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 17,413 complaints for ACURA
Incident date: Jan 1, 2021
I have received mail from the manufacturer, Grand Design, stating my RV is subject to NHTSA Recall No. 22V-308. They provided details to indicate my RV may have a cracked fitting in it's propane gas distribution system. A physical inspection must be performed, and the fitting must be replaced if it has a crack. Obviously, this is troubling because it represents a danger of fire, explosion, or bo... Read more
Incident date: Jan 9, 2023
When connected to a trailer with trailer brakes, the driver information center displays a message check trailer brakes when I apply the brakes. After usually the 3rd brake application the driver information center displays a message. Service trailer brakes. Trailer brakes disengage. Local certified chevy dealer tested the brake components on a computer and verified it is the truck that has issues... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2023
While accelerating on the highway the vehicle lost power. Pressing the gas did nothing. Engine light blinked
Incident date: Jan 7, 2023
While accelerating on the highway the vehicle lost power. Pressing the gas did nothing. Engine light blinked
Incident date: Jan 7, 2023
While accelerating on the highway the vehicle lost power. Pressing the gas did nothing. Engine light blinked
Incident date: Sep 5, 2022
Low Beam headlight are very dim at night and very unsafe to drive. I have to drive with high beams so I can see which makes it unsafe for other cars. I replaced bulb with no improvement. I read many cases of this online. Acura needs to have this recalled to replace headlight assembly.
Incident date: Jan 2, 2023
My wife and I were on the first day of vacation, driving from Virginia to FL by way of SC. Around 1pm I was driving the car on interstate 20 West in South Carolina near Bishopville. There were no cars in my lane in front of me and the car suddenly activated what Acura refers to as the CMBS system. The purpose of this is to stop us if it thinks we are going to run into another vehicle. I'm not 100%... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 2, 2023
My wife and I were on the first day of vacation, driving from Virginia to FL by way of SC. Around 1pm I was driving the car on interstate 20 West in South Carolina near Bishopville. There were no cars in my lane in front of me and the car suddenly activated what Acura refers to as the CMBS system. The purpose of this is to stop us if it thinks we are going to run into another vehicle. I'm not 100%... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 5, 2023
My low beam headlights barely put out any light.
Incident date: Jan 5, 2023
Ive always have problems with headlights low beam, they simply dont illuminates the road at night, I have to use high beam making others to flash their high beams at me. I have change bulbs but no matter what I instal they dont illuminate enough.
Incident date: Jan 3, 2023
While driving at highway speeds (45-75 mph) the steering will begin to stick. The steering wheel requires extra force to make an adjustment. After getting past the friction point, the steering is normal but will soon gain the friction point back. On highway ramps, the steering will hold the turn without any additional pressure and fails to return to the straight position. Added force required to g... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2017
I have 2014 Acura RDX with VIN: 5J8TB4H32EL008430. I'm facing with headlight issue since many years where my headlight with low beam is very dim and the roads are not visible in the dark. It is a major safety issue and my family was recently almost met with an accident. After the incident, I have changed the bulbs too but it didn't resolve the issue. I have searched online and found that many cust... Read more
Incident date: Jan 2, 2017
I have 2014 Acura RDX with VIN: 5J8TB4H32EL008430. I'm facing with headlight issue since many years where my headlight with low beam is very dim and the roads are not visible in the dark. It is a major safety issue and my family was recently almost met with an accident. After the incident, I have changed the bulbs too but it didn't resolve the issue. I have searched online and found that many cust... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2022
Headlights are too dim. This poses a safety risk while driving at night. I contacted the dealer, only requesting a price of replacing the bulb (before I researched it is more than just the bulb). I was informed that this is a known issue. No one inspected it. There are no warning lights. I would like to file a complaint so a recall can be issued and owners do not have to pay out of pocket expenses... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2022
While my wife was driving my RLX I left my neighborhood and made a right turn onto the main road, while on the main road the PAWS system malfunctioned and the vehicle "Fishtailed" causing the vehicle to swerve violently, steering turned violently as well and instrument cluster illuminated with multiple warning lights. PAWS system malfunctioned/failed (its available for inspection) The safety of my... Read more
Incident date: Dec 10, 2022
While my wife was driving my RLX I left my neighborhood and made a right turn onto the main road, while on the main road the PAWS system malfunctioned and the vehicle "Fishtailed" causing the vehicle to swerve violently, steering turned violently as well and instrument cluster illuminated with multiple warning lights. PAWS system malfunctioned/failed (its available for inspection) The safety of my... Read more
Incident date: Dec 18, 2021
The headlights on the 2015 Acura RDX are so dangerously dim that it isn't safe to drive at night or in any other low-light condition. The low-beam reflector itself has oxidized and is not reflective at all, and no amount of brighter bulbs or clean outside lenses can solve the issue. The only recourse is to replace the entire housing. A quick online search shows that this is a common complaint a... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2022
A low-beam headlight is too dim to drive at night, especially during rain
Incident date: Jan 1, 2018
The headlights on my vehicle have been very dim, to the point of being unsafe to drive at night, and especially in inclement weather. Driving at night time in low light conditions the road is barley visible, especially during precipitation. I have replaced the bulbs for both headlights multiple with no improvement to visibility. I have also tried having the headlight lenses cover polished, whic... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2023
Both of head lights are too dim for the 2015 RDX. Not enough lights to safely drive in the night. Commonly known for headlight reflector deterioration; plenty of others have experienced same issue (link below) and it's costly to fix the defect by Comsumer; please ask the car maker to recall and repair the defect https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-rdx-2015-dim-headlights/180589/15 Similar rec... Read more
Incident date: Nov 25, 2021
Low beams gradually got dim and I cannot drive at night with low beams on a huge safety concern as I cannot see driving at night without my high beams on. There must be a recall on these models as there are numerous complaints for this issue.
