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: Jul 26, 2024
Automatic headlight dimming is too sensitive and does not reliably dim headlights when there is oncoming vehicles with headlights on. Many times, the high beams turn off entering a corner because they apparently sense the road sigh reflexion. This sudden change in the light produced entering the corner causes a distraction as well as a loss visibility of the approaching corner. Addionally, I have ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2024
Hello, I am filing a complaint regarding a safety issue with my vehicle. The daytime running light has ceased functioning. It began dimming last week and is now completely out. The vehicle is available for inspection. Daytime running lights are essential for visibility during the day, contributing to overall safety and accident prevention. This problem appears to be common among VW Atlas owners ... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2019) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jul 30, 2024
Incident date: Jul 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Sentra. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake warning light illuminated. The contact replaced the sensor at the residence; however, the failure persisted. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V135000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mi... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2014) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jul 30, 2024
Incident date: Jul 29, 2024
Received warning that rear drivers side taillights, reverse light, parking light, and turn signal were out. Changed all 3 bulbs related and still didn’t work. Looked at the circuit board and connector and the center pin is burned out. Searching Jeep Renegades and this is a common issue with many model years of the Jeep Renegade. This appears to be a defect the manufacturer should be responsible ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 11, 2024
My front collision alert system has stopped working, I have taken it to multiple dealerships within my certified vehicle company. Next, my automatic High beams do not function at all, which is difficult to navigate at night without them. I have tried to update my vehicle and sent it to other dealerships and they cannot figure out what is wrong. And lastly, my lane assistance system is not working ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 20, 2022
Only one of the headlights works at full brightness the other is at 30% at best. The company sent me another set and they have the same issue. Poor visability for on comming traffic
MERCEDES-BENZ
E500
(2006) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jul 29, 2024
Incident date: May 4, 2024
During a recent trip to Oregon, my Volkswagen ID.4 experienced a critical failure of both the interior and exterior lighting systems, including the headlights and emergency lights. Initially, upon returning from a walk, I found the lights were on despite the vehicle being locked and not in the "Auto" mode as I had left them. Locking and unlocking the vehicle did not resolve the issue. When I enter... Read more
Incident date: Jun 21, 2024
I had purchased the vehicle in early April of 2024 from Drive Time in Langhorne PA. I've had mechanical / engine issues since then. On [XXX], my daughter called me and informed me that the vehicle shut down while she was driving with my infant grand daughter, on the highway. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Ford F-350. The contact stated that the roof seam cover had lifted and detached. Additionally, the contact stated that while raining or washing the vehicle, there was water entering the headlight enclosures and the headlights became inoperable. While the vehicle was in park(P), the interior lights turned on without driver input, and turned off while shifted into reverse(R).... Read more
Incident date: Apr 9, 2024
The primary issue is the seal on the air conditioning unit, which is on top of the Sprinter van. Prior to purchasing it, we read multiple reviews that the seal breaks frequently and water pours into the cabin. It is a known defect and quite prevalent. Whenever we drive through rain and the seal is intact, we get drips of rain. When the seal needs to be replaced, gallons of water pour into the cabi... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2024
The headlight assembly oxidizes after about 8 years of use. Dealer solution is to replace both headlights for about $2,400.
Incident date: Dec 28, 2023
Low beam headlights keep burning out, no repair information on Alldata and no recall for this safety problem.
Incident date: Jul 20, 2024
Here is what happened. I was traveling on a narrow winding two-lane road at night when, desiring to see the information on the current drive, I reached down to the lower left corner of the touchscreen to change the small sub-panel located there. It was on the music panel so I swiped to the left to change to the trip information panel. As soon as I swiped to the left my lights went out and I'm driv... Read more
Incident date: Jul 26, 2024
Taillight not working. I purchased a bulb for taillight and it’s still out. I got a recall letter in the mail about the lights on sonata but I misplaced it.
Incident date: Jul 1, 2024
The forward collision was not working on my car when someone pulled down in front of me and I hit the wall so I wouldn’t hit them.
Crash
Incident date: Jun 25, 2024
While driving in the rain with the headlights on the moisture got inside the headlights covering the light output and making harder to see at night specially while it rains. Safety visibility concerns and moisture will decrease the life of the headlamps.
Incident date: Jul 25, 2024
I have owned a 2023 Model S Plaid for 6 months. I like the vehicle overall but it has 2 features that are actually dangerous. 1) Horn - There is a small hepatic area on the right of the steering wheel that engages the horn. It is impossible to find and press in an emergency situation. One has to take their eyes off the road to find the area before attempting to press it. Even then it is smal... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25-26 MPH, the message "Engine Fault" was displayed, and the contact noticed an abnormal burning odor. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, there was coolant leaking onto the ground. The contact drove to the residence and parked the vehic... Read more
Incident date: Jul 24, 2024
Side marker light in headlight stopped working
Incident date: Jul 24, 2022
Coolant, oil compression, runs hot, to over headlights need replaced frequently
Incident date: May 1, 2024
I was driving on a hot day and all of the instrument panel, air conditioning, all controllers, like signaling, windshield wipers, radio and all electronic gear turned off. Without the equipment and tools available, I could not change lanes or come to a stop safely. It would be difficult for me to say if other systems were affected. I was luckily not going very fast at the time and was able to n... Read more
Incident date: Jul 8, 2024
The headlights in my car both went out because of this wiring issue. The wiring insulation inside the headlight is very prone to cracking and subsequently breaking which causes the headlight to not function. I have repaired this issue myself on both headlights for almost every wire going into the igniter. No headlights is a major safety issue at night, and due to the cracking along all of the wiri... Read more
Incident date: Jul 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the headlights were flickering and then became inoperable. The fuse box was melted. There was smoke detected from underneath the hood. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V251000 (Electrical System, Exterior Lighting). The vehicle wa... Read more
Incident date: Jul 20, 2024
When driving at night and using the headlight switch's flash feature, the headlights go out completely when in AUTO mode. In manual mode, the headlights will be constantly on bright and will not allow the lights to dim. I took the car to the dealership and they confirmed what I was describing and said that the multifunction switch is faulty. I had a prior year Hyundai that has the same type of ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 28, 2024
The lights go off on their own while driving. The lights go on on their own while parked and off.
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2019) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jul 22, 2024
Incident date: Jun 9, 2024
Brake lights are illuminating when accelerating (when brake pedal is NOT depressed) and are NOT illuminating when actually braking (when brake pedal IS depressed). I found GM recalls for this, but they are not attributed to my car, hence the recall that took place for this was not wide enough / did not cover all vehicles affected. (Recall 80317) (A poor electrical connection at the brake light ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 18, 2024
Ok [XXX] 1:30 pm we got into car to go to lunch started driving and smoke started coming from the headliner and smelled like burning plastic on driver side near visor, smoke filled the car we were able to roll down windows and able to stop the car. The area continued to emit smoke and area on headliner felt hot. After Turing the car off the smoke/ fire continued and Had to locate the battery under... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Aug 5, 2022
I own a 2020 Honda ridgeline pick up truck. For many months, I have been aware of an existing recall on the rear view camera tailgate wire harness and have received two notices. I have been at the dealer twice to have it repaired, the last time of which they canceled my appointment the day before the repair saying they don’t have any parts and that I will hear sometime Late fall. Honda has been ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2024
Turn signals will not operate, dealership quoted me $1400 3 years ago, had the work performed and now the issue is happening again and I am being quoted the same amount of money. This is a safety concern if I cannot signal to others where I am turning!!!!! This could cause an accident!!!!! This is highly unsafe!!! What if my kids were in the car?! Talking to customers in waiting lounge at dealersh... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jun 29, 2022
My indicators stopped working a month prior to accident, then they started working again. On March 10th the issue happened again where I turned my signal on and no light appeared and no light on the dash with the indicator sound either. Boom, I had sideswipe someone on a major road causing an accident. NHTSA needs to do something about this because corporate won’t do anything!
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Mar 15, 2023
I am locked out of the car despite having keys and phone in hand. When I was in the car it wouldn’t start. Screen was black. I got out of the car to try other doors. When I got back to driver door, the car was locked and I tried all normal modes to get in the car. It is NOT the 12 volt battery. I tried to use the manual jump to get the hood to pop open but it didn’t work. If I had a baby i... Read more
HONDA
CR-V HYBRID
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jul 19, 2024
Incident date: Jul 16, 2024
The headlights are malfunctioning where they periodically flicker and there is a loss of lighting. The frequency seems to increase the longer the headlights are on and in use. The loss of lighting during the event increases risks of driving at night and impairing oncoming traffic. Yes, the problem has been confirmed and documented by my dealer, Ideal Buick GMC in Frederick MD Yes, Dealer inspe... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2024
The left front marker light is not working and a warning shows up on the dashboard. It's a safety issue as the vehicle may be less visible at night, increasing the risk of a crash. I took my vehicle to an Audi dealership. The person helping me knew immediately what the issue was as he has seen it many times. When I looked up the issue online, I saw many other Audi owners (not only Q7 either) have ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 19, 2024
Vehicle makes a noise on the driver side headlight when light is on. Once headlight is off, noise is gone.
