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.
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
Showing 49,794 complaints for VOLKSWAGEN
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2013) - AIR BAGS
Nov 6, 2022
Incident date: Mar 22, 2022
* Driver air bag, horn, all controls in steering wheel. * Not having a horn or working air bag * Yes, defective clock switch has been confirmed-this was a recall, was replaced and failed again * No- dealer/recall repair center only * No, air bag light came on and that was it. At that moment nothing worked This occurred in March 2022. I was told it would take 1-2 months to get the part. The part i... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2013) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Nov 6, 2022
Incident date: Mar 22, 2022
* Driver air bag, horn, all controls in steering wheel. * Not having a horn or working air bag * Yes, defective clock switch has been confirmed-this was a recall, was replaced and failed again * No- dealer/recall repair center only * No, air bag light came on and that was it. At that moment nothing worked This occurred in March 2022. I was told it would take 1-2 months to get the part. The part i... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2013) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Nov 6, 2022
Incident date: Mar 22, 2022
* Driver air bag, horn, all controls in steering wheel. * Not having a horn or working air bag * Yes, defective clock switch has been confirmed-this was a recall, was replaced and failed again * No- dealer/recall repair center only * No, air bag light came on and that was it. At that moment nothing worked This occurred in March 2022. I was told it would take 1-2 months to get the part. The part i... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2022) - SERVICE BRAKES
Nov 6, 2022
Incident date: Oct 3, 2022
I have a 2022 Volkswagen atlas with 15k miles on it. My brakes are making a hard sweeping noise when braking. It has been happening for a few weeks now. When I start to push on the breaks no matter the type of weather, it sounds like it is metal on metal. I do not know if it is the calipers sticking or if it is something more.
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS CROSS SPORT
(2022) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Nov 6, 2022
Incident date: Sep 29, 2022
While driving the Pre-collision system will alert when there is nothing in front of vehicle. I’ve had to bring the car into the service department on 3 separate occasions due to this system problem. The pre-collision system has triggered the brakes on 2 occasions for no reason at all. The wireless charging pad does not function properly. The service department claims the vehicle is working as it... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS CROSS SPORT
(2022) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Nov 6, 2022
Incident date: Sep 29, 2022
While driving the Pre-collision system will alert when there is nothing in front of vehicle. I’ve had to bring the car into the service department on 3 separate occasions due to this system problem. The pre-collision system has triggered the brakes on 2 occasions for no reason at all. The wireless charging pad does not function properly. The service department claims the vehicle is working as it... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2013) - POWER TRAIN
Nov 5, 2022
Incident date: May 10, 2022
Transmision slips into neutral, stopping car in traffic, other jetta hybrids fall under recall for same reason, it also leaks fluid from Transmission
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2015) - ENGINE
Nov 4, 2022
Incident date: Oct 14, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving 5 mph and making a left turn, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the road of oncoming traffic. The contact placed the vehicle into park and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle would shudder and idle at a high RPM when she started the vehicle. The contact h... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
GOLF
(2017) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Nov 3, 2022
Incident date: Aug 28, 2022
The car start leaking gas, when you try to put gas won’t take any gas, the car was spitting gas from the pipe where you put the gas
VOLKSWAGEN
JETTA
(2019) - POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Nov 3, 2022
Incident date: Nov 3, 2022
2019 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER IS ALSO SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE ON VEHICLE.
VOLKSWAGEN
GOLF
(2022) - POWER TRAIN
Nov 2, 2022
Incident date: Oct 3, 2022
During regular operation I shifted the car from 1st to 2nd gear (manual transmission) and the shift knob came off of the metal rod that attaches it to the linkage and transmission. There was no loud crack to indicate something breaking at the time. thankfully it happened at low speeds and I was able to pull over and reattach the knob and drive it home but the plastic that attaches it to the car ... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
GOLF
(2022) - POWER TRAIN
Nov 2, 2022
Incident date: Oct 1, 2022
Shift knob cracked off of shaft during routine driving NOT under "spirited driving" conditions or fast shifting.
