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 40,555 complaints for BMW
Incident date: Jan 31, 2022
Dashboard display randomly flickers and blinks while driving Seatbelt notification chime rings even when the passenger seat is empty.
Incident date: Jan 26, 2022
Rear tailgate suddenly flew open while driving at a speed of roughly 25 mph without any user input. Car was fully locked and at speed, trunk/tailgate release button was not pushed. The tailgate was fully closed and locked, and there were no warning lights or chimes indicating otherwise. This has only occurred once as of today and has not been able to be replicated, so it is not necessarily "availa... Read more
BMW
R 18 CLASSIC
(2021) — VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
Feb 2, 2022
Incident date: Nov 2, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 BMW R18 Classic. The contact stated while riding at 50 MPH, the contact noticed that the windshield on the motorcycle was buffering, causing a wind vibration that caused the contact head to shake violently and blurred the contact’s vision making it difficult for the contact to see while riding. The contact slowed down and veered to the side of the road took off his helme... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2022
I was driving on the highway with no cars around me and my sunroof exploded outward.
BMW
R 18 CLASSIC
(2021) — VISIBILITY
Feb 2, 2022
Incident date: Nov 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 BMW R 18 Classic. The contact stated that while riding 60 MPH, the windshield failed to effectively protect him from the wind. The contact stated that due to the failure, the contact’s head was not protected from the wind gust while riding. The contact had reached out to the dealer and was informed that there was no replacement part for the windshield. The windshield was ... Read more
Incident date: Jan 28, 2022
Error message Secure Vehicle from Rolling
Incident date: Jan 29, 2022
My sunroof exploded randomly, without warning as I was traveling on the highway at approximately 65 MPH. There was no impact from an object. The cloth cover beneath the sunroof was fully intact and undamaged after the incident.
Incident date: Sep 9, 2021
ON 9THSEPT'2021 when my wife driving back from work she got " drivetrain malfunction msg on the screen, she pulled over and called me, i was there in 15mins and did try shut off the engine for few mins and start, it didnt go in 2019 i got the same msg and SUV stalled in the middle of road, i stopped the engine waited for 2 mins and restarted, the msg was gone. when we towed the vehicle to BWM-Sh... Read more
Incident date: Sep 9, 2021
ON 9THSEPT'2021 when my wife driving back from work she got " drivetrain malfunction msg on the screen, she pulled over and called me, i was there in 15mins and did try shut off the engine for few mins and start, it didnt go in 2019 i got the same msg and SUV stalled in the middle of road, i stopped the engine waited for 2 mins and restarted, the msg was gone. when we towed the vehicle to BWM-Sh... Read more
Incident date: Jan 30, 2022
car started showing an error every time I got into the vehicle saying to "Secure vehicle against rolling. Apparently it's a common issue with the gear selector.
Incident date: Jan 30, 2022
car started showing an error every time I got into the vehicle saying to "Secure vehicle against rolling. Apparently it's a common issue with the gear selector.
Incident date: Jan 30, 2022
car started showing an error every time I got into the vehicle saying to "Secure vehicle against rolling. Apparently it's a common issue with the gear selector.
Incident date: Jan 25, 2022
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 328I. The contact stated while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal whistling sound and a rattling sound coming from the engine while the vehicle was idling. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact performed a diagnostic test on the vehicle and received a code for the camshaft housing bolts of the engine. The contact re... Read more
Incident date: Jan 21, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X5. The contact stated that as her husband was stopped at a stop light, the vehicle began to rev after he had taken his foot off the brake pedal without warning. Once her husband placed his foot back on the brake pedal, the revving stopped, and her husband was able to resume normal driving. On a separate occasion, her husband was waiting for a vehicle to move out of a p... Read more
Incident date: Jan 21, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X5. The contact stated that as her husband was stopped at a stop light, the vehicle began to rev after he had taken his foot off the brake pedal without warning. Once her husband placed his foot back on the brake pedal, the revving stopped, and her husband was able to resume normal driving. On a separate occasion, her husband was waiting for a vehicle to move out of a p... Read more
Incident date: Jan 21, 2022
The contact owns a 2021 BMW X5. The contact stated that as her husband was stopped at a stop light, the vehicle began to rev after he had taken his foot off the brake pedal without warning. Once her husband placed his foot back on the brake pedal, the revving stopped, and her husband was able to resume normal driving. On a separate occasion, her husband was waiting for a vehicle to move out of a p... Read more
Incident date: Jan 12, 2022
I was in a 3-car accident through the fault of another driver. This was on a highway in northwest suburbs of Chicago. Very serious crash ending in a totaled vehicle. Severe (left) front end damage with engine disengaging from the chassis and left front wheel coming off vehicle. I believe I was put at high risk of losing my life because none of the airbags deployed inside the vehicle. The car was... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 13, 2022
My daughter was driving on the NJ Turnpike, on the Highway for a few minutes when she heard a loud explosion. Nothing hit the Vehicle prior the explosion. A vehicle behind her saw the pieces of Sunroof blew out and notified her. She took the X3 to BMW and got a nice bill instead.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
The SUVs drive belt has come loose and was ingested through the front crankshaft seal, causing engine issues such as oil starvation leading to engine damage and unknown check engine codes. The SUV has been confirmed to have belt fragments inside the engine. I have video documentation.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
The SUVs drive belt has come loose and was ingested through the front crankshaft seal, causing engine issues such as oil starvation leading to engine damage and unknown check engine codes. The SUV has been confirmed to have belt fragments inside the engine. I have video documentation.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
The SUVs drive belt has come loose and was ingested through the front crankshaft seal, causing engine issues such as oil starvation leading to engine damage and unknown check engine codes. The SUV has been confirmed to have belt fragments inside the engine. I have video documentation.
