Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,224,858 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA, including 139,140 crashes, 56,440 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 2,224,858 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 30 complaints for FCCC
Incident date: Jul 1, 2025
Defect: On Freightliner Custom Chassis diesel motorhomes the entire instrument cluster is a single all-digital "OptiView" LCD (Medallion 12.3", part 66-02439-000). The factory adhesive bonding the cover glass to the LCD delaminates under normal service, spreading bubbles and haze across the screen. It is widely reported across many coach brands on this chassis (Newmar, Tiffin, Coachmen, Winnebago,... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2025
Defect: On Freightliner Custom Chassis diesel motorhomes the entire instrument cluster is a single all-digital "OptiView" LCD (Medallion 12.3", part 66-02439-000). The factory adhesive bonding the cover glass to the LCD delaminates under normal service, spreading bubbles and haze across the screen. It is widely reported across many coach brands on this chassis (Newmar, Tiffin, Coachmen, Winnebago,... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
daytime running lights are not functioning and vw wants $1500 per side to replace. this is not reasonable.
Incident date: Mar 1, 2025
Misfiring, blue smoke and black smoke coming out the tail fight engine problem 6.2 L87 engine
Incident date: Oct 8, 2024
Design defect that allows coolant to leak into the cylinders and cause engine failure.
FCCC
XC CHASSIS
(2020) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Dec 4, 2024
Incident date: Mar 1, 2020
Multiple warning indicators are illuminated all of the time. Forward collision, Low brake fluid, brake light, lane departure warning, check lane safety system, check blind spot safety system. Vehicle is still drivable with all of this happening.
FCCC
XC CHASSIS
(2020) - SEAT BELTS
Dec 4, 2024
Incident date: Mar 1, 2020
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the rear-row driver’s side seat belt failed to extend as intended and seized. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V099000 (Seat Belts); however, the fix for the vehicle was not all included in the repair. The local dealer was contacted and advised the contact that the failure might be recall related. The veh... Read more
Incident date: Nov 16, 2022
My RV is 2022 Thor Aria 4000, a 40 foot diesel motorhome. On 11-16-22, I picked up my motorhome from my storage lot in Highland (CA) and drove (20 miles) for general service to Trans-West Truck Center 10150 Cherry Avenue, in Fontana, CA. When I left my storage facility, the RV was fully intact. When I arrived at the Trans-West Truck Center, I discovered the 91-gallon water tank (located in fron... Read more
Incident date: Nov 10, 2022
Because of the angle of the dash the light from it reflects on the windshield. The gauges can be dimmed but the odometer cannot. This cause a reflection in the direct line of sight. This reflection is a problem despite adjusting the seat and diming the gauges to full off. I have found a covering the entire gauge cluster with cardboard solves the problem.
Incident date: Oct 9, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 Freightliner XC-L. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning lights and diesel exhaust fluid message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact attempted to pull over into a rest stop and the vehicle shutoff with several other unknown warning lights illuminated. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who d... Read more
Incident date: Mar 31, 2022
The contact owns a 2022 Freightliner X Line Motorhome. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the TPMS alerted him that the tire pressure was higher than 120 PSI due to heat temperature. The RV was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer informed the contact that they did not have the equipment to reprogram the TPMS. The RV was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2021
The contact owns 2019 FCC RV000042S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V404000 (Electrical System, 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. Th... Read more
Incident date: Aug 18, 2021
The contact owns 2019 FCC RV000042S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V404000 (Electrical System, 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. Th... Read more
Incident date: Sep 29, 2021
The after treatment emission system DEF sensors failed. The failed part may be available from Freightliner, but it was under warranty and I they retained the failed part. (Freightliner part # 04-31353-003.) Note: the DEF after treatment system was functioning properly, but sensors monitoring tank level, temperature, and quality failed, sending false info to the ECM that the DEF level was low/empty... Read more
Incident date: Sep 29, 2021
The after treatment emission system DEF sensors failed. The failed part may be available from Freightliner, but it was under warranty and I they retained the failed part. (Freightliner part # 04-31353-003.) Note: the DEF after treatment system was functioning properly, but sensors monitoring tank level, temperature, and quality failed, sending false info to the ECM that the DEF level was low/empty... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2020
The contact owns a 2021 Freightliner Chassis. The contact stated that the passenger’s side entry door was flexible and that the door would blow and shake while driving at various speeds. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the dealer. The contact notified the dealer where the RV was purchased of the failure however, no assistance was provided. The ve... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2021
