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
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2006) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 22, 2024
Incident date: Dec 1, 2024
The headlights shut off without warning
Incident date: Dec 22, 2024
The instrument cluster display is too dim to see, making it unsafe to drive
Incident date: Dec 18, 2024
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHT TO STAY ON CONTINIOUSLY. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON SO THERES NO INDICATION THAT I'M GETTING READY TO STOP BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS ALREADY ON, INCREASEING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ALSO AFECTECED WITH THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT STOP WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. I LOOKED UP THE RECALL AND IT SAID THAT... Read more
Incident date: Dec 16, 2024
2017 Audi Q7 , issue is Left marker light not working according to the dash computer, called Audi , inspected and they said it works but is dimmer than the other side, so needs replaced. $6000.... not doing that, called Audi customer service and they would do a good will for less but still $4000.. I chose to just put up with it since it works and the dash light stays on all the time. Then months g... Read more
Incident date: Nov 26, 2024
Heads do not work properly. Dark spots appear during night time driving. While driving during night you can see portions of the left side of the road. This car was bought brand new and I have made two appointments to correct this problem. But was told it was normal. Can’t see a portion of the road so this is definitely not normal.
Incident date: Dec 13, 2024
Engine issues constantly
Incident date: Dec 1, 2024
There is something inside the headlights that produces two shadows that are posing a safety risk. When driving and turning the steering wheel the shadows move which look like a small animal is darting out from the sides. The shadows are a distraction and have resulted in rapid braking thinking I was going to hit an animal. I attached photos showing the shadows up close but they are larger when I... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2020
My passenger side LED daytime running light failed. We just crossed over 50k miles. This is a 1300 part. After reading online it seems this is a major issue with these vehicles and around this mileage. This appears to be something that needs to be investigated and the manufacturer should have to cover under recall. It’s likely not a coincidence there are this many people reporting the same issu... Read more
FORD
MUSTANG MACH E
(2023) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 20, 2024
Incident date: Dec 20, 2024
To start of with the steering seems to loosen up while driving, it's hard to explain but while driving the vehicle it is very noticable that the car is jurking side to side , if your used to a certain pressure put on the steering wheel to turn or keep in a constant turn(like a long turn or steady turn on a long bend in a road , the steering loosens to the point that the pressure you are holding th... Read more
Incident date: Oct 12, 2024
My 2012 Kia optima headlamps are extremely dim, even though I’ve replaced the lightbulbs with the highest possible lumens, multiple times, the headlamp assembly continues to dim. This requires that I ride with my high-beams on to drive at night. The lights have been dimming for more than 20,000 miles, but they are almost useless at this point.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2023
Extreme corrosion on connector for headlamp assembly and front camera. Also, extreme corrosion on connector that powers lightbar. Ford denied warranty claim by considering it a lamp issue even though lamp was good. The lightbar and connector w/ corrosion are one single part. Corrosion was so bad multiple pins had rusted off. This could cause electrical short and potential fire risk.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2024
The drivers side daytime running light led failed at approximately 56,000 miles and less than 4 years. The dealer (Dover Dodge) has informed me that the LED can’t simply be replaced , but the entire headlight has to be replaced for $1,400 dollars including labor. This component is not supposed to fail so early. It is unreasonable and premature for a component like this to fail and the only rec... Read more
Incident date: Dec 4, 2024
The item currently malfunctioning is the instrument cluster and infotainment display of the vehicle. While driving, the instrument cluster and infotainment display intermittently flashes on and off while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in the speed and other information to disappear while moving. Dealer has not been able to replicate the issue due to it being intermittent. The component was in... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2024
Problemas con el motor, específicamente la lubricación. El vehículo fue reparado y aún continuó con los problemas de lubricación, incluyendo los llamados " sprocket" que se dañaron. He leído que Hyundai a retirado muchos vehículos por este mismo problema.
Incident date: Oct 18, 2024
A very distracting warning about an issue with a front left side marker keeps popping up - on some rides multiple times in a minute! - and the only way to address it is, according to the dealership, to pay almost $7,000 to replace the entire headlamp assembly. It’s so distracting I do not permit the new teenage driver in our family to drive the car because I do not think it is safe. The visual i... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2024
On the 2024 Mercedes GLE 350, the speedometer/tachometer lighting does not dim to a safe or comfortable level during night driving. The dimmer switch functions between two levels of "bright and brighter" which affects night vision and makes it near impossible to see down the road. The lighting was tested by a Mercedes technician during the day, against another 2024 Mercedes. Mercedes corporate req... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 18, 2024
Incident date: Dec 18, 2024
Rear door sensors do not work. No dash light or dome light to indicate if a door is open or adjar. If a child is in the back seat doors could be left open and the driver would not know.
