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.

2,215,138 Total Complaints

138,663 Reported Crashes

56,255 Reported Fires

8,561 Reported 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

How to Read NHTSA Consumer Complaints › How NHTSA Investigations Work › Used Car: 7 Recall Checks to Run First › The Takata Airbag Recall: Full Story › OBD-II Codes Explained › All Articles ›

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Showing 1,034 complaints for BRITAX

Incident date: Nov 2, 2004

BRITAX ROUNDABOUT 3903335 SEPT 26, 2001. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE POSITIONING CLIP ON HIS/HER OWN. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB *TC

Incident date: Aug 20, 2004

I OWN ONE OF THE BRITAX WIZARDS THAT WERE RECALLED IN EARLY AUGUST. I CONTACTED BRITAX TO BE SENT THE NEW RESTRAINT AND REGISTERED ON THEIR WEBSITE SO THEY COULD SEND ME THE NEW STRAPS AND THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN HERE YET AND IT'S NOVEMBER 1. I TRIED TO REGISTER AGAIN THINKING MAYBE I SLIPPED THROUGH THEIR SYSTEM, BUT THE WEBSITE SAID THAT I WAS ALREADY REGISTERED, SO THEY DO HAVE MY INFORMATION BU... Read more

Incident date: Aug 9, 2004

THE CONSUMER STATED SHE OWNS FOUR CHILD SEATS THAT WERE RECALLED IN AUGUST AND SHE IS STILL WAITING ON THE REPAIR KITS FROM BRITAX. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN SHE WILL RECEIVE THEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB

Incident date: Oct 2, 2004

BRITAX MARATHON #E9L06 IS CURRENTLY BEING RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER. OWNER HAS REGISTERED THE CAR SEAT AND FOR SEVERAL MONTHS HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THE MANUFACTURER TO SEND THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE DEFECTIVE CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER IS VERY SLOW SENDING OUT THESE PARTS. *JB THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE PART. (THREE MONTHS LATER) *SC

Incident date: Oct 2, 2004

Incident date: Aug 9, 2004

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT STRAP. TO DATE AFTER SEVERAL CALLS, THE CONSUMER STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED THE STRAPS. NHTSA RECALL 04C002000. *JB THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE REPLACEMENT PART. *SC

Incident date: Aug 20, 2004

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04C002000 ON THE A-LOCK WEBBING SLIPPAGE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *JB *NM

Incident date: Oct 28, 2004

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL CAMPAIGN# 04C002000, CONCERNING THE HARNESS STRAP. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE REPLACEMENT PARTS IN LATE NOVEMBER. *SC *JB

Incident date: Sep 13, 2004

I AM WRITING TO COMLAIN ABOUT BRITAX'S HANDLING OF THE RECALL OF STRAPS ON ITS MARATHON (AND OTHER MODEL) CAR SEATS. I FIRST CALLED BRITAX TO REGISTER MY NEW CAR SEAT ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2004, AND WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT STRAP IN 7-10 DAYS. IT IS NOW 6.5 WEEKS LATER, AND I HAVE CALLED THEM THREE MORE TIMES. EACH TIME, I AM TOLD THAT THE STRAP WAS JUST MAILED OUT, OR IS JUST ABOUT TO... Read more

Incident date: Aug 16, 2004

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04C002000 FOR THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT. AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED THE STRAPS FOR THE SEATS. FINALLY, THE ONE STRAP CAME INSTEAD OF TWO. *AK

Incident date: Aug 26, 2004

BRITAX MARATHON MODEL # E9L0636 WAS RECALLED. MANUFACTURER DID NOT SENT OUT THE PART, AND WILL NOT STATE THE REASON. CONSUMER WAS WAITING FOR OVER TWO MONTHS FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART. *AK

Incident date: Aug 15, 2003

RECALL 04C002000 CONCERNING BRITAX A-LOCK WEBBING SLIPPAGE. CONSUMER WAS WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS SINCE AUGUST 15, 2004 FOR TWO BRITAX MARATHON CAR SEATS. CONSUMER SPOKE TO A BRITAX REPRESENTATIVE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND ON EACH OCCASION THE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PART WOULD BE RECEIVED WITHIN 5-10 BUSHINESS DAYS. AND STILL NO PART HAS BEEN RECEIVED AT THI... Read more

