Consumer Compliant Information

The purpose of this collection provides a benefit to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Consumer vehicle safety complaints submitted to ODI are analyzed to determine if a defect trend exists that may require an investigation or the initiation of a recall. An ODI investigator may respond to a consumer submitting a complaint if they require more information. Complaints are collected daily through NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline, www.nhtsa.gov website, or through correspondence. The complaints contain a consumer's allegation of a safety defect that they experienced with their vehicle or vehicle equipment, including injuries, crashes, property damage, and death. All complaints are converted to a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) format and reviewed by ODI investigation/engineer staff. ODI staff determines if the collection of complaints/VOQs describing an unreasonable safety risk in a specific make, model and model year of a vehicle or vehicle equipment warrants further action by the agency. This supporting statement is for the collection of information associated with safety-related problems owners are encountering with their motor vehicles and items of motor vehicle equipment, which include tires, child safety seats, motorcycle helmets, etc. The supporting statement also contain an adjustment to the burden hours because the hour burden increased from 11,814 to 17,295 as a result of the number of respondents submitting consumer complaints increased from 47,256 to 69,181.

The latest form for Consumer Compliant Information expires 2021-08-31 and can be found here.