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 1,744 complaints for WINNEBAGO
Incident date: Aug 3, 2003
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING REAR TIRES HAVE TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER.*AK
CONSUMER STATES RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH.*AK
CONSUMER STATES REAR INSIDE LEFT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STUCK BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEARS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THIS WAS CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION FAILURE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. *JB
Incident date: Jul 31, 1999
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN WHICH RV VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED, 34 MPH. THE OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT DISINTEGRATED AS DID MOST OF THE VEHICLE,INCLUDING THE ROOF ,FLOOR, AND WALLS. * *AK ALL OCCUPANTS WERE EJECTED ,INCLUDING THE ONES WEARING SEAT BELTS.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITH IT'S OCCUPANT STILL BELTED I... Read more
Crash
4 injured
2 deaths
Incident date: Jul 31, 1999
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN WHICH RV VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED, 34 MPH. THE OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT DISINTEGRATED AS DID MOST OF THE VEHICLE,INCLUDING THE ROOF ,FLOOR, AND WALLS. * *AK ALL OCCUPANTS WERE EJECTED ,INCLUDING THE ONES WEARING SEAT BELTS.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITH IT'S OCCUPANT STILL BELTED I... Read more
Crash
4 injured
2 deaths
Incident date: Jul 19, 2003
LAST FEBRUARY, MY HEATER CORE LEAKED ON MY 33' 1999 WINNEBAGO CHIEFTAIN. BEING OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAD A LOCAL, DEPENDABLE RV DEALER FIX THE PROBLEM. IN MARCH I HEADED OUT TO FOR ANOTHER TRIP AND AFTER APPROX 300 MILES, THE HEATER CORE LEAKED AGAIN. AFTER I GOT BACK THE RV DEALER REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AT NO COST TO ME. THE NEXT TRIP I HAD AS IN JULY, WHERE I ONLY PUT 361 MILES ON THE REPAIRED H... Read more
THE FRONT TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY BECAUSE OF A FAILURE IN THE VE FRONT END ALIGNMENT, PER MECHANIC.*AK
THE FRONT TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY BECAUSE OF A FAILURE IN THE VE FRONT END ALIGNMENT, PER MECHANIC.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE REAR DUEL INNER TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION AND DEFLATED.*AK
Incident date: Jul 7, 2003
IN MARCH 2003 A FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES FAILED ON MY ITASCA 29FT CLASS C MOTOR HOME. THE TREAD CAME OFF IN PIECES WITH THE TIRE REMAINING AT 80 LBS FOLLOWING THE SEPARATION (INSIDE REAR DUAL). ON JULY 7, 2003 THE OPPOSITE SIDE INSIDE DUAL TIRE ALSO DID THE SAME THING. THESE WERE ORIGINAL TIRES WITH 30,000 WHEN THE 1ST TIRE WENT AND AND 3400 MILES WHEN THE SECOND WENT...AGAIN MAINTAINING THE 8... Read more
WINNEBAGO
ADVENTURER
(1996) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Jul 3, 2003
Incident date: Jul 3, 2003
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THERE WAS NO REVERSE WHILE SHIFTING THE GEAR. *AK WHEN ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIR. (THE VEHICLE COOLED FOR 30 MINUTES, THEN THE REVERSE FUNCTIONED) *SCC *JB
Incident date: Jul 2, 2003
WHILE WASHING THE WINDSHIELD ON THE INSIDE THE GLASS POPPED OUT. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT ONLY 9% OF THE WINDSHIELD WAS PROPERLY SEALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *CB *NLM
WINNEBAGO
MINNIE WINNIE
(1997) — TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Jun 29, 2003
Incident date: Jun 13, 2003
FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL LT225/75R16. INSIDE RIGHT REAR DUAL ON OUR 31 ' 97 WINNEBAGO VIBRATED FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND THEN A LOUD NOISE (TREAD CAME OFF AND I COULD SEE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AVOIDING THE TREAD). THE TIRE STILL HAD AIR IN IT, BUT ALL TREAD HAD COME OFF. MY WIFE AND I ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED THIS EXPERIENCE COULD HAPPEN AGAIN WITH MUCH WORST CONSEQUENCES. THE TREAD RI... Read more
WINNEBAGO
ADVENTURER
(1995) — PARKING BRAKE
Jun 20, 2003
Incident date: May 3, 2003
I WAS DRIVING A 1995 WINNEBEGO ADVENTURER AT APPROX 60 MPH WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE AUTO BRAKE APPLIED CAUSING $3500.00 IN REPAIRS TO THE REAR AXLE. *NLM
WINNEBAGO
ADVENTURER
(1995) — SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
Jun 19, 2003
Incident date: Jun 12, 2003
ELECTRIC AUTO BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. GM PART NUMBER 15961565. *NLM
Incident date: Apr 26, 2003
THE RIGHT OUTSIDE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, 20 MILES LATER THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE THIRD INCIDENT THE LEFT INSIDE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *TS *JB
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION CAP CAME OFF WHEEL CAUSING LEFT REAR INSIDE TIRE TREAD TO SEPARATE. *AK
WINNEBAGO
MINNIE WINNIE
(1997) — TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Jun 9, 2003
Incident date: Nov 18, 2001
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND THEN THE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *MR *TS *JB
Incident date: Jun 9, 2003
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS OVER LOADED. *AK THE NEW TELEVISION WHICH OPERATED FROM A 12 VOLT INVERTER OVERLOADED. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TELEVISION AND POWER INVERTER AND INSTALLED AN AUTO 25 AMP BREAKER. CONSUMER REMOVED THE AUTO RESET BREAKER AND INSTALLED A STANDARD 25 AMP FUSE. HOWEVER CIRCUIT WAS STILL OVERLOADED. DEALERSHIP NOT WILLING TO ASSIST ANYTHING FURTHER. *TT *JB
WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH RIGHT REAR CAP CAME OFF, CAUSING TIRE TO SEPARATE. *AK
Incident date: Oct 24, 2002
ROOF BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. REAR STRUCTURE HAD TO BE REBUILT DUE TO FAULTY STEEL AND CONSTRUCTION. *JB
THE DOUBLE PANE WINDOWS FOGGED AND HAD A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF CONDENSATION WITHIN THE DOUBLE PANES. THIS PROBLEM MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDOWS. (ATWOOD PRODUCTS WERE THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE WINDOWS, 1995 LUXOR MOTORHOME ) . *MR *SCC *NLM
WINNEBAGO
JOURNEY DL
(2002) — VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
May 30, 2003
Incident date: May 9, 2002
DASHBOARD REFLECTION, GLARE ONTO DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR. THE REFLECTION COMES OFF OF THE DRIVER SIDE CONSOLE. WHEN DRIVING WITH THE SUN IN FRONT AND LEFT OF CENTER THE REFLECTION OFF OF THE DASH WASHES OUT THE MIRROR SO YOU CAN NOT SEE WHAT IS IN THE LEFT LANE. THIS IS ON A 2002 JOURNEY. ADVENTURER, OR OTHER WINNWBAGO MOTORHOMES. THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING DISCUSSED IN AN ONLINE RV GROUP AND THE RESPON... Read more
WINNEBAGO
MINNIE WINNIE
(2001) — TIRES:TREAD/BELT
May 27, 2003
Incident date: May 25, 2003
THE TREAD ON ONE OF MY TIRES SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE OPEN ROAD AT ABOUT 60 MPH. THE TIRE IS NOT SERVICEABLE. HERE ARE THE DETAILS. MILEAGE ON TIRE - 10,000 MILES. TIRE BRAND - FIRESTONE STEEL TEX RADIAL R4S II. TIRE SIZE - LT225/75R16 115/112R M/S. DOT NUMBER - 8X1L 1X1 3000. VEHICLE - 2001 WINNEBAGO MINNIE WINNIE 27P BUILT ON FORD E450 CHASSIS. VEHICLE WAS LIGHTLY LOADED WITH DRIV... Read more
WINNEBAGO
JOURNEY DL
(2001) — TIRES:SIDEWALL
May 23, 2003
Incident date: May 12, 2003