Incident date: Jun 15, 2004

RECALL 04C002000 CONCERNING BRITAX A-LOCK WEBBING SLIPPAGE. CONSUMER WAS WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART SINCE AUGUST 14, 2004. BRITAX REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NO RUSH/LIMITED TIME TO GET THESE PARTS OUT.*AK

Incident date: Oct 1, 2004

CHILD SAFETY SEAT FAILURE, AFTER LOCKING THE BLACK LOCK CHILD IS ABLE TO LOOSE IT WITHOUT MASHING THE RED BUTTON. *BF *SC

Incident date: Aug 9, 2004

RECALL ON BRITAX MARATHON CAR SEAT - WAS ADVISED THAT I WILL RECEIVE REPLACEMENT KIT WITHIN 2-3 WEEKS BACK IN AUGUST 2004 - ITS BEEN OVER 2 MONTHS AND STILL HAVE NOTHING FROM THE MANUFACTURER.*AK I HAD CALLED AND UPDATED MY ADDRESS WITH THEM AS WELL - WHEN I CALLED TODAY THEY STILL HAVE OLD ADDRESS ON FILE.

Incident date: Oct 27, 2004

CONSUMER HAS A BRITAX MARATHON CHILD SEAT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE RECALLED CAR SEATS WOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED, AND PARTS WOULD BE SENT OUT IN EARLY SEPTEMBER. THE CONSUMER WAS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER RECENTLY TRIED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WAS SUPPOSE TO BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 7 PM. CONSUMER STILL HAD NOT RECEIV... Read more

Incident date: Jul 20, 2004

CONSUMER PURCHASED A BRITAX MARATHON CHILD SEAT. HOWEVER, IT WAS ON RECALL. CONSUMER REGISTERED THE SEAT. IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS, AND SHE IS STILL WAITING FOR THE PART. *AK

Incident date: Aug 24, 2004

CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH BRITAX REGARGING RECALL 04C062000 FOR THE ADJUSTER STRAP, AND HAS NOT RECEIVED THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE CHILD SEAT. *AK

Incident date: Aug 22, 2004

CONSUMER STATED THAT BRITAX HAD NOT RESPONDED TO THE RECALL. SHE HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THE REPLACEMENT PIECE FOR THE SEAT. CONSUMER MADE NUMEROUS CALLS TO BRITAX SINCE THE LAST PART OF AUGUST. THEY DID NOT EVEN REGISTER THE COMPLAINT SHE HAD DONE THREE TIMES. *AK *TC

Incident date: Jan 1, 1901

THE CONSUMER THANKS THE MANUFACTURER FOR THEIR QUICK FOLLOW-UP AND RESOLUTION OF THE MARATHON CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM RECALL. *NM *NM

Incident date: Sep 10, 2004

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04C002000 CONCERNING A-LOCK WEBBING SLIPPAGE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK THE CONSUMER HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE REPLACEMENT PART. *SC

Incident date: Mar 1, 2004

BRITAX BODYGUARD MODEL #E903605, DOM AUGUST 11 2002. SEAT BELT WAS CAUGHT UP IN BELT GUIDE, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT NOT TO RETRACT PROPERLY, AND /OR FIX ACROSS THE CHILD CHEST AREA. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.*AK

Incident date: Jul 21, 2004

CONSUMER HAD A BRITAX CHILD SAFETY SEAT WHICH SHE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, SHE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE REPLACEMENT KIT FOR THE SEAT. SHE TRIED TO CONTACT BRITAX SEVERAL TIMES. WAS TOLD SHE WOULD JUST HAVE TO WAIT. CONSUMER HAD BEEN WAITING FOR TWO MONTHS. *AK

Incident date: Sep 6, 2004

BRITAX, MODEL # E90L0605, DOM 06/09/2003. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR RECALL CONCERNING HARNESS ADJUSTER STRAPS. *AK CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04C002000 *TC

Incident date: Aug 10, 2004

BRITAX MODEL # E9L0603, DOM 06/06/2003. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE RECALL CONCERNING HARNESS ADJUSTER STRAPS. *AK

