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
MERCEDES-BENZ
E350
(2006) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 21, 2024
Incident date: Mar 8, 2024
I bought a 2022 BMW R18B motorcycle in 2023. There are 3 models of this motorcycle. R18 is plain without a fairing or smart controls. The R18 Transcontinental is top of line with fairing computer, navigation, phone pairing. The R18B which is my motorcycle is basically the same as Transcontinental except it does not have top case and rack for mounting top case. Here is the safety problem with the... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2023
The turn signal stalk does not differentiate between a partial (lane change) press or a full turn press. The signal will remain on until the stalk is moved in the opposite turn direction. This sometimes results in the opposite turn signal activating. This entire process is intermittent while driving. This happens mainly on the highway where an intermittent (half press) of the stalk is performed ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 3, 2023
When driving at night with headlights on low beam the driver’s side headlight casts a distracting shadow on the road. Not only does this shadow prevent full illumination of the roadway, limiting visibility on the driver’s side, but the shadow can also make it look like an obstacle might be in the road. This shadow is not there when the bright lights are on. I have had this vehicle since Dec... Read more
Incident date: Mar 4, 2024
The auto high beams do not work with any consistency. They don't come when they should or will turn off because of a reflection from a road sign. Sometimes, they will activate right before a car passes you which causes that driver to flash me and now we both can't see! I can't believe Honda would allow this poor excuse of a feature to pass inspection!
Incident date: Feb 1, 2024
One day I noticed something dangling near the rear license plate while parked. It was the right-side license plate light. Upon inspection of the (good) left-side license plate light, everything seemed pretty secure. The right-side license plate light has a plastic bracket on the one side and a plastic clip on the other side. The plastic clip broke off. I don't think it's been that way long, a... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 2500
(2024) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 20, 2024
Incident date: Jan 15, 2024
Water entered into the rear tail light from rain and shorted the light and caused it to stop working. And is burnt out. This doesn’t have a bulb to replace it’s the entire running light system.
Incident date: Dec 26, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the brake lights continuously remained illuminated. The taillight bulbs blew out on several occasions. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, there were several unknown warning lights flashing. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed o... Read more
Incident date: Mar 3, 2024
Left rear inner tail light is inoperative. There is evidence of water intrusion in the lower left corner of the tail light assembly. Called dealer, was told by service manager that the concern was not covered under warranty as the vehicle has just over 51,000 miles. Called Acura Care and was told same. 2014-2019 models of this vehicle were recalled for this issue, but not the 2020 models, although... Read more
Incident date: Oct 30, 2023
Since April 2022 we reached out to Nissan of Vacaville, Ca about the head light recall. Numerous times they've told us that the headlights were not in stock. Now in 2024 they're saying that they are no longer honoring the recall. They report that it has expired. I drive the car mostly at night and the lights do not work properly. It impairs my vision and thereby can cause a wreck that could result... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
WE OWN A 2014 CADILLAC SRX THAT WE PURCHASED IN 2019. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY AT NIGHT. OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AFTER SUNSET. THIS SAME ISSUE HAS BEEN RELAYED TO CADILLAC DEALERS AND TO CADILLAC CORPORATE BY THOUSANDS OF OWNERS BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE SINCE 2016. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SEVERAL CLASS ACTIONS SUITS. THIS ISS... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2024
I was driving to the store and out of nowhere my car completely shut down the lights engine everything my steering wheel locked and I couldn't apply my breaks
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2022) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 18, 2024
Incident date: Mar 10, 2024
Headlights cast a shadow at night — particularly to left. Vision obscured in shadow area and cannot see what is in road. As well, turning corners think something is in road because of shadow and want to pull away. This is definitely a hazard and has been reported on Toyota nation and seems to effect more than the venza and needs to be addressed because it is a safety issue. I bought the veh... Read more
Incident date: Mar 18, 2024
The cab roof clearance lights leak water when it rains. The water leaks into the electronics in the overhead console and down the A-pillar. Dealer advises it is a nonwarranty issue under extended warranty and a commonly known issue on these. trucks.
