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: Jan 15, 2024
We are having issue with the “Check Headlamp System Check Owners Manual” display on the dash. Took it in for repair under warranty. They replaced passenger side headlamp. The warning still appears on dash. Is this an electrical issue? Will this cause a fire if it’s a short somewhere? Will the lights just malfunction going down the road if issue is not corrected? These are all questio... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2023
Low beam headlights are extremely dim and dangerous. Cannot see the lines on the road at night especially if it’s raining there seems to be a common complaint based on an Internet search.
Incident date: Jan 3, 2022
Passenger side Daytime running lights are not working. Drivers side Daytime running lights only half are working.
Incident date: Jan 20, 2024
I was gifted the car for graduation and immediately my brakes weren’t working right my interior electrical stopped working and my window switches stopped working as well as my lights for my car all went out including the brake lights changing the bulbs didn’t help and my check engine light stays on at all times.
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
My 2015 Acura RDX headlights are so dim it is dangerous to drive at night, especially with rain on the road. This affects my ability to drive safely at all times, on any roads, at night. I've tried replacing the bulbs, but the problem is inside the headlight assembly on the reflector and the lens. In order to be safe, I must perform a complete replacement of the headlight assembly, which costs o... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2024
The purpose of this missive is to complain about how blindingly bright the Tesla Model Y's headlights shine into the eyes of on-coming traffic and pedestrian. The Model 3's headlights are marginally less blinding (probably only because they are a few inches lower than the Model Y's) and there seems to be no similar problem with the Model S and Model X headlights. I have no issue with bright headl... Read more
Incident date: Oct 5, 2023
The backup camera installed on 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid EXL is of poor quality at night. When backing up at night backup camera image is extremely "foggy" and pixelated making it very difficult to see compared with our other vehicles. Nearly ran over family member backing up as I could not make out their image. During daytime / light, camera image is fine.
Incident date: Jan 12, 2024
Low beam headlights are aimed too high from the factory. I have asked the dealer to adjust them, but there are only two options for aiming and the lower position only casts light about 20 feet in front of the vehicle. During nighttime driving my car is consistently blinding oncoming traffic as evidenced by oncoming traffic flashing their high beams regularly.
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
My 2010 Chevy Malibu randomly started having electrical problems a few weeks ago. My gauge cluster lights will not turn on and I cannot see my blinkers or other information I need in the gauge cluster. The gauge cluster lights wont come on so I cannot see how fast i am going at night. The brake lights illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed. The car is difficult to get out of park. After r... Read more
FORD
EXPEDITION
(2003) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 19, 2024
Incident date: Dec 7, 2023
If any liquid or debris material enters the console cover area where many controls for the car are located, the “command switch” (as described by the Mazda dealer) underneath is destroyed. Many items are affected as noted above (some of which I could not check off). They have not responded as to whether some type of shield or even tape could be used to prevent this fault.
Incident date: Jan 17, 2024
The headlights keep going out. Every couple weeks to a month one of them blows out. Alternates between both of them to the point that there are times that both are out
Incident date: Jan 19, 2024
My car is affected by this recall and I have no turn signals, dash lights, high beams, working windows, security system, or backup sensors. There are also codes thrown which prevents me from renewing my registration due to DEQ test failure. The dealership can’t do anything and BMW North America has done nothing to remedy things.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2019
Headlight shows visible signs of over heating of the amber lenses on both driver and passenger side. Amber lenses are melted, obscured, burned through and causing additional discoloration to the clear lens of the headlight itself. This creates a safety issue for both driver and passenger side headlights and amber lights not illuminating properly but also reducing the reliability and longevity of t... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2024
Just purchased a new 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Altitude - vehicle is not equipped with automatic high beams. When the master lighting switch is set to the auto position, the high beam headlights will not activate unless the master lighting switch is first changed to the 'on" position. In 2021 there was a recall for this issue on Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo's based on these vehicles failing to comp... Read more
Incident date: Jan 10, 2024
Headlights are so dim that we will not drive the car at night. Dealer's service manager says that he knows about the problem but "there's nothing I can do to fix it". I see a few similar complaints on this site, but nothing as to who to contact to get the problem solved NOR any action on this on the part of the NHSTA. Where do we go from here?
