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
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2021) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 11, 2026
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
The integrated LED Daytime Running Light (DRL) strip within the passenger-side headlight assembly failed prematurely at 79,136 miles and remains available for inspection on the vehicle. This failure directly compromises road safety by reducing the vehicle's visibility to oncoming traffic during dawn, dusk, and inclement weather, increasing the risk of a head-on or intersection collision. While I h... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2026
Passenger side headlamp failure. DRL and HB working. low beam failure. Seems to be a common issue with 2020 model headlamp control module. Safety issue with astronomical repair costs from dealer. Request safety recall.
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
Manufacturer Recall Number25TB06 NHTSA Recall Number25V322 Date of recall May 15,2025 It has been almost one year since this safety recall and there is still no fix. The manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for the vehicle in a timely manner. The driver’s view to the rear can be limited when backing during low ambient light conditions, and there may be no indicatio... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2022) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 11, 2026
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
The daytime running lights are know to fail within 30-50k miles and the only option is to replace the whole housing unit. This is an unreasonable expectation that customers are purchasing a vehicle at 40-60k and then having to set aside 2k for a headlight replacement.
MERCEDES-BENZ
GLE 450 4MATIC
(2025) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 11, 2026
Incident date: Jun 14, 2025
The turn signal flasher sound is so low that it is practically inaudible while driving and sometimes left on without notice. This confuses the cars from behind. Even worse, it confuses cars at the opposite direction in city driving. I have had a couple of incidents at busy intersection that the opposite direction car drivers thought I want to make a left turn but really not. The situation is get... Read more
Incident date: Mar 10, 2026
Problem Description: The low beam on the passenger side headlight has completely stopped working. Daytime running lights (DRLs) and high beams continue to function normally on the affected side. There are no dashboard warning lights other than the expected “check low beam” message. The vehicle was taken to Valley Imports Porsche in Fargo, ND, on 4/10/2026, where they diagnosed an internal fai... Read more
Incident date: Mar 24, 2026
no power for trailer park lights tried to attach a trailer and no power. same issue as current recall for a year newer vehicle. the recall should be expanded. I have power to fuse but none going back to the plug. I searched internet for fixes and found the recall
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS CROSS SPORT
(2020) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 10, 2026
Incident date: Jan 22, 2026
While driving, the vehicle experiences intermittent electrical malfunctions affecting multiple systems. The door locks cycle repeatedly, windows roll down on their own, and when attempting to roll the windows back up, they immediately roll back down. The dashboard lights flicker, become extremely bright, and at times go out completely. The central display (including Apple CarPlay) also shuts off e... Read more
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 2500
(2026) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 10, 2026
Incident date: Mar 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds at night, the low beam and high beam headlights were extremely dim, reducing the roadway visibility while driving during the rain. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the headlights were functional. The vehicle was not repai... Read more
Incident date: Mar 30, 2026
The instrument panel with the fuel and mileage on it would go black or keep going back and forth to the original car code while I am driving. Next, the screen for my radio would shut down on me and restart itself while I am on the highway. Lastly, when I turn on my exterior lights at night, my interior lights that come on for me to see all the buttons went out for some of the buttons. The safety o... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2026
My 2023 Mazda CX-5 (48,000 miles) is experiencing a loud mechanical whirring/grinding from the driver-side headlight assembly, a documented manufacturing defect involving foreign matter contamination of the internal LED cooling fan bearings (TSB 09-029/25). Despite the manufacturer acknowledging this factory-installed defect, Mazda has refused to proactively remedy the issue because the vehicle is... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Water in racetrack tailgate taillights
Incident date: Mar 31, 2026
I bought this car new and it does not have a FRUNK emergency release or a FRUNK light.
Incident date: Sep 20, 2025
While driving the entire car goes black kind of like you just turned it off. It has only happened at night time. The dash screen completely turns off and the headlights will go off. When it comes back on the dash has several lights on it such as the seatbelt is unbuckled (when I’m buckled), and other warning lights. This has been happening since September 2025. I take it to the dealership and th... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2026
The contact owns a 2022 Lincoln Corsair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, another driver informed the contact that the rear exterior lights were inoperable. Additionally, the contact later became aware that the rear taillights were flashing continuously. Upon investigating the failure online, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V688000 (Exterio... Read more
Incident date: Oct 20, 2024
Common problem with the headlights of this model. The regular headlights become too dim, causing danger to driver at night. Using brights is mandatory during night time driving. Entire light housing must be replaced due to dimming. Replacing bulbs does not solve issue.
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
The contact owns 2016 Acura MDX. The contact stated that after the State Inspection was completed, the State Inspector informed the contact that the vehicle had failed the inspection due to an inoperable driver's side tailgate light. The contact was also informed that there was moisture inside the tailgate lid light assembly, and that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V259000 (Ex... Read more
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
The information cluster behind the steering wheel is not turning on. Started all of a sudden. Can’t show speed, none of the advance driving features are working , and not showing gas level.
