Component

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

853 NHTSA complaints about visibility:rearview mirrors/devices issues across 42 makes and 328 models.

The visibility:rearview mirrors/devices is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 853 filings from 42 manufacturers and 328 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 21 crashes, 28 fires, 18 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD EXPLORER with 35 filings, followed by FORD EXPEDITION and DODGE RAM. 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.

853
Complaints
328
Models Affected
21
Crashes
28
Fires
1
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD EXPLORER 35
2 FORD EXPEDITION 25
3 DODGE RAM 21
4 GMC ENVOY 20
5 DODGE RAM 1500 17
6 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 16
7 ACURA TL 16
8 PONTIAC GRAND AM 15
9 FORD F-250 14
10 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 14
11 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 13
12 FORD F-150 12
13 TOYOTA CAMRY 11
14 FORD FOCUS 11
15 HONDA ACCORD 10
16 CHRYSLER SEBRING 10
17 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 10
18 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 9
19 CHEVROLET BLAZER 9
20 DODGE DURANGO 8
21 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 8
22 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 7
23 HONDA CIVIC 7
24 SUBARU FORESTER 6
25 OLDSMOBILE ALERO 6
26 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 6
27 FORD TAURUS 6
28 FORD RANGER 6
29 DODGE DAKOTA 6
30 LEXUS IS 350 5

Recent Complaints

2021 AUDI Q7

The contact owns a 2021 Audi Q7. The contact stated that the rear-view mirrors on the driver's side failed to indicate when another vehicle, person, or object was nearby the vehicle. The passenger's s

2025 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked abnormally while driving at slow speeds with the transmission shifting gear. Whenever the accelerator pedal was r

2021 TOYOTA RAV4

Vehicle has both rear view mirror distortion (assembly mirror face on both sides) vibrate causing distortion deeming outside rear view mirrors useless and hazardous. Toyota issued a technical service

2024 POLESTAR POLESTAR 2

the mirrors on the car sometimes dont tilt back up when chnaging gears from reverse to drive , leading to limited visibility

2025 SUBARU FORESTER

Driver side mirror and rearview mirror vibrate, visibility affected - especially at night with vibrating headlights. Confirmed by dealer. Rearview mirror replaced and continues with same vibration iss

2015 NISSAN ROGUE

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH and adjusting the rearview mirror, the mirror detached from the windshield. The vehicle was taken to

2024 SUBARU ASCENT

The drivers side mirror has a constant vibration that causes visibility issues. Has done it since we bought it new.

2024 HYUNDAI ELANTRA

The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly decelerated to 20 MPH with a message was displayed "School Zone, 20 MPH", however the contact

2024 LINCOLN NAUTILUS

See attached document for complaint.

2023 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HYBRID

The rearview mirror in my 2023 Toyota Sequoia is a digital camera-based system rather than a traditional reflective mirror. The issue is that the camera used for this system has a low resolution and p

2024 BMW X5

Center rear view mirror stopped working and was replaced by Chapman BMW of Chandler but was replaced with a small aftermarket mirror that is causing dangers images in the mirrors because it’s splitt

2024 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500

See attached document for complaint.

2020 SUBARU OUTBACK

Rearview mirror fell off windshield with very little use. The mirror broke off a piece of the windshield, causing damage and requiring complete replacement of the windshield.

2018 FIAT 500

See attached document for complaint

2024 LEXUS NX

The contact owns a 2024 Lexus NX 350H. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the passenger’s side side view mirror shattered without impact. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the c

2016 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, during sunny or rainy weather conditions, the rearview camera image was not working as intended. T

2007 LEXUS GS

The anti-reflective coating on the rear view mirror on the inside of the car is coming through the mirror causing black spots that obscure vision out the back of the car. This issue affects all 2006-2

2024 HONDA HR-V

See attached document for complaint

2011 HONDA PILOT

The contact owns a 2011 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that the rearview mirror was inoperable. The contact was unable to view objects in the rearview mirror. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, whe

2023 HONDA CR-V HYBRID

Driver Side mirror vibration. From Day 1 of the vehicle purchase i am seeing that the driver side mirror vibrates at higher speeds and on rough roads causing a distorted view. This is very risky to dr

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve visibility:rearview mirrors/devices issues?
The NHTSA has received 853 complaints about visibility:rearview mirrors/devices problems across 328 vehicle models from 42 manufacturers.
How dangerous are visibility:rearview mirrors/devices defects?
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES issues have been linked to 21 crashes, 28 fires, 18 injuries, and 1 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most visibility:rearview mirrors/devices problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for visibility:rearview mirrors/devices issues is the FORD EXPLORER with 35 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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