Incident date: Dec 27, 2022
The contact owns a 2006 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and became stiff. In addition, the vehicle stalled, and the brake lights failed to illuminate. The contact stated that the instrument panel warning lights illuminate on and off. The gear stick would not shift gear as needed. In addition, the vehicle stability assist (VSA) warning light was the... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2022
The contact owns a 2006 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and became stiff. In addition, the vehicle stalled, and the brake lights failed to illuminate. The contact stated that the instrument panel warning lights illuminate on and off. The gear stick would not shift gear as needed. In addition, the vehicle stability assist (VSA) warning light was the... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2022
The contact owns a 2006 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and became stiff. In addition, the vehicle stalled, and the brake lights failed to illuminate. The contact stated that the instrument panel warning lights illuminate on and off. The gear stick would not shift gear as needed. In addition, the vehicle stability assist (VSA) warning light was the... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2022
Since we have had the car we have had multiple issues with the car jerking and shifting hard after driving in S mode then going to standard mode. Dealership told us the transmission is "sensitive" in our model year and if we go 1 mile overdue for a transmission fluid flush we will have shudder/jerking/ hard shifting. (we have changed the transmission fluid 1-2x since have had the car, which is wit... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2022
Since we have had the car we have had multiple issues with the car jerking and shifting hard after driving in S mode then going to standard mode. Dealership told us the transmission is "sensitive" in our model year and if we go 1 mile overdue for a transmission fluid flush we will have shudder/jerking/ hard shifting. (we have changed the transmission fluid 1-2x since have had the car, which is wit... Read more
Incident date: Dec 28, 2022
Since we have had the car we have had multiple issues with the car jerking and shifting hard after driving in S mode then going to standard mode. Dealership told us the transmission is "sensitive" in our model year and if we go 1 mile overdue for a transmission fluid flush we will have shudder/jerking/ hard shifting. (we have changed the transmission fluid 1-2x since have had the car, which is wit... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2022
On 12/22/22, I was driving in a 2021 RDX SH-AWD with my pregnant wife and 2 year old son from Media PA to Pittsburgh PA . It was rainy and 35-40 degrees F the whole drive. Approximately 4 hours into the drive we stopped at a rest stop on the PA turnpike to get gas. While attempting to merge back onto the turnpike from the service road to the right of the turnpike, a truck was coming up behind me i... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2022
On 12/22/22, I was driving in a 2021 RDX SH-AWD with my pregnant wife and 2 year old son from Media PA to Pittsburgh PA . It was rainy and 35-40 degrees F the whole drive. Approximately 4 hours into the drive we stopped at a rest stop on the PA turnpike to get gas. While attempting to merge back onto the turnpike from the service road to the right of the turnpike, a truck was coming up behind me i... Read more
Incident date: Dec 22, 2022
On 12/22/22, I was driving in a 2021 RDX SH-AWD with my pregnant wife and 2 year old son from Media PA to Pittsburgh PA . It was rainy and 35-40 degrees F the whole drive. Approximately 4 hours into the drive we stopped at a rest stop on the PA turnpike to get gas. While attempting to merge back onto the turnpike from the service road to the right of the turnpike, a truck was coming up behind me i... Read more
Incident date: Nov 24, 2022
Rear windshield shattered. No explanation. I had no tree branches near or on by my car. Car was parked in my driveway. I called Acura corporate and at this time no recall.
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
When backing out of my driveway and turning wheel to the left I get two loud popping noises from behind me. Other online reports identify this as a problem with the sunroof. I also have instances where the sunroof does not fully close unless I repush the close button. Dealer rep suggested this is most likely due to an issue with the sunroof.
Incident date: Dec 25, 2021
Rear glass window shattered out of nowhere. Thankfully the car was parked when it happened. It’s bound to happen on these cars and when reported to Acura they did nothing. My car was parked in front of my house all night with a camera recording it and there was nothing else that could’ve happened to it. Also, when inspected, you can tell the glass was not impacted in anyway. It shattered from ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2017
Driver side seat functions stop working: - up and down (tilt) - forward and back Acura had no explanation for it and to just replace the seat (which is costly). At your earliest convenience please advise if this suffice for a recall.
