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.

2,245,377 Total Complaints

140,173 Reported Crashes

56,794 Reported Fires

8,580 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 2,245,377 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

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 4,224 complaints for HARLEY-DAVIDSON

Incident date: Aug 6, 1997

I LOST THE REAR CYLINDER LIFTER AT VERY LOW SPEED IN DEADWOOD ,SD DURING STURGIS BIKE WEEK. THE LOSS OF THE LIFTER CAUSED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. I HAD IT ORIGINALLY REPAIRED AT THE HD DEALER IN RAPID CITY SD. AFTER THE REPAIR, METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE LIFTER CLOGGED THE OIL PUMP 340 MILES DOWN THE ROAD. THE HD DEALER IN CHEYENE WY REPLACED THE OIL PUMP. AFTER ANOTHER 123 MILES, I ONCE AGAIN... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 1998

HYDRAULIC ROLLER LIFTER FAILED. MJS

Incident date: Jul 22, 1998

CONSUMER RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER WAS CONTACTED ON FIVE OCCASIONS, REPAIRS STILL NOT COMPLETED. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS ON IGNITION SWITCH MADE ON MOTORCYCLE DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. NLM (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

Incident date: Jul 30, 1998

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 98V158000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. ON 28 JUL 98. ON ABOVE DATE CONTACTED DEALER TO HONOR RECALL. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN AUGUST OR OCTOBER 30 1998. HOWEVER, RECALL HAS STILL NOT HONORED AT THIS TIME. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. HOWEVER, REPAIR PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Incident date: Apr 22, 1999

I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HARLEY'S EVOLUTION MOTOR. MANY OF THE PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AFTER 50000 MILES. I HAVE A 1978 HARLEY WITH WELL OVER 100000 MILES AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEING NORMAL ON THE OLDER SHOVELHEAD MOTORS PRODUCED PRIOR TO 1984. MY MOTORCYCLE IS USED FOR TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAS NEVER BEEN RACED OR ABUS... Read more

Incident date: Dec 15, 1998

WHEN RIDING A MOTORCYCLE THE EXPANSION COVER AND THE DERBY COVERS ARE OVERHEATING AND WARPING. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE COVERS APPROXIMATELY 4-5 TIMES WITHIN 1 YEAR. MANUFACTURER RECOGNIZES THE DEFECT AND NOTIFIED CONSUMER BY LETTER. *AK

Incident date: Mar 25, 1999

THE BROKEN PIVOT BOLT CAUSED THE REAR WHEEL TO FALL OFF, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

RECALL # 98V158000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH: OWNER HAS CONTACTED DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES AND RECALL PART IS ON BACK ORDER. PART HAS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE JUNE OF 1998.*AK

Incident date: Jan 27, 1999

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V158000 & CONTACTED DEALER. WAS INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE. HAS BEEN CHECKING ON & OFF FOR OVER 8 MONTHS, STILL NO PARTS. OWNER IS VERY UPSET & WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE MOTORCYCLE REPAIRED. *AK

Incident date: Dec 5, 1998

VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOOSE ALL POWER AND THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN.

Incident date: Aug 7, 1998

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH GETTING THE DEALER TO HONOR MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH NHTSA RECALL # 98V-158. CONSUMER'S WIFE MADE A SECOND ATTEMPT ON 12 OCT. 98 TO DEALER; DEALER (MR. TIM) INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE REPLACING ALL UNSOLD MOTORCYCLES' IGNITION SWITCHES FIRST BEFORE THEY DO OTHERS. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN JULY. CONTACTED DEALER NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REMEDY PROBLEM. RECALL NUMBER 98V15800. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Incident date: Sep 19, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE SPEED 20-25 MPH, FRONT TIRES STARTED TO SHAKE, FRONT END STARTED TO JERK, THE ROAD CURVED LEFT, MOTORCYCLE KEPT PULLING TO THE RIGHT, HIT A CURB, FRONTAL IMPACT AND LOST CONTROL, DEALER CONTACTED ,AND CLAIMED OFFICER, ISLAND CYCLE DID REPAIRS, AND NY HARLEY DAVIDSON MANUFACTURER IS REVTECH TIRES - PROBLEM IS DEFECTIVE TIRE VALVE. ISLAND CYCLE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Sep 7, 1998

