Component

VISIBILITY

8,794 NHTSA complaints about visibility issues across 53 makes and 661 models.

The visibility is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 8,794 filings from 53 manufacturers and 661 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 88 crashes, 108 fires, 161 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the TOYOTA CAMRY with 563 filings, followed by HONDA CIVIC and FORD F-150. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.

Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.

8,794
Complaints
661
Models Affected
88
Crashes
108
Fires
1
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 TOYOTA CAMRY 563
2 HONDA CIVIC 535
3 FORD F-150 485
4 NISSAN MURANO 484
5 HYUNDAI SONATA 347
6 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 292
7 JEEP LIBERTY 282
8 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 204
9 FORD EXPLORER 172
10 CHEVROLET EQUINOX 156
11 FORD EXPEDITION 106
12 FORD ESCAPE 106
13 DODGE RAM 1500 101
14 FORD TAURUS 99
15 HONDA ACCORD 90
16 SCION XB 85
17 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 73
18 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 67
19 HONDA CR-V 67
20 DODGE RAM 2500 67
21 CHEVROLET IMPALA 64
22 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 60
23 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 58
24 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 57
25 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 57
26 BUICK LESABRE 55
27 TOYOTA PRIUS 54
28 TOYOTA RAV4 53
29 TOYOTA COROLLA 53
30 MITSUBISHI LANCER 47

Recent Complaints

2020 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and while the vehicle was parked, there was water leaking from the rear sliding window during inclement

2024 NISSAN KICKS

The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle in the driveway and turning off the vehicle, while exiting the vehicle, the rear hatchback glass suddenly shatte

2024 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2024 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the lights on the instrument panel were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was

2016 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling and wind sound coming from the panoramic roof. While attempting to ins

2025 NISSAN KICKS

The contact owns a 2025 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle, there was ice on the rear glass. After closing the door, the rear glass shattered. Additionally, while driving

2025 NISSAN ROGUE

The contact owns a 2025 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the rear window glass imploded and shattered. The contact was able to pull into the workplace parking lot. There was no i

2024 VOLKSWAGEN TAOS

The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Taos. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 - 60 MPH, the rear driver's side window exploded, causing pieces of glass to land on the contact's child

2019 ACURA RDX

The contact owns a 2019 Acura RDX. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact exited the vehicle, and the rear glass shattered without impact. The contact stated that a Police R

2022 JEEP WRANGLER

The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Wrangler. The contact stated that after using the remote starter to start the vehicle, the front window defroster was activated, and approximately 10 minutes later, the co

2017 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a loud pop and looked in the rearview mirror and became aware that th

2014 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that a hybrid system warning alert was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined

2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E350

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle through a car wash, water started leaking into the vehicle from around the sunroof frame. The vehicle was n

2024 NISSAN ROGUE

The contact's friend owns a 2024 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that when the vehicle was being started, it was observed that the glass on the liftgate had shattered. The contact stated that the veh

2024 NISSAN KICKS

The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Kicks. The contact stated that while driving at 7 MPH, the rear windshield glass shattered. Neither the dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. Additionally, a

2024 FORD RANGER

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Ranger. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V597000 (VISIBILITY); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local deal

2017 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the defroster activated, there was smoke coming from the rear window, followed by a loud noi

2021 CHEVROLET TAHOE

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving in a rainstorm, rainwater leaked into the vehicle through the panoramic sunroof. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who

2019 ACURA RDX

The contact owns a 2019 Acura RDX. The contact stated that after closing the hatchback of the vehicle, the contact's wife noticed that the rear window glass had shattered. The vehicle was not diagnose

2016 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR

The contact owns a 2016 Lincoln Navigator. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V091000 (VISIBILITY) and 25V572000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). The contact stated that the rearvi

2021 KIA SORENTO

The contact owns a 2021 Kia Sorento. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V649000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet availa

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve visibility issues?
The NHTSA has received 8,794 complaints about visibility problems across 661 vehicle models from 53 manufacturers.
How dangerous are visibility defects?
VISIBILITY issues have been linked to 88 crashes, 108 fires, 161 injuries, and 1 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most visibility problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for visibility issues is the TOYOTA CAMRY with 563 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

Data Sources

Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.

Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.

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