Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 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 2,215,138 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 42,495 complaints — component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident date: Nov 20, 2025
The quad LED headlamps keep going out on the truck. It is the vertical side of the light that goes out. I have seen many other F150 with the same issue.
Incident date: May 22, 2025
Driving in sub-freezing temperatures with snow/rain falling and slush on the road, the headlights iced over with thick slush and ice and reduced visibility to dangerous levels requiring me to pull off the road and chip off the ice putting myself in a dangerous situation being on the side of the road during a storm.
Incident date: Nov 30, 2025
My headlights have deteriorated to the point that the vehicle can’t be driven at night. GM/Cadillac acknowledged this as a problem with this particular model. I sent an email to the Cadillac CEO, Rory Harvey. I received a call from an executive assistant stating that this issue was addressed prior to my report. I stated I could not use the vehicle at night due to safety issues. Her response was ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 20, 2025
Notifications come on indicating that “Front Left side marker light defective.” Identical error message for the right side marker.
Incident date: Aug 11, 2025
Recently the radio and display system in the vehicle stopped working properly. It was basically ghosting all commands. It could not be controlled by knobs, touch screen or voice command. the dealer stated that the screen delaminated and was causing the issue. This is a safety concern because the radio was calling 911 randomly and I was unable to stop it, it was turn on and off features in the v... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 2500
(2024) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 2, 2025
Incident date: May 6, 2025
Very limited while driving in the dark cause head lights go off and can’t drive in the rain or snow cause wipers turn off not save for my family and I and other drivers on the road Thai all happen, After the dealer (Lithia Chevrolet of Redding, CA) performed GM recall programming on the Serial Data Gateway Module (SDGM) and related software updates, my truck began having serious electrical failu... Read more
Incident date: Nov 30, 2025
While driving in snowy conditions the headlights become covered with snow to the point of not illuminating enough to see. Which then makes trying to find a spot to pull over safely to wipe them becomes extremely dangerous. The snow covered lights happens quickly. Creating hazardous driving conditions. The data provided is the most recent. This happens every winter since purchasing this vehicle. I... Read more
Incident date: Nov 18, 2025
Daytime running lamp failure and fog light failure. Daytime running lamp failure causes poor visibility and the failure defect defeats its entire purpose for use. Fog light failure creates poor visibility during fog conditions and could result in not being visible to other drivers.
Incident date: Mar 5, 2025
On November 30th, 2025 I drove southbound from Milwaukee to Chicago, leaving at approximately 5:30 a.m., on I-41. There was a winter storm warning in effect. Approximately every twenty miles I needed to stop and deice my headlights as light output had diminished to almost zero, resulting in extremely dangerous visibility. I have experienced similar problems in Manitoba and western Minnesota. In ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 26, 2025
My 2021 Dodge Durango drivers side daytime running light went out around 55,000 miles. I do have an extended warranty through the manufacturer, but was informed that this is not a covered part despite it being a known issue and a “max care warranty”. The reason being that it is considered a “bulb” however to replace it requires the entire new left headlamp assembly to be replaced, per the ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 17, 2025
Water erosion to the wiring harness to the front headlights led to an outage of the LEDs on glad of the vehicle.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
My vehicle experienced failure of both the driver-side DRL (Daytime Running Light) and the passenger-side front turn signal within a short period of time. On this model year, both components are part of a sealed LED headlight assembly with no replaceable bulbs. The only repair option is full headlight assembly replacement, quoted at $800–$1,200 per side plus labor. This is a safety issue becaus... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
My vehicle experienced failure of both the driver-side DRL (Daytime Running Light) and the passenger-side front turn signal within a short period of time. On this model year, both components are part of a sealed LED headlight assembly with no replaceable bulbs. The only repair option is full headlight assembly replacement, quoted at $800–$1,200 per side plus labor. This is a safety issue becaus... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
Vehicle: 2025 Kia Sorento (leased) VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure: 11,345 Incident dates: March 23, April 27, November 28–December 1 Type: Loss of power / electrical failure / safety hazard Complaint Description: I am reporting repeated electrical failures and complete loss of power in my 2025 Kia Sorento that created unsafe situations for myself and my children. The first failure occurred on... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2025
My car has been having electrical problems. First, airbag sensor caused every yellow warning light to go on. Now my infotainment center with maps either goes black or too dark to see all the time. Hyundai has an update for this infotainment center but they cannot update it. It will not update. I am driving relying on maps and all of the sudden it cannot be seen. Very dangerous. I had this ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2025
The headlights do not project far enough down the road making it difficult to see at night. It almost appears as if the headlights are pointing down. This is a hugh safety issue. I brought my car in to the dealer and was told that my headlights match all other 2024 camry's and there is nothing that can be done unless Toyota issues a safety recall. I have researched this issue and found many compla... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2025
My vehicle has been slow to start and I have had all other issues come on on my vehicle as far as lights as far as the forward collision warning light has came on and the check driver attention warning light has come on as well while I’m running my HVAC past the level 2. I have also had my battery tested and that has tested fine. I have had my alternator tested and the first time it came back go... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2025
I have had 3 taillights replaced. The first one was the driver's side taillight at Marty's GMC in Kingston MA. The second one was the passenger side taillight at Quirk GMC in Braintree, MA and the third one was the driver's side one again. the vehicle had approximately 28,000 miles when the 3rd taillight was replaced and was purchased in August of 2024. Both dealers stated that it was safe to driv... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2025
