# NHTSA API: Get owner complaints

> Summarizes NHTSA owner safety complaints for an exact vehicle model year, make, and model. Body-style variants are not combined; mileage is null when not given as a structured value.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.

- Page: https://fous.com/methods/nhtsa.gov/get-owner-complaints
- Method: `nhtsa.gov/get_owner_complaints`, version 1
- Website: nhtsa.gov
- Returns: complaint totals, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths, top problem areas, recent complaints
- Effect: read (it gets data and changes nothing)
- Sign-in: none needed
- Cost: 1 credit per completed run (1¢ with pay as you go); failed runs are free
- Verified: Nov 2, 2026

## Inputs

| Field | Type | Required | In the run below | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `make` | string | yes | `"Ford"` | Vehicle make, for example Ford. |
| `model` | string | yes | `"F-150"` | Exact vehicle model, for example F-150. |
| `model_year` | integer | yes | `2018` | Model year, for example 2018. |
| `max_complaints` | integer | no | `20` | Number of newest complaints to show, for example 20. Default 20. |

## Output

From a run on Oct 27, 2026, shortened. Its input:

```json
{
  "make": "Ford",
  "model": "F-150",
  "model_year": 2018,
  "max_complaints": 20
}
```

Its output:

```json
{
  "deaths_reported": 0,
  "fire_complaints": 0,
  "crash_complaints": 0,
  "total_complaints": 92,
  "injuries_reported": 0,
  "recent_complaints": [
    {
      "fire": false,
      "link": "https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=11773092",
      "crash": false,
      "mileage": null,
      "injuries": 0,
      "components": "Power Train",
      "date_filed": "2026-10-22",
      "odi_number": 11773092,
      "description": "I had a recall on my replacement transmission.  Recall stated it may be missing a part. I had all the problems listed.  It was replace 4 years ago.  The dealer said i don't qualify for the recall. Their reason was i had more then 8k miles. That average is 2000 miles a year.  My truck rolls back be s…",
      "incident_date": "2025-10-31"
    },
    {
      "fire": false,
      "link": "https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=11772732",
      "crash": false,
      "mileage": null,
      "injuries": 0,
      "components": "Power Train",
      "date_filed": "2026-10-21",
      "odi_number": 11772732,
      "description": "Truck has inconsistent, erratic shifting. Transmission seems to get confused or lost for a second or two when accelerating from a stop which has been dangerous a few times due to almost being rear ended. Also has shifted from 10-1-9th gear at 60-70mph at least 10 times now leaving the 10th gear unav…",
      "incident_date": "2026-10-20"
    },
    {
      "fire": false,
      "link": "https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=11772703",
      "crash": false,
      "mileage": null,
      "injuries": 0,
      "components": "Service Brakes",
      "date_filed": "2026-10-21",
      "odi_number": 11772703,
      "description": "The brake hydraulic system on my 2018 Ford F-150 failed. The vehicle rapidly lost brake fluid, the brake pedal began sinking, and there was no obvious external brake-fluid leak. An independent repair facility later replaced both the brake master cylinder and the power brake booster. I have the repai…",
      "incident_date": "2026-10-07"
    }
  ],
  "top_problem_areas": [
    {
      "component": "Power Train",
      "complaint_count": 66
    },
    {
      "component": "Engine",
      "complaint_count": 17
    },
    {
      "component": "Unknown Or Other",
      "complaint_count": 6
    }
  ]
}
```

## Run it

From code, with a Fous API key in `FOUS_API_KEY`; the answer's `data` holds the output:

```bash
curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"method":"nhtsa.gov/get_owner_complaints","input":{"make":"Ford","model":"F-150","model_year":2018,"max_complaints":20}}'
```

From an AI agent connected to the Fous MCP server: its `run` with the same method and input. To connect one, give it `set up https://fous.com/SKILL.md`.

