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
FORD
F-150 LIGHTNING BEV
(2023) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 25, 2025
Incident date: Oct 1, 2024
If you have your light set in another position other than auto set, your break lights do not com on. I was getting ready to travel on a trip to Georgia from Texas. I pulled into a gas station when a lady pulled up beside me and said that your break lights are not working. Sure enough they were not working! After a while of checking the different lighting setting we found that the break lights ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 1, 2025
Rear tailgate light bar has multiple cracks
KIA
SPORTAGE HYBRID
(2025) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 25, 2025
Incident date: Aug 24, 2025
tail light assembly falls out of the truck body due to faulty bolt connections that fail ( crumble and break off) due to heat from parking in the sun
Incident date: Aug 24, 2025
Third break light has started to leak inside the cab of vehicle. Causing a wet musty smell, possibly mold, and staining.
Incident date: Aug 18, 2025
The exterior lighting is extremely dim. It is an issue driving at night. I’ve had to pull over to make sure the lights were actually on. Please, please issue a recall to help prevent possible fatal crashes. I see that there are numerous complaints regarding this issue and it should be addressed as quickly as possible.
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 25, 2025
Incident date: Aug 15, 2025
The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while hitched to a trailer, the exterior lights became inoperable. The message to check connection was displayed. The trailer light disconnected message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechani... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2025
Hazard flasher button in my 2-weeks old new Tesla Model X is not working. On August 23, 2025, I was in a parking lot and needed to turn on the hazard flashers to signal to the car behind me that I was waiting for another vehicle to leave a parking space. I discovered that the hazard flasher button on my 2025 Tesla Model X did not work at all. Since I could not activate the hazard lights, I had to... Read more
Incident date: Aug 22, 2025
Our LED headlight failed at 80,000 miles and is not just a simple bulb change. We have to replace the entire headlight and the cost is over $1000 for one.
TOYOTA
REDUNDANT SIENNA
(2022) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 24, 2025
Incident date: Jul 8, 2025
Tesla originally confirmed issues with the MCU1 system in my vehicle and upgraded it to MCU2. I Paid $1,599 for the repair/upgrade. Since then, the center screen has continued shutting off while driving. When this happens, the instrument cluster and controls go dark, I cannot see my speed, use the blinkers to signal, operate the AC/defroster, or access other critical vehicle functions. This has o... Read more
Incident date: Jul 22, 2025
The car keeps shutting off while driving. Had to replace battery twice in the last few months. Also had relays replaced. Problem keeps happening. Something is draining the battery. I read there were problems with this make and model where even when the vehicle is shut off, certain connections remain active and drains. Shutting down with no warning while driving is very unsafe.
Incident date: Aug 22, 2025
I came close to striking certian low lining dividers, etc.... It is very well known That RDX around my build date Main headlight projector reflector burns out. I found out that Acura had a mandatory NHTSA recall to that era ILX for this same issue and Nissan has just settled a class action lawsuit for the same issue. The headlights were all manufactured by National Automotive Lighting (NAL). and t... Read more
Incident date: Aug 12, 2025
The headlights on the vehicle are VERY dim, so much so that driving at night is really not safe. At any point I have a passenger in my car while dark, they always ask if I have my lights on. On roadways at night, I have to either ride behind someone else to have the road lit in front of me OR illegally drive with the high beams on. This has been an ongoing issue for a few years but I only real... Read more
Incident date: Jul 25, 2025
My driver headlight is constantly getting moisture trapped in it. It’s been replaced twice and the seals were checked, but it keeps happening and shorting out my headlight. It’s $4000 to fix. Just had it replaced 1.5 weeks ago and it’s broken already. I took it to bmw the moment I noticed the moisture was back and they told me it was fine. This is a widespread problem and they are not fixing... Read more
Incident date: Jun 2, 2025
Rear tail lights go out intermittently caused by a defect in the vehicle manufacturer’s process in which the circuit board is broken in certain areas.