Incident date: Dec 4, 2023
I was getting my car serviced, I was getting a State inspection the mechanic told me they could not inspect the vehicle due to the fact that a headlight was not working.. they tried replacing the headlight it still did not work.. I had to leave without getting my vehicle inspected!! I was going to try to take it to the dealer to try and get it fixed.. I checked on line and found several other Jeep... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2023
Vehicle lighting is downright not safe at night. It's somewhat bright but the beam shape is the real issue. While turning the beam dips 'below' where you are cornering, so cannot see ANYTHING through the turn. Extremely dangerous. Adjusting the headlight up slightly helps, but only after it's adjusted high enough to blind other drivers. I honestly cannot believe the headlight was allowed out o... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2023
HEADLIGHTS: have DEPLORABLE visibility, particularly around corners making it nearly impossible to see at night. It is GROSSLY DANGEROUS, and unacceptable to equip a vehicle with such low quality headlights. However, On January 13th 2024 the hi beams ceased to function at all, which has left me unable to drive at night. As a single mother this is a huge hinderance for my young sons and their acti... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2024
High beam lights stopped working. Regular lights work. Seems like this is happening to other owners of same make and model year.
Incident date: Jun 23, 2023
The automatic high beam system is dangerous. When active, the system frequently blinds oncoming drivers because the high beams remain active.
Incident date: Jan 17, 2024
The auto headlight dimming is not functioning properly and blinds oncoming traffic quite frequently. This seems to be a known issue when investigated. It is a feature sold with the vehicle as standard equipment on this trim level. It is marketed as a convenience to assist with dimming if the operator misses the opportunity to dim for oncoming traffic. If I engage this feature, it rarely dims, ... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2011) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 17, 2024
Incident date: Jul 8, 2020
[XXX] watch?v=4QLrqlCd3c0 * This video is about the South Texas taillight theft rings that local Ford Dealers are aware of and not notifying the customers to protect their property. The Tail lights only take 30 to 45 seconds to steal and cost between $3,500.00 to $4,200.00 to buy plus install and coding. They are in shortage according to local Ford dealer because of the thefts. So, you have to... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2024
Within the first year I had the vehicle each of the head lights failed. Still under warranty the Dealer determined that the fuses were bad and charged me $90 each time to replace the fuses. I now have an issue with the passenger side head light. Initially it was an interment off-on condition. Now it is continuously off. I have not had this one fixed yet. but I suspect that the fuse block is defect... Read more
MERCEDES-BENZ
E43 AMG
(2018) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 17, 2024
Incident date: Jan 17, 2024
Auto high bean is not working and no sign of auto( headlight on with letter A) on dashboard is not show. Trying to reset by holding high beam for 40 seconds still not working ( only blinking once), meaning still not working. That problem had after came back from recall on cracking sound inside speakers. Recently brought the car to Honda Beltsville, MD on January 15, 2024 about when stopping at tra... Read more
Incident date: May 10, 2023
Started to notice the high beams where not working. The dash light shows the high beams were on but the lights never changed. I purchased 2 new low/high beams bulbs. That did not fix the issue. My telluride has over 60k miles on it. Doing teacher everyone who has a 2020 kia telluride has this issue just after vehicle hits just over 60k miles. Never noticed before as we never drove at night time be... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2024
Lock actuators on passenger side have NEVER worked, fuel pump stops working when filling up tank even though not nearly full (have to repush the pump in several times - sometimes it doesn’t let me fill up tank totally because it thinks it’s full), right headlights fog up and can't be polished, light bulbs went out. Cruise control NEVER worked, a/c stopped working at 77,000 miles, window motor ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2024
When a snow event happens, especially wet snow the factory LED headlights and fog lights get completely covered in snow and are useless. They produce no heat to melt the snow. This is dangerous at night.
Incident date: Jan 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the driver’s side headlight intermittently failed to operate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that a defective wiring harness had caused the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired... Read more
Incident date: Jan 15, 2024
There are many electrical failures in this vehicle from the door alarm not sounding when the car has been turned off to the radio staying on and burning down the battery and the radio making changes to the stations volume, volume freezes and lowers or is totally unresponsive while the driver is driving, this is a major distracting. Also overhead light is unresponsive and flickers when it wants to... Read more
Incident date: Jan 14, 2024
My Toyota Camry SE 2017 while driving on freeway, my car started to smell like something burning few minutes later the car radio and lighting started to go crazy on off flashing randomly. going on off random screens by itself. i tried turning radio off but it wouldn't let me. when car turnkey is on without running the warning lights says check charging system. dealer says not sure why it says that... Read more
Incident date: Jan 16, 2024
Check Engine Light Due to Low Engine Oil Level, Radio/Climate Control Display May Go Dark, major issue is "No Start" Due to Ignition Switch Failure and fuses keep blowing so many issues and problems
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
Auto high beam feature turns on and off even when there are no oncoming vehicles. The feature is unreliable and dangerous. Vehicle purchased on 22 Dec 2023. Previous vehicle was a 2019 Ridgeline where this feature worked perfectly.