Incident date: Sep 4, 2025
I own a 2025 Ram 2500 that is affected by Recall 03D involving the Trailer Brake Control Module. This recall is related to a potential failure of the trailer braking system and trailer lighting system, which creates a serious safety risk while towing. I regularly use this truck for towing, and due to this issue, the vehicle may not safely tow trailers, increasing the risk of an accident. I have ex... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2026
Our 2025 Ram 1500 is subject to a safety recall involving the trailer brake system. The dealer confirmed that the defect may cause trailer brakes and trailer lighting to fail. We were advised that there is currently no repair available and that parts may not be available for up to a year. Because of this defect, we are unable to safely tow our travel trailer, which is a primary intended use of th... Read more
Incident date: Mar 7, 2026
The contact owns a 2025 Ram 2500. The contact stated that the message "Service Trailer Lighting" was displayed while driving. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and several other dealers were contacted and informed that the recall part was not... Read more
Incident date: Dec 19, 2025
The driver-side rear tail lamp on my 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning developed a crack and internal condensation/moisture without a known impact event. The condition was confirmed by a Ford dealer, which recommended replacement of the LH tail lamp assembly. Ford denied warranty coverage and classified the lamp as non-warrantable cracked housing / outside-force damage. My concern is that cracking and moi... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2026
Front right turn signal went out after three years and I’m told I need to replace the entire light which is $1400 by itself. These led lights are supposed to last a long time.
Incident date: Apr 7, 2026
My driver side front headlight fan is malfunctioning. It stays on and makes a loud noise when the car is parked and off and the lights are still on. This is a known defect and my dealership is asking for 2k to pay for it. I am concerned the light will go out causing safety concerns. (TSB) SA01323 and 09-015/23. This should be recalled as is it not a general wear and tear issue, it is a manufacturi... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2025
I'm reporting moisture in the driver headlight. I noticed a little moisture when I purchased it in October 25(used). Of course the warranty is up and the extended warranty doesn't cover replacement of assembly. Which is very pricey over $2000. I took it to the dealership to get it looked at but at the time it was still working but flickering alot, now it's completely out. I asked was it cracked an... Read more
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
Headlights on Nissan Altima started to dim, even when replacing bulbs. There was a settlement to get the bulbs replaced: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2025) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 6, 2026
Incident date: Oct 3, 2025
Since October 2025 I have had Tail Lamp Assembly VW Part #17A-945-093-D (the trunk rear light) on order with no expected delivery date. Once the lens is cracked or broken you can not properly maintain the car and are at risk of receiving a ticket due to the broken light. The last time I checked their was 130 on back order. That is affecting 130 vehicles which have a broken tail lamp assemble. ... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
SPRINTER 2500
(2021) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 6, 2026
Incident date: Apr 6, 2026
I am a Amazon driver and my dsp makes us drive with very bad safety hazards on the vehicle the step up platform on the vehicle is broken brakes are terrible and the airbag sensors and tire pressure sensors are not working and very bad.
Incident date: Feb 14, 2026
The car gets stuck and will not shift out of park. I've had to use the manual override. And when the ambulance came to my house, I could not move my car out of the way fast enough and this delayed emergency response team. I thought it was a one time fluke, but it started happening again this week (4/1/26) Every time I use the car. This cannot be safe.
Incident date: Mar 29, 2026
Headlight on the passenger side. Very common for this year and model Porsche. We took the car to a carwash. We entered with both headlights working. We went straight home and as we pulled into the garage we saw that the passenger side headlight wasn't working. There was no indication on the dashboard or warning that the headlight was out. I had to drive home in the dark in unsafe conditions wit... Read more
HYUNDAI
TUCSON HYBRID
(2024) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 6, 2026
Incident date: Mar 6, 2026
On March 6th, 2026, I spent the day running errands in normal driving conditions and it created a situation that did not charge the battery or switch to gasoline. Several error lights displayed seconds before the car died. The hazard lights failed within 15 minutes of waiting for a tow truck. The dealership service department charged the battery and gave me advice to run the car at least 30 minut... Read more
POLESTAR
POLESTAR 3
(2025) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 6, 2026
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
The driver-side rear taillight assembly suffers from a persistent seal failure, allowing significant moisture accumulation and water droplets to build up inside the lamp housing. This defect was documented by the Polestar Delivery Specialist at the time of vehicle handover and has persisted despite two prior warranty replacements of the lamp assemblies (authorized under Polestar TIE case 01943145)... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2026
The driver side headlight low beam will not work. Dealership said 1700+ labor to replace. I have looked into this and several other ford explorer platinum owners have same issue.
