Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,192,899 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 137,559 crashes, 55,854 fires, and 8,555 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 2,192,899 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 95,662 complaints for NISSAN
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
Car was involved in a pretty substantial accident and not a single airbag deployed!
Crash
Incident date: Nov 3, 2023
Bought new 2014 In 2019 new transmission cvt issue Dealer replaced and now 90K transmission blown Car wouldnt do anything Driving on 5Fwy Middle lane doin 62 and it just stopped, it jerked so hard and cut all power When stopped couldnt put it in park
Incident date: Nov 3, 2023
Bought new 2014 In 2019 new transmission cvt issue Dealer replaced and now 90K transmission blown Car wouldnt do anything Driving on 5Fwy Middle lane doin 62 and it just stopped, it jerked so hard and cut all power When stopped couldnt put it in park
Incident date: Oct 25, 2023
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATELY DISPLAYING THAT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS SOME FUEL, TYPICALLY ABOUT ONE QUARTER TANK, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY. It is the same as the recall for Nissan Armada’s with other VIN numbers, however it doesn’t cover mine, despite matching the year of manufacture, description, and diagnosis of issue. I am asking that the VIN numbers be updated to inclu... Read more
Incident date: Oct 25, 2023
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATELY DISPLAYING THAT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS SOME FUEL, TYPICALLY ABOUT ONE QUARTER TANK, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY. It is the same as the recall for Nissan Armada’s with other VIN numbers, however it doesn’t cover mine, despite matching the year of manufacture, description, and diagnosis of issue. I am asking that the VIN numbers be updated to inclu... Read more
Incident date: Jun 3, 2023
CVT shuddering, slipping while shifting gears; lack of acceleration, then lunging into gear.
Incident date: Oct 17, 2023
Tue 10/17/23...power steering assist failed...steering locked up while exiting my driveway. Had vehicle towed to Sutherlin Nissan 8125 E. Colonial Dr. Orl FL 32817. They repaired vehicle and I picked it up Fri 10/20/23. They claimed this was an anomaly and would never happen again. Thu 10/26/23 steering kept locking up and releasing...steering light on dashboard kept going on/off. Had vehicle towe... Read more
NISSAN
PATHFINDER
(2022) — SEATS
Nov 4, 2023
Incident date: Jan 6, 2023
While I was driving my toddler who was in the 3rd row pushed the bottom located at the back of the 2nd row seat. The seat came foward with my baby who was in his carseat causing him to come foward at a really high speed (since the seat moves foward really fast and with impulse) causing him to hit his head and almost causing me to crash. I had to stop in the middle of where I was driving since my b... Read more
1 injured
Incident date: Nov 3, 2023
This is 3rd time to dealer and under 900 miles. Same issues. 1st time with 440 miles . 2sd time with 660 miles. Picked truck up at dealer today and has 870 miles. Drove 18 miles home.check engine light back on . Also key system error, malfunction, system fault, parking sensor, driver attention alert. Got email from Nissan connect saying emmision control malfunction and mil light on. Continued driv... Read more
Incident date: Nov 3, 2023
This is 3rd time to dealer and under 900 miles. Same issues. 1st time with 440 miles . 2sd time with 660 miles. Picked truck up at dealer today and has 870 miles. Drove 18 miles home.check engine light back on . Also key system error, malfunction, system fault, parking sensor, driver attention alert. Got email from Nissan connect saying emmision control malfunction and mil light on. Continued driv... Read more
Incident date: Nov 3, 2023
The headlights of my vehicle are so dim I cannot drive the vehicle at night. This is a safety issue, why has there never been a recall on this problem?
Incident date: Jan 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2009 Nissan Frontier. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V067000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stat... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2023
The left and right rear control arms both snapped. The right one has been repaired and the left one is in the mechanic shop to be worked on next week. The right rear control arm snapped while I was driving two months ago. The left rear control arm snapped while I was driving last night. Both times the car was violently shaking and pulling left and right off of the road and into the other lane. Th... Read more
Incident date: Jul 7, 2023
Side window leaks and dealer is unable to get the replacement glass nor fix the issue in 4 months already. The leak is causing me to have to replace the window myself, likely with plexiglass, though it’s under warranty. This is unsafe and should be properly handled by the dealer in a timely manner.
Incident date: Nov 2, 2023
I heard what sounded like rocks under my car so I took it into Firestone to have them look at it and they let me know they could not even align it because the tie rod had to be replaced. Apparently this part controls your steering and you can potentially lose a wheel while you are driving down the highway. Now I am worried and I don't dare drive my vehicle any further than necessary right back ove... Read more
Incident date: Nov 2, 2023
There is a strong smell of gas/exhaust fumes in the vehicle when it's running. The smell is absolutely nauseating. I've been told that at this point Nissan is aware of the issue and there is no fix as of yet. Now I'm stuck driving a brand new car that is making me and my family ill.
