How to Report a Vehicle Safety Defect
Quick Answer
Many vehicle recalls start not with manufacturer testing but with consumer complaints. NHTSA's complaint database is one of the primary mechanisms by which safety defects are identified. Your report matters.
What to Report
Report any vehicle defect you believe poses a safety risk, including:
- Unexpected acceleration or failure to decelerate
- Brake failures or reduced braking performance
- Steering problems (sudden loss of control, pulling, stiffness)
- Airbag failures to deploy, or unexpected deployment
- Seatbelt failures
- Fire or smoke from the engine, fuel system, or electrical components
- Rollaway when parked
- Structural failures (door separating, wheel coming off)
- Software or electronic system failures affecting safety
Also report:
- Child safety seat defects
- Tire failures (tread separation, blowout without impact)
- Equipment defects (defective headlights, windshield wipers in safety-critical conditions)
How to File a Report
Online (most detailed): nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem
Phone: 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153)
What to have ready:
- Your vehicle's 17-character VIN
- Make, model, and year
- Mileage at the time of the incident
- A clear description of what happened
- Whether any injuries or accidents occurred
- Whether you have already contacted the dealer or manufacturer
What Happens After You Report
Your complaint is entered into NHTSA's complaint database. NHTSA engineers review complaints and look for patterns, multiple reports of the same defect in the same model triggers a preliminary investigation.
If an investigation finds sufficient evidence of a safety defect, NHTSA contacts the manufacturer. The manufacturer may initiate a voluntary recall, or NHTSA can order a mandatory recall.
What to expect: You will receive a confirmation that your report was received. Individual reports typically do not generate personal follow-up unless NHTSA investigators need more information from you. However, your report is visible in the public complaint database at nhtsa.gov and contributes to the public record.
Also Contact the Manufacturer
In addition to filing with NHTSA, contact the manufacturer's customer service to document the defect. If many owners report the same issue to the manufacturer, that can also accelerate investigation and recall timelines.
Keep all documentation: repair orders, correspondence with the manufacturer and dealer, notes of any incidents.