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 41,082 complaints for BMW
Incident date: Dec 2, 2021
My BMW X5 is experiencing the exact safety issues that the NHTSA campaign number: 21V907000 was published for (September 12, 2012 - Jun 29, 2017). I was told that since my vehicle was manufactured on 08/2012 it was not eligible for the NHTSA dealer recall and repair. I was told that the vehicle was in risk of fire with the repair cost upwards of $5,000. This seems to be a much larger issue than ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2021
I own bmw 528i 2012. These engines are straight up bad. Timing chain failed at 149K miles with no signs of failure. Just driving down the road when suddenly the car just turns off and goes into neutral on its own. I simply pulled over restarted the car to cylinder misfires, car struggling to accelerate, smoke out the exhaust, and a loud rattling sound. I pulled over had the car towed. I had my car... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2021
I own bmw 528i 2012. These engines are straight up bad. Timing chain failed at 149K miles with no signs of failure. Just driving down the road when suddenly the car just turns off and goes into neutral on its own. I simply pulled over restarted the car to cylinder misfires, car struggling to accelerate, smoke out the exhaust, and a loud rattling sound. I pulled over had the car towed. I had my car... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2021
I own bmw 528i 2012. These engines are straight up bad. Timing chain failed at 149K miles with no signs of failure. Just driving down the road when suddenly the car just turns off and goes into neutral on its own. I simply pulled over restarted the car to cylinder misfires, car struggling to accelerate, smoke out the exhaust, and a loud rattling sound. I pulled over had the car towed. I had my car... Read more
Incident date: Jan 25, 2022
This is a 2021 BMW X5 with BMW's blind spot warning system. The vehicle currently has approximately 5,500 miles and was purchased new. The blind spot warning system has consistently malfunctioned since the vehicle was delivered. When monitoring the right side (passenger side) blind spot it only picks up on average 1 of each 3 vehicles encountered and completely the ignores the the others. By "... Read more
Incident date: Feb 1, 2022
The auto dimming function of the rearview mirror and the driver side mirror does not work consistently. During nighttime driving, the auto dimming can suddenly turn off unexpectedly, blinding the driver. I took the car into BMW and they confirmed that it is a known issue with the positioning of the sensor that controls the systems that affects all X5’s, but they did not say specifically which ye... Read more
Incident date: Feb 5, 2022
I was driving in the left lane of the freeway, and there was a k-rail to the left of the lane, because there was construction in the shoulder. At one point, there was a break in the k-rail, where it had an opening, and went away from the lane, then back about 20 ft later. The lane departure system jerked the wheel to the left, attempting to steer out of the lane; if I had not held the wheel steady... Read more
Incident date: Feb 2, 2022
my vehicle has symptoms of the auxiliary water pump for turbocharger going bad. Th epump is noisy, and smells very hot/burnt. There was a recall in 2011-2012 that was done on my car for this part, however it appears the same issues are currently arising. Under the 0011730400 B110518 Recall: Electronic Auxiliary Coolant Pump , updated in 2018, my vehicle isn't listed as affected, however I believ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2022
Vehicle stalled while on highway
Incident date: Feb 7, 2022
Our 2016 BMW X 5 axle is broken. Can't drive ( very loud noise ) steering and directional control are a safety risk. We purchased new on 9/19/2015 and are the original owners . The car has approximately 60,000. plus miles on it. Living in Ketchum ID we have had all service and Maintenance work done locally because it is 160 miles to Boise ID. We also have a home in Cincinnati OH. where our sec... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2022
Our 2016 BMW X 5 axle is broken. Can't drive ( very loud noise ) steering and directional control are a safety risk. We purchased new on 9/19/2015 and are the original owners . The car has approximately 60,000. plus miles on it. Living in Ketchum ID we have had all service and Maintenance work done locally because it is 160 miles to Boise ID. We also have a home in Cincinnati OH. where our sec... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2022
Our 2016 BMW X 5 axle is broken. Can't drive ( very loud noise ) steering and directional control are a safety risk. We purchased new on 9/19/2015 and are the original owners . The car has approximately 60,000. plus miles on it. Living in Ketchum ID we have had all service and Maintenance work done locally because it is 160 miles to Boise ID. We also have a home in Cincinnati OH. where our sec... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2022
Sunroof drain clogged, causing leaking of water into vehicle. The dealer tested and found the same issue. They stated that there is a fix for this, to reroute the drain, and that it was not done on my vehicle prior to it clogging.
Incident date: Feb 7, 2022
Sunroof drain clogged, causing leaking of water into vehicle. The dealer tested and found the same issue. They stated that there is a fix for this, to reroute the drain, and that it was not done on my vehicle prior to it clogging.
Incident date: Feb 7, 2022
Sunroof drain clogged, causing leaking of water into vehicle. The dealer tested and found the same issue. They stated that there is a fix for this, to reroute the drain, and that it was not done on my vehicle prior to it clogging.
Incident date: Oct 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2015 BMW X3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V907000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Coolant Level Low" warning message was displayed. The contact had to refill the coolant four times within four months. The vehicle was taken to... Read more
Incident date: Sep 17, 2018
The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact initially received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V755000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact then stated that the DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the engine control ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 17, 2018
The contact owns a 2015 BMW X5. The contact initially received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V755000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact then stated that the DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the engine control ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 7, 2021
My BMW X5 suddenly will have the power steering fail, then it will start working again. This issue will happen occasionally and is dangerous. There was a recall campaign 16v-704 on January of 2017 that the BMW x5's stating the following "BMW is conducting a Voluntary Safety Recall involving certain Model Year 2015 - 2017 vehicles’ Electronic Power Steering (EPS) control unit." SOS Automotive i... Read more
Incident date: Jan 19, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 BMW 328D. The contact received notification of 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 local dealer and the manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the drivetra... Read more
Incident date: Feb 4, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 BMW i3. The contact stated that while driving in the rain at approximately 45 - 50 MPH, the vehicle had unintended acceleration and the contact lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle came to a full stop after getting stuck in the mud on the side of the road. The failure nearly caused a collision. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagn... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2021
Transmision message warning "secure vehicle with parking brake”. “Secure Vehicle from Rolling”
Incident date: Dec 6, 2021
Car had all warning light came on one day. We brought to a local dealer and they told me it was due to 12V battery was not charging. 1. I asked to a service rep if 12V battery could be issue w/o full diagnostic which they charged me extra. He said they needed to do it to figure out. 2. After replacing the battery, it still had error message. After a few days, I was told car needs software update ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 7, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 BMW X5. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V586000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that parts were not yet available. The vehicle w... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 530i. The contact stated that the battery drained quickly, which caused the contact to frequently replace the battery. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic however, the mechanic could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
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 31, 2022
Dashboard display randomly flickers and blinks while driving Seatbelt notification chime rings even when the passenger seat is empty.
Incident date: Feb 3, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 BMW 328D. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle for approximately 10 minutes after driving, the vehicle was then restarted, made an abnormal noise, and stalled. The contact stated that no warning lights had been illuminated at the time. The contact stated that he stepped out of his vehicle to inspect the surroundings and noticed a large puddle of fuel under his ... Read more
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
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: Feb 1, 2022
I was driving on the highway with no cars around me and my sunroof exploded outward.
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 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 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: 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 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: 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 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