VOLKSWAGEN
GOLF
(2022) - POWER TRAIN
Nov 2, 2022
Incident date: Oct 24, 2022
The manual transmission shift knob has separated from the shift lever multiple times while driving. While shifting between gears, the knob lifts up with the boot off of the actual shift lever and I am unable to complete a shift until reconnecting the knob to the lever. The first time this happened, I was shocked and was nearly hit as I was on a highway entrance ramp and suddenly was not in gear ... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2013) - SUSPENSION
Nov 2, 2022
Incident date: Nov 2, 2022
I noticed my car was sitting lower than normal all the way around. While driving, I heard some unusual noises coming from the rear. I took the car to a mechanic for evaluation. The mechanic said three of the four coil springs had broken (both rear and drivers side on the front. I did some research and found there is an existing recall for broken springs in Volkswagen automobiles. Volkswagen's num... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2015) - SERVICE BRAKES
Nov 2, 2022
Incident date: Oct 10, 2022
Power brakes are not functional on startup when cold -- brake pedal is very stiff and takes a lot of pedal pressure to stop the car from moving while exiting driveway. Generally, braking improves within a minute or two of driving, but sudden stops in this condition are difficult and unsafe. The dealer service department diagnosed a leaking check valve in the vacuum system and the brake booster... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2015) - SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
Nov 2, 2022
Incident date: Oct 10, 2022
Power brakes are not functional on startup when cold -- brake pedal is very stiff and takes a lot of pedal pressure to stop the car from moving while exiting driveway. Generally, braking improves within a minute or two of driving, but sudden stops in this condition are difficult and unsafe. The dealer service department diagnosed a leaking check valve in the vacuum system and the brake booster... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2014) - AIR BAGS
Nov 2, 2022
Incident date: Oct 5, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated, and the horn and the buttons on her steering failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed her that there was a recall on that model vehicle for a similar failure. The contact went to a dealer and was informed that her vehicle was not included in NH... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2018) - SERVICE BRAKES
Nov 2, 2022
Incident date: Oct 26, 2022
On several occasions when braking to come to a stop at a relatively low speed, the car began lurching as pressure was applied to the brake pedal. The brake pedal was jumping up and down and making a hydraulic-type noise. At the same time, a message indicating "Brake Booster Failure" appeared on the panel, and the parking brake light illuminated. The problem resolved after sitting still for approxi... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2019) - ENGINE
Nov 2, 2022
Incident date: Sep 16, 2022
I own a 2019 vw atlas and I had called the dealership about low coolant level light that had came on and you know what I was told it’s common in the atlas’s and that they just use coolant and I’m thinking to my self that cars don’t just use coolant and I’m finding out more and more a lot of people are having this issue the funny thing is that the had told me to just come on down and the... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2019) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Nov 2, 2022
Incident date: Sep 16, 2022
I own a 2019 vw atlas and I had called the dealership about low coolant level light that had came on and you know what I was told it’s common in the atlas’s and that they just use coolant and I’m thinking to my self that cars don’t just use coolant and I’m finding out more and more a lot of people are having this issue the funny thing is that the had told me to just come on down and the... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2018) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Nov 1, 2022
Incident date: Oct 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH with her children in the rear seats, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to push the vehicle to the side of the road with the assistance of bystanders. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle and drove to her destination. The contact stated... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2018) - ENGINE
Nov 1, 2022
Incident date: Oct 1, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH with her children in the rear seats, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to push the vehicle to the side of the road with the assistance of bystanders. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle and drove to her destination. The contact stated... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2015) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
Nov 1, 2022
Incident date: Oct 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated his wife was unable to insert the key into the ignition to start the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed the key was faulty. The vehicle was repaired. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware o... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2015) - AIR BAGS
Nov 1, 2022
Incident date: Jul 31, 2022
In a multi-vehicle rear end collision, the airbags in the vehicle did not deploy. My vehicle was totaled and I sustained medical injuries.