2 injured
Incident date: Nov 2, 2023
There is a strong smell of gas/exhaust fumes in the vehicle when it's running. The smell is absolutely nauseating. I've been told that at this point Nissan is aware of the issue and there is no fix as of yet. Now I'm stuck driving a brand new car that is making me and my family ill.
2 injured
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
The driver side heat blows cold air and won't defrost properly not to mention I am old and can't survive the winters without heat. I live in upstate NY where we get tons of snow, white out conditions etc etc. Our first snowfall was 11/1/23 yesterday and I was wiping my window because I couldn't see anything and had an emergency that I had to go to and went in the other lane because I couldn't see... Read more
Incident date: Aug 23, 2023
August 2022 Passenger Vehicle Seat Belt system light came on, concern was if the seat belt would work when occupied. Vehicle was taken to Baytown Nissan for Passenger seat belt light malfunction, was advised to replace the Occupant Control Unit and Occupant Pressure Sensor with Callibration 3.0. The light eventually corrected itself. August 2023 The Passenger Airbag Light stayed on and says the A... Read more
Incident date: Aug 23, 2023
August 2022 Passenger Vehicle Seat Belt system light came on, concern was if the seat belt would work when occupied. Vehicle was taken to Baytown Nissan for Passenger seat belt light malfunction, was advised to replace the Occupant Control Unit and Occupant Pressure Sensor with Callibration 3.0. The light eventually corrected itself. August 2023 The Passenger Airbag Light stayed on and says the A... Read more
Incident date: Oct 31, 2023
As part of NHTSA Campaign Number 23V093000, Nissan provided an interim remedy by inserting a fastener into the key slot of the jackknife key on July 21, 2023. After this interim remedy, key blade could not be folded back into the key fob. Another notice was received from Nissan recently which stated that they have a permanent remedy for this which is to insert a spacer into the key slot. As with t... Read more
Incident date: Oct 24, 2023
- Automatic Emergency Brake Malfunction. Was driving when suddenly without warning the vehicle started braking - flashing lights on dashboard. It all happened so fast and brief I did not see what the warning said. - At the time I did not know if it was the vehicle braking or a transmission issue, but after the event everything was back to normal. - My mechanic scanned the vehicle next morning and... Read more
Incident date: Oct 24, 2023
- Automatic Emergency Brake Malfunction. Was driving when suddenly without warning the vehicle started braking - flashing lights on dashboard. It all happened so fast and brief I did not see what the warning said. - At the time I did not know if it was the vehicle braking or a transmission issue, but after the event everything was back to normal. - My mechanic scanned the vehicle next morning and... Read more
Incident date: Oct 24, 2023
- Automatic Emergency Brake Malfunction. Was driving when suddenly without warning the vehicle started braking - flashing lights on dashboard. It all happened so fast and brief I did not see what the warning said. - At the time I did not know if it was the vehicle braking or a transmission issue, but after the event everything was back to normal. - My mechanic scanned the vehicle next morning and... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
I was driving in traffic in a 30mph zone and my car turned off, and I was unable to push down on the brakes. I had to use my emergency brake a could hardly turn my wheel and stop in the center divider of the road. I turned on my hazards and waited 15 minutes and was able to restart the car a drive home. This was very dangerous and could have caused an accident.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
I was driving in traffic in a 30mph zone and my car turned off, and I was unable to push down on the brakes. I had to use my emergency brake a could hardly turn my wheel and stop in the center divider of the road. I turned on my hazards and waited 15 minutes and was able to restart the car a drive home. This was very dangerous and could have caused an accident.
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
I was driving in traffic in a 30mph zone and my car turned off, and I was unable to push down on the brakes. I had to use my emergency brake a could hardly turn my wheel and stop in the center divider of the road. I turned on my hazards and waited 15 minutes and was able to restart the car a drive home. This was very dangerous and could have caused an accident.
Incident date: Oct 12, 2023
I got into 2 accidents with my 2022 Nissan Altima (October 12 & 13). on Oct.12 I backed into a parked vehicle in a parking lot.I did drive the car home. The next day after getting an estimate at a local auto body shop I drove home and my car would not stop in my driveway and I crashed into my garage door. The auto body shop towed the car back there. I have filed a consumer complaint with Nissan (... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
While inflating the tires up to the recommended pressure, due to the low temperatures overnight, I noticed that the right front rotor had multiple cracks running on the bridges between the holes on the brake rotors. There where no indications other than the Low Tire Pressure warning indicator. I have a picture of this on the Vehicle. Knowing this could lead to a brake failure and or crash!