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2023) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 17, 2024
Incident date: Oct 31, 2024
The reverse lights are too dim to provide sufficient viewing of the rear of the truck when it is dark outside and there is no other lighting. Almost nothing can be seen from the rearview or sideview mirrors, and the backup camera is rendered useless. GM changed the design of the taillights such that they are now sealed, which means owners cannot upgrade the reverse lights with stronger LEDs any lo... Read more
Incident date: Dec 14, 2024
Drives side headlight has a dark spot on low beam that is in the drivers field of vision. This causes the driver not to be able to see clearly. A certain portion of the drivers field of view is blocked out. Please see the picture below. Took it to the dealer for repair, he acknowledged the black spots were in the drivers field of view but, he compared it to another 2025 Tucson with the same tri... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2024
Daytime running light on drivers side not functioning at all.
Incident date: Aug 7, 2024
Over the air date on my vehicle. It has disabled the high beams, front collision won't turn on, Am radio won't work
Incident date: Dec 14, 2024
The whole center section of lighting, located on the tailgate (liftgate) is burned out, including the license plate illumination. Apparently water gets into the "racetrack light" which I learned is what Dodge calls this center section of lighting. I have noticed there is a significant amount of water inside this section of lighting, and now it intermittently does not work. More times than not, it ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 29, 2024
My car (2021 VW Atlas SE) has 63 xxx miles, and the left side running light just went out. I took it to the dealer, who informed me this wasn't covered by any warranty and that replacing the running light would cost $1400. This is ridiculous, and so after doing more research, I found that I am among hundreds of other owners of this vehicle type who are having the same issue around the 60k mile ma... Read more
Incident date: Dec 15, 2024
Corolla Cross Hybrid SE- The tail lights are almost non existent. At night when I look from behind, the car is almost invisible from 50 feet away. Lic plate light is the only help. Looks very dangerous and scary to drive in the evening or in the dark. Please look into this.
MINI
COUNTRYMAN
(2025) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 16, 2024
Incident date: Dec 14, 2024
Dark spots on the road with the LED headlights on low beam. This is very distracting and causes me to focus on the dark spots. Very dangerous when driving on winding roads at night. A lot of deer on and on the side of the rural roads and the dark spots take my focus away.
Incident date: Dec 4, 2024
Vehicle gives "shift to park" warning when already in park. Occasionally, vehicle will not shut off. Once it does shut off, dash lights and controls do not shut off. Vehicle will not lock upon exit. Warning lights and beeping causes battery to drain. I have been left stranded with dead battery twice.
Incident date: Jul 13, 2024
Need to correct manufacture recalls. Car has 262000 miles. Actual owner in my family. Want to correct issues before accident happens. I have very poor vision when driving because of car head lights being foggy.
FORD
MUSTANG MACH E
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 16, 2024
Incident date: Dec 15, 2024
The headlights on this vehicle are not safe. They have a shadow , or curtain over the top half of beam. This severely curtails your ability to see safely down the road. Going up to a hill, your ability to see road hazards are almost nill. You cannot see hazards to the side of vehicle , or above, either. My wife is a school bus driver, and is aware you should be able to see 15 seconds in front of y... Read more
Incident date: Nov 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving 38 MPH, the exterior lights, taillights, daytime running lights, and interior lights became inoperable for two and a half seconds. The seat belt light flashed. Additionally, the seat heater and steering buttons were switched off and then reset. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 30, 2024
The headlamp assemblies literally failed from the inside. The headlamp light output decreased dramatically as time went on. I read online that many Acura owners were having the same issue and that replacing the bulbs did nothing to remedy the issue as the reflective coating inside the headlamp was failing; only fix is to replace complete assemblies, which I did. I do not have the removed assemblie... Read more
Incident date: Dec 16, 2024
I am constantly receiving error messages that pop up while driving telling me that there is a headlight system malfunction. I have also had adaptive cruise control lane. Keep assist and associated features.Uh pop up as error warnings. My headlights are cornering headlights while driving. They have failed by moving to the downward and inward position and stayed in that position, significantly reduc... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2010
Hello, this vehicle (2018 VW Atlas) does have defective headlights (headlight stopped working), High beam works fine but low beam doesn't. I did a thorough research and looks like this issue is very common on All VW Atlas, dealer is telling us that the whole assembly needs to be replaced since the design of this headlight does not have a bulb that can be replaced, the cost of each headlight is ove... Read more
Incident date: Dec 16, 2024
While driving, both screens went completely black. Without the screens I was not able to monitor speed, no access to headlights and no access to adjust one pedal driving mode. All audio stopped as well. At first I didn’t know if I lost power to the entire vehicle, which distracted me from driving. Once I got my bearings, quickly accessed that the vehicle did not lose power, I pulled over. No wa... Read more
Incident date: May 18, 2024
the headlight LED strip failed at around 50,000 miles. If replaced, it is likely to fail again. VW dealers have had to replace the entire headlight assembly since the LED strip is integrated into it. The cost for this repair is approximately $2,000.