Crash
6 injured
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2021) - SUSPENSION
Nov 1, 2022
Incident date: Nov 1, 2022
Uneven tire wear on front tires at 11,000 miles: The front right tire is bald along the very outer portion first 20% of tire surface, left front tire shows elevated wear but not bald. Wear pattern is consistent with alignment / camber issue. Brought to VW service and they claim this uneven wear is normal for the ID4. I advised them when you see this kind of wear it is not normal as the tires load... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
GOLF
(2019) - SUSPENSION
Oct 31, 2022
Incident date: Oct 31, 2022
GTI has an overly squeaky front suspension. Suspension is 100% stock and unmodified. Searching online yields many Golf owners experiencing the same issues (in the USA and worldwide). People say to lube up the suspension with grease, but this could cause a safety issue if it gets on the brakes. Volkswagen claims this is normal, but I've owned nine Volkswagen vehicles and this is the first one that'... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2021) - STEERING
Oct 31, 2022
Incident date: Sep 15, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID4. The contact stated while coming to a complete stop with the brake pedal being depressed, the vehicle lunged 3-5 feet forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the steering wheel swerved unintendedly, causing the vehicle to veer towards the opposite lane of traffic. The contact was able to regain control of... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2021) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 31, 2022
Incident date: Sep 15, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID4. The contact stated while coming to a complete stop with the brake pedal being depressed, the vehicle lunged 3-5 feet forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the steering wheel swerved unintendedly, causing the vehicle to veer towards the opposite lane of traffic. The contact was able to regain control of... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2021) - SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Oct 31, 2022
Incident date: Sep 15, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID4. The contact stated while coming to a complete stop with the brake pedal being depressed, the vehicle lunged 3-5 feet forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the steering wheel swerved unintendedly, causing the vehicle to veer towards the opposite lane of traffic. The contact was able to regain control of... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
CC
(2014) - ENGINE
Oct 31, 2022
Incident date: Apr 28, 2021
Error code P2015 was generated which is the air intake manifold. Volkswagen mechanic said we shouldn't drive very much due to it could get worse. Replacement would cost $1812.50, local shop charged $893.00. Volkswagen has since issued a extended warranty which my vehicle falls under but I'm getting push back on being reimbursed. What are my options?
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2022) - VISIBILITY/WIPER
Oct 30, 2022
Incident date: Oct 27, 2022
Windshield cracked while stationary no impact. Glass is unavailable to replace due to demand as dealer states this model is having multiple failures of windshield.
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2018) - SERVICE BRAKES
Oct 29, 2022
Incident date: Oct 7, 2022
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The front brakes unevenly wore to the point where the driver side brake is like new and the passenger side brake is a safety issue. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk Because of the extreme wear on the passenger side braking system the whole front braking system needed to be r... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2019) - FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Oct 29, 2022
Incident date: Oct 21, 2022
I have had the emergency brake suddenly deploy about a dozen times since purchasing this car. All have been at relatively low speeds, as in parking lots or when making a turn on street. There has been nothing in my path to cause the emergency brake system to deploy. I took it to the dealership and they said that the computer only registered one deployment and there was nothing that could be don... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
GOLF SPORTWAGEN
(2015) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 28, 2022
Incident date: Jul 1, 2022
The screen which is for the radio and back up camera has started to "flicker" This looks to be a common problem people are fixing it by having the head unit replaced but clearly it's a safety issue since the backup camera is hard to use. This is a dieselgate car so it wasn't purchased new until 2017 and it seems crazy for this to be happening when the car has only been on the road for 5 years.... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2013) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Oct 28, 2022
Incident date: Oct 4, 2022
Driver side low beam headlights failed. Bulb works. Bulb Holder works. Confirmed by moving bulb and bulb holder assembly to passenger side where it operates fine. Search on-line finds many people with same problem. It appears to be an electrical connection problem within the headlight assembly. There was a reportedly recall for this problem that did not cover all VINs. This is definitely a ... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2013) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 28, 2022
Incident date: Oct 4, 2022
Driver side low beam headlights failed. Bulb works. Bulb Holder works. Confirmed by moving bulb and bulb holder assembly to passenger side where it operates fine. Search on-line finds many people with same problem. It appears to be an electrical connection problem within the headlight assembly. There was a reportedly recall for this problem that did not cover all VINs. This is definitely a ... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
TAOS
(2022) - POWER TRAIN
Oct 28, 2022
Incident date: Jun 8, 2022
Purchased vehicle new from dealer on 5/25/22. Auto Start/Stop feature was enabled while driving on 6/8/22. Stopped at light and vehicle shut off as it should have with feature enabled but then would not start again. Had to put car in park and restart while sitting in the middle lane of a busy road. Had error message advising to restart manually come up on dashboard. Reported problem to dealer whe... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2017) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Oct 28, 2022
Incident date: Oct 25, 2022
The Infotainment system fails to start or reboots randomly causing the back up camera not to work. Teddy VW of the Bronx dealership stated it is a critical concern. The back up camera not displaying on infotainment screen is a hazardous condition when pulling out of a parking spot.
