How to Report a Vehicle Safety Defect or Dangerous Car Problem to NHTSA

Report suspected safety defects directly to NHTSA

The federal agency responsible for collecting and reviewing consumer complaints about possible motor-vehicle safety defects is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

NHTSA encourages consumers to report safety problems involving:

• cars, trucks, vans and motorcycles;
• tires;
• child car seats; and
• other motor-vehicle equipment.

You can submit a complaint through NHTSA.gov by selecting Report a Safety Problem, or call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

Report problems that could create a safety risk

NHTSA's defect process focuses on problems that may represent a safety-related defect.

A safety problem can involve mechanical, electrical, structural or software-controlled systems. Examples can include failures involving steering, braking, air bags, seat belts, tires, fuel systems, vehicle electronics or automated and driver-assistance technology when the problem creates a potential safety risk.

You do not need to know the technical cause before reporting the problem. Describe what the vehicle or equipment actually did and why you believe it was dangerous.

Ordinary wear and cosmetic problems are generally different

NHTSA distinguishes safety defects from ordinary quality, maintenance and cosmetic concerns. Its consumer defect guidance gives examples of issues that are generally not safety-related, such as ordinary wear of brake pads, batteries or shock absorbers, cosmetic paint problems and nonstructural body-panel rust.

A problem can still deserve a report when the actual circumstances create an unreasonable safety risk, so describe the real-world consequences rather than relying only on the part name.

Use NHTSA's online Report a Safety Problem service

NHTSA accepts electronic safety complaints through its official website. Information submitted online is entered into the agency's consumer complaint database and used by technical staff when evaluating possible safety defects.

For a vehicle complaint, prepare the vehicle's identifying information and a concise factual description of the incident.

There is no published deadline requiring a consumer complaint to be submitted within a specific number of days after an incident, but reporting promptly helps NHTSA receive current information about potential safety trends.

Call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline

You can also report a suspected safety defect by calling 888-327-4236.

NHTSA currently lists Vehicle Safety Hotline staff as available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, with English- and Spanish-speaking staff.

NHTSA also lists 888-275-9171 as the TTY contact for hearing-impaired consumers.

If you need to file complaints involving more than one vehicle at the same time, NHTSA specifically directs consumers to contact the Vehicle Safety Hotline.

Give NHTSA enough detail to understand the failure

A useful complaint identifies both the product and the event as precisely as possible.

For a motor vehicle, include when available:

• year, make and model;
• the 17-character VIN;
• mileage when the problem occurred;
• approximate date of the incident;
• vehicle speed when relevant;
• the system or component involved;
• whether there was a crash or fire;
• whether anyone was injured or killed;
• whether the manufacturer or dealer was notified; and
• a detailed description of the failure and its consequences.

NHTSA's longstanding consumer complaint guidance asks consumers to describe the events leading up to the failure, the failure itself, the consequences and what was done to correct the problem.

The VIN helps NHTSA identify the exact vehicle

A vehicle identification number, or VIN, is a unique 17-character identifier for a vehicle.

NHTSA states that the VIN can commonly be found on the lower-left area of the windshield and on the vehicle registration card. It may also appear on an insurance card.

Providing the VIN helps identify the exact vehicle configuration and can make it easier to compare the complaint with recalls, investigations and manufacturer information.

Keep photos, repair records and other evidence

NHTSA may contact a complainant when its experts need more information, receipts or photographs.

Useful supporting evidence can include:

• photos or videos of the failure;
• repair invoices;
• dealer or manufacturer correspondence;
• diagnostic reports;
• police or fire reports when applicable; and
• the failed or replaced component when it can safely and lawfully be retained.

You do not need to wait until you have every possible document before reporting a dangerous problem. Submit accurate information you have and keep additional evidence available.

Complaints enter a public database after personal details are removed

NHTSA states that consumer complaints are added to its public complaint database after personally identifying information is removed.

This lets consumers and investigators review complaint trends without publishing the complainant's ordinary identifying information as part of the public record.

Complaint information is one of several data sources NHTSA uses when evaluating possible defect trends.

You can choose whether identifying details are shared with the manufacturer

When submitting a complaint, NHTSA asks whether you authorize it to share complaint details, including the VIN and identifying information, with the manufacturer.

This authorization is optional.

NHTSA explains that sharing this information can sometimes help technical evaluation because the manufacturer can identify the exact configuration of the vehicle and may need to communicate directly with the owner about the problem.

