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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
May 18, 1979 EA79079 — HYDROBOOST POWER STR/BRAKE — Closed
May 11, 1979 EA79078 — ALL.LOOSE STEER/SUSPENSION — Closed
May 9, 1979 EA79K68 — INSPEC CROSS MEMBER PLATES — Closed
May 9, 1979 EA79L68 — IGNITION GAS CONDITION — Closed
May 9, 1979 EA79M68 — EXT.WARR.REINZ KIT REPAIRS — Closed
May 9, 1979 EA79N68 — RUSTY CALIPER — Closed
May 8, 1979 EA79077 — AXLE MIS MATCH — Closed
May 4, 1979 EA79075 — ALL.FAIL.BRAKE S-CAM SHAFT — Closed
May 4, 1979 EA79076 — WELD FAIL.ON TRUCK BED/BOX — Closed
May 3, 1979 DP79046 1973 NISSAN 280Z SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PUT IN REVERSE — Closed
May 3, 1979 EA79074 — ALL.FAILURE BRAKE SPIDERS — Closed
Apr 30, 1979 EA79073 — FAIL OF ELEC SEATBACK REL. — Closed
Apr 29, 1979 EA79070 — REAR AXLE FAILURE — Closed
Apr 27, 1979 DP79044 9999 BRIDGESTONE BRIDGESTONE RADIAL TRUCK TIRES — Closed
Apr 27, 1979 EA79072 — PASS.SEATBELT MALFUNCTION — Closed
Apr 25, 1979 EA79G68 — ENTRANCE AND EXIT DOORS — Closed
Apr 25, 1979 EA79H68 — TAIL LITE WIRE CONNECTORS — Closed
Apr 25, 1979 EA79I68 — ACCEI CROSS SHAFT LUB — Closed
Apr 25, 1979 EA79J68 — TORQ ARM SUS BKT RET NUT — Closed
Apr 17, 1979 EA79069 — STEERING PROBLEMS — Closed
Apr 17, 1979 EA79E68 — POSS SUSPENSION FAILURES — Closed
Apr 17, 1979 EA79F68 — INADEQUATE W.S. DEFROSTER — Closed
Apr 16, 1979 EA79068 — UNDER BODY REVISIONS — Closed
Apr 16, 1979 EA79A68 — UNDER BODY REVISIONS — Closed
Apr 16, 1979 EA79B68 — SPD CNTRL INO STOP LMP ON — Closed
Apr 16, 1979 EA79C68 — UNEQ.R TO L TURNING ANGLES — Closed
Apr 16, 1979 EA79D68 — NU SEAL TRW RACK/PINION ST — Closed
Apr 16, 1979 EA79Y04 — POW ST PUMP BRACKET BOLT — Closed
Apr 16, 1979 EA79Z04 — WHEEL INT./ WIRING HARN — Closed
Apr 13, 1979 EA79067 — TRANSMISSION LOCK-UP — Closed
Apr 10, 1979 EA79066 — STRG GEAR MNTG BKT FAILURE — Closed
Apr 9, 1979 DP79042 1973 PONTIAC PONTIAC SEAT BELTS — Closed
Apr 9, 1979 EA79065 — HOLE IN TRUNK FLOOR — Closed
Apr 4, 1979 DP79041 1978 VOLKSWAGEN RABBIT DIESEL TIMING BELT — Closed
Apr 4, 1979 EA79X04 — PUNCT OF FURNACE MANIFOLD — Closed
Mar 30, 1979 EA79064 — SEATBACK FAILURE — Closed
Mar 29, 1979 EA79063 — ALLEGED BRAKE FAILURE — Closed
Mar 28, 1979 EA79U04 — INCORR PIT ARM PINCH BOLT — Closed
Mar 28, 1979 EA79V04 — ZF POW STEER MALFUNCTION — Closed
Mar 28, 1979 EA79W04 — POOR BATTERY GROUND — Closed
Mar 27, 1979 EA79062 — BRAKE FADE — Closed
Mar 26, 1979 EA79061 — HEAT FAIL PLASTIC AIR BK L — Closed
Mar 23, 1979 EA79056 — HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION — Closed
Mar 23, 1979 EA79060 — RIM FAILURES — Closed
Mar 20, 1979 DP79037 — FLEX FAN — Closed
Mar 20, 1979 EA79058 — TRANSMISSION — Closed
Mar 19, 1979 EA79057 — HEADLIGHT MOUNTING FAILURE — Closed
Mar 14, 1979 EA79059 — LOWER CONT. ARM FAILURES — Closed
Mar 6, 1979 EA79054 — FAIL OF SPT ARM WELDS — Closed
Mar 6, 1979 EA79055 — CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKAGE — 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.