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.
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
Showing 15,126 complaints for LEXUS
Incident date: Jan 28, 2023
Complete brake failure when exiting freeway resulted in crashing into a concrete barrier and guardrail at a high rate of speed before impacting another vehicle. Vehicle has an electronic emergency brake that could not be engaged. Vehicle could not be put in reverse or park to slow impact. There were three prior issues with the vehicle regarding brakes and acceleration. The car had less than 250 mi... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Jan 6, 2023
The windshield has started cracking due to a seal defect. The crack started on the bottom driver's side. Upon inspection of the crack it was discovered that the seal on the interior of the windshield is defective, it sinks down unlike the rest of the seal. Note that after an online search it was found that other georgetown owners have had the same problem in the same area of the windshield. I si... Read more
Incident date: Jan 6, 2023
Back up sensors not working. Truck also not having a vin number even though it was bought from the the Chevy dealership. Also was told the electrical system is not working properly
Crash
Incident date: Jan 27, 2023
Car shakes and shutters and is very reluctant to accelerate at low speeds, even with gas pedal pressed down. Then acceleration kicks in and it wants to bolt off.
Incident date: Jan 27, 2023
It seems as this comes in as a common issue with heated seats. The wiring harness Carrie’s only 1 ground wire to transmit connection to the heated seat module. This causes the wire to over heat after time and create a short and burn the wiring. Research has shown this issue has melted plastic harness to the module to where consumers have to pry the connector off the module. Consumers are rewirin... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2023
My car cut off right as I was stopping at a stop sign. It wouldn't even let me turn off the car to try and restart. I couldn't steer the car either. It took a minute and then I was able to turn it off and then restart it. By the time I got to the third stop sign it cutoff again. The second time around it read to shift to park before restarting. Thank God I was in my subdivision! There was no warni... Read more
Incident date: Jan 20, 2023
Car just stalls or cuts out and loses power. Dealership says it’s not pulling any codes.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
When the emergency brake is set or engage and the dis engage the brake warning light stay on. when a full stop is the it chime and stay solid red at the dash board. this a defective manufacturer issue. +/-80,000 miles.
Incident date: Nov 9, 2022
On Nov 9, 2022 I first noticed the problem. When I drove back to home Vancouver, WA from California I used cruise control all the way. I was driving at 70 and ahead of me was traffic. The car in front of me slowed down and the cruise control was on which was supposed to detect the car ahead and slowed down using the brakes but it didn’t and my rpm went high almost 4-5. I called the dealership ab... Read more
Incident date: Nov 9, 2022
I was driving east on imperial hwy around 11:50 when a car switched into my lane causing me to collide head on
Crash
Fire
Incident date: Nov 9, 2022
I was driving east on imperial hwy around 11:50 when a car switched into my lane causing me to collide head on
Crash
Fire
Incident date: Jan 22, 2023
I had no warning lights come on all of a sudden steam and anti freeze blew from outside hood luckily I was right near home pulled in popped hood all Xtra antifreeze gone from back up container .had triple A tow to a mechanic as thought it was a hole in radiator or hose fell off.He got back to me and said there are exhausted gases in antifreeze and my head gasket is blown !Nothing ever gave me a cl... Read more
Incident date: Jan 22, 2023
Brakes are always squeaky and making grinding noises for the first 10 minutes of every drive. Brake pedal is also squeaky. Was brought to dealership two times and told that it's normal.
Incident date: Jan 12, 2023
On Dec 27, 2022 I was involved in a collision where my F150 would not come to a complete stop at an intersection /red light. I approached the vehicles at the light breaking to slow down but the truck drive gear did not disengage, and I struck the vehicle in front of me at about 2-3mph and then proceeded to push the vehicle into the car in front of them all while I was fully applying the break (fo... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 19, 2023
Accelator keeps getting stuck at traffic lights and while driving
LEXUS
HS 250 HYBRID
(2010) — AIR BAGS
Jan 12, 2023
Incident date: Jan 6, 2023
Dashboard and airbag covers including dash are badly cracked, airbag safety is potentially compromised if deployed. The car is available for inspection at my residence at any time. Toyota offered to supply and replace dash covers to fix this danger, but parts were never made available. The hazard remains.
