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How Do You Report a Vehicle Safety Problem?

Find out how to report a vehicle safety problem to NHTSA, what information to gather, and how complaints can support defect investigations.

Direct answer

To report a vehicle safety problem, use NHTSA's Report a Safety Problem tool and file a complaint for the vehicle, tire, car seat, or equipment issue. Describe what happened, when it happened, and the product details. Your complaint helps NHTSA identify possible safety defects, but filing one complaint does not automatically create a recall.

product details + safety issue + NHTSA complaint = defect report

Before you report

Vehicle or product details

Identifies the affected item

VIN, make, model, year

Incident date and mileage

Places the problem in context

Date, odometer reading

Failure description

Explains the safety risk

Brake failure, air bag issue

Injury or crash details

Shows severity

Crash, fire, injury, near miss

Repair or dealer response

Adds follow-up context

Diagnosis or invoice notes

Information	Why it helps	Example
Vehicle or product details	Identifies the affected item	VIN, make, model, year
Incident date and mileage	Places the problem in context	Date, odometer reading
Failure description	Explains the safety risk	Brake failure, air bag issue
Injury or crash details	Shows severity	Crash, fire, injury, near miss
Repair or dealer response	Adds follow-up context	Diagnosis or invoice notes

Complaints can support investigations

NHTSA reviews complaints and looks for patterns. Similar complaints from multiple people can help the agency decide whether a safety-related defect may warrant investigation.

Report the problem

1Gather the vehicle, tire, car seat, or equipment details.
2Write down what happened, when it happened, and whether anyone was injured.
3Open NHTSA's Report a Safety Problem tool.
4Choose the correct complaint category and complete the form.
5Use the NHTSA hotline if you need reporting help or cannot use the online tool.

FAQ

What safety problems can I report to NHTSA?

NHTSA accepts complaints about vehicle, tire, car seat, and equipment safety problems that may be safety defects.

Will my NHTSA complaint be public?

NHTSA says complaints are added to a public database after personally identifying information is removed.

Does filing a complaint guarantee a recall?

No. NHTSA reviews complaints and similar reports can help identify possible defects, but investigation and recall decisions are separate steps.

Sources & method

We reviewed these references while writing this answer. Figures are estimates — confirm safety-critical work with a professional. Last updated June 7, 2026.