At stop light vehicle began to sputter, run rough, and make noise. I was less than a mile from my home, no check engine light on. I turned the vehicle off, used a scanner to have codes P0106 and P0506 show. I had vehicle towed to Complete Car Care. Misfire on multiple cylinders, 3 push rods bent, one valve spring broken. The right Cylinder head assembly had to be removed and replaced with 8 new pu... Read more
Incident date: Nov 12, 2025
At stop light vehicle began to sputter and make noise, I was very close to my home, no engine light on. Upon turning vehicle off and using a code reader codes P0106 and P0506 was on scanner. I had vehicle towed to Complete Car Care. Mis fire on multiple cylinders. Vehicle has 69,801 miles. 3 push rods bent and I valve spring broken. The right Cylinder head assembly had to be removed and replaced ... Read more
CHEVROLET
TRAILBLAZER
(2025) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Nov 30, 2025
Incident date: Nov 13, 2025
The vehicle displayed a warning on the dash that the battery was not charging properly and vehicle may stall. The vehicle was checked at dealership and issue was disregarded. 3 days later the vehicle showed the same warning and the battery light flickered, there was a chane in the power and lights dimmed. This was evaluated by dealership, apparently it is a known issue but no resolution available.... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2025
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE INOP. DUE TO LED STRIPS IN HEADLAMPS NOT WORKING. SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME FROM A SIDE ROAD, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF YEARS FROM DODGE. THERE ARE NO WARNING LAMPS OR ANY SYMPTOMS. I NOTICED IT WHEN I PARKED IN FRONT OF A STORE AND NOTICED IN THE REFLECTION IN THE GLASS THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DRL ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 5, 2025
The front camera didn't operate properly The brakes have an elongated stopping distance
Crash
Incident date: Nov 25, 2025
I bought this vehicle last Thursday, The new Lexus we only drove it three times, but all power down. The first time we were about to go to work, the whole vehicle no power, so I checked the battery, it was 10 Volts, so I used my CRV battery turned on Rx350, it's working, Second time, when I arrived my work place, I turned off the new vehicle, The Whole power down again, After I checked the batter... Read more
Incident date: Nov 29, 2025
Brake lights did not turn on while stopping using automatic braking until the vehicle was completely stopped, leading to a rear-end collision
Crash
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 2500
(2021) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Nov 29, 2025
Incident date: Nov 26, 2025
The headlights are recessed. When driving in the snow they catch the snow and block the light from coming out. I was driving home last night in a snow storm and couldn’t see very far ahead of me because my headlights were packed full of snow. The LED lights don’t produce heat to melt the snow, and there’s nowhere for the snow to fall out from so the snow and road grime just keeps getting pac... Read more
Incident date: Nov 28, 2025
My vehicle’s auto-high beam system does not properly recognize other traffic. It specifically fails to substantially dim the high beams when approaching oncoming vehicles or when behind other traffic on roadways. I have reported this to the manufacturer and attempted to have the dealership fix this on multiple occasions. The dealerships insist that the vehicle dims the required number of pixels ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 28, 2025
Right Front Parking Light Defective
Incident date: Nov 20, 2025
In my 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range, there is no emergency release in the frunk (front trunk). I do believe there is a law that requires this. What if the unthinkable happens and someone gets stuck inside of it? I have seen others post about not having it as well, so it is definitely not limited to a small number of vehicles. I do not even see the harness for the emergency release inside of the pa... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2023) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Nov 28, 2025
Incident date: Nov 9, 2025
The contact's father owns a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria. The contact stated that the headlamps would flash and failed to turn on or to turn off as intended. The contact stated that the failure initially occurred intermittently, but the headlights had become completely inoperable. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHT... Read more
Incident date: Nov 4, 2025
The low beam headlights and high beam headlights do not function properly. I thought that when one of the low beam lights went out that I needed a new bulb. Before I got to changing the bulb out, the other one went out while driving at night. I tried to make it home with my high beams on, but only one was working at the time. While driving, one of the low beams that I thought needed a bulb came ba... Read more
Incident date: Nov 26, 2025
The front trunk (frunk) on my 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper lacks both internal lighting and an emergency safety release mechanism. This design flaw creates an unnecessary and severe safety risk, as a small adult or child could easily become trapped in the frunk with no way to signal for help or escape. In low-light conditions—such as at night or in a garage without adequate illumination—the abse... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
vehicle low beam headlights went out all of the sudden. Would not come back on after car was turned off and restarted. Drove home with high beams on. Next day, just the driver side low beam came back on. Took to dealer, they reprogrammed and headlights worked for three days, then went passenger low beam went out again. Took back to dealer and now they are telling me both headlamp control modules o... Read more
LAND ROVER
DEFENDER
(2021) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Nov 26, 2025
Incident date: Nov 19, 2025
The daytime running lights (DRL) have failed in the passenger side. After some quick research, it's apparent that this is a widespread issue with the "Signature" halo lights in the Defender headlamp assembly. Reddit discussion: [XXX] ) Here is a Youtube video showing the issue and "fix". So many people have had this same issue that this guy figured out the problem: [XXX] ) The original warranty... Read more
Incident date: Nov 24, 2025
The onboard computer system, despite detecting a burnt out tail light, did not alert me. I happened to notice the tail light was not on because I remote started the vehicle, which turns on certain lights to indicate successful remote start, and I happened to notice the discrepancy in lighting when I walked up behind the vehicle. The fact that the on board computer system knew the light was out, ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 25, 2025
While driving down the road at night, the headlights turn off automatically, by themselves. This caused serious distress for not only myself, but also for my children in the car at the time, as we have had instances where driving around curves at dark, the lights go out, or while on the highway at night during deer season, the lights go out. We live out in the country, so city lights are not abu... Read more
Incident date: Oct 19, 2025
The backup lights are too dim to safely see where you are going when in reverse at night.