HIGH SPEED THROTTLE, FRONT TRAIN TURNS WITH WHEELS. UNTIL WIND HITS IT, IT WOULD WOBBLE. CYCLE HIT CONCRETE WALL WHEN IT HAPPENED. OWNER WAS THROWN BACK INTO HWY TRAFFIC LANE. *AK

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Oct 25, 1996

RECALL REPAIR WORK ON THE DEFECTIVE FUEL SUPPLY VALVES CAN NOT BE COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

Incident date: Nov 1, 1996

RECALL REPAIR NOT ABLE TO BE DONE DUE TO LACK OF PARTS (FUEL SUPPLY VALVE).

Incident date: Jan 8, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH ENGINE CAM BOLT SHEARED OFF, CAUSING SUDDEN ENGINE SIEGE. THE BOLT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

Incident date: Oct 1, 1998

091. MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT START, THEN WHEN STARTED IT WOULD SHUT OFF. REPLACED SWITCH. NEW SWITCH ON RECALL. MFR CANNOT PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT SWITCH FOR FIVE MONTHS. VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Incident date: Sep 9, 1998

THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO SHORT AND INTERFERES WITH APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE FOOT IS RESTING ON THE FLOORBOARD. FOOT BECOMES TRAPPED BETWEEN THE FLOORBOARD AND THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS THE HERITAGE SOFTAIL MOTORCYCLE. OWNER HAS NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK

HARLEY DAVIDSON MODEL FLHTCUI; OWNER PURCHASED MOTORCYCLE IN APRIL OF 1995 AND IN SUMMER OF 1997. MOTORCYCLE WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, WHEN OWNER TRIED TO START IT, IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE NOT TO START. MOTORCYCLE HAD 1800 MILES WHEN PART FAILED. MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER A GOODWILL ADJUSTMENT. PROBLEM OCCURRED ONCE. CONSUMER HEARD OF INVESTIGATION EA98-009. *AK

Incident date: Aug 1, 1997

HARLEY DAVIDSON MODEL FLHTCUI; IN JANUARY, 1996 AT 8,000 MILES, WHILE DRIVING, IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO STALL. OWNER HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE, AND IT WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRENTY. CONSUMER HEARD OF INVESTIGATION EA98-009 FROM MCN. *AK

Incident date: Aug 10, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE MOTOCYCLE SHUTS DOWN. DEALER WILL INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE. *AK

Incident date: Jun 11, 1998

PASHANGER FLOOR BOARDS ARE DESIGNED TO EXTEND BEYOND THE CRASH BARS WHEN THE BIKE IS LAID ON ITS SIDE. THE BIKE FELLOVER AND THE FLOOR BOARD FOLDED AND THE WEIGHT OF THE BIKE BROKE THE RIDER'S ANKLE.

1 injured

MODEL FLHTCUI; MOTORCYCLE WAS PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 1997. IN JUNE OF 1998 AT 6500 MILES, IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. WHILE PULLING UP IN A DRIVEWAY, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO STALL. MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER AND IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CONSUMER HEARD OF INVESTIGATION EA98-009 IN AI. *AK

MOTORCYCLE CUTS OFF WHEN IGNITION GETS HOT. WHILE RIDING BIKE AT 50 MPH ENGINE DIED OUT. *AK

UNSPECIFIED.