Incident date: Dec 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rear window shattered without warning or impact. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was advised to notify the insurance company of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to go ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2022
Electrical Failure. Safety was an issue with vehicle needing constant jumps. Problem was checked at dealer. My concern was continuously overlooked. Warning lamps didn't warn.
Crash
Incident date: Dec 21, 2022
Electrical Failure. Safety was an issue with vehicle needing constant jumps. Problem was checked at dealer. My concern was continuously overlooked. Warning lamps didn't warn.
Crash
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
For the 6th time, my 2023 Acura Integra A-Spec with the 6spd manual transmission has completely shut off. While the immediate thought might be that I stalled or the auto stop/start engaged, that's not the case here. The car completely shuts off. Almost like a hard reset, the engine dies, and the electrical system shuts down. In several of the cases, some features like lights, still work. But in ot... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
For the 6th time, my 2023 Acura Integra A-Spec with the 6spd manual transmission has completely shut off. While the immediate thought might be that I stalled or the auto stop/start engaged, that's not the case here. The car completely shuts off. Almost like a hard reset, the engine dies, and the electrical system shuts down. In several of the cases, some features like lights, still work. But in ot... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2022
For the 6th time, my 2023 Acura Integra A-Spec with the 6spd manual transmission has completely shut off. While the immediate thought might be that I stalled or the auto stop/start engaged, that's not the case here. The car completely shuts off. Almost like a hard reset, the engine dies, and the electrical system shuts down. In several of the cases, some features like lights, still work. But in ot... Read more
Incident date: Oct 13, 2022
Twice at a stop light the car went into neutral by itself which then required me to go put in park then drive. One time a police officer was nearby and pulled me over after, asking if everything was ok since I was stopped at the light for a prolonged period of time. I took it to the dealership and they said it was the battery and replaced under warranty. Battery should not go when car has less t... Read more
Incident date: Oct 13, 2022
Twice at a stop light the car went into neutral by itself which then required me to go put in park then drive. One time a police officer was nearby and pulled me over after, asking if everything was ok since I was stopped at the light for a prolonged period of time. I took it to the dealership and they said it was the battery and replaced under warranty. Battery should not go when car has less t... Read more
Incident date: Dec 19, 2022
I was driving on December 19, 2022 and noticed difficulty steering at cruising speeds (45mph). The steering became resistant to small movements. It did not move smoothly when I turned it to make minor adjustments, it required extra force to move from a still position. Once I applied enough force to turn, it turned freely. At low speeds such as turning in a parking lot, I did not notice any proble... Read more
Incident date: Dec 21, 2022
The car failed to turn back on after the auto stop fuction turned the engine off. This left me stranded at a green light. After a few seconds the car put itself in neutral and I slowly coasted to the side of the road as I was on a hill. It would not start for around 30 seconds, remained in accessory mode with the engine off. Finally it started and I cautiously drove home. The oil and coolant level... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2022
The car's Low Beams do not illuminate the road to a safe degree. I have replaced the low beam lights (done by an auto body shop) with a higher grade bulb but the replacement did not increase the light output. The whole headlight assembly will need to be replaced for it to be safe to drive at night. This seems to be a common problem with the Acura RDX and will be extremely costly to repair in order... Read more
Incident date: Dec 2, 2022
Car stoped working due to low gas, on the dealership they have a recall in the fuel pump.
Incident date: Dec 6, 2022
The low-beams have deteriorated in brightness rapidly over the last 8 months as the vehicle reaches 75,000 miles. The bulbs remain lit, but the reflector inside appears to not be adequately dispersing light, producing a very dim low-beam. The high-beams are not affected, indicating no electrical issues. The lack of a sufficiently bright headlight's risk is self evident: but includes the inability ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2022
My headlights are dim to the point of unsafe driving at night. I often cannot tell that my headlights are even on. I cannot see the side of the road, or what is in front of me, especially when other cars are approaching -- I have almost hit a person/pedestrian - it was a frightening experience. The problem has been confirmed only by my mechanic. I have contacted Acura The vehicle has only been i... Read more
Incident date: Dec 19, 2022
my car has 85K miles on it. the headlights are so dim that they might as well not even be on. I have replaced the bulbs, no help. There's no oxidation on the outer lens of the headlight assembly. There's some kind of defect in the inner reflector or lens of the headlight assembly such that the only solution is to replace the entire headlight assembly. The inner reflector / lens has become so ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 12, 2020
The headlights are extremely dim making it very difficult to see at night. The bulbs have been replaced and are still very dim. They are available for inspection upon request. There were no messages regarding any failure. And it first was noticed upon purchasing the car and driving it at night.