Incident date: Dec 4, 2024
Headlights don't dim in the auto function when there is oncoming traffic. Lights cycle from dim to bright when no oncoming traffic is present. This is an ongoing problem that presents every time the vehicle is driven at night.
Incident date: Nov 30, 2024
Vehicle burns out low beam headlights at a rapid rate. I’ve been the only owner of this car, and have replace the headlights 8 times in 168k miles. I do not drive abundantly at night, primarily during the day. In the span of the past two weeks I have replaced the headlights twice. I have come to a point that I keep spare headlights in the glove box for when they will go out again. Researching th... Read more
TOYOTA
RAV4 PRIME
(2024) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 14, 2024
Incident date: Dec 14, 2024
I purchased my 2015 Nissan Altima in July, 2022 with 56,530 miles on it. At this date it has approximately 71,500 miles on it. I have driven it 14,970 miles in 2.5 years. On [XXX] I was driving home from Thanksgiving in East Brunswick, NJ to my home in South Philadelphia on [XXX] in New Jersey when my car suddenly began to have a slow down in ability to accelerate. I ended up pulling over after a... Read more
Incident date: Dec 11, 2024
Vehicle headlights provide very poor lighting in fog or in rain at night. It is impossible to see highway lane markings.
JEEP
GRAND WAGONEER
(2023) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 13, 2024
Incident date: Dec 12, 2024
Light comes on dash when you cut in lights only that says Front side marker light defective All lights work can’t sell or trade with out repairs that dealer wonts $8000 for a car that’s not worth that was a old recall for this problem still exist Please help
Incident date: Dec 13, 2024
Driver's side daytime running light (part of the headlight) stopped working. Internet search indicates this is a common problem. Vehicle & part are available for inspection upon request. I have not brought this issue to the dealer yet. I only noticed it when someone else was driving it.
HYUNDAI
KONA ELECTRIC
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 13, 2024
Incident date: Dec 13, 2024
The gauge cluster/infotainment screen dims automatically when the light sensor on the dash senses the environment has gotten darker. The problem is that this happens extremely early at dusk/dark hours when it's still fairly bright outside, and the brightness of the screen is too dim to see things clearly. Also, once this automatic dimming happens, there is no way to turn the brightness back up. ... Read more
GREENPOWER
EV STAR BUS
(2019) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 13, 2024
Incident date: Dec 6, 2024
I purchased a new 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited in May 2024. At about 3500 miles I noticed the low-beam headlights did not adequately illuminate the road. When driving at night, the low-beams don't illuminate the road signs nor do they adequately have any vertical illumination. When pedestrians are walking on the roadway, the low-beams barley light the calf of a person's leg, but there's n... Read more
HYUNDAI
SONATA HYBRID
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 13, 2024
Incident date: Dec 5, 2024
Vehicle headlights on my 2013 Acura RDX Base Model have become progressively dimmer over time to the point that the vehicle is becoming unsafe/undriveable at night and in poor weather. Contacted my local dealer. They acknowledged that this was a known issue. Said the only remedy was to replace the entire headlight unit on both driver and passenger sides. Quoted me $913.99 per unit with labor c... Read more
GRAND DESIGN
MOMENTUM
(2020) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 13, 2024
Incident date: Dec 11, 2024
97CB (NHTSA campaign ID 16V642000. This recall address this issue on the 2018 Audi Q7. Side marker light malfunction. Does my vehicle qualify?
Incident date: Oct 31, 2024
Ford and other manufacturer are in huge rushes to convert to LED headlights. Ford designed the front headlights to be completely vertical, with no headlight housing heater. In freezing fog, snow and sleet the headlights almost immediately get covered and are useless and you can’t see anything. It’s only a matter of time for a major accident Attached are some of the numerous complaints of own... Read more
FORD
BRONCO SPORT
(2022) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 12, 2024
Incident date: Dec 12, 2023
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The airbag system, brake system, and HVAC system (air conditioning and heating) appear to have malfunctioned. A dealer confirmed that the HVAC system is defective, identifying a broken evaporator assembly and a faulty temperature door actuator. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 5, 2024
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V686000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was 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 e... Read more
Incident date: Dec 3, 2024
Getting error message regarding "Front Right Side Marker Light Defective". My car has a little over 66K and has no problems. There was an Audi recall ampaign97CB (NHTSA campaign ID #16V642000) that addresses this exact issue and applies to some affected VIN numbers, but mine is not included.
Incident date: Dec 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at night, the low beam headlights failed to properly illuminate and the headlights were extremely dim, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The contact stated that upon inspection, the contact discovered that the inside of the plastic headlight covers had several abrasions and cracks. The cause of th... Read more
Incident date: Nov 23, 2024
Headlamps become cloudy and burn out new, expensive bulbs in months. Internet search says Toyota is aware of problem, but prior to my search my dealership wanted to charge me hundreds of dollars to 'evaluate electrical system'