Incident date: Mar 12, 2024
returned to dealer for recall 12b, F.C.A. US recall number,problem not resolved,Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 59 4
Incident date: Mar 8, 2024
The low beam headlights are so dim I cannot see the road driving at night. I tried replacing the light bulbs with new lights and it still does not improve the visibility. I contacted Acura and it is a known issue with the headlight housing and assembly but they don't want to pay for it. The headlight assembly replacement cost for both sides will be about $3,000. Acura should be responsible for con... Read more
FORD
MAVERICK HYBRID
(2023) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 17, 2024
Incident date: Mar 16, 2024
Driving at night on I-29 South and headlights went off intermittently but not simultaneously. Headlamps continued intermittent cut-out until reached destination (approx 3 hours later). As a safety issue for driving while dark, had both assemblies replaced at Cadillac dealer for approx $3,950.00. Replacement was Cadillac recommendation as it was stated the electronics do fail in these headlight ass... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 1500
(2024) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 17, 2024
Incident date: Mar 9, 2024
While driving at night in July, 2023 on [XXX] , both headlights began to go out intermittently but not simultaneously. Continued driving for approximately 3 hours to final destination. Took to local Cadillac dealer for diagnostics (Invoice [XXX]) and after dialogue with dealer had both assemblies replaced as was informed the electronics have been noted to fail in these assemblies. I replaced both ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 8, 2024
The driver side headlight went out approximately 8 months after purchasing the vehicle used which was out of the 6 months that the dealer had a warranty. I have replaced the headlight and ballast and it is still not working properly. I have checked and confirmed voltage by testing the driver side against the passenger side which does work and all voltages match going into the rear plug of the head... Read more
Incident date: Nov 14, 2023
Headlights are dangerously dim, to the extent that it is not safebto drive at night. Visibility is likened to only having the orange running lights on. May see a depth of 3ft ahead, while practically no visibility in adverse conditions, such as rain, fog or snow. I have replaced the bulbs several times, as well as the housings and fuses. All appear to be in working condition an the headlight cove... Read more
TOYOTA
SIENNA HYBRID
(2024) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 16, 2024
Incident date: Mar 15, 2024
Heavy condensation is occurring inside the driver side headlamp. A quick google search shows this is a common problem among Mazda owners and Mazda will not cover the repair. I am unable to get a Massachusetts state inspection sticker due to this.
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2016) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 16, 2024
Incident date: Mar 16, 2024
I bought this car and the light bulb is replaced. It is the actual halo type plastic head lights that are defected. If I take to dealer can they fix it. I saw issues with the same thing on the Internet.
Incident date: Mar 15, 2024
The passenger side headlight has been reinstalled 8 times. The dealership has replaced it and we have replaced it several times. The light goes out constantly and is costing me a fortune to replace as well as possible traffic tickets. The headlights turn off also when in automatic mode. Please recall this vehicle and have this safety and expensive issue fixed. This issue has been going on several... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2018 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 local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The ma... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2022
Over time the headlight casings have moisture inside. Also, the plastic covering to the headlights is no longer clear but is cloudy. Driving at night I am forced to put on the high beams to brighten up the road ahead of me. Memphis Cadillac dealership said there is a history of this problem. They will not work on the car because of this. Is there a recall? Please let me know. Thank you.
Incident date: Mar 15, 2024
The front right side marker light defective. Error Message There is a known issue with this under previous recall (16V642000). Recall needed to add more vehicle to this propblem.
Incident date: Jan 5, 2024
My message belongs to all vehicle manufacturers. Especially the business/commercial vehicles like mine . Which we spent most of our time inside it, during the work periods'. I would like to ask a favor to take a better attention when it comes to Safety/Comfort /look. We don't Race or Camp but work and sometimes live there. Most of the time me and my hardworking colleagues don't complain a lot. B... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Apr 29, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V418000 (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 contact stated that the tailgate light bar had failed to illuminate. The dealer was contacted. The m... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2011) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 14, 2024
Incident date: Feb 29, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Edge. The contact stated that there was condensation in the rear exterior light housings. The contact stated that the condensation had increased significantly over time. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a common failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case w... Read more
Incident date: Feb 3, 2022
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 low-beam headlights were extremely dim while driving, reducing driver visibility to see the roadway. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. T... Read more
Incident date: Mar 13, 2024
I have records of over 900 other consumers including myself that have been asking BMW to fix a potential deadly lighting malfunction that leaves you with no dash lighting or a whiteout. This problem effects all the dash and HVAC controls where you can't see any the dash and safety components. I've reached out to BMW and they refuse to acknowledge the problem and have asked me to stop.
Incident date: Mar 5, 2024
Side marker light in the passenger side (PS) headlight assembly IS NOT working. Headlight (high beam and low beam) and combination turn signal/parking light ARE working. First noticed Feb 2024. Malfunctioning marker light will cause vehicle to fail annual state safety inspection. Problem is not intermittent. Car hasn't been inspected by dealer or other shop, dealer wants $169 to inspect/trouble... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2024
Dealer install illuminated sill plates GM Part No.: 84667517 causing dangerous distracted driving since they do now turn off when the doors are shut and driving as advertised. Dealer double checked installation, but I feel GM installation need to be revised. See product description below from GM website: Product Information Help give your vehicle a customized appearance Water, UV and chemical resi... Read more
Incident date: Mar 12, 2024
Blow up headlights bulbs and taillights bulb
FORD
MAVERICK HYBRID
(2023) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 12, 2024
Incident date: Mar 6, 2024
The headlamps flicker when the steering wheel is turned at speeds of 1-45 miles per hour. The dealership claims that a software update will fix it, though the issue seems to be with the integrated circuits in the headlamp assembly. The issue has gotten worse over the last 3-4 months.
Incident date: Dec 29, 2023
The cable harness in question runs from the fuse box under hood through firewall to the passenger side foot area. At this point it connects to another harness that connects to various items at the rear of the vehicle. One circuit in particular the rear window defogger is burning wiring and socket and plug of the two wiring harness. Either the wiring or connectors burned apart without the circuit... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Mar 12, 2024
On 3/5/24 I had a collision with a large deer. The front of the car was impacted. The air bags did not deploy. I was driving at 50 mph. I have sent my concern to Nissan but they have not responded. Approximately $10,000 in damage was done.