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2021) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Oct 27, 2022
Incident date: Oct 19, 2022
While driving the vehicle, error messages were displayed in the digital cluster indicating, among others, "electrical system not working, Safely stop vehicle", "I2V battery error", "Issue with all-wheel drive system", "Front/Travel Assist not working". In less than 10 seconds, the vehicle came to an unintended complete stop right as I was completing a left turn (to get the vehicle to the curb of... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2021) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 27, 2022
Incident date: Oct 19, 2022
While driving the vehicle, error messages were displayed in the digital cluster indicating, among others, "electrical system not working, Safely stop vehicle", "I2V battery error", "Issue with all-wheel drive system", "Front/Travel Assist not working". In less than 10 seconds, the vehicle came to an unintended complete stop right as I was completing a left turn (to get the vehicle to the curb of... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ID.4
(2021) - FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Oct 27, 2022
Incident date: Oct 19, 2022
While driving the vehicle, error messages were displayed in the digital cluster indicating, among others, "electrical system not working, Safely stop vehicle", "I2V battery error", "Issue with all-wheel drive system", "Front/Travel Assist not working". In less than 10 seconds, the vehicle came to an unintended complete stop right as I was completing a left turn (to get the vehicle to the curb of... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2019) - WHEELS
Oct 27, 2022
Incident date: Oct 24, 2022
My car just hit 30,000 miles. The light for loss of tire pressure on my left rear tire goes on. I go to the gas station to put air in the tire, and touch the tread with my fingers. THE INSIDE INCH OF TREAD/RUBBER ON BOTH REAR TIRES IS COMPLETELY WORN DOWN --- down to the metal. Seems like a serious alignment issue to me on this vehicle. Service and tire rotations regularly performed at the VW deal... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2021) - SERVICE BRAKES
Oct 27, 2022
Incident date: Feb 15, 2022
The front brake rotors on this VW model are faulty and unsafe from the factory and need to be recalled. They warp and squeal, and the issue seems to be starting at about 4 months. The brake rotors warp between 4-6 months and the front brakes start to vibrate when driving at 65 mph or more. The brake pads are fine, however the rotors need to be replaced. The rotors need to be inspected as they appe... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
TIGUAN
(2019) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Oct 27, 2022
Incident date: Oct 13, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The battery was jump started and the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to two independent mechanics who tested the battery and determined that the batte... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
ATLAS
(2022) - SERVICE BRAKES
Oct 26, 2022
Incident date: Oct 26, 2022
Brakes are very squeaky and sound like grinding metal when in use. This happens every day for the past year regardless of weather or moisture. Most recently they have started skipping. I can feel the break pedal pulsing as if the brakes are bouncing and the car “skids”. This morning I was coming out of my driveway, around 3 mph, and a vehicle passed by so I pressed the brakes and the car still... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
GOLF
(2022) - POWER TRAIN
Oct 26, 2022
Incident date: Aug 28, 2022
Car has Manual transmission. The gear shifter knob plastic near base where it attaches to shaft is cracking in two places. Cracks are getting worse and seem like they may fail. Dealer inspected and will replace. Appeared within 2 months of ownership.
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2013) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Oct 26, 2022
Incident date: Jun 30, 2022
Noticed the carpeting getting wet on the drivers side floor. After doing some research online tracked it down to the drivers side drain for the moonroof. The hose shrunk over time and disconnected from the rubber piece that goes through the firewall and allows the water to drain outside of the vehicle. Had to splice a piece of hose to the original so it would be long enough to connect again. Worri... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
GOLF
(2003) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Oct 26, 2022
Incident date: Oct 25, 2022
The car just started on fire while I was driving and nearly killed me and my boyfriend lucky someone was honking and flagging down and when we tried stopping the car wouldn't brake and we had to jump out when it was still rolling. We were bout to get on the high way lucky someone stopped us be we did so.
Fire
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2012) - ENGINE
Oct 25, 2022
Incident date: Jul 12, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking an unknown fluid underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vacuum pump, oil pan, and the gaskets needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact to contact the NHTSA Hotline to file a complain... Read more
VOLKSWAGEN
PASSAT
(2012) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:SEALS/GASKETS
Oct 25, 2022
Incident date: Jul 12, 2022
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking an unknown fluid underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vacuum pump, oil pan, and the gaskets needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact to contact the NHTSA Hotline to file a complain... Read more