Incident date: Apr 5, 2026
The Toyota 4Runner (5th and 6th Generations) lacks a dedicated 'Approach Lighting' function, creating a critical personal safety and trip-and-fall hazard during nighttime entry. Users are forced to navigate the vehicle's perimeter in total darkness, increasing the risk of injury from unseen obstacles or security threats. I am requesting an investigation into this lighting logic omission and a reme... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2025
Dear National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), I am submitting a formal safety complaint regarding my 2022 Nissan Leaf due to repeated and sudden battery failure that has created unsafe driving conditions. Over the past several months, my vehicle has experienced severe and unpredictable battery drain. Even after a full charge (approximately 100 miles indicated), the battery rapidly... Read more
Incident date: Apr 4, 2026
While driving on the highway on 4/4/26 at 10:40 pm the dashboard and the headlights went out. The outage lasted about 5 seconds and then they came back on. I drove another 40 minutes and did not have another problem. My safety was put at risk because I could not see the road and others could not see me! There were no warnings prior to the problem. This is the second time in a year that this incide... Read more
LAND ROVER
DEFENDER
(2022) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 4, 2026
Incident date: Mar 16, 2026
The LED DRLs failed in the first 28000 miles leaving no DRLs. Researching this issues shows it it a known defect but not considered a safety issue. I disagree as visibility is greatly diminished without the lights. Numerous online complaints and LRJ reuses to compensate owners out of warranty.
Incident date: Oct 14, 2025
When attempting to engage the Left turn signal, the lever has to be pushed down several times to "catch or engage" and stay engaged. Frequently it won't stay engaged and turns off before the turn is completed. (The Right turn signal works properly). This happens 8 out of 10 times on a consistent basis. The dealer shop supervisor and tech test drove it as well as another brand new lot vehicle... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2026
Low beam halogen headlights are dangerously dim. It is not possible to see in darkness without the high beams on. New factory bulbs have been replaced. Lens cleaning restoration has been performed. This widely known flaw will cause accidents if it hasn't already. Hundreds of complains have been filed with the NHTSA. There are dozens of forums highlighting this important design flaw. The issue lies... Read more
JEEP
GRAND WAGONEER
(2024) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Apr 4, 2026
Incident date: Oct 16, 2025
2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L Obsidian. Water intrudes into the left headlight assembly through a defective seal, destroying the LED driver module (OEM part #68590086AD) and burning the internal wiring harness connector. This has caused: (1) complete headlight failure while driving in winter conditions with passengers; (2) sudden loss of engine power while in operation; (3) battery failure with stand... Read more
Incident date: Mar 14, 2023
The vehicle experienced a serious and ongoing electrical and system malfunction shortly after being returned from repairs related to a prior accident. Within a short period of driving, multiple warning messages and system errors began appearing simultaneously, indicating failures across several vehicle systems. The issues included repeated computer system faults affecting critical functions. The ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 31, 2025
Vehicle: 2026 Honda Civic Sport Hatchback VIN: [XXX] Mileage at time of complaint: 1,500 miles Description of Problem: The vehicle jerks/shudders when turning at low RPM. This occurs consistently during low-speed maneuvers such as parking lot turns and slow cornering. The issue is repeatable and has been present since purchase. Multiple passengers have independently noticed and remarked on the is... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2026
I own a 2020 Honda Accord EX-L with a 1.5T turbo engine. The problem happened on January 20, 2026, when my car had 66,988 miles. While my husband was driving it, the engine warning light came on, and the car suddenly lost power in the middle of the road. Fortunately, there was no car behind me at the time. Otherwise, he could have been in a serious accident. He was able to pull into a nearby parki... Read more
Incident date: Apr 3, 2026
Significant issues with adaptive headlights having a large shadow in middle of beam as well as two smaller dark shadows at end of beam that are very distracting. It also dims very low at times severely reducing my visibility especially at different grades of the road. The headlights were so bad from the first week I tried to get the sales manager at Ciocca Subaru in Allentown to take this car back... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2025
Rear light bar has water inside. Recall has not been fix since October 2025. Rear light flickering on and off. Been pulled over by the police
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
Taillights holding water/condensation and making lights go dark.
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
Vehicle equipped with operation red and blue auxiliary emergency lights, prohibited and protected by law for law enforcement use only, facilitates impersonation of a police officer, false detention, harassment, legal scrutiny for police, seller has actual knowledge, strictly liable upon a purchase agreement with a buyer, and can be liable for crimes committed by another by aiding an offender under... Read more
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
Vehicle equipped with red and blue emergency lights, excessive auxiliary lights prohibited by law, facilitates color of law violations, poses a risk to general public regarding harassment, impersonation of police officer, seller has actual knowledge, strictly liable upon a purchase agreement with buyer, and can be liable for crimes committed by others as a coconspirator.
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
Vehicle equipped with operational red and blue emergency lights prohibited by law, facilitates criminal activity such as impersonation of a police officer, civil regulatory laws regarding excess auxiliary lights, etc. Seller has actual knowledge and can be liable under color of law upon a purchase agreement with a buyer. Vehicle has open recalls and unresolved mechanical/electrical maintenance.
Incident date: Apr 2, 2026
Vehicle is equipped with operational red and blue lights that are prohibited under the color of law, and facilitates criminal activity upon a purchase agreement. Seller has actual knowledge and can be liable under the color of law. Vehicle has open recalls.