Incident date: Jan 14, 2022
Coolant leak from exhaust manifold Reservoir fails All coolant hoses fail
Incident date: Jan 14, 2022
Coolant leak from exhaust manifold Reservoir fails All coolant hoses fail
Incident date: Nov 19, 2021
In Sept. 2018, the car was serviced but died after leaving the BMW service center. BMW paid for towing after discovering a frayed ribbed v-belt, which they replaced at no cost. In Nov. 2021, the oil gauge was indicating a problem and the car was then serviced at the same BMW service center. The technician was shocked to find broken pieces of an old drive belt stuck in suction tube. They took a... Read more
Incident date: Nov 19, 2021
In Sept. 2018, the car was serviced but died after leaving the BMW service center. BMW paid for towing after discovering a frayed ribbed v-belt, which they replaced at no cost. In Nov. 2021, the oil gauge was indicating a problem and the car was then serviced at the same BMW service center. The technician was shocked to find broken pieces of an old drive belt stuck in suction tube. They took a... Read more
Incident date: Jan 28, 2022
2021 BMW 540I. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MULTIPLE DEFECTS DUE TO BATTERY MANAGEMENT ISSUE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MULITPLE OCCASIONS OF FAILURES WITH THE BREAKING SYSTEM. THE DRIVER HAD TO PRESS THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING, THE AUTOSTART ENGAGED INDEPENDTLY, AND LIGHTING/SPEAKER/SUNROOF MAL... Read more
Incident date: Jan 24, 2022
LH - Driver side seat caught fire and melted through seat material and melted onto my coat. there are burn marks / holes through the seat due to the heater malfunction/ short. My coat was also ruined with plastic melted onto it from the seat.
Fire
Incident date: Jan 27, 2022
The BMW OEM intercooler/charge air cooler is a known faulty equipment issue within this generation of cars/engine (S55 Engine, F80, F82, F87 chassis) and I have thousands of people within the community that were affected and willing to attest to this. This issue is a safety risk as having the intercooler leak coolant into the combustion chambers this will be a catastrophically damage the engine.... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2022
The contact owns a 2007 BMW X3. The contact stated that while the heated seat was in the on position the driver's side seat became extremely hot and caught fire. The fire burnt through the seat and left a hole. There were no reported injuries. The driver was able to extinguish the fire. The contact called the local dealer and left a message but, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manu... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
The airbag light is on our BMW and my 16 years daughter is driving this car. I cannot believe that BMW did not issue a recall. According to Repair Pal: "What are the symptoms of a bad Air Bag Occupant Sensor? Failing occupant sensors can show one of two symptoms. They may stay on at all times, causing the passenger airbags to stay active even when a passenger is not present. Also, they may not o... Read more
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
The airbag light is on our BMW and my 16 years daughter is driving this car. I cannot believe that BMW did not issue a recall. According to Repair Pal: "What are the symptoms of a bad Air Bag Occupant Sensor? Failing occupant sensors can show one of two symptoms. They may stay on at all times, causing the passenger airbags to stay active even when a passenger is not present. Also, they may not o... Read more
Incident date: Jan 13, 2022
Heard a loud boom after just entering the highway and the front sunroof on my 2017 BMW x3 just exploded. Fortunately the cover was closed, most of the glass blew out upon the explosion. Driving around the speed limit at the time of the explosion. Took it the dealer and got a big bill instead.