Incident date: Nov 1, 2023
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Xterra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed parts were not ... Read more
Incident date: Feb 9, 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Frontier. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms par... Read more
Incident date: Apr 1, 2023
On April 1, 2023, my husband was weed-eating on our farm and a rock flew and hit the window directly behind the driver and shattered it. I immediately called the dealership the same day to get a new window ordered. They said it would be in in a couple of days. That turned into weeks. Then months. I posted in a Facebook group which has over 30K members to see if anyone else had this issue. Others ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 8, 2023
The headlights are extremely dim and unsafe to drive on the road at night. We first began noticing it a few months ago and it looks like there was a settlement online for this exact reason, but we didn't find out about it until the aforementioned few months ago, well past the settlement window. This is a safety issue and needs to be addressed with a proper recall as, looking around online I'm se... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Sentra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V581000 (Steering) 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 dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was m... Read more
Incident date: Oct 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2008 Nissan Frontier. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V067000 (Air Bags) 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 air bag warning light illuminated, and th... Read more
Incident date: Aug 23, 2022
Battery continues to die after 6 months of having a new one. Alternator and starter have been checked and are in good working condition.
Incident date: Oct 29, 2023
My vehicle is unsafe to drive as now its alerting me of Malfunction EBS. The alert is a constant beep and the EBS will start to activate when no vehicles are present to avoid a collision.
Incident date: Oct 29, 2023
My vehicle is unsafe to drive as now its alerting me of Malfunction EBS. The alert is a constant beep and the EBS will start to activate when no vehicles are present to avoid a collision.
Incident date: Oct 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that while in the drive position, the vehicle erroneously accelerated backward and crashed into a second vehicle that was also parked in the driveway. No injuries were reported and no police report was taken. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed that the vehicle was included in... Read more
Crash
Incident date: Aug 12, 2023
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled, and the power brakes and power steering were inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and called roadside assistance for a jumpstart. The contact stated that the failure of the electric power had become a recurring failure. The contact had taken the ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 21, 2023
Car was in a hit and run accident on June 29, 2023 where another car slid up the whole passenger side of the car damaging the front side so car could not be driven. Car was repaired, given back but not performing correctly. Car was taken back and told unsafe to drive. They did more repairs on the car, gave it back and car still not performing correctly. Car taken back for a second time, deemed uns... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 21, 2023
Car was in a hit and run accident on June 29, 2023 where another car slid up the whole passenger side of the car damaging the front side so car could not be driven. Car was repaired, given back but not performing correctly. Car was taken back and told unsafe to drive. They did more repairs on the car, gave it back and car still not performing correctly. Car taken back for a second time, deemed uns... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 30, 2023
While driving home from work, my wife was attempting to merge onto the on-ramp to the highway, and the vehicle jerked violently and RPM's skyrocketed but the speed was barely climbing. The speed didn't rise above 20mph until RPM's reached 4k. We had to creep all the way home with the engine whining and juddering and couldn't go above 45mph. This is extremely dangerous and the mechanics are saying ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 30, 2023
While driving home from work, my wife was attempting to merge onto the on-ramp to the highway, and the vehicle jerked violently and RPM's skyrocketed but the speed was barely climbing. The speed didn't rise above 20mph until RPM's reached 4k. We had to creep all the way home with the engine whining and juddering and couldn't go above 45mph. This is extremely dangerous and the mechanics are saying ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 30, 2023
While driving home from work, my wife was attempting to merge onto the on-ramp to the highway, and the vehicle jerked violently and RPM's skyrocketed but the speed was barely climbing. The speed didn't rise above 20mph until RPM's reached 4k. We had to creep all the way home with the engine whining and juddering and couldn't go above 45mph. This is extremely dangerous and the mechanics are saying ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 18, 2023
Im filing a complaint iv had more recalls on this car then i ever did on any other brand this is the second recall i had for the tire rod which was already replaced with a new version of the original tire rod then they tell me oh u need a new back up camera and front lights that had recalls as well i do not feel safe driving my car and they sai d there is nothing they can do im furious. When i dri... Read more
Incident date: Oct 18, 2023
Im filing a complaint iv had more recalls on this car then i ever did on any other brand this is the second recall i had for the tire rod which was already replaced with a new version of the original tire rod then they tell me oh u need a new back up camera and front lights that had recalls as well i do not feel safe driving my car and they sai d there is nothing they can do im furious. When i dri... Read more