FORD
F-150 LIGHTNING BEV
(2023) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 22, 2025
Incident date: Aug 22, 2025
Right side headlight had partial failure resulting in insuffient lighting. had it replaced because Ford said its not a covered item. Three months later the left side headlight went partially out. ive spoke to a few Ford owners who has had the same problem and Ford is not recognizing this issue as a defective part. I think this problem needs to be addressed.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a crash that damaged the driver's side headlight. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair; however, the contact was informed that the headlight Part Number: 5NL-941-113-D was on a national back order. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted for ass... Read more
Incident date: Aug 2, 2025
Both of my front headlights get condensation to the point of droplets every time it rains, or I go through the car wash. My car is a 2024. Genesis has implied that it is "normal" after I contacted my dealer in Richmond, Virginia. I am retired, so I don't usually drive a night. Would having fogged out lens degrade the performance of my headlights? I'm [XXX] and owned many cars. This is the fir... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2020) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 21, 2025
Incident date: Aug 17, 2025
I am writing to report a serious safety concern involving my vehicle. The car has exhibited repeated instances of unintended activation while parked and left untouched. Specifically, the entire electrical system—including the dashboard, infotainment, and other electronic components—powers on and off spontaneously without any user interaction. This behavior raises significant safety and reliab... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2008) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 21, 2025
Incident date: Oct 10, 2020
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact observed a melted spot and soot on the bottom of the front passenger’s side headlight assembly. The vehicle was taken to an auto body shop, where it was determined that the front passenger’s side headlight assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer wa... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2025
The headlights stopped working due to water entering the assembly unit. First one side went out and then eventually the other side went out. The car was brought in to the dealership to fix and they stated it wasn’t covered. I’m recently learning about a recall of this issue with my type of car and I’m being told that my vehicle is not included in the recall.
Incident date: Feb 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the instrument cluster screen malfunctioned and turned black or flickered off and on. Additionally, the headlights, turn signals, and brake lights intermittently failed to operate as needed. The transmission and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. Th... Read more
HYUNDAI
KONA ELECTRIC
(2022) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 21, 2025
Incident date: Aug 20, 2025
My engine line keeps returning regardless of the multiple visits to the service department in attempt to fix recall complications at BONIFACE-HIERS KIA. Today will be the fourth visit for fuel tank and ECM recall related malfunctions.
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2008) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 20, 2025
Incident date: Mar 23, 2023
I have had my GV80 prestige since 2021. Recently the headlights started developing moisture in them. I found out this is an issue with a lot of the genesis. The lights are poorly designed causing water to flow down through the headlights into the light module which makes all the lights on that side of the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle will not pass safety inspection. Currently Genesis adver... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2024
After the recall at Hyundai, my car wouldn't run and there were many lights on the dashboard. It was later checked and the instability light problem persisted. They fixed on the same time, and say something problem with the update. They later informed me that I have a problem with the brake switch, and the brake lights don't work because of it. I replaced and doesn’t work, I went back to the sto... Read more
Incident date: Oct 8, 2024
Mazda issued a safety recall (Mazda safety recall 4320A, NHTSA campaign number 20V-063) to address daytime running light flickering/failure. At the time, only the passenger side daytime running light was replaced under the recall by Mazda, with a gasket/gas absorption sheet being installed on the driver's side. The driver's side daytime running light is now flickering/dim. Mazda did not repair th... Read more
Incident date: Aug 12, 2025
Purchased car with ~96k miles. Drove at night and had extremely low road visibility due to lighting. Replaced the bulbs to a high lumen LED, did not increase lighting/visibility. My research finds this to be a known issue with a refractor found behind the headlight lens within the headlamp housing.
Incident date: Jun 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2024 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the blind spot detector alert system stopped functioning on the driver's and passenger’s side. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer who advised that there was water inside the rear driver's side taillight through a hairline fracture and was causing the short circuit of the feature. T... Read more
Incident date: Aug 8, 2025
I have turn signal lamps burned out on both sides of my 2021 VW ID4. When driving straight, the burnt out lights are part of daytime running lights. Half of the light is burnt out. But when you turn on your turn indicator, this light IS the turn indicator. So half my turn indicator on both sides, isn’t working. The only way to fix this where VW is concerned is to buy and install new headlight... Read more
Incident date: Aug 17, 2025
My cars bulbs have been blowing on a regular basis for two years..some of the bulb connections are catching fire and exploding .Ive changed on numerous occasions but doesn’t matter even with new fittings…obviously an electric problem
Fire
Incident date: Aug 19, 2025
Headlights somehow may be taking on moisture. The clarity is down to almost nothing. Driving at night is unsafe! The RPM’s have never been smooth or consistent. There is almost a micro-revving effect. I’ve had all of the fluids and filters changed…… dealership thought it was a recall.