Incident date: Jan 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated while driving during a snowstorm, the front windshield wipers became inoperable, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The contact indicated that snow buildup inside the wiper motor had caused the failure. The failure was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified of the failure. The app... Read more
Incident date: Jan 7, 2023
While driving home from a local store, all the dashboard lights came on and warning signals were heard. Our local repair shop diagnosed a blown headgasket. We are the original owners, 82,000 miles on the vehicle, this complaint is similar to complaints listed for this vehicle on the NTSB website.
Incident date: Jan 11, 2023
I had just come off the interstate and was driving down a side road when my steering wheel became locked ( very hard to steer) and warning lights on the dashboard came on. It has happened two separate times.
Incident date: Mar 2, 2022
Started noticing problem with steering a few weeks ago. Trying to turn left is very loose and oversteers so much that it almost takes me to a U-turn. Even driving straight, I often notice the car being pulled to the left like it's trying to make a turn on its own. Turning right seems more "normal" but also more difficult that I have to use more force to complete the turn. When I took my car in for... Read more
Incident date: Jan 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2016 Tesla Model S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V035000 (Back Over Prevention, Visibility, Exterior Lighting) 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 contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 8, 2022
Rear seat anchor broke out of floor board when a child sat in the seat. This is a major anchor point for the seat system. If there had been any sort of accident, the seat and occupant could have easily broken free from the vehicle. I took the vehicle to my local dealer, who took pictures and sent information to their area manager. The recommended repair was to take it to body shop and that they wo... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2022
12/30/2022 - Check engine light came on. Vehicle struggled to accelerate. No openings available at the mechanics due to holiday. This vehicle is being used for business and travels frequently. 01/03/2023 - Mechanic diagnosed during my scheduled oil change. Check engine light - PO299 popped up (lack of power to turbo charge) check all vacuum lines and clamps all good. If check engine light comes on... Read more
Incident date: Dec 27, 2022
The ‘Air Bag’ light stays on at all times. Its been like this for over 10 years. I’ve called my local Infiniti dealer, they said they cannot replace the Takata airbag until NHTSA identifies this model in a national recall. I’m afraid the airbag may not properly deploy or deploy inadvertently, and cause serious injury or death of driver or occupants. Please do the right thing and add the... Read more
Incident date: Jan 3, 2023
Front door panels makes a vivrating noise when driving at low speed Dealer didnt help
Incident date: Jan 3, 2023
Front door panels makes a vivrating noise when driving at low speed Dealer didnt help
Incident date: Jan 3, 2023
Front door panels makes a vivrating noise when driving at low speed Dealer didnt help
Incident date: Dec 14, 2022
The contact owns a 2006 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled while depressing the accelerator pedal. There were several warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number... Read more
Incident date: Nov 9, 2022
The contact owns a 2001 Lexus LS430 equipped with Cooper Tires, Tire Line: Evolution Tour, Tire Size: 225/60/R16, DOT Number: U9X31LP4619. The contact stated that she felt the vehicle wobble while driving and noticed that the rear driver’s side tire tread belt had separated after the tires were rotated and balanced at a tire shop. The contact took the vehicle back to the tire shop and was inform... Read more
Incident date: Dec 23, 2022
The brakes failed, and I could not stop or control the car. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The car nose-dived off the highway onto the on-ramp, I was with my brother and we could have died, and his back is broken, and my face is messed up. Scared to drive been crying every day the front airbags did not come out Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer ... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Dec 23, 2022
The brakes failed, and I could not stop or control the car. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The car nose-dived off the highway onto the on-ramp, I was with my brother and we could have died, and his back is broken, and my face is messed up. Scared to drive been crying every day the front airbags did not come out Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer ... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Dec 23, 2022
The brakes failed, and I could not stop or control the car. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The car nose-dived off the highway onto the on-ramp, I was with my brother and we could have died, and his back is broken, and my face is messed up. Scared to drive been crying every day the front airbags did not come out Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer ... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Dec 23, 2022
sunroof randomly exploding. Causing danger for driver and people inside
Incident date: Dec 12, 2022
Brakes make a squeaking sound when brakes applied. They are loud, this sound is not coming from brake pads or rotors. They are alarming and cause anyone to become startled and could cause crashes.
Incident date: Jun 28, 2022
My cars engine has stopped three times on the highway in a six month span - almost causing accidents. My car has been seen twice by Lexus dealerships and there has yet to be an exact cause of this malfunction and no effort made by Lexus to remedy the situation.
Incident date: Jun 28, 2022
My cars engine has stopped three times on the highway in a six month span - almost causing accidents. My car has been seen twice by Lexus dealerships and there has yet to be an exact cause of this malfunction and no effort made by Lexus to remedy the situation.