Incident date: Aug 1, 2004

THE CONSUMER CALLED BRITAX TWO MONTHS AGO TO RECEIVE A KIT FOR THE HARNESS. HOWEVER, SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED THE KIT. SHE CONTACTED BRITAX AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD SEND THE KIT WHENEVER THEY GOT A CHANCE, SHE THEN REQUESTED TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR AND WAS TOLD THAT SHE COULD NOT, AND THAT SHE COULD LEAVE HER NAME AND NUMBER, AND A SUPERVISOR WOULD CALL HER BACK WHEN THEY FOUND THE TIME. PLEASE ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 12, 2004

THE CONSUMER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE THE PART FOR THE CHILD SEAT. RECALL FOR THE WEBBING NHTSA RECALL 04C002000. *JB *SC

Incident date: Oct 21, 2004

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04C002000 ON THE A-LOCK WEBBING SLIPPAGE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *JB

Incident date: Oct 1, 2004

THE WEBBING ON THE SEAT WAS ROUGH. . THE CHILD SUSTAINED A CUT ON HER CHEEK. *JB THE CHILD SUSTAINED A CUT ON CHEEK FROM RUBBING AGAINST THE STRAP. *TC

1 injured

Incident date: Oct 15, 2004

OWNER IS HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH A BRITAX ROUNDABOUT CHILD SAFETY SEAT. THE STRAPS USED TO SECURE THE CHILD IS NOT HOLDING OR LOCKING THE CHILD IN POSITION. OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO SAYS THAT FOR A SMALL FEE THEY WOULD SEND THE OWNER A NEW STRAP. THE CAR SEAT IS ONLY 1.5 YEARS OLD. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

Incident date: Oct 14, 2004

CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON HER CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT. SHE SAYS SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND CONFIRMED. SHE WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT THEY WOULD BE SENDING HER A REPLACEMENT STRAP. SHE STAED SHE WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE RECEIVED THE STRAP BY SEP. 30, BUT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED THE PART. SHE STATEED EACH TIME SHE CALLS THEY GIVE HER ANOTHER DATE. SHE HAS A BRITAX MO... Read more

Incident date: Oct 13, 2004

THE CONSUMER HAS SUBMITTED PAPERWORK AS WELL AS CORRESPONDENCE TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO ASSURED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THE CONSUMER HAS TRIED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER WHO WAS NON- RESPONSIVE, AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Incident date: Oct 7, 2004

THE CONSUMER HAS CALLED BRITAX FOUR TIMES AND HASN'T RECEIVED THE REPLACEMENT PART. THE MANUFACTURER CONTINUED TO TELL THE CONSUMER TO CALL BACK. THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS FOR THE LATCH. (BRITAX E9L0606 10/1/2002) NO RECALLS LISTED. *JB CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04C002000. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE NEW PART FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TC

Incident date: Oct 13, 2004

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE CALLED BRITAX AND FOUND THAT HER CHILD'S CAR SEAT HAD A RECALL, SHE WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD BE SENDING THE PART TO REPAIR IT. SHE STATED SHE WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD SEND THE PART WITHIN ONE WEEK. THE CONSUMER STATED ONE WEEK HAD GONE BY, AND SHE DID NOT RECEIVE THE PART, SHE SAID SHE CALLED BACK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD BE MAILING IT AND IF SHE DID NOT... Read more

Incident date: Aug 7, 2004

THE CHILD SEAT HARNESS WILL NOT TIGHTEN AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO SEND IN HER CHILD SAFETY SEAT AND TWO WEEKS LATER A RECALL FOR THE HARNESS STRAPS WAS ISSUED. UPON RECEIVING THE CHILD SEAT BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04C002000 THE LOCKING MECHANISM DID NOT WORK. *TC

Incident date: Oct 8, 2004

NHTSA RECALL 04C002000 SUBJECT: A-LOCK WEBBING SLIPPAGE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *JB MANUFACTURER KEEPS PROMISING TO SEND OUT STRAPS BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY CONSUMER AS OF 11/1/04. CAN NOT USE CAR SEAT.