Incident date: Jan 8, 2024
When heading out of town, car wouldn’t accelerate even when I push on the gas so pulled over. Engine light came on for like 2 seconds. There wasn’t any warning lights prior to this incident. It won’t start at all which I know I need a new battery but I can’t figure out what else is wrong. I’ve called mini dealerships near me but they don’t have any remades I’d have to pay out of pock... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2023
My 2022 Jeep Renegade VIN TAG: [XXX] has had another issue pop up, I’m still having the vehicle shutdown and other issues. But recently I lost my headlights on now 3 different occasions starting on [XXX]. Now about a week ago I lost both front Daytime Running Lights both Front Marker Lights and both Front Signal Lights ALL AT THE SAME TIME. I was told by BAY Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Panama Ci... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2023
The headlights in cars that use these super bright ass lights are ridiculous! They need to be changed into normal headlights. The lights in auto parts stores say for offroad use only! The lights in cars now , they are brighter than the ones with the offroad use only warning. Please fix this crap. We can't see when there's oncoming traffic. It's going to cause much more than just accidents. Fix it.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
It seems like this is a common occurrence especially with this particular vehicle. The low beam LED headlight bulbs keep on breaking resulting in no headlights. These bulbs are expensive and it is such a headache replacing them so often. This should not be the case, but it is.
Incident date: Nov 21, 2023
head lights go out while driving at night hi or low beam auto or manual it does not make any diff .
Incident date: Jan 1, 2024
The front headlight enclosure repeatedly fogs because moisture gets inside. It has just happened again to us. This has been widely reported by BMW owners and is a significant safety issue that BMW has not addressed. In the interest of public safety BMW should recall and replace whatever defective parts cause the problem.
Incident date: Jan 11, 2024
Its the LCM L(IGHT CONTROL MODULE)...HEAD LIGHTS went out on me one night coming down [XXX] causing me to wreck in a ditch and hitting a light pole INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash
1 injured
CHEVROLET
SILVERADO 1500
(2011) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 13, 2024
Incident date: Jan 11, 2024
Due to the 2014 dodge Durango not having a proper seal on them the race track light on my 2014 dodge Durango has been halfway burnt out and there is no reason for me to have to pay $1200 when this is a safety hazard this should be a recalled this is ridiculous. It is not safe it could cause electrical fire a short I’ve worked for emergency services and I will tell you now if your lights on the b... Read more
Incident date: Jan 12, 2024
The headlights are so dim that we can no longer drive it safely at night. The only apparent fix is to replace the entire headlight assemblies for about$2000.
DODGE
GRAND CARAVAN
(2016) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Jan 13, 2024
Incident date: Jul 16, 2023
Snow builds up on the LED headlights and fog lights, rendering them useless when driving at night.
Incident date: Jan 2, 2024
I purchased my car in 2015 at 23k miles, now we're at 86k miles and I'm experiencing issues. How is there a recall for this car but no remedy yet when there is a high risk of fire? Shouldn't there be a resolution for this safety concern? I noticed my car in 2022 would smoke here and there when driving, and I would smell burning. I took it to my mechanic and he changed the head gasket, and the smok... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2024
Left LED Headlamps & intergral camera sensor assembly has failed due to moisture penetration behind the lenses. In addition to no left headlamps or left front turn signal, we have lost the emergency braking, forward collision warning, the lane departure warning and the lane keeping assistance features. Service advisor has advised on 01/08/24 that this is a common problem & parts are not readily av... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2024
The supposedly “LED Headlights on this vehicle is very dim and very unsafe to drive. I have contacted Honda of Marysville Wa state about the headlights inability to provide light on the roads but was ignored. We almost had an accident because the headlights are so dim we almost hit another vehicle. This needs to be addressed by honda before something bad happens.
Incident date: Jan 12, 2024
Car began to smoke. Roof caught fire at driver's visor while occupied with 2 people. Both able to exit safely. Neighbor put out with fire extinguisher. Inspected by insurance adjuster - total loss. Dealership notified. No warning lamps or messages.
Fire
Incident date: Jan 13, 2024
Indicator/turn light is very low under bumper. It is not visible to the vehicle behind and around. Other driver think that I am not turning indicator light and they are upset and honking at me. Poor design and it could cause an accident.
Incident date: Jan 3, 2024
Defective brake light seal went bad, brake light is filling with water and broke red LEDs right away, family is now not safe from rear colissions and Tesla wants $1000. Thank you
Incident date: Sep 19, 2023
While driving in snowy conditions, snow built up in front of the headlights, blocking them. I had to stop multiple times to sweep the snow out from the socket the headlight is recessed into to get light to project onto thr road. These are the factory LED headlights, which do not produce enough heat to melt the snow, unlike halogen headlights. Not having lights while driving in the snow is scary, a... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2023
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 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 no... Read more