Lucid AIR Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Lucid AIR options? We analyzed 5 model years (2022–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Lucid AIR has 82 owner complaints and 47 safety recalls across model years 2022–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2023 drew the most complaints; 2026 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Lucid
- Model
- AIR
- Model years analyzed
- 2022–2026 (5 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 82
- Safety recall campaigns
- 47
- Crash-related complaints
- 17
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2023 (28 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2026 (6 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Below Average
By model year
Lucid AIR: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
Below AverageThe LUCID AIR has 82 NHTSA complaints and 47 recalls on record. 17 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 82 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 47 federal recall campaigns
- 17 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Oct 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
47 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL:SOFTWARE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:INVERTER
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:INVERTER
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
SUSPENSION:FRONT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:FUSES, RELAYS, CONTACTS, AND SHUNTS
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2022–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 82 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
82 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The car's phone connectivity is always an issue. The car locks when the phone is right next to it, for example, if you put kids or groceries in the back seat then it locks before you get to the front door. This is very annoying, but what makes it a safety issue is that when the door locks, the kids are unable to open it. This has happened multiple times, leaving my kids panicked and trapped. I looked into it online and there are entire reddit threads about it, with the solution being that you just have to push really hard, but this is not possible for kids! It also happened the other day when I let my [XXX] daughter take my phone to get something from the car, and the car forgot the phone connection and locked her inside and again, she was unable to open the door. Thankfully I was just a minute behind her. [XXX] / [XXX] [XXX]INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Catastrophic power train failure No warning,except immediately before failure Car rolled to stop Extremely busy road,average passing speed of vehicles 40-60 mph Rear wheels locked Dash indicating drive train error, unresponsive vehicle Manufacturer diagnosed rear drive failure, inverter failure and faulty BDU, battery disconnect unit . Totally random, unprovoked, catastrophic shut down of vehicle in extremely busy fast moving traffic
I recently purchased a car with a salvage title that has been rebuilt and deemed road worthy. I then contacted the manufacturer to enquire about any recall issues and they indicated that there were two recalls to inspect the a part of the drive train and brakes. However, they indicated that they will not inspect the recall until I pay them $15,000 to recertify the car. It is my understanding that warranty issues and recall issues are different.
On 6 February 2026 on or about 1410 hours I was traveling west on Ledbetter Blvd., Dallas, TX. Our pool into a restaurant driveway to purchase food in upon parking. I noticed a long line going from north to south on the driver side windshield of my Lucid air 2025. I inspected the windshield and I did not notice any major visible impact to the windshield although there was a very microscopic incision on the outside window surface. I contacted Lucid customer care and Lucid customer care had a technician to come and inspect the windshield. The technician stated he noticed a very very small impact to the windshield that you could not notice with the naked eye I stated to the Lucid technician, I strongly believe that the windshield has a defect because with an impact such as what he described in my opinion should have never caused the damage to the front windshield that it did. I informed the Lucid technician that I will be filing a complaint with the national highway, and transportation administration for pertaining to this windshield incident on my Lucid air..
The contact owns a 2025 Lucid Air. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air conditioner blower failed to operate while the heater was activated during the winter months, and the windshield could not be defrosted. The contact stated that the vehicle was purchased with a Salvage Title, and the Lucid Service Center would not service the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that no dealer services would be performed on a vehicle with a Salvage Title. The failure mileage was 18,000.
The contact owns a 2025 Lucid Air. The contact stated that while driving approximately 2 - 5 MPH in stop-and-go traffic, the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) suddenly activated and immediately caused the vehicle to stop. The contact released the accelerator and brake pedals, and when doing so, the vehicle displayed, Forward Power Application meaning it accelerated forward without the accelerator being depressed. As a result, the vehicle crashed into the vehicle in front, where the vehicle came to a stop. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was driven home. A police report was not filed. The contact received mental and emotional stress; however, no medical attention was sought. The dealer was informed of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer, also the dealer, was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,861.
Read 14 more owner reports
The Lucid drive assist feature gets confused by lane splitting motorcycles in California. This incident has occurred to me multiple times, including most recently today. I drive in the high occupancy vehicle Lane, and during rush hour in the evening commute the left lane drives at somewhere between 20 to 30 mph. Lane splitting motorcycles are able to go slightly faster than that, at around 30 to 40 mph. When Elaine's splitting motorcycle passes between my car and the next one over, the drive assist feature gets confused as the motorcycle moves further away from the front of the car. The drive assist feature thinks that traffic has cleared, and the car begins to lunch forward at a high speed. I have to intervene to prevent my car from crashing into the car immediately in front of it, which is still moving at a much slower speed.