Incident date: Oct 10, 2004

NHTSA 04C002000 SUBJECT:A LOCK WEBBING SLIPPAGE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *JB

Incident date: Aug 26, 2004

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT OBTAINING THE PLACEMENT PARTS NEEDED FOR RECALL REPAIRS. AFTER ABOUT 1 MONTH MANUFACTURER SENT ONE PART FOR ONE CHILD SEAT, BUT HAD NOT SENT THE SECOND PART FOR THE SECOND CHILD SAFETY SEAT. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT MANUFACTURER WAS BEING LAXED IN GETTING THIS RECALL PROBLEM SOLVED.*AK

Incident date: Oct 5, 2004

NHTSA RECALL 04C002000 CONCERNING A-LOCK WEBBING. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

Incident date: Sep 29, 2004

BRITAX MODEL # E9L0605, CONSUMER WAS WAITING FOR THE STRAP REPLACEMENT KIT FOR THE ADJUSTER STRAP RECALL FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. CHILD SEAT MANUFACTURER GAVE DIFFERENT DATES WHEN THE KITS WERE SENT OUT, BUT DID NOT GIVE A DELIVERY DATE. *AK

Incident date: Sep 7, 2004

UPON CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004 CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL, AND THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE THE REPLACEMENT ADJUSTOR STRAP. HOWEVER, BRITAX DID NOT SEND THE REPLACEMENT. CONSUMER MADE ANOTHER CALL TO BRITAX, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT SHE EVER CALLED. SAFETY SEAT INFORMATION: MARATHON, SERIAL# E9L06057760, BATCH#503780, MANUFACTURED IN 03-17-03. *AK

Incident date: Oct 5, 2004

BRITAX MODEL # E90644, DOM 03/28/2003. CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO RECALLS 04C002000 FOR THE HARNESS STRAP. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.*AK

Incident date: Oct 3, 2004

04C002000 CONCERNING A-LOCK WEBBING SLIPPAGE: CONSUMER HAS A CONCERN THAT SHE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL CONCERNING THE BRITAX MARATHON CHILD SAFETY SEAT. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.*AK

Incident date: Oct 2, 2004

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE STRAPS OF THE BRITAX MARATHON CAR SEAT EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THEN, A FEW WEEKS AGO, I HAPPENED TO BE IN A STORE AND SAW THAT IT HAS BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE OF STRAP ADJUSTER PROBLEMS. 1-BRITAX NEVER NOTIFIED ME OF THE RECALL. 2-WHEN I CALLED THEM THEY DID NOT GIVE ME INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CHECK FOR THEIR PROBLEM. 3-THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY... Read more

Incident date: Sep 29, 2004

BRITAX, MARATHON, MODEL # E9L0605, DOM 05/19/ 2003. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 04C-002000 FOR REPLACEMENT OF STRAPS. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. CONSUMER RECEIVED THE STRAPS THREE MONTHS LATER. *AK

Incident date: Aug 18, 2004

LATCH WOULDN'T CATCH ON BRITAX SEAT. *AK

Incident date: Aug 12, 2004

IN JULY I BOUGHT A BRITAX MARATHON CARSEAT ONLY TO HEAR SOON AFTER THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ADJUSTER STRAP OF THIS AND OTHER MODELS (DUE TO POSSIBILITY OF SLIPPAGE OF THE STRAPS) OF BRITAX CARSEATS. I HADN'T YET SEND IN MY WARRANTY CARD, THEREFORE I CALLED BRITAX THE SAME DAY AS THE RECALL WAS ISSUED (8/12/04). I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT KITS WERE BEING MAILED OUT ON 8/20/04, AND I WOULD R... Read more

Incident date: Sep 22, 2004

BRITAX MARATHON CHILD SAFETY SEAT. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT THE BUCKLE THAT WAS SENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT LATCH. THE TWO PRONGS SLIPPED OUT OF THE BUCKLE WITHOUT ANY EFFORT. CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND AFTER DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM MANUFACTURER SENT A REPLACEMENT WHICH EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT. *AK *NM

Incident date: Sep 17, 2004

BRITAX WIZARD CHILD RESTRAINT. BUCKLE DOES NOT LOCK IF RIGHT SIDE IS INSERTED INTO BUCKLE BEFORE LEFT SIDE. *JB

Incident date: Sep 23, 2004

MARATHON MODEL E9LO636. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT RECEIVED THE PART BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD WAIT. *JB

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Consumer Safety Complaints

What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?

How to interpret what you read

If you've experienced a defect

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