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Vehicle Safety

Vehicle Recalls320,000+ NHTSA safety recalls Browse VehiclesEvery make, model and year Complaints2.1M+ consumer safety complaints TSBs4.7M technical service bulletins VIN LookupDecode any vehicle VIN instantly OBD Codes12,000+ diagnostic trouble codes Fuel EconomyEPA MPG data for all vehicles Safety Ratings11,700+ NHTSA crash test ratings Investigations5,300+ NHTSA defect investigations StatisticsRecall trends & safety analysis Compare VehiclesTwo vehicles side by side

Consumer Safety

Product Safety9,700+ CPSC product recalls Food Safety28,600+ FDA food recalls Pet Safety1.3M FDA animal adverse events Drug Safety17,500+ FDA drug recalls Device Safety38,400+ FDA device recalls Workplace Safety102,900+ OSHA injury reports Brand HistoryRecall lookup by company

Infrastructure

Bridge Safety624,000 bridge inspections Aviation Safety30,000+ NTSB aviation events Dam Safety92,600 dam safety records Water Safety433,000+ public water systems Railroad Safety438,000+ rail crossings Pipeline Safety8,800+ pipeline incidents State DashboardsSafety grades for all 50 states ZIP ReportAny 5-digit ZIP across 9 datasets

Public Health

Nursing Homes14,700 CMS rated facilities Environmental80,000+ hazardous sites & releases BlogGuides, news & safety insights

NHTSA Investigations

5,336 safety defect investigations.

NHTSA Safety Defect Investigations

Browse 5,336 NHTSA safety defect investigations. When a potential safety issue is identified through consumer complaints, recall requests, or other sources, NHTSA opens an investigation to determine the scope and severity of the defect. Investigations may lead to voluntary recalls by manufacturers or, in rare cases, mandatory recall orders. Use the filters below to search by year, manufacturer, status, or keyword.

Investigations

Browse 5,336 NHTSA investigations.

Opened ID Vehicle Subject Units Status
Feb 27, 1975 EA75032 — CATALYTIC CONVERTER — Closed
Feb 12, 1975 EA75030 — ENGINE FIRES — Closed
Feb 12, 1975 EA75031 — DRAGLINK FAILURE — Closed
Jan 22, 1975 EA75029 — WHEEL CRACKS — Closed
Dec 31, 1974 EA75036 — CAMPER LOADING — Closed
Dec 27, 1974 EA75033 — EXHAUST MANIFOLD — Closed
Dec 16, 1974 EA75027 — WINDOW FAILURE — Closed
Dec 16, 1974 EA75028 — EXHAUST MANIFOLDS — Closed
Dec 9, 1974 EA75026 — FRONT SUSPENSION — Closed
Dec 5, 1974 EA75021 — BRAKE SHOE — Closed
Dec 5, 1974 EA75022 — WHEEL FAILURES — Closed
Dec 5, 1974 EA75023 — GAS TANKS - DOOR LOCKS — Closed
Dec 5, 1974 EA75024 — EXHAUST HEAT FIRES — Closed
Dec 5, 1974 EA75025 — STEERING FAILURES — Closed
Nov 25, 1974 EA75020 — SEAT FAILURE — Closed
Oct 24, 1974 EA75018 — EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK — Closed
Oct 24, 1974 EA75019 — WHEEL FAILURES — Closed
Oct 17, 1974 EA75016 — PITMAN ARM USAGE — Closed
Oct 17, 1974 EA75017 — CO INTRUSION — Closed
Oct 9, 1974 EA75015 — SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE — Closed
Oct 8, 1974 EA75014 — BRAKE TUBING AIR LEAK — Closed
Oct 7, 1974 EA75013 — AXLE RATING — Closed
Oct 1, 1974 EA75010 — SEAT BELT RETRACTOR — Closed
Oct 1, 1974 EA75011 — IDLER ARM FAILURES — Closed
Oct 1, 1974 EA75012 — WHEEL/TIRE INCOMPATIBILITY — Closed
Sep 12, 1974 EA75009 — CO INTRUSION — Closed
Sep 6, 1974 EA75008 — FRAME CRACKING — Closed
Sep 3, 1974 EA75007 — INTERIOR FIRES — Closed
Aug 27, 1974 EA75006 — SEAT BELT RETRACTORS — Closed
Aug 13, 1974 EA75005 — FUEL FILTER — Closed
Jul 26, 1974 EA75003 — FUEL TANK LEAK — Closed
Jul 26, 1974 EA75004 — SUN VISOR SHARP EDGE — Closed
Jul 24, 1974 EA75002 — ACCELERATOR LINKAGE — Closed
Jul 15, 1974 EA75001 — BELT RETRACTOR FAILURE — Closed
Jun 18, 1974 EA74265 — FIRE T/LON HOUSING COVER — Closed
Jun 18, 1974 EA74266 — P/S HOSE FAILURE — Closed
Jun 6, 1974 EA74264 — FRONT SPRING BLOCK — Closed
May 24, 1974 EA74260 — BUMPER — Closed
May 24, 1974 EA74261 — GAS VAPOR IN PSSNGR CMPRT — Closed
May 24, 1974 EA74262 — SEAT FAILURES — Closed
May 24, 1974 EA74263 — FAILURES — Closed
May 23, 1974 EA74259 — FUEL TANK — Closed
May 22, 1974 EA74258 — FUEL LEAKAGE — Closed
May 15, 1974 EA74256 — FAN BLADE FAILURE — Closed
May 15, 1974 EA74257 — COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUM — Closed
May 13, 1974 EA74255 — RECALL PROCEDURES — Closed
Apr 26, 1974 EA74254 — OVERLOADED — Closed
Apr 25, 1974 EA74253 — OVERLOADED — Closed
Apr 12, 1974 EA74252 — FUEL LEAKAGE — Closed
Apr 5, 1974 EA74251 — AIR BRAKE LINES — Closed

Frequently Asked Questions

When NHTSA receives enough complaints or evidence suggesting a potential safety defect in a vehicle, it opens a formal investigation. The process typically begins with a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to assess whether a defect trend exists, followed by an Engineering Analysis (EA) if the evidence warrants deeper examination. Investigations can result in voluntary recalls by the manufacturer, mandatory recall orders, or closure if no defect is confirmed.

An "Open" investigation means NHTSA is actively reviewing the potential safety defect — engineers are collecting data, analyzing complaints, and may be testing vehicles. A "Closed" investigation means the review is complete. Closure can mean the manufacturer issued a recall, NHTSA determined no defect exists, or the issue was resolved through other means such as a technical service bulletin or design change in newer models.

Roughly half of NHTSA investigations result in a safety recall. The rest are closed without a recall — either because the defect couldn't be confirmed, the failure rate was too low to warrant a recall, or the manufacturer addressed the issue voluntarily through other channels. Investigations involving higher injury or fatality counts, or those affecting a large number of vehicles, are more likely to result in recalls.