I RECEIVED A INTERIM RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER 2020 #20V-404 AND HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THE CAMPAIGN HAD BEEN SUSPENDED. THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHTS AND BLINKER DO NOT WORK DUE TO A DAMAGED (PDM) POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE. HOW DOES THIS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE CONTINUE WITH NO SUPPORT AFTER 5 MONTHS? CAN YOU PLEASE TELL WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS RECALL. I ALSO H... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2021
I RECEIVED A INTERIM RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER 2020 #20V-404 AND HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THE CAMPAIGN HAD BEEN SUSPENDED. THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHTS AND BLINKER DO NOT WORK DUE TO A DAMAGED (PDM) POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE. HOW DOES THIS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE CONTINUE WITH NO SUPPORT AFTER 5 MONTHS? CAN YOU PLEASE TELL WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS RECALL. I ALSO H... Read more
Incident date: Mar 1, 2021
I RECEIVED A INTERIM RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER 2020 #20V-404 AND HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE WITH THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THE CAMPAIGN HAD BEEN SUSPENDED. THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHTS AND BLINKER DO NOT WORK DUE TO A DAMAGED (PDM) POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE. HOW DOES THIS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE CONTINUE WITH NO SUPPORT AFTER 5 MONTHS? CAN YOU PLEASE TELL WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS RECALL. I ALSO H... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 FREIGHTLINER S2 106. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V796000 (EQUIPMENT) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MANTECA TRAILER & MOTORHOME, LLC. (204 VASCONCELLOS AVE, MANTECA, CA 95336) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED... Read more
Incident date: Jul 31, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FREIGHTLINER (FCCC RV000042S) XCM RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AN AUDIBLE BUZZER WAS SOUNDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TRUCK CENTERS, INC. - FREIGHTLINER WESTERN STAR LOCATED AT 2280 FORMOSA RD, TROY, IL 62294, WHERE THE JUMPER CABLES WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAI... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2018
THE HEAD LIGHTS ON MY CAR ARE GROWING MOLD INSIDE. I HAVE SEEN THIS ON MANY CARS LIKE MINE AND IT KEEPS GROWING UNTIL THE ENTIRE LENS IS COVERED AND IT CUTS THE EFFECTIVE LIGHT OUTPUT TO ABOUT HALF. THE HYDROLIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND MY CAR HAS ABOUT 10000 MILES ON IT AND ALSO MANY OF THESE CARS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2018
THE HEAD LIGHTS ON MY CAR ARE GROWING MOLD INSIDE. I HAVE SEEN THIS ON MANY CARS LIKE MINE AND IT KEEPS GROWING UNTIL THE ENTIRE LENS IS COVERED AND IT CUTS THE EFFECTIVE LIGHT OUTPUT TO ABOUT HALF. THE HYDROLIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND MY CAR HAS ABOUT 10000 MILES ON IT AND ALSO MANY OF THESE CARS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.
Incident date: Jan 1, 2018
THE HEAD LIGHTS ON MY CAR ARE GROWING MOLD INSIDE. I HAVE SEEN THIS ON MANY CARS LIKE MINE AND IT KEEPS GROWING UNTIL THE ENTIRE LENS IS COVERED AND IT CUTS THE EFFECTIVE LIGHT OUTPUT TO ABOUT HALF. THE HYDROLIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND MY CAR HAS ABOUT 10000 MILES ON IT AND ALSO MANY OF THESE CARS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.
Incident date: Sep 20, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FREIGHTLINER B2 BUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY. HE HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. THE CONTACT INSTALLED A NEW MOTOR BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BULKHEAD MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT B... Read more
Incident date: May 29, 2008
WE PURCHASED A CARGO TRAILER TO MOVE OUR FURNITURE AND BELONGINGS FROM COVENANT CARGO. THE TRAILER IS RATED FOR 2900 LBS AND WE TOOK TO OUR TRIP SHY OF 2500LBS. IN CT THE AXLE BROKE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE WHEEL SHOT ACROSS 6 LANES OF HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AND NO OTHER CARS WERE INVOLVED. IT'S TRUE THAT THE ROADS ARE NOT IN THE BEST OF CONDITIONS BUT THE TRAILER SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAN... Read more
Incident date: May 29, 2008
WE PURCHASED A CARGO TRAILER TO MOVE OUR FURNITURE AND BELONGINGS FROM COVENANT CARGO. THE TRAILER IS RATED FOR 2900 LBS AND WE TOOK TO OUR TRIP SHY OF 2500LBS. IN CT THE AXLE BROKE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE WHEEL SHOT ACROSS 6 LANES OF HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AND NO OTHER CARS WERE INVOLVED. IT'S TRUE THAT THE ROADS ARE NOT IN THE BEST OF CONDITIONS BUT THE TRAILER SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAN... Read more
Incident date: Oct 15, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MIDWEST 2AATV UTILITY TRAILER (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOADING RAMPS ON THE TRAILER WERE TOO SHORT WHEN TRYING TO LOAD THE VEHICLE. THE LOADING RAMPS WERE 57 DEGREES FROM THE SIDE AND 59 DEGREES FROM THE REAR. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO LOAD SOME ITEMS ONTO THE VEHICLE, THEY FELL BACK ON HIM. HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MIL... Read more
Incident date: Feb 17, 2007
MOTORHOME WITH FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS 2007 MODEL. THE FRONT POWERSTEERING RETURN LINE BLOW OFF FILLING BOTH FRONT BRAKES DRUMS WITH UP TO 2.5 GAL OF HYDRAULIC FLUID AT 65 MPH. THE 33,000 LB MACHINE COULD NOT BE STOPPED OR CONTROLLED FORCING ME TO RUN A STOP SIGN AT 30 MPH AT THE END OF THE OFF RAMP. *TR
Incident date: Feb 17, 2007
MOTORHOME WITH FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS 2007 MODEL. THE FRONT POWERSTEERING RETURN LINE BLOW OFF FILLING BOTH FRONT BRAKES DRUMS WITH UP TO 2.5 GAL OF HYDRAULIC FLUID AT 65 MPH. THE 33,000 LB MACHINE COULD NOT BE STOPPED OR CONTROLLED FORCING ME TO RUN A STOP SIGN AT 30 MPH AT THE END OF THE OFF RAMP. *TR