Incident date: Jul 19, 2024
Safety recall since 3/23/2023. It's 07/19/2024. With no solution yet , it's been over a year now with no solution. That is a un timely manner. Need to know what to do now . Can not drive vehicle, no blinkers or brake lights. Please help.
HYUNDAI
SONATA HYBRID
(2021) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jul 19, 2024
Incident date: Mar 15, 2024
Wiring inside headlamp is not up to Standards. For the cost the replace the headlight the wiring should not be falling apart causing shorts. One night I was driving and got a warning on my dash for my headlights and noticed it was a bit harder to see. Pulled over and noticed the headlight was out. Went to replace the bulb and noticed the wires have zero protection on them and are all touching.. th... Read more
Incident date: May 16, 2024
I'm having an issue with my 2024 Colorado Trail Boss. After making a right hand turn with the signal on, once the stalk bounces back, it overcorrects and 'taps' the indicator and flashes left 3 times. I've seen some other owners having this issue on online forums throughout the Colorado and GMC canyon lineup. I think it's a pretty big safety concern to give improper navigation signals, 50% of t... Read more
Incident date: Jul 18, 2024
Water/ mist leaking into head lights and tail lights after a car wash. Front driver side headlight was not working and had to replace. Until replacing the part it might impact other turn signaling. FYI: have to replace whole unit as its LED and cannot just change bulb/ LED strip. There was a crash happened to the driver side more than an year and was into car wash's (or) car was in the rain wit... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlights failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the lighting control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 29, 2022
I recently had to drive at night. The low beams are so dim you cannot drive. I have to drive with the high beams. The low beams are on, but not bright enough to drive. What is the fix for this. Thanks
Incident date: May 16, 2022
Headlight lens assembly of both headlights is cracking excessively. Upon review of online forums, this is happening frequently to many consumers. This impacts headlight output and looks to be manufacturing defect. Recently reported to dealer who indicated they have seen many of these recently and so far most have been handled by warranty but they would take pictures and submit. If this is known ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 3, 2023
Engine code came on, one interior headlamp works when it wants to, climate control module is bad it has cause the relay to blow and the resistor to go out. The air turns up on the control module by itself and then your ac just stops working and then starts again as it chooses. All of these are electrical issue as stated in MANY OTHER reports. And electrical issue is unsafe it can cause fire at any... Read more
Incident date: Jul 18, 2024
Overtime the low beam headlights have become very dim. The bulbs have always blown a lot but I have recently replaced both bulbs and they are still very dim. I ordered high powered LED bulbs and still the low beams are very dim. So dim you can barely see 10 feet in front of you when driving at night. I have to drive with the high beams on to see where I am going. Research online shows this is ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 12, 2024
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V624000 (Exterior Lighting); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufac... Read more
Incident date: Jul 13, 2024
The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland headlamp assembly are defective and need to safety recall. The defect poses significant risk to driver especially at night. For example, this overland no longer level the headlamp low beam at the correct level. The light only cast out about 10 feet ahead of the headlamp. Even when engaging the high beam both headlights only show a few feet further. This is u... Read more
Incident date: Jul 15, 2024
I purchased my 2013 Kia Forte EX5 used with 35,000 and now have 165,000 with normal wear n tear I've been mostly satisfied except with the head lights, tail and brake lights and the plate lights. Until reading here, I didn't make the connection that Yes, I have spent a lot of time and money on getting these replaced multiple times each year-seems every oil change there's been a bulb out. No melti... Read more
Incident date: Jun 30, 2024
Headlights blink every 2 to 3 minutes.
Incident date: Jul 3, 2020
Turn signal buttons on steering wheel fail to activate turn signals at times. Intermittent problem. When it works, I can feel a click from the button. When it doesn’t work, no haptic feedback received.
Incident date: Jul 17, 2020
The low-beam headlights frequently burn out, approximately every 6 months. Upon inspection by multiple repair shops, the wiring harnesses have been found to be blowing the bulb yet each shop has replaced with a variety of parts. The suspicion is the wiring and power source are causing issues. Each side of the vehicle has had the wiring harness replaced with the right side being replaced twice and ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 16, 2020
Infotainment center glitching while driving, Restarting as if the car was just started. Recent water issue behind dash due to "design flaw" of A/C drain. Ongoing mold/musty smell. Attempted to resolve with KIA after ongoing issues but they do not feel that this is a safety concern or feel it needs to be investigated appropriately. This occurs when driving typically on the highway because most... Read more