THE MAGNETS INSIDE THE CLUTCH BASKET ON THE END OF THE TRANSMISSION MAINSHAFT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE STATOR WHICH IS BOLTED ONTO THE CRANKCASE. THE RESULT IS THAT THE ELECTRICAL GENERATING SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY RUINED AND THE TRANSMISSION GEARS SHEAR OFF TEETH. THIS CAN HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO LOCK UP THE TRANSMISSION AND THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DRIVE MECHANISMS RESULTING IN LOCKING UP THE REAR WH... Read more

Incident date: Nov 11, 1998

H-D REDESIGNED THE TAPPETS IN THE EVO BIG TWIN MOTOR. MY MOTOR HAD 3 OF THE NEW STYLE TAPPETS AND ONE OF THE OLD TAPPETS INSTALLED IN IT. THE ROLLERS IN THE OLD STYLE TAPPET DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING METAL SHAVINGS PUMPED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. A PIECE OF METAL GOT INTO THE OIL PUMP ,AND CAUSED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, WHICH THEN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO GET NOISY. IF A PIECE OF METAL MADE ITS WAY TO THE... Read more

RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT ON JANUARY 25,1999. AS OF FEB 08,1999, REGARDING ENGINE CAM BOLT FAILURE. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY DEALERSHIP TO REMEDY PROBLEMS. RECALL SAYS THAT USING VEHICLE COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY, BUT IS FAILING TO PROVIDE RECALL SERVICE KITS IN A REASONABLE TIME. RECALL 99V-003000 *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN JULY CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER HAS NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THEY ARE STILL ON BACK ORDER. RECALL NUMBER 98V15000. *AK *ML

Incident date: Jun 12, 1998

WHEN PUTTTING KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH MOTORCYCLE WON'T START UP DUE TO NOT ENOUGH JUICE GETTING INTO THE BATTERY, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE NOT START UP. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER CONCERNING ENGINE CAM BOLTS. CONTACTED DEALER, NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM. RECALL NUMBER 99V003000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Incident date: Mar 14, 1996

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED MOTORCYCLE STALLS AND RUNS INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. *AK

Incident date: Aug 24, 1997

FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH ELECTRICAL CONTACTS, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *AK

RECALL 98V158000; NO PARTS AVAILABLE SINCE THE RECALL CAME OUT. CONSUMER BEEN ON 4 DIFFERENT DEALERS WAITING LIST. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED WHICH MAY CAUSE STALLING AND AN ACCIDENT. *AK

Incident date: Aug 1, 1998

MFR 091;VEHICLE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED, AND THE DEALER STATED PARTS WOULD BE SHIPPED WITHIN A MONTH. CONSUMER STATES IT HAS BEEN FOUR MONTHS, AND DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS, PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. *AK

Incident date: Dec 26, 1996

IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

Incident date: Jul 29, 1998

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DEALER NOT HONORING MFR. RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH/CIRCUIT BREAKER. *AK

Incident date: Jul 22, 1998

RECALL 98V158000/091; THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO, THE CONSUMER CANNOT GET THROUGH TO THE MANUFACTURER TO GET ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN JULY 1998. CONTACTED DEALER, NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DEALER HAS NOT YET RECEIVED PARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. RECALL NUMBER 98V158000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED RECALL #0091 FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH IN JULY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. LAST TIME THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WAS ON NOVEMBER 10,1998. DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE YET. CONSUMER STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT GO ON AFTER TURNING THE SWITCH. *AK *TT

CARBURETOR FAILURE RESULTING IN STALLING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

STEERING PROBLEMS WHILE TURNING RESULTING IN SWAYING.

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TWICE PRIOR TO RECALL, TRIED TO HAVE RECALL WORK DONE RECALL KIT OUT OF STOCK AWAITING DELIVERY.

Incident date: May 1, 1998

SPEEDOMETER FAILED, UNABLE TO GET REPLACEMENT PARTS DUE TO BACK ORDER.

Incident date: Dec 1, 1996

FUEL VALVE (DIAPHRAM) FAILED.

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 96V204000. DEALER STATED PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

Incident date: Aug 8, 1998

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH IGNTION SWITCH. IGNITION SWITCH FAILED WHEN THE STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. THIS COMPLYS WITH RECALL NUMBER 98V158000. *AK

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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

Read more from our blog