Millions of cars drive around the country every day. Some cars will break down. If you car has a safety defect, report it immediately. You should also report any safety issues with tires, non-original equipment and child restraints.
Helping with defects being reported
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is designed to make cars and anything correlated are safe. All the cars make it difficult for the NHTSA to keep track of safety difficulties with a vehicle. The NHTSA doesn’t know how to “connect the dots” without the help of other people. Safety recalls and investigations are spurred by these complaints. Car manufacturers often don’t like admitting defects in their automobiles until a safety recall is initiated, so reporting to the NHTSA is the only certain way to make sure action is taken on your complaint.
What to say in a report
The NHTSA likes it when any concern about safety is brought to their attention. Failing brakes needs to be reported. Airbag malfunctions need to be reported. Tires separating, component failures and defective child restraints are also worth reporting. Basically anything and anything that could cause a crash, make a crash worse or put life and limb at risk in a vehicle.
How you can report to the NHTSA
It is easy to report NHTSA difficulties. You can report a problem online, at the Office of Defects Investigation site or by calling 888-327-4236. The car you are talking about needs to be listed with its make and model. You will even have to give the NHTSA your contact info, in case it does launch an investigation. The database takes this info you give them and connects it with the info from everyone else who has made a similar complaint.
Additional reading
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation site
odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm
