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 4,189 complaints for HARLEY-DAVIDSON

Incident date: Jan 1, 2000

WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND THERE WILL BE NO POWER TO START VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

HARLEY HAS HAD FAILURE ON THIS THEY ARE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THIS FOR 5 YEARS OR 50,000 THOUSAND MILES AND THEY HAVE MADE A CHANGE IN THE 2000 MODEL YEAR . I WOULD LIKE THIS CHECKED OUT I BELIEVE THEY ARE DOING THIS SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A RECALL BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MORE FAILURES THAN THEY WILL ADMIT AND DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY FIXING ALL OF THERE 1999 BIKES. THE PRO... Read more

THE DRIVE BELT WAS LOOSE CAUSING ENGINE NOISE, AFTER THE DRIVE BELT WAS REPLACED THE NOISE PERSISTED, THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE REAR BEARING AND THERE HAS BEEN NO MORE PROBLEMS. NLM

Incident date: Mar 11, 2001

FORK STOP FELL RIGHT OFF MOTORCYCLE. *AK

MY BIKE IS EQUIPED WITH THE TC88 MOTOR AND I HAVE BEEN NOTIFED THAT THE REAR CAM BEARING COULD FAIL. THE BEARING DISIGN WAS CHANGED DURING THE 2000 MODEL YEAR. WHAT IF IT FAILS AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND THE MOTOR LOCKS UP? THIS WOULD NOT BE GOOD ON A MOTORCYCLE. I FEEL THE COMPANY SHOULD RECALL MY BIKE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. I HAVE CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY ... Read more

CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MANUFACTURER STATING THE POSSIBILITY OF A REAR CAM BEARING FAILURE, THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE ENGINE TO GLIDE TO A STOP, CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING MISSES IN THE ENGINE FROM 2800 AND 3200 RPM AND STATES THIS COULD BE DUE TO A FAULTY CAM BEARING AND FEELS THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED PRIOR TO ANY FAILURE. *SLC

Incident date: Feb 15, 2001

HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS ADMITTED THAT CERTAIN TWIN CAM ENGINES MANUFACTURED DURING A CERTAIN DATE RANGE IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. I FIND IT INCONPREHENSIBLE THAT RECALLS EXIST FOR DISTORTED LENSES, POSSIBLE HATCH FAILURES, AND A HOST OF OTHER MANUFACTURER DEFECTS GET THE ATTENTION OF THE NHTSA, BUT THE COMPLETE AND INSTANTANEOUS FAILURE OF AN ENGINE DOES NOT WARRANT YOUR ATTENTION... Read more

Crash 1 injured

THE #3 CAMSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT BUSHING FAILED CAUSING THE MOTOR TO LOCK UP AND THE REAR WHEEL TO SLIDE OUT OF CONTROL. NLM

HARLEY KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR CAMSHAFTS ON THE 2000 TC88.....WHY THE HELL DON'T THEY FIX THE PROBLEM....OR DO THEY WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE MOTOR SIEZES AND SOMEONE GETS KILLED.......WARRANTY MY ASS FIX THE PROBLEM......AND YA WONDER WHY YOU PAY $15,000 FOR A BIKE THAT THEY KNEW WAS DEFICIENT AND NOW GIVE US A SONG AND DANCE ABOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM......WANTED THAT KIND OF RELIABILI... Read more

HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE REAR CAM BEARING COULD FAIL. THERE OFFER OF A EXTENDED WARRANTY ON A MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE ON A MOTORCYCLE COULD PROVE TO BE CATASTROPHIC FOR THE OPERATOR AS WELL AS ANY PASSENGER. HARLEY DAVIDSON'S POSITION IS THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNLESS THERE IS A FAILURE!!*AK

CAM BEARING FAILURE, CAUSING ENGINE TO FAIL. *AK

KICKSTAND SPRING FELL OFF AND HIT THE GROUND, FORCING MOTORCYCLE OFF ROAD. CJ

WHILE DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE WAS LEAKING HOT OIL WHICH COVERED THE MOTORCYCLE, DUE TO MOTOR FAILURE. CJ

CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURE REGARDING THE POSSIBLE DEFECT THAT MIGHT OCCUR ON THE TWIN CAM 88 ENGINE CAM BEARING FAILURE, THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY COVERAGE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS DOES NOT ADEQUATELY TAKE CARE OF THE ENGINE DEFECT. *MJS

BEARINGS IN REAR OF MOTORCYCLE HAVE FAILED. MANUFACTURER SENT A LETTER TO EXTEND WARRANTY, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE DONE DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. *AK

Incident date: Feb 1, 2001

THIS REPORT IS MADE TO YOU BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH FAILURE OF CAM BEARINGS IN THE TC-88 ENGINES.I'VE RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE ADMITTING GUILT TO THE PROBLEM, AND EXTENDING AN ADDITIOAL WARRANTY TO IT. ACCORDING TO THEM, IT IS IN A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT ARE FAILING. MANY RIDERS ARE CHANGING THEM AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE, THUS HARLEY DA... Read more

HARLEY DAVIDSON JUST SENT ME NOTIFICATION THAT THE CAM BEARING HAD FAILED ON CERTAIN MODELS MOTORCYLES WITH THE TWIN CAM 88 ENGINES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 2000. SINCE MINE WAS BUILT DURING THIS PERIOD, THE FAILURE RATE IS GREAT. I AM CONCERNED AS IF IT FAILS WHILE I AM RIDING IT, THE THREAT OF INJURY TO ME OR MY PASSENGERS IS GREAT. I FEEL THAT IF HD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND SOMEONE COULD GET ... Read more

THIS POSSIBILITY OF FAILURE CAN BE VERIFIED BY H-D. THE SAME THING CAN HAPPEN WITH A CAM BEARING FAILURE AS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE CAM BOLT BREAKING. (ENGINE QUITTING, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, INJURY OR EVEN DEATH.) THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE CAM BOLT, THERE SHOULD ALSO BE ONE FOR THE CAM BEARING.

Incident date: Jan 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING OIL SPLASHES FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT ONTO DRIVER, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK KICKSTAND SPRING FELL OFF CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO VEER. WINDSHIELD CAME OFF AT 35 MPH INJURING THE DRIVER. *YH

Incident date: Jan 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING OIL SPLASHES FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT ONTO DRIVER, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK KICKSTAND SPRING FELL OFF CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO VEER. WINDSHIELD CAME OFF AT 35 MPH INJURING THE DRIVER. *YH

MOTORCYCLE CAM BEARING MAKES IT WORSE AND MORE DANGEROUS. HARLEY KNOWS OF THE DEFECT AND HAS A FIX (BEARING REPLACEMENT WITH A BETTER DESIGN). THEY HAVE ALSO CHANGED THEIR DESIGN IN LATER MODELS. THEY SHOULD BE MANDATED TO RECALL EFFECTED ENGINES AND IMPLEMENT THIS FIX PRIOR TO IT FAILING AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT! THANKS YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION!*AK

HARLEY DAVIDSON REPORTS ENGINE FAILURES OCCUR AS A RESULT OF CAM BEARING FAILURE. HARLEY WILL NOT SUPPLY INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR ME TO DETERMINE IF MY ENGINE IS SUBJECT TO FAILURE. THEREFORE, I AM UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF I SHOULD SPEND THE $806.00 REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS. ENGINE FAILURE ON A MOTORCYCLE CAN BE DEADLY AND IT IS IMPERITIVE THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON PROVIDE A DETAILED DESCRIPT... Read more

CAM BEARINGS ARE FAILING ON THESE MOTORCYCLES CAUSING ENGINE SEIZURE AND LOSS OF CONTROL. MFR. WILL NOT FIX UNLESS FAILURE OCCURS. THIS IS A PART WITH A DOCUMENTED PROPENSITY TO FAIL, AND THE MFR. ADMITS THIS. A RECALL IS NEEDED!

REAR CAM BEARINGS ARE BAD ON ALL 1999 MODELS AND MIDWAY THROUGH 2000 MODELS ON ALL TWIN CAM 88 HARLEYS. HARLEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE BEARING UNLESS IT GOES BAD. IF IT FAILS WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYLE IT COULD LOCK UP THE REAR WHEEL CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL AND BE INJURED OR KILLED. I BELIEVE HARLEY DAVIDSON SHOULD REPLACE THE REAR CAM BEARINGS BEFORE THEY FAIL AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT BEFO... Read more

Incident date: Jan 23, 2001

THIS IS A PREVENTIVE REPORT !!! I AM REPORTING THIS FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHER HARLEY OWNERS OF THIS YEAR ENGINE. I WISH TO HAVE HARLEY RECALL THE BIKES RATHER THEN ISSUE A 5 YR / 50,000 EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE BEARING. IT DID NOT HAPPEN TO MY BIKE YET. BUT REPORTS IN MAGAZINE AND ON THE WEB INDICATE THAT CAM BEARING FAILURES ON CERTAIN 1999-2000 HARELY ENGINES ARE OCCURING. THE WEB INTEFACE HERE ... Read more

CAMSHAFT BEARING WAS PREMATURELY FAILING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER AND DISABLING MOTORCYCLES. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF DEFECT, AND REDESIGNED PART. BEGINNING DEC14,1999 ANY MOTORCYCLE WITH TWIN CAM ENGINE THAT WAS MANUFACTURED PRIOR DID NOT GET NEW DESIGNED PART.*AK

THE FUEL SUPPLY VALVE IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE REAR CYLINDER OF COOLED ENGINE, CONSUMER REPLACED VALVE BUT AFTER ABOUT 900 MILES THE REPLACEMENT LEAKED. NLM

Incident date: Nov 3, 2000

THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES THAT HAVE CAUSED STALLING, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS HOWEVER THE SYMPTOMS CONTINUE. *MJS

Incident date: Dec 16, 2000

THE KICK STAND WHICH IS SUPPOSE TO BE BOLTED TO MOTORCYCLE FELL OFF AT 43 MILES, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER, AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE POWER WILL RESUME. NLM

Incident date: Oct 15, 2000

WHILE DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE THE REAR (CONTINENTAL 130/90/16 TK-17, DOT#CPXKNAXP 368) EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLSION WHICH RESULTED IN ONE FATALITY AND ONE INJURY. *MJS

1 injured 1 deaths

Incident date: Dec 6, 2000

WOULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY'S (H-D - MILWAUKEE, WI) 1999 88 CUBIC INCH, TWIN-CAM MOTORCYCLE ENGINES? THESE ENGINES HAVE A FAULTED DESIGN RELATED TO THE CAM BEARINGS AND CAM SUPPORT PLATE WHICH CAN RESULT IN CATOSTROPHIC FAILURE. THE BALL BEARINGS WHICH SUPPORT THE CAM ENDS FAIL. THIS FAILURE CAN RESULT IN THE INTERNAL DESTRUCTION OF THE LOWER END OF THE ENGINE... Read more

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER, AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE POWER WILL RESUME. NLM

Incident date: Sep 20, 2000

THE PROBLEM CONSISTS OF INTERMITTENT, UNFORESEEN, IRREGULAR LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER UNDER A VARIETY OF CIRCUMSTANCES, CAUSING TOTAL SHUT-DOWN (NO LIGHTS OR ACCESSORIES OF ANY NATURE, ENGINE STOPS) WITH RESULTING PERSONAL ENDANGERMENT TO ME, MY PASSENGER AND MOTORING PUBLIC. PLEASE REFER TO COPIES SURFACE-MAILED LETTERS TO YOUR AGENCY OF TWO OF FOUR CERTIFIED LETTERS TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORC... Read more

1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON 88 CUBIC INCH TWIN CAM ENGINES HAVE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CAM BEARINGS. MANY OF THE BEARINGS ARE FAILING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE, DIE OR STALL CAUSING A HAZARD TO THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. HARLEY DAVIDSON IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS AN UPDATE KIT OF PARTS AVAILABLE TO DEALERS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE REFUSING TO TAKE ANY ACTION UNTIL THE ENGINE ACTUALLY FAILS. I... Read more

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE MOTORCYCLE. *AK

Incident date: Oct 23, 2000

R SIDE MIRROR BROKE UPON ACCELERATION FROM A TURN. MIRRORS ON THIS BIKE ARE A KNOWN PROBLEM.

