident date: May 17, 2021
The dim headlights are so dim you can’t use them. Looks like water in the headlamp. Have seen that this is an ongoing issue with GM and can’t find recall. They say pay for it now (which is more than I can afford) and they will reimburse in couple months. Car was this way when purchased but did not know and can’t get money back.
Incident date: Apr 4, 2014
Using my headlamps at night when I break my headlamps begin to flash, as to dim and brighten I took it into the dealership because it was a recall that my Vin number was not part of. They refused to take care of it without a fee. I reported it to Mazda of North America but because the cars older it falls outside of what they would normally do to take care of it. In short, The braking system caus... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2021
MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER CONTACTED ME SAYING HER CAR WOULD NOT 'GO', THAT SHE WAS DRIVING AND IT JUST DROPPED DOWN TO 20MPH AND ALTHOUGH SHE WAS ACCELERATING, NOTHING WAS HAPPENING, THE RPMS WERE NOT INCREASING. SHE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND THEN TESTED DRIVING THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE HOME AS SHE WAS IN ANOTHER CITY. EVERYTHING SEEMED WELL SO SHE BEGAN HER JOURNEY BACK ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 18, 2019
THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS GET WATER IN THEM AND FOGS UP..CAUSING YOUR HEADLIGHTS TO LOOK DIM AT NIGHT.
Incident date: May 16, 2021
The low beam lights offer NO light, which is extremely dangerous when driving at night and also in hazardous weather conditions. I can't see the road at all and am forced to use my high-beams. I have replaced the bulbs at least twice now and still no improvement. It is a critical issue Nissan needs to address because you can't see the road, other cars, wildlife, etc. They are putting everyone who ... Read more
Incident date: May 9, 2021
IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP OF MY 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK, I HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY GLITCHES IN THE OPERATION OF THE ELECTRONICA SAFETY DEVICES. THE LATEST HAS BEEN RETURNING TO THE CAR AND FINDING THE BATTERY FULLY DISCHARGED DESPITE NOTHING BEING LEFT IN THE ON POSITION. YESTERDAY, AFTER FULLY CHARGING THE BATTERY, FOUR HOURS LATER THE BATTERY WAS FOUND TO BE FULLY DRAINED. I BOOSTED THE CAR A... Read more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2021
COMPLETE DRAINING OF BATTERY JUST SITTING THERE FOR NO REASON... WE SEE THIS IS AN ENORMOUS PROBLEM WITH OUTBACKS, AND WE HAVE ONE WITH GREAT PROBLEMS LEAVING US STRANDED !
Incident date: Feb 1, 2021
CONDENSATION IS APPEARING ON BOTH OF THE BACK BRAKE LIGHTS THE CAR HAS 40000 MILES NOT SURE SHY THIS IS HAPPENING I BELIEVE THAT THE SEAL HAS BEEN BROKEN ON THE RIM OF THE BACK LIGHTS
Incident date: May 5, 2021
I WAS DRIVING EAST BOUND ON I-10 IN SOUTHWEST ARIZONA AT ABOUT MIDNIGHT AT 75 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL WHEN BOTH HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT; VISIBILITY WAS SUDDENLY ZERO. I PULLED BACK ON THE BRIGHT LEVER AND MY BRIGHTS CAME ON GIVING ME VISION. I CHECKED THE LIGHTS KNOB AND THE LIGHTS WERE TURNED OFF. I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AND THEY FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. ON ANALYSIS LATER I THINK WHEN I MOVED MY ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2020
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEN STOLER HYUNDAI (11275 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117) FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT AN UNKNOWN SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL SAFETY FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPE... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Nov 19, 2019
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 GMC YUKON XL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY HER HUSBAND WHO WAS DRIVING BEHIND THE VEHICLE, THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ALERTED BY OTHER DRIVERS THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SIERRA BLANCA MOTOR CO. (304 US-70, RUIDOSO, NM 8834... Read more
Incident date: Feb 8, 2021
DRIVING HOME IN DAYLIGHT AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF 2021 SUBARU CROSSTREK PREMIUM ON 1/29/21, I RAISED DIMMER SWITCH TO HIGHEST POSITION TO ILLUMINATE DASHBOARD BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE SPEEDOMETER/INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND THERE WAS NO ILLUMINATION! THIS IS MY 3RD CROSSTREK PREMIUM SO I KNEW HOW THE DIMMER & LIGHTING CONTROLS WORK. I CONTACTED DEALER & SERVICE MGR IMMEDIATELY, WAS TOLD "IT IS WHAT IT IS... Read more