UNKNOWN. I leased a 2025 Lucid Air on June 19, 2025, and quickly began to experience a sense of inner ear fullness and dizziness from driving the vehicle that often lasts for days. I immediately notified Lucid, but the company did not attempt a repair or suggest measures to address the issue. Instead, the company said that I was on my own and stopped responding. I suspect that the issue is rooted in the high- or low-frequency sounds that the EV makes, but I don't know for certain. In any case, Lucid has left me with a $30,000+ lease for a vehicle I can't drive without becoming sick.
I am reporting a safety concern involving the airbag system of my 2025 Lucid Air (VIN: [XXX] ). I brought the vehicle to Lucid’s Tysons, VA service center due to a thumping sensation in the steering wheel while turning. On [XXX] Lucid diagnosed the issue as internal play in the bracket that mounts the driver airbag. Instead of replacing the bracket or steering wheel assembly, the technician applied “sound dampening tape” to eliminate movement and reinstalled the original parts. This raises serious concerns about compliance with FMVSS 208, which governs airbag performance and crash safety. A loose or shifting airbag bracket could compromise airbag deployment direction or timing. The use of adhesive tape to correct physical bracket play in a federally regulated safety system appears to be a non-standard and potentially non-compliant repair method. Lucid has provided no documentation confirming that this repair method was approved by their engineering team or validated against crashworthiness standards. As a consumer, I am concerned about the long-term integrity of the Supplemental Restraint System and the potential risk of injury in a collision. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this type of repair complies with federal safety requirements. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Driver assist Dream Drive Pro does not work. I have contacted the service center and called a dozen times and I’m told to wait for a software update. But this feature does not work and others have complained on social media. Example driving South bound 101 number one lane, Driver assist mode car on ...car drifts across yellow line towards the side wall. You even hear the lane departure alarm, second time went into other lane almost into another car in left lane on a turn.
Myself and numerous other Lucid Air drivers of all different trim levels are unable to reliably shift out of park and into drive or reverse when entering our cars. This problem has gotten worse with a recent software update and Lucid seems to be acting slowly to fix it. It is a very dangerous thing to have a car that cannot be moved into drive or reverse when needed. Moving the stalk up or down does nothing. Sometimes in 10 to 20 seconds, or sometimes after a few minutes the car will full “turn on” and say “ready” and allow us to finally leave park and go to drive or reverse. This is insane. People can die.
I was stopped at a traffic light, two or three cars behind the line. My car was in Auto-Hold mode, with my foot resting lightly on the brake. I briefly turned my head to move a jacket from the center console to the passenger seat when, without warning, the car suddenly accelerated on its own. I panicked and slammed on the brakes, but given the short distance, my car rear-ended the one in front of me, which then hit the car ahead of it. Both my vehicle and the one directly in front sustained significant damage. Thankfully, as far as I know, nobody sustained serious injuries at the time. What’s most concerning is that my car, equipped with the latest safety features—frontal collision prevention, automatic emergency braking, and Traffic Drive Alert—did not issue any warnings or intervene. I reported the incident to Lucid Motors and even reached out to the CEO, who initially responded. Their engineering team reviewed the telemetry and dismissed the incident as “pedal confusion.” As a driver with over 30 years of experience across gas and electric vehicles, I find that explanation hard to accept. I requested a written report or access to the raw telemetry data, but they refused. Follow-up emails to the CEO have gone unanswered. A few weeks prior to the accident, the car unexpectedly surged forward during a left turn but corrected itself when I lifted off the accelerator. I assumed it was a one-time glitch—until the more serious incident occurred. Recently, I came across a recall (reported 3/27/2025) related to floor mats potentially causing unintentional acceleration which Lucid must have known but did not acknowledge to me. It appears, my vehicle was not included in this recall. I fear there may be a deeper issue—possibly with the engine or battery system. I’ve attached the police report and am requesting that a formal investigation be opened. Online forums reveal multiple similar incidents. This may be a serious safety concern that needs your urgent attention.
