How to File a Vehicle Safety Complaint with NHTSA

If you experience a safety-related defect in your vehicle, you can report it directly to NHTSA. Owner complaints are one of the primary ways NHTSA identifies potential defects — your report could trigger an investigation that leads to a recall and protects other drivers.

When to File a Complaint

File a complaint when you experience a problem that could affect safety, such as:

• Sudden loss of braking, steering, or engine power
• Unintended acceleration or vehicle movement
• Air bag deployment failure or unexpected deployment
• Seatbelt malfunction
• Fire or smoke
• Tire blowout or tread separation
• Electrical system failure affecting vehicle operation
• Any crash caused by a suspected vehicle defect

How to File Online (Fastest)

1. Go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem
2. Select your product type (vehicle, tire, car seat, etc.)
3. Enter your vehicle's year, make, model, and VIN
4. Describe the problem in detail: what happened, when, at what speed, how many times, and whether it caused a crash, fire, injury, or death
5. Submit the complaint — you will receive a confirmation with an ODI number

How to File by Phone

Call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline: 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153). Available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern Time. An operator will take your complaint over the phone.

What Happens After You File

1. NHTSA reviews and categorizes your complaint
2. Your complaint is added to the public database (this is the data we display on this site)
3. If enough similar complaints are received, NHTSA may open a preliminary evaluation
4. A preliminary evaluation can escalate to an engineering analysis
5. An engineering analysis can result in a mandatory recall

Not every complaint leads to a recall, but every complaint contributes to NHTSA's understanding of potential defect patterns. The more specific and detailed your report, the more useful it is.

Tips for an Effective Complaint

• Be specific: Include dates, mileage, speed, and exact symptoms
• Include your VIN: This helps NHTSA identify the exact vehicle configuration
• Report crashes and injuries: These are weighted more heavily in NHTSA's analysis
• Include dealer diagnosis: If a mechanic identified the problem, include their findings
• Report even if already fixed: A repaired problem is still valuable data for pattern detection