## Ask your agent

- How many safety complaints has NHTSA received for the 2018 Ford F-150?
- Show me owner complaints about crashes and fires for a 2015 Honda Accord on nhtsa.gov
- What are the top problem areas reported by owners of the 2020 Toyota RAV4?
- Pull the 10 most recent owner safety complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Silverado
- Any injuries or deaths reported in complaints for the 2019 Subaru Outback? Check nhtsa.gov

## Input schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "make",
    "model",
    "model_year"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "make": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Vehicle make, for example Ford."
    },
    "model": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Exact vehicle model, for example F-150."
    },
    "model_year": {
      "type": "integer",
      "maximum": 2100,
      "minimum": 1900,
      "description": "Model year, for example 2018."
    },
    "max_complaints": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Number of newest complaints to show, for example 20."
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false
}
```

## Output schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "total_complaints",
    "crash_complaints",
    "fire_complaints",
    "injuries_reported",
    "deaths_reported",
    "top_problem_areas",
    "recent_complaints"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "deaths_reported": {
      "type": "integer",
      "description": "Total reported deaths."
    },
    "fire_complaints": {
      "type": "integer",
      "description": "Complaints reporting a fire."
    },
    "crash_complaints": {
      "type": "integer",
      "description": "Complaints reporting a crash."
    },
    "total_complaints": {
      "type": "integer",
      "description": "Total complaints for the exact vehicle."
    },
    "injuries_reported": {
      "type": "integer",
      "description": "Total reported injuries."
    },
    "recent_complaints": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "date_filed",
          "incident_date",
          "components",
          "description",
          "crash",
          "fire",
          "injuries",
          "mileage",
          "link",
          "odi_number"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "fire": {
            "type": "boolean",
            "description": "Whether a fire was reported."
          },
          "link": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "NHTSA page for the complaint."
          },
          "crash": {
            "type": "boolean",
            "description": "Whether a crash was reported."
          },
          "mileage": {
            "type": [
              "integer",
              "null"
            ],
            "description": "Odometer reading, if given as a structured value."
          },
          "injuries": {
            "type": "integer",
            "description": "Number of injuries reported."
          },
          "components": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Affected components in plain words."
          },
          "date_filed": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ],
            "description": "Date filed (YYYY-MM-DD), if known."
          },
          "odi_number": {
            "type": "integer",
            "description": "NHTSA complaint number."
          },
          "description": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ],
            "description": "Owner’s description of the problem."
          },
          "incident_date": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ],
            "description": "Date of the incident (YYYY-MM-DD), if known."
          }
        },
        "additionalProperties": false
      }
    },
    "top_problem_areas": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "component",
          "complaint_count"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "component": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "complaint_count": {
            "type": "integer"
          }
        },
        "additionalProperties": false
      }
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false
}
```

## See more

- [NHTSA API: Get safety ratings](https://fous.com/methods/nhtsa.gov/get-safety-ratings.md): Gets NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for a car by make, model and model year. Returns each matching version; unrated versions have no stars.
- [NHTSA API: Check vehicle recalls](https://fous.com/methods/nhtsa.gov/check-recalls.md): Lists NHTSA safety recalls for a vehicle model, given a model year, make and model or a 17-character VIN. Results cover the model, not whether a specific car has been repaired.
- [NHTSA API: List vehicle models](https://fous.com/methods/nhtsa.gov/list-vehicle-models.md): Lists the passenger car, SUV/minivan and truck models NHTSA has for a make and model year, alphabetically.
- [NHTSA API: Decode a vehicle VIN](https://fous.com/methods/nhtsa.gov/decode-vin.md): Identifies a vehicle from its 17-character VIN using NHTSA vehicle data. Missing details are returned as null; decoding errors and warnings are included.
- [CPSC API: Search product recalls](https://fous.com/methods/cpsc.gov/search-recalls.md): Finds U.S. consumer product recalls matching a product type or brand, newest first, with hazards, remedies, incidents, sale details and photos when published.
- [FuelEconomy.gov API: Get fuel economy](https://fous.com/methods/fueleconomy.gov/get-fuel-economy.md): Returns official MPG or MPGe, range, annual fuel cost, five-year savings and emissions for every matching version of a vehicle. Costs use current fuel prices and 15,000 miles per year; plug-in hybrid costs include gasoline and electricity.
- [BBB API: Get business complaints](https://fous.com/methods/bbb.org/get-business-complaints.md): Finds a business near a city and state or ZIP code on the Better Business Bureau and reads its published complaints, newest first, with the three-year complaint total. The three-year total may exceed the publicly displayed complaint details.
- [FuelEconomy.gov API: Compare cars](https://fous.com/methods/fueleconomy.gov/compare-cars.md): Compares the official fuel economy and estimated annual fuel cost of two to four cars by year, make and model, using FuelEconomy.gov. Selects a base version when no trim is given.
- [All NHTSA methods](https://fous.com/methods/nhtsa.gov.md)