Incident date: Dec 19, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the TPMS warning light showed that the tire pressure was low. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer to be repaired. While attempting to reverse out of a parking lot, the vehicle independently accelerated forward at 60 MPH. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle out of the parking lot to avoid a crash. The vehicle decelerated i... Read more
Incident date: Dec 12, 2022
DAMPER SERVO SUB-ASSEMBLY, AIR CONDITIONER RADIATOR, NO. 2 Part Number: 8710608120 Which also called the bend door actuator failed on my 2017 RX450h at 80,000 mile.The part or door opens to mix hot air form the heating core and cold air to supply heat to the interior of the vehicle. When the bend door actuator part failed you have no heat and to replace it you have to he the dash removed (poor eng... Read more
Incident date: May 12, 2022
At about 165-170,000 miles Lexus dealer advised leaking oil from timing chain area. Apparently it is a known issue from this engine (both CT200h and Prius) suffer from this issue. Didn't realize there is a TSB but since way out of warranty and not a recall they offered to fix for $3500. Hard to see the leak as it is in the timing chain area so it rarely comes out of the engine itself. This should ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 19, 2022
The contact called on behalf of her son who owns a 2010 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that she had taken her son's vehicle to the car wash. The contact stated while at a complete stop, in the carwash drive-through, the vehicle accelerated independently and the driver's side of the vehicle crashed into the wall on the left side of the carwash bay. Heavy metal structures fell on the vehicle. As a ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 22, 2022
While driving my 2021 Lexus ES 350 on a Interstate Highway 495 known as the Long Island Expressway my vehicle went over a small pot hole in the road way and the tires side wall was punctured resulting in a flat tire. I replaced the tire having only 4,555 miles on this new vehicle. Following this incident I once again drove over obstruction more than 4 inches and had both the drivers side tire ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Dec 10, 2022
driver side mirror shaking when driving over 60mph
Incident date: Dec 8, 2022
A very serious issue with inadequate side mirror visibility: The brand new 2022 Lexus NX driver side mirror does not have a range of adjustment to safely accommodate shorter drivers. The primary driver of the vehicle is 5 feet 3 inches tall and when seat adjustments have been made, the driver side mirror does not articulate inward enough, preventing the driver from seeing the side of the vehicl... Read more
Incident date: Nov 19, 2022
My daughter was driving on the Freeway and the vehicle just went dead. She lost all power nothing would work. She was on a outside land and was able to get it off the road. She said it was really hard to do that and scared her very much. She said if she had been in the middle lane she would have not been able to get it off the road. We took it to our mechanic and he told us to take it to a dealer ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 7, 2021
The contact owns a 2017 Lexus IS350. The contact stated while exiting a parking lot, the traction control warning light illuminated, and the contact lost control of the vehicle. The contact was able to continue driving to his residence. The contact took the vehicle to an unknown local dealer for maintenance service and made them aware of the failure. The dealer was unable to deactivate the tractio... Read more
Incident date: Aug 10, 2022
Abs trac all dash lights on lost all pressure to the brakes and a loud bell keeps ringing
Incident date: Nov 14, 2022
Unknown. Clicking sound coming from the passenger side of engine compartment by the vacuum pump. It occurs on cold starts and with the vehicle under load. I have video evidence of the sound. Not sure if it’s related but my breaks sometimes feel like they are not gripping as much
Incident date: Nov 14, 2022
Unknown. Clicking sound coming from the passenger side of engine compartment by the vacuum pump. It occurs on cold starts and with the vehicle under load. I have video evidence of the sound. Not sure if it’s related but my breaks sometimes feel like they are not gripping as much
Incident date: Nov 23, 2022
Oil poured out under vehicle under right side passenger side from oil cooler line overnight in my garage. Lexus stated that I was lucky that this did not occur while driving as oil would have blown completely out due to the pressurized line and damaged the engine. There was no warning lights on. I backed the car out of the garage leaving a stream of oil and discovered the problem. I had the vehic... Read more
Incident date: Nov 23, 2022
Oil poured out under vehicle under right side passenger side from oil cooler line overnight in my garage. Lexus stated that I was lucky that this did not occur while driving as oil would have blown completely out due to the pressurized line and damaged the engine. There was no warning lights on. I backed the car out of the garage leaving a stream of oil and discovered the problem. I had the vehic... Read more