Incident date: Dec 14, 2021
The plastic power pieces that goes over the battery melted. Ever since then I have had electrical problems. My concern is when that pieces melted it could have caused a fire. I dint even know it melted till I started have electrical problems and had to look at my battery. As far as the fuel problems I have a n51 and from what I understand the parts for it are hard to find I would like to know more... Read more
Incident date: Dec 14, 2021
The plastic power pieces that goes over the battery melted. Ever since then I have had electrical problems. My concern is when that pieces melted it could have caused a fire. I dint even know it melted till I started have electrical problems and had to look at my battery. As far as the fuel problems I have a n51 and from what I understand the parts for it are hard to find I would like to know more... Read more
Incident date: Dec 14, 2021
The plastic power pieces that goes over the battery melted. Ever since then I have had electrical problems. My concern is when that pieces melted it could have caused a fire. I dint even know it melted till I started have electrical problems and had to look at my battery. As far as the fuel problems I have a n51 and from what I understand the parts for it are hard to find I would like to know more... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2022
Every time I put the car in park I get a warning, "Secure Vehicle from Rolling", when I put the car in park.
Incident date: Jan 26, 2022
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 750XI. The contact stated that the transmission malfunction warning message was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, smoke was coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with a faulty oil pan and valve cover gasket. The oil pan and valve cover gasket were replaced; however, the failure recurred... Read more
Incident date: Jan 26, 2022
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 750XI. The contact stated that the transmission malfunction warning message was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, smoke was coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with a faulty oil pan and valve cover gasket. The oil pan and valve cover gasket were replaced; however, the failure recurred... Read more
Incident date: Jan 26, 2022
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 750XI. The contact stated that the transmission malfunction warning message was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, smoke was coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with a faulty oil pan and valve cover gasket. The oil pan and valve cover gasket were replaced; however, the failure recurred... Read more
Incident date: Jan 5, 2021
Passenger interior Door handle assembly caught on fire and melted the rubber grommet. BMW said it was the comfort sensor fuse should have blown but did not. I saw blue smoke while driving from the passenger door mirror blowing out of the door handle like a volcano for 2 ft sideways. The rubber grommet holding the door handle melting completely down the outside door exterior. BMW fixed the senso... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jan 24, 2022
The contact owns a 2017 BMW X5. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel) 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 manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts dis... Read more
BMW
X5
(2013) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
Jan 26, 2022
Incident date: Jan 26, 2022
The contact owns a 2013 BMW X5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) passive reservoir failure. The SCR passive reservoir was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and diagnosed with EGR module f... Read more
Incident date: Jan 25, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 328D. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel) 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 manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN... Read more
Incident date: Jan 25, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 328D. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the dealer informed the contact that 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 manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The conta... Read more
Incident date: Jan 11, 2022
The fix transition to "stop vehicle from rolling" light is on but it's just the warning light and is requiring a replacement of a part that is not broken.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
Front Passenger Seat Malfunction - Intermittent on and off warning No risk yet but BMW road aside assist confirmed that air bag might not deploy on passenger side Vehicle inspected by Irvine BMW and warning or concerns shown, just tried to bill me without root causing the issue. Yes the warning comes up on and off. Intermittent.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
Front Passenger Seat Malfunction - Intermittent on and off warning No risk yet but BMW road aside assist confirmed that air bag might not deploy on passenger side Vehicle inspected by Irvine BMW and warning or concerns shown, just tried to bill me without root causing the issue. Yes the warning comes up on and off. Intermittent.
Incident date: Dec 1, 2021
Front Passenger Seat Malfunction - Intermittent on and off warning No risk yet but BMW road aside assist confirmed that air bag might not deploy on passenger side Vehicle inspected by Irvine BMW and warning or concerns shown, just tried to bill me without root causing the issue. Yes the warning comes up on and off. Intermittent.
Incident date: Dec 26, 2021
In May 2021 I purchased a 2018 Certified Pre-owned BMW 330e Plug-in Hybrid with 20K miles from the BMW dealership at Glendale, CA. My car is under original manufacture warranty to this day but I also have paid for an extra warranty and maintenance program. On December 26th, 2021, as I was driving back from Las Vegas on highway 15, about 40 miles into the trip, my car dash displayed an error mess... Read more