Incident date: May 5, 2000

INTERMITTENTLY THERE IS A NEUTRAL POSITION BETWEEN ALL GEARS. MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBELM, NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *AK *SLC

Incident date: Oct 5, 2000

THROTTLE CABLE BROKE IN CENTER LANE OF BUSY HIGHWAY IN DARKNESS NEAR ACCIDENT WITH PASSING CARS. *AK

Incident date: Aug 15, 2000

NEGATIVE BATTERY LEAD CAME LOOSE ENGINE STOPPED. DEALER REPORTS IT IS A COMMON FAILURE BATTERY LEADS ALWAYS COME LOOSE DUE TO BAD DESIGN OF TERMINAL ENDS ON BATTERY CABLES. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR 7500 MILE SERVICE PRIOR TO TAKING A TRIP, WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN HANDLING, STOPPED AT A HD DEALER AND WHILE CHECKING BIKE THEY FOUND THAT THE REAR TIRE WAS DANGEROUSLY WORN, CONSUMER CHECKED THE 7500 MILE SERVICE RECORD WHICH STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE CHECKED FOR PRESSURE WEAR AND DAMAGE, CONSUMER CONCERNED IF OTHER SERVICES WERE CHECKED COMP... Read more

Incident date: Jun 30, 2000

CRACK IN THE ENGINE CASE CAUSED PRIMARY FLUID TO BE EVACUATED FROM THE PRIMARY CASE RESULTING IN A SECONDARY FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH. THE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH THEN LED TO AN IMMEDIATE DECREASE IN SPEED AND NO POWER. THE CLUTCH ACTED AS IF IT WAS ALWAYS ENGAGED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TWO HARLEY CERTIFIED MECHANICS THAT THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THAT PARTICULAR MODEL YEAR (AS WELL AS EARLIE... Read more

Incident date: Jul 26, 2000

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT IE. (FACTORY CAMS AND CAM BEARINGS) REPLACED WITH STAGE 1 PERFORMANCE CAMS AND NEW BEARING SETS AT APPROX. 10,000 MILES THROUGH THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP.

HD IS AWARE OF THE 99 & 2000 TC88 CAM BEARING FAILURE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE UP. HD HAS SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS FAILURE BUT ONLY THE DEALER RECEIVES THEM. THE CONSUMER HAS NO IDEA THAT THEY ARE RIDING A MOTORCYCLE THAT COULD SEIZE UP AT ANY TIME, CAUSING A CRASH. DO YOU THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM?

Incident date: Sep 1, 2000

CAMSHAFT FAILURE ALSO DAMAGED FLYWHEELS WHICH WILL REQUIRE BOTTOM END REBUILD

Incident date: Jul 5, 2000

THE CAM BEARING PROBLEM WAS KNOWN AT THE TIME I PURCHASED MY MOTORCYCLE FOR CLOSE TO $20,000, BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED THIS WAS A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE COULD HAVE COST ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND OUR LIVES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. HARLEY DAVIDSON SENT A SERVICE REPAIRMAN.

ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT LUGGAGE RACK TOUR BOX BROKE, CAUSING PASSENGER TO FALL FROM MOTORCYCLE. MANUFCTURER AND DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

Incident date: Jul 17, 2000

WHILE DRIVING, BIG CHUNKS OF TREAD CAME OFF OF REAR DUNLOP ELITE II TIRE MT90B16, CONSUMER CRASHED AND WENT INTO A DITCH, CAUSING 2 PEOPLE TO BE INJURED AND DAMGE TO MOTORCYCLE, CONSUMER CONTACTED DUNLOP. *SLC

Crash 2 injured

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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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