Incident date: May 15, 2016
MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE DETERIORATED TO A POINT NOW THAT DRIVING AT NIGHT IS DANGEROUS AS I CANNOT SEE BEYOND MY FOGLIGHTS (FIRST NOTED ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO). I HAVE CHANGED THE BATTERY, LIGHTBULBS AND HAVE CLEANED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY COVERS. NOTHING IMPROVES VISIBILITY. I SUSPECT THE ASSEMBLIES HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE COATING IN THE REFLECTOR HOUSING DETERIORATING DUE TO MANUFACTORING DEFECT A... Read more
Incident date: Oct 7, 2020
MY CAR FRONT HALOGEN LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT IN MOTION OR SITTING STILL ON ANY TYPE OF STREET. I HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF WAIT A MINUTE AND THEN TURN THEM BACK ON. WE HAVE SPENT THOUSAND OF DOLLARS AT THE DODGE HOUSE TO GET THIS FIXED AND THEY HAVE STATED THERE IS NOT RECALL IN PLACE AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE TO RUN THE FOG LIGHTS AT NIGHT JUST TO KEEP FROM WRECKING. THEY ASK ON ONE OF THE QUESTION, WHEN... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2015) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
May 12, 2021
Incident date: May 1, 2021
THE HEADLAMPS ON MY VEHICLE HAVE BEEN VERY POOR, BOTH IN LOW AND HIGH BEAM POSITIONS EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THINKING THAT THEIR MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE EXISTING HEADLAMPS, I PURCHASED THE REPLACEMENT BULBS AND THERE WERE NO IMPROVEMENTS. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT I HAVE TO STAY ON LOW BEAM WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON JUST TO HELP TO SEE. I CAN'T USE MY HIGH BEAMS AT ALL BECAUSE THE L... Read more
Incident date: May 4, 2021
THE OWNER PROGRAMMED A 5 MINUTE IDLE SHUT OFF AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANYTHING FOR ME AS THE DRIVER TO STAY WARM AT NIGHT I WAS DRIVING DURING WINTER AND TRAVELING TO STATES LIKE WYOMING WHERE IT REACHED 23 DEGREES. HE HAS MANY THINGS NOT UP TO DOT REGULATIONS WITH HIS TRUCK, LOT OF THINGS ARE NOT WORKING AND DAMAGED. HE ALSO DIDN'T DO ANY TYPE OF A PRE EMPLOYMENT DRUG TEST OR FOR ANY OF THE OTHER DRI... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V135000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. BERMAN NISSAN OF CHICAGO (3456 N KEDZIE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60618, (312) 778-6228) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCE... Read more
Incident date: Apr 14, 2021
HEADLAMP HAS GONE OUT 3 TIMES, MARKER LIGHT 2 TIMES. EXISTING RECALL ON PREVIOUS YEAR PRIUS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO 2015 MODELS
Incident date: Aug 1, 2019
NEARLY EVERY BMW SUFFERS FROM FAILED WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A RECALLED OINT OF FAILURE AS IT INVOLVES EVERYBODY ON THE ROAD.
Incident date: May 1, 2017
DODGE "RACETRACK LIGHTING" HAS CRACKS AT UPPER LEFT AND UPPER RIGHT CORNERS. CAUSING WATER TO ENTER HOUSING AND SHORT OUT A SECTION OF LIGHTS. THANKFULLY IT HAS NOT CAUGHT FIRE. I SEE THE SAME SECTION OF LIGHTS OUT ON OTHER DODGE DURANGOS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE "CRACK" WAS CAUSED BY ME AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT AND THE COST WOULD COME OUT OF MY POCKET. WHEN INSPECTED THE CRACK... Read more
TOYOTA
SIENNA HYBRID
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
May 11, 2021
Incident date: Apr 1, 2021
HEADLINER CUT TOO LARGE, DOESN'T HOLD REAR PASSENGER CLIMATE CONTROLS, CLIMATE CONTROLS FALL OUT AND HIT REAR PASSENGERS. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED.
1 injured
Incident date: Jun 10, 2019
MY PROBLEMS STARTED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY TURNING IN DARK INTERSECTIONS AT NIGHT. I COULDN'T SEE WELL ENOUGH TO COMFORTABLY NAVIGATE THE INTERSECTION. NOW IT IS SO BAD THAT I HAVE TROUBLE ON DARK CITY STREETS AT NIGHT SEEING UPCOMING CURVES, INTERSECTIONS, OR ANYTHING OUT MORE THAN ABOUT 20' OUT. TURNING ON BRIGHT LIGHTS FIXES THE VISIBILITY PROBLEM, BUT OF COURSE CA... Read more
Incident date: Apr 21, 2021
THERE IS A BUILDUP OF WATER AND CONDENSATION IN THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS OF MY VEHICLE. THE ISSUE IS KNOWN BY TESLA AS THEY REPLACED THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE, HOWEVER, NOW THEY ARE NOT COVERING IT UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG MODEL 3 OWNERS.
Incident date: Mar 27, 2020
SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE LIGHT EVEN THE TPS LIGHT IT'S OUT OF CONTROL. THE STEERING GETS ROUGHER WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR ACCELERATING
Incident date: Dec 3, 2012
HEADLIGHTS ARE WAY TO DIM FOR NIGHT DRIVING