File A Safety Complaint

How to report a safety Complaint

Select how you would like to report your complaint. See below for information regarding this form.

Who we are

We are The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), an office within the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). ODI conducts defect investigations and administers safety recalls to support the NHTSA's mission to improve safety on our Nation's roadways.

Why your complaint is important

Your complaint information will be entered into NHTSA-ODI's vehicle owner's complaint database and used with other complaints to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.

• If a safety-related defect exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment, the manufacturer must provide a remendy at no cost to the owner. Your complaint is the first step in the process.
• We do not have to receive a specific number of complaints before we look into a problem. We gather all available information on a problem. Your complaint is important to us.

How Your complaint is Handled

• Government engineers analyze the problem. If warranted, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) will open an investigation to determine if a safety defect trend existis. Some of these investigations result in safety recalls.
• While you may or may not be contacted by a NHTSA-ODI investigator to clarify the information submitted, all reports are reviewed and analyzed for potential defects trends.

Filling out this form

Types of safety complaints

There are four types of safety complaints you can report.

• Vehicles: All motor vehicles -- cars, heavy trucks, RV's, motorcycles, emergency vehicles, buses, etc.
• Tires: All types of tires -- requires you to submit your vehicle information as well.
• Equipment: Non-original equipment -- replacement oil filters, wipers, RV accessories, lights, floor jacks, etc.
• Child Restraint: All types of child restraints --infant seats, booster seats, convertibles, etc.

Time needed to complete

The average time to complete the minimum requirements of this form is eight to ten minutes. It is advised you gather the necessary information for your complaint type before completing the complaint form.

Information needed

Below is a list of items you will need for each type of Complaint. Select the "+" button for the type to see what information you will need.

Vehicles

• Model Year
• Make
• Model
• Component*
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) (Optional, but very important)
  Found on registration or insurance card.

* Component -- Part or system of concern

Tires

• Tire information needed
  • Tire Brand
  • Tire Line
  • Tire Size, (e.g., P275/75R16 89H)
  • Component*
  • DOT Number (Tire Identification Number) (Optional, but very important)
• Vehicle information needed
  • Model Year
  • Make
  • Model
  • Component*
  • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) (Optional, but very important)
    Found on registration or insurance card.

* Component -- Part or system of concern

Equipment

• Make
• Model
• Component *

* Component -- Part or system of concern

Child Restraints

• Make
• Model Number
• Type (only appears with some makes)
• Date of Manufacture
• Component*

* Component -- Part or system of concern

Consumer

We Value Your Privacy

• Name
• Address
• Phone Number

Send your suggestions or comments to webmaster@nhtsa.dot.gov.