NHTSA screens complaints for possible defect trends

Submitting a complaint does not automatically open an investigation or create a recall.

NHTSA reviews consumer complaints together with other safety information. Its defect-analysis process can include:

1. screening complaints and other available information;
2. analyzing the seriousness and potential pattern of the problem;
3. obtaining information from manufacturers, including complaint, crash, injury, warranty and parts data;
4. opening a formal investigation when warranted; and
5. monitoring a recall when a safety defect is identified and a recall is initiated.

NHTSA's public process states that every complaint is reviewed and may be selected for additional follow-up or technical analysis.

There is no minimum number of complaints

NHTSA explicitly states that there is no set number of complaints required before it can look into a possible safety defect.

The decision depends on multiple factors, including the number of vehicles involved, severity of the possible consequences and other available safety information.

In some circumstances, a single complaint may provide information serious enough to justify additional evaluation.

Not every complainant receives individual follow-up

If NHTSA experts need additional information, receipts, photographs or clarification, the agency may contact you.

However, NHTSA states that not every complainant will be contacted.

The absence of an individual response does not mean the complaint was ignored. Complaint data remains part of NHTSA's defect-monitoring system and can be analyzed with other reports.

Check for an open recall before and after reporting

NHTSA's recall lookup can show whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired safety recall.

For the most precise vehicle-specific result, enter the 17-character VIN or, where supported, the license plate. You can also search by year, make and model to review broader recall, investigation, complaint and manufacturer-communication information.

If a recall is already open, follow the recall instructions and contact the appropriate dealer or manufacturer about the remedy.

A vehicle safety recall does not expire

NHTSA states that once a vehicle has been recalled, the recall itself does not expire.

Owners should check for open recalls periodically, especially when buying a used vehicle or when a previously unavailable repair becomes available.

A safety defect can lead to a recall and remedy

A recall is initiated when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle or item of motor-vehicle equipment has a safety-related defect or fails to comply with an applicable federal motor-vehicle safety standard.

NHTSA explains that manufacturers may remedy a safety recall by:

• repairing the product;
• replacing the defective component or product;
• providing a refund; or
• in rare circumstances, repurchasing the vehicle.

NHTSA monitors recalls to help ensure that owners receive safe and effective remedies required under federal law.

You can report a recall or safety problem even when warranty coverage is disputed

A safety complaint is different from an ordinary warranty dispute.

NHTSA specifically states that a consumer can file a complaint when a dealership says a recall repair is not covered by warranty.

Safety recalls are based on federal safety obligations, not simply on whether the vehicle remains inside the manufacturer's ordinary new-vehicle warranty period.

A recall search and a safety complaint serve different purposes

Checking the NHTSA database tells you whether a recall, investigation or similar safety record is already associated with the vehicle or equipment.

Filing a complaint gives NHTSA information about the specific safety problem you experienced.

If your vehicle has no existing recall but you believe it has a dangerous defect, NHTSA still encourages you to report the issue. New defect investigations can begin after consumer reports reveal a previously unidentified pattern.

Common complaint mistakes to avoid

• Reporting only that the vehicle is unreliable: explain the specific failure and why it created a safety risk.
• Leaving out the VIN when it is available: the VIN helps NHTSA identify the exact vehicle configuration.
• Failing to describe the consequences: include crashes, injuries, fires, loss of control and other safety effects when applicable.
• Discarding useful evidence: keep repair invoices, photos, diagnostic information and other records.
• Assuming one complaint cannot matter: NHTSA states that there is no minimum complaint count for an investigation.
• Assuming a complaint guarantees a recall: NHTSA evaluates complaints with other evidence before deciding whether further action is warranted.
• Using the complaint system for purely cosmetic issues: focus on problems that could represent a motor-vehicle safety defect.
• Ignoring an existing recall: if the VIN shows an unrepaired recall, follow the manufacturer's recall remedy instructions promptly.

Keep records and monitor future safety action

After filing, retain your repair records, photographs and other evidence in case NHTSA asks for additional information.

You can continue checking the NHTSA recall database for new recalls and investigations involving the same vehicle or equipment.

NHTSA also offers the free SaferCar app and email recall alerts so consumers can receive notice when new recall information becomes available.

A complaint may ultimately contribute to an investigation or recall, but there is no guaranteed outcome or individual resolution timeline. Its purpose is to give the federal safety regulator real-world information that can help identify dangerous defect trends.