Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Power Train:automatic Transmission (48.1% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints here are 6.6× the median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
3 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 3 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 193 · 48.1% | No official action | — |
| Air Bags | 48 · 12% | Recalled | Recall 21V401000 · Recall 19V853000 · Recall 20V018000 · Recall 14V428000 · Recall 02V223000 · Recall 19V852000 |
| Power Train | 33 · 8.2% | No official action | — |
| Air Bags:side/window | 19 · 4.7% | Recalled | Recall 21V401000 · Recall 19V853000 · Recall 20V018000 · Recall 14V428000 · Recall 02V223000 · Recall 19V852000 |
| Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls | 12 · 3% | No official action | — |
| Air Bags:frontal | 10 · 2.5% | Recalled | Recall 21V401000 · Recall 19V853000 · Recall 20V018000 · Recall 14V428000 · Recall 02V223000 · Recall 19V852000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 401 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 21V401000 · 2021 · reported 05/27/2021
The inflator could explode during air bag deployment, resulting in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 19V853000 · 2019 · reported 11/26/2019
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 20V018000 · 2020 · reported 01/15/2020
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 14V428000 · 2014 · reported 06/11/2018
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure could cause rupturing of the inflator resulting in metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Park it · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 00V048000 · 2000 · reported 02/17/2000
IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 02V223000 · 2002 · reported 08/09/2002
THIS COULD CAUSE THE SIDE AIR BAG AND HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM TO DEPLOY WITHOUT AN ACTUAL SIDE CRASH OR IMPACT SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 19V852000 · 2019 · reported 11/26/2019
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 323I. SHE STATED THAT WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE…”NHTSA complaint 10199404 — filed 08/13/2007 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO PERFORM IN REVERSE. IT SIMPLY ACTED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND UPSETTING TO HAVE THIS…”NHTSA complaint 10198622 — filed 08/06/2007 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“COULD NOT BACK UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION (NO REVERSE AND NO WARNING). 323I BMW 2000 TRANSMISSION FAILED.”NHTSA complaint 10198514 — filed 08/04/2007 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power train:automatic transmission issues are the most-reported category, cited in 193 of 401 NHTSA complaints (48.1%), followed by air bags (48), power train (33), air bags:side/window (19). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
401 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 13 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 19 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Yes — 7 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 21V401000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
3 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