Incident date: May 18, 2022
The touch screen on the front dashboard and the interior lights get so hot sometimes that you cannot touch them. Definitely an electrical issue causing both of those issues. Part of the air vent next to the touch screen has actually melted from the heat! Also, you cannot drive with the air conditioner on. The car gets no power at all. Just to go 30 mph, you have to go all the way up to almost 5 R... Read more
Incident date: Aug 5, 2025
While driving to work this morning, at approximately 04:25, on a mountain road both my low beams failed out of nowhere. I pullover in to a turn out as my high beams still worked. I go look and my passenger low beam comes back on. I make the decision to get back on the road and drive slower to try and get down the mountain. A moment later the passenger low beam turns off as do my high beams. I do n... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2023) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 18, 2025
Incident date: May 22, 2025
I recently had some touch up work done on my car. While in I had an estimate done on my headlights because they constantly had condensation and moisture inside the light cover, This is at all times of the day and especially challenging in the winter months when there was ice frozen over. My body shop called the local dealer to get pricing on parts. Can provide the body shop and dealership if n... Read more
NISSAN
ROGUE SPORT
(2019) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 18, 2025
Incident date: Aug 17, 2025
Severe constant moisture condensation build up inside rear light bar and rear side lights. The moisture is inside all clear plastic covers and some of the red inner plastic (which is underneath the clear plastic cover). It is available for inspection. This is causing a safety hazard due to reduced and dim light visibility. The constant moisture causes an increased risk of break lighting shortage,... Read more
Incident date: Aug 17, 2025
Seal on headlight and turn signal failed during a rainy day letting Condensation into assembly and burned out unit. Dealer verified the issue and wants $4200 for the part plus labour and taxes. Many complaints online about same problem. 0
GRAND DESIGN
MOMENTUM
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 18, 2025
Incident date: Aug 18, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact remote started the vehicle from the office and walked up to the vehicle, and became aware that the front driver’s side vertical daytime running lights failed to function as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure might be rel... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2020) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aug 18, 2025
Incident date: May 1, 2025
The design of the turn signals has several severe driver distracting safety issues. This is ultimately a design issue due to the choice of buttons on the steering wheel instead of a turn signal stalk. The buttons do not always activate the turn signals. Deactivation of the turn signals is counter intuitive, pressing the opposite direction does not deactivate them, instead activating the direction... Read more
Incident date: Aug 16, 2025
Both of my rear passenger door lock actuators stop working. The doors will not unlock from the inside when a passenger tries to unlock the door to exit the car. My break lights stay on . The ABS light turned on then it stopped turning on. The light bulbs inside the car in the second row stopped turning on .
Incident date: Jul 23, 2025
The headlight system malfunctioned. It is available for inspection upon request. The low beam failure error occurred, which led to an inspection of the headlight system. The wiring inside the headlight assembly failed. The insulation on bulb wires is crumbling everywhere and causing short circuits from exposed wire conductors. This causes a safety issue because the bulbs stop functioning, impa... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2025
Headlights turn off at night when set in the auto position and turn on when the car is off
Incident date: Mar 6, 2024
La guagua se apagó corriendo motor trancado quiero saber si tiene recall de la bomba de aceite es una kia sportage 2016 motor gdi [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Incident date: Aug 15, 2025
I am submitting this complaint regarding recurring safety-related defects on my 2023 Dodge Durango RT. 1.Uconnect Failure: The Uconnect infotainment/communication box has repeatedly failed, causing loss of access to critical vehicle functions. These failures affect visibility of system warnings, navigation, and driver settings, creating distraction and limiting awareness. 2.Driver-Side Daytime Run... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2025
Vehicle: 2023 Honda CR-V EX-L Problem: Headlights – poor visibility Complaint Description: The LED headlights on my 2023 Honda CR-V EX-L provide inadequate illumination at night. The beam is shadowy with dark zones, making it difficult to see pedestrians, signs, and road hazards, especially in rainy conditions. Even after checking alignment, the visibility remains unsafe. Other drivers often fl... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2025
There are clearly many design flaws on my 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. One issue I am having with this car is the Daytime Running Lights. These are expensive LED lights that should function for the life of the vehicle. Unfortunately, I believe there is a problem with the control module on the LED lights, and part of the driver's side light does not function. This is a clear safety issue, and... Read more
Incident date: Jul 19, 2024
On [XXX] I was at a stoplight with my children and when it turned green I went to proceed and then I was moving slowly and it wasn't letting me go any specific speed and died in the middle of the road on a busy intersection at that leaving my children and I at risk of being potentially hit by another car, and it was in the evening time something could have happened to us Ladies as I have a [XXX] ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2025
The daytime running lights are out only on the drivers side of my vehicle. There are multiple other 2021 Durango's in my town that have the exact same issue.
Incident date: Jun 10, 2025
Water is entering the rear tail light assembly and dimming the tail light. The OEM seal has failed. I took this problem to my Dodge dealer, and they informed me that even with a Mopar extended warranty, they will not replace the tail light assembly because it is considered a "Bulb". That's a $2000.00 blub!
Incident date: Apr 7, 2020
Daytime running lamps on both left and right side have failed and no longer working. Right side lamp failed first at roughly 95k miles on vehicle and was followed by left side failure at approximately 100k miles on vehicle.
Incident date: Aug 5, 2025
The head light is intermittent. Sometimes if I drive it works fine, other times the main beam is out and the car displays a notification that says “check owner manual”. It’s not safe if I never know when my head light will work or decide to not work.
Incident date: Aug 14, 2025
Headlights are unable to be adjusted using the headlight adjuster leading to a safety issue when operating the vehicle at night. Headlights point down and don’t light up the road properly during night time driving.