Crash
Incident date: Jan 11, 2024
The low beam headlights have dimmed. It is unsafe to drive this vehicle at night and especially if it is raining. The problem is that the low-beam reflector oxidizes over time, and it is not reflecting the light from the bulb. Brighter bulbs or cleaning the lenses is not going to solve the issue. I talked to a dealer and he mentioned it is a known issue, but Acura is not covering any expenses fo... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
The rear 'race track' tail lights fail to light or are dim in lower sections of the assembly installed on the rear tailgate. Water enters the assembly over time and collects in the lower sections of the assembly causing the installed LED's and circuitry in those sections to fail. This repair is not covered by the extended warranty and would cost drivers approx 800 to install a replacement which wo... Read more
Incident date: Feb 13, 2024
Head light problem lights not working took to dealership brought a new headlight assembly that didn’t fix the problem waited 7 hours they still couldn’t fix the problem took vehicle home I replaced a fuse,relay, and bulb that fix the problem . Six months later the same problem headlight please look in to this , need to be recalled.
Incident date: Jan 12, 2024
The headlights have become exceptionally dim in my 2015 RDX and they no longer illuminate the roadway at night time. The condition is even worse and more dangerous when the roadway is wet and/or there is an oncoming car. Note: the bulbs work and replacing them with new bulbs make NO difference in the light being projected from the assemblies. There is something wrong with the headlight assemblies ... Read more
GMC
SIERRA 2500
(2024) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 12, 2024
Incident date: Mar 12, 2024
Rear LED taillights circuit boards broken. Disabling both Stop tail lights causing serious safety hazard. We had no clue driving around and we didn't have any brake lights another driver had to tell us. So we googled this problem and it turns out that all of 2017 GMC Yukon have the same issue. There's even multiple websites to repair them as well as auto supply stores selling replacements for $1,0... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2024
Headlight assembly’s short out causing blinkers not to work. This is for the 2021 and up Durango’s. I am on my 2nd headlight assembly replacement. I know other 2021+ Durango owners that have the same issue and I also see multiple newer Durango’s on the road with the same issue. Consumers should not have to pay out of pocket for this repair as it is apparently a common and known issue tha... Read more
HONDA
CLARITY ELECTRIC
(2020) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 12, 2024
Incident date: Sep 12, 2023
My quarter panel taillight has stopped working due to moisture in the light (no visible breakage on light). This part is on continuous backorder with no ETA of coming back in stock. Dealer has ordered part but will not give a loaner car. GM acknowledged backorder but will not give rental reimbursement. I have three children I am to put in this car that does not have a left turn signal or brake lig... Read more
JEEP
GRAND CHEROKEE
(2014) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 11, 2024
Incident date: Jun 30, 2020
The driver's side high beam headlight has stopped working. I am told it is because a baffle, a movable reflector, inside the headlight assembly has stopped functioning. In addition, the cost of replacing the headlight assembly is $1300. I know you have received some complaints about the 2020 Telluride. The same assembly in the 2022 Telluride.
Incident date: Aug 16, 2016
The vehicle intermittently but repeatedly reports a "Front Side Marker Light Defective" error despite there being no visible issue with any of the front lights. Sometimes the error will not appear for days, while other times it repeatedly comes on and turns off, each time making a loud chime and displaying the warning message, again despite no change in the lighting. The quoted rate to repair th... Read more
Incident date: Jun 11, 2022
The wires inside the headlight assembly have literally snapped rendering the headlight inoperable. I’ve repaired in places just for them to break where I haven’t repaired. Access is very difficult. On a longer trip I wouldn’t be able to repair on side of the road. It’s a manufacturing defect.
Incident date: Jun 4, 2023
While driving at normal road speeds, the vehicle suddenly lost all electronics (infotainment, air conditioning, dash). After 2-3 minutes these systems came back online but the car continued to have a warning light for the Lane Keeping system not functioning. This warning now comes on periodically after this incident
Incident date: Mar 11, 2024
The headlights in this model of the RDX are extremely dim making driving at night impossible. The headlights do not illuminate the roadway in front of the vehicle. I had 1% lux reading as measured by an automotive illumination engineer. After further research into this issue I learned that the low-beam reflector itself oxidizes, is not reflective at all, and no amount of brighter bulbs or clean o... Read more
Incident date: Mar 9, 2024
The Lyriq, as well as all current GM vehicles, use an icon on their instrument panel for indicating headlights are on that is incorrect. They use the symbol for parking lights rather than the symbol for low beam headlights on their instrument panel display. This is especially confusing because their own digital menu to turn on lights correctly shows the low beam headlights symbol for headlights,... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2013) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Mar 11, 2024
Incident date: Mar 11, 2024
The rear directionals on my 2024 Hyundai Tucson are only 2 feet off the ground and only about 2 inches wide. At this location and size I believe they can be difficult to see (unsafe) especially if a large truck is following to close to the Tuscon. This is a very uncommon location. Most other vehicles have the rear directionals located with the brake lights which are about 4 feet off the ground.