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2023) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Nov 25, 2025
Incident date: Nov 24, 2025
While my wife was driving our 2023 plug-in hybrid SUV, the vehicle suddenly lost all power steering assist. The steering wheel became extremely hard to turn and she could not safely control the vehicle. I had to verbally guide her to pull over into a very unsafe area because the vehicle became nearly impossible to steer. The failure happened instantly with no warning lights, messages, or prior sym... Read more
Incident date: Nov 19, 2025
Reverse camera and the associated lights are VERY dim. It is very difficult to see out the rear camera.
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2021) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Nov 25, 2025
Incident date: Sep 1, 2025
The front trunk (frunk) on my 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper lacks both internal lighting and an emergency safety release mechanism. This design flaw creates an unnecessary and severe safety risk, as a small adult or child could easily become trapped in the frunk with no way to signal for help or escape. In low-light conditions—such as at night or in a garage without adequate illumination—the abse... Read more
Incident date: Apr 15, 2025
On April 15th 2025 my Instrument Panal Clusters IPC which is main computer system of Jeeps 2018-2024. It has service lights for check engine, tire pressure, def system recalibrations/cleanings, tells me how fast I'm going, oil levels, all other fluid levels, when I need a oil change, how many miles is on jeep, gas gage, along with all other issues or maintenance on a vehicle including if somethin... Read more
Incident date: Nov 24, 2025
The cars Headlight DRL burnt out and no way to replace them or turn of warning off without paying dealership $2K to replace whole light housing. See Reddit Post: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Incident date: Jan 1, 2025
Catalytic Converter. Part was recalled on the same engine but cuts off at 2016, however, my 2017 has the exact same engine and exact same issue as the recall issued to prior years. The problem has been confirmed by a dealership and mechanic. I have had a check engine light on to notify me of this error.
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2023) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Nov 24, 2025
Incident date: Nov 15, 2025
While driving in the rain, the windshield wipers were on the highest intermittent setting and the high beam headlights were also on, automatic highbeams were not. The high beam lights dimmed to low, and the windshield wipers stopped in the middle of the windshield in the middle of navigating a sharp right hand turn at 35mph. The wipers stopped for approximately 30 seconds and then resumed operatio... Read more
Incident date: Nov 24, 2025
Automatic high beams will not work. A safety hazard. A multitude of owners say they are worthless, to give up and use the manual dim/bright feature. Those few who say theirs work say the system is overly sensitive - turning on or off the high beams at random times. Sometimes blinding other drivers, other times not providing enough light when needed. Multiple owners said they have submitted co... Read more
Incident date: Nov 24, 2025
When starting up the vehicle, the headlight system malfunctioned light came on and a pre-collision system light came on. After shutting it off and restarting the vehicle. The lights were off.
Incident date: Nov 17, 2025
My complaint isn't about my vehicle. My complaint pertains to pickup truck and SUV lighting. The lighting on these vehicles have become so bright that they blind oncoming drivers. In addition, I was recently blinded by the lights on a lifted pickup truck, that was following behind me. The lights on these vehicles have become so bright that they present a hazard to other drivers. This hazard i... Read more
Incident date: Nov 22, 2025
At around 8:00PM on Saturday, 11/22/25 a neighbor noticed both of the car's hazard lights were still lit. He knocked on our front door to notify us but no one was home at the time. Then, a few hours later at around midnight the neighbor saw the windshield completely cracked through and it looked like an explosion occurred. The fire department then came to extinguish the car.
Fire
Incident date: Oct 6, 2025
My f150 lightning won't drive wben put in Drive. Then all the sudden it goes forward when not expecting it and we almost was in an accident. This happened many times and has been in service for over 3 months. They aren't able to fix it. We are trying to get them to take it back. The computer we noticed was defective the day after we bought it and inquired about it immediately. delayed enga... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
The day running lights don’t work at all and researching online there are hundreds if not thousands of people with similar issues. F150’s 2015-2020 having the same problem. This is not caused by misuse or neglect but factory defective components. These headlight are almost $1400