(2) SEPERATE BLOW OUTS.LEFT REAR INNER DUAL, AND THE RIGHT REAR OUTER DUAL TIRE. THE FIRST BLOW OUT WAS LAST NOVEMBER APPROX. 6,000 MILES TIRE,SECOND BLOW OUT WAS ON MAY 12, 2003 APPROX.9,000 MILES ON TIRE.TIRES ARE DATED 2000, ALSO MH. WAS NOT OVERWEIGHT AT ANY TIME. T IRE PRESSURE WAS 90LBS. FRONT,100LBS REARS. TIRE BRAND: MICHELIN XRV 235/80 22.5 RIMS IT APPEARS THESE TIRES DEFECTIVE AND UNSA... Read more
Incident date: May 19, 2003
THE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION ON THE RIGHT SIDE DUAL TIRE OF THE WINNEBAGO ITASKA SUNDANCER 2000. FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL TIRES LT225/75R16. TIRE REPLACED FOR THE AMOUNT OF $114.99. *JB *CB
WINNEBAGO
ADVENTURER
(1997) — PARKING BRAKE
May 16, 2003
Incident date: Mar 15, 2003
THE PARK BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE PARK BRAKE UNIT. *NLM PH *JB
Incident date: Oct 31, 2002
AM I REPEATING? OCTOBER 31,2002, 4:30 PM DRY PAVEMENT 65 MPH SOUTH BOUND I-15 FREEWAY LIGHT TRAFFIC. INSIDE RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE BLEW OFF THE ENTIRE TREAD DAMAGING MOTOR HOME CHASSIS AND MUFFLER SYSTEM. ONLY 43 MILES INTO TRIP IN VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC, WENT 17 MILES FURTHER TO SAN DIEGO EXPRESS TIRE, WHERE WE REPLACED ALL SIX OF THESE TIRES. CONTACTED FIRESTONE WHO SAID TO SEND THEM THE TIR... Read more
WINNEBAGO
ADVENTURER
(1998) — PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:HYDRAULIC
May 13, 2003
Incident date: May 10, 2003
PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED WHILE IN MOTION. SWITCH FAILED ON AUTO PARK BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID AND LOCKUP. LUCKILY WAS MOVING SLOWLY TO PARKING AREA, COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL PROBLEM BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON A NARROW TWO LANE HIGHWAY WITH ZERO SHOULDER. *JB
WINNEBAGO
ADVENTURER
(2001) — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP
May 12, 2003
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE #03V060000 FOR THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR. THE CONSUMER WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT THREE WEEKS FROM NOW WHICH WAS NOT CONVENIENT HIM. *JB
THE INNER RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A SIDEWALL BLOW OUT. *NLM
Incident date: May 5, 2003
THE RIGHT REAR OUTER DUEL TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. *JB
THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE, 1 1/2 INCHES OF FREE MOVEMENT ON A 15 1/2 INCH STEERING WHEEL. (ITSACA MOTOR HOME) MR SCC *JB
Incident date: Mar 1, 2003
SHOWER FAUCET INSTALLED IN A 2003 ITASCA MOTOR HOME MODEL 32V IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. CAUSING EITHER COLD OR VERY HOT BURST OF WATER TO HIT THE PERSON IN THE SHOWER. THE HOT WATER CAUSED A SCALDING THE LAST TIME THE SHOWER WAS USED. THE FAUCET CONTROLS THE WATER BY A SIDE TO SIDE MOTION THAT IS ABOUT 1/2" IN EITHER DIRECTION. ONCE SET (EVEN TEMPERATURE) IT ONLY TAKES A SLIGHT MOVEMENT TO... Read more
2 injured
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON THE TITLE STATED THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE WAS A 2002 MODEL, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE WAS A 2001 MODEL, THE MANUFACTURER SENT THE CONSUMER A LETTER AND EXPLAINED THE VEHICLE WAS A 2002 MODEL BUT WAS BUILT ON A 2001 CHASSIS. *TS *JB
THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLE ON THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE INSTABILITY PROBLEM WAS A DESIGN ISSUE CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE WEIGHT BEING BUILT IN REARWARD OF THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE HAD AN OVER STEERING PROBLEM. *JB
THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLE ON THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE INSTABILITY PROBLEM WAS A DESIGN ISSUE CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE WEIGHT BEING BUILT IN REARWARD OF THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE HAD AN OVER STEERING PROBLEM. *JB
WINNEBAGO
ADVENTURER
(1996) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Mar 25, 2003
Incident date: Feb 25, 2003
I PURCHASED A 1996 WINNEBAGO ADVENTURER RV WITH 16,209 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE SECOND TIME THAT I USED THE VEHICLE, THE REVERSE DID NOT WORK AFTER IT HAD BEEN RUNNING. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND THERE IS A TEK TIP, FROM TOLEDO TRANS-KIT, WHICH ILLUSTRATES THE PROBLEM. "TRANSMISSION HAS GOOD REVERSE UNTIL THE UNIT REACHES FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. PRIMARILY AFTER SUBSTAINED HIGHWAY ... Read more
WINNEBAGO
WINNEBAGO
(2000) — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Mar 17, 2003
Incident date: Mar 17, 2003
THE LPG TANK LEAKED PROPANE DUE TO TWO MISSING BOLTS, ONE LOOSE BOLT AND ONE READY TO FALL OFF. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. (WINNEBAGO ITASCA 2000) *JB
WINNEBAGO
WINNEBAGO
(9999) — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Mar 17, 2003
Incident date: Mar 17, 2003
THE RECALL REPAIR FAILED ON THE LPG TANK, THE TANK DID NOT STAY TIGHT TO HOLD THE LPG TANK. (WINNEBAGO ITASCA 2000) *JB
WINNEBAGO
ITASCA
(1999) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Mar 17, 2003
Incident date: Mar 17, 2003
THE EXHAUST TAIL PIPE MELTED A HYDRAULIC HOSE AND LEAKED OIL OVER THE TAIL PIPE . *JB
WINNEBAGO
JOURNEY DL
(2000) — STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
Feb 20, 2003
Incident date: Jan 31, 2002
I RECENTLY READ RECALL #02V237 ON THE MONACO COACHES WHICH RELATES TO THE FLOOR TRUSS NETWORK. I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WHICH SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THIS WITH MY CLASS A, 2000 WINNEBAGO HORIZON. ONE OF THE REAR BODY MOUNTS HAS RIPPED OFF THE FRAME, AND HAS BEEN REWELDED TWICE. STRUCTURAL PIECES WHICH RUN PERPENDICULAR AND PARALLEL TO THE FRAME HAVE SHEARED AND ARE CRACKED. BODY PANELS HAVE COLLAPSED W... Read more
2 deaths
WATER LEAKED IN THE MOTORHOME DUE TO INADEQUATE ROOFING MATERIAL WHICH DEVELOPED PINHOLES. WATER SEEPAGE RESULTED IN MOLD. *AK *JB
Incident date: Mar 25, 2002
THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE TIRE BLOWOUTS ON 2 OF THE 6 TIRES.*JB
Incident date: Mar 25, 2002
2 OF 6 OF THE ORIGINAL TIRE HAVE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS (MICHELIN 235/80 X 22.5 XRV TIRES). FIRST TIRE BLEWOUT ON RIGHT HAND INSIDE REAR DUAL (TIRE DOT # B6BJBVJX078, TIRE DEPTH REMAINING IS 12/32 INCHES), THE SECOND BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON OCT. 27, 2002 WITH 30770 MILES, THIS BLOWOUT WAS ON THE LEFT REAR INSIDE DUAL BETWEEN THE REAR DUALS (TIRE DOT# B6BJBVJX078, TIRE DEPTH REMAINING IS 12/32 INCHES), ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 30, 2002
THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE TRUCK HAS FAILED THREE TIMES. FORTUNATLY IT HAS HAPPENED IN TOWN AT LOW SPEEDS. I AM TAKING THIS TRUCK OUT OF SERVICE BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME I MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKEY AND KILL SOMEONE. TO ME, A PART LIKE THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL AS IT CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AT ANY SPEED.
THE WAY IN WHICH THE HYDRAULIC LINES ARE ROUTED BETWEEN THE CHASSIS AND THE BODY OF THE MOTOR-HOME I BELIEVE THAT DEVELOPING A LEAK IN THE HYDRAULIC LINE WAS ESCAPABLE AND THAT ALL MINNIE WINNIES OF THIS MODEL NEED TO BE LOOKED AT FOR REPLACEMENT OF HYDRAULIC LINES. DT
WINNEBAGO
JOURNEY DL
(2002) — SEATS
Dec 2, 2002
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AND THE SEAT BELT IS NOT ATTACHED PROPERLY. *JG TS