I picked up my vehicle from the Lucid distribution center on [XXX]. On [XXX] was driving back home on [XXX] having driven approximately 166.2 mile when the vehicle issue a drive system fault warning, lost power with a dashboard message also stating to pull over and call customer care. Fortunately I was in the right lane with moderate traffic and was able to safely maneuver out of traffic and off the highway. The vehicle issue a drive scheduled to be picked up and transported back to the distribution/service center in Roswell GA within the next day or two. I will not have any additional information from the dealership until they inspect/examine the vehicle and any digital logs it might contain. A google search of the warning message reflects this appears to have been reported to Lucid previously and I’m assuming Lucid has reported the occurrences to the NHTSA. I’m making this submission to ensure the NHTSA has an accounting of what appears to be a continuation of a safety hazard that was supposedly remedied. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The vehicles turn signal inductors did not work. After I left my home and began to signal a lane change, I discovered that moving the turn signal stalk did not activate the signal indicator. Additionally, the instrument cluster shows 0 mph even while the vehicle was moving. Video: [XXX] Later while on the freeway, received a warning that front radar unit was not working: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On XXX, my wife, [XXX], was operating the vehicle on a public roadway at approximately 40 miles per hour with our children as passengers. Without warning, the vehicle began jerking violently and decelerated to a stop in a live traffic lane, displaying a "Drive System Fault" message. Throughout the event, the vehicle would not respond to accelerator or brake input. The vehicle came to rest in a moving lane of traffic. No vehicle was following us at that moment; had one been, we would have been struck from behind. After restarting the vehicle, I was able to move it off the roadway at roughly one mile per hour, with the right rear wheel catching and refusing to rotate freely. The vehicle was then undriveable. It was towed to Lucid the same day and remains in your possession. This was not an inconvenience. It was an unwarned loss of propulsion and loss of vehicle control, in traffic, with minor children in the car. At highway speed, the outcome could have been catastrophic. The right rear wheel’s inability to rotate indicates a mechanical failure within the rear drive unit or driveline, not a recoverable software condition. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
On July 21, 2026, a catastrophic safety defect occurred involving sudden, unprompted vehicle acceleration and a complete loss of braking capability. While operating the vehicle in reverse, it experienced a sudden, violent, and uncommanded surge in acceleration. Simultaneously, the braking system completely failed to respond to the driver's input, resulting in an initial collision with a vehicle parked across the street. The driver managed to carefully maneuver and limp the vehicle back home to the residential driveway. Upon arriving at the driveway, the vehicle suffered a secondary, severe surge/acceleration event combined with another total failure of the braking system, causing the vehicle to crash into the home garage. Throughout both incidents, the driver firmly applied the brakes, but the vehicle's braking system was completely overridden and unresponsive due to a catastrophic electronic or software failure. Failure Symptoms & Evidence: Immediately following the system failures, the vehicle's instrument cluster explicitly illuminated a critical warning: "Brake System Fault – Drive with caution and contact Customer Care immediately." This confirms that the vehicle's critical safety and braking systems actively faulted during the operational failure. Despite this clear dashboard warning and objective technical failure, the insurance carrier and investigators have been slow to recognize the hardware/software malfunction, posing an extreme safety hazard to the driver, passengers, and the public. We strongly request NHTSA to investigate this dangerous unintended acceleration and brake failure defect in 2024 Lucid vehicles.
While operating the vehicle, I experienced a sudden and unexpected loss of propulsion accompanied by a Drive System Failure warning. An associated fault message was also displayed. The vehicle became immediately undrivable and required towing. This matter is not being raised as a routine service concern. The critical issue is the abrupt and uncommanded loss of propulsion during active vehicle operation. Had this event occurred under different driving conditions—such as highway speeds, dense traffic, or an intersection—the potential safety consequences could have been severe, including elevated risk of collision. A propulsion loss of this nature represents a potential safety hazard to vehicle occupants and surrounding road users. Accordingly, I am requesting that Lucid treat this matter as a formal PRODUCT SAFETY INCIDENT requiring engineering-level review, rather than a standard repair disposition.
On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], I arrived at the YMCA parking lot for my yoga class (located on [XXX], Mountain View, CA). While waiting for a parking spot, I put my Lucid Air in reverse to back up slightly. Generally, Lucid’s strong regenerative braking stops the car when the accelerator is released. However, this time, when I lifted my foot, the car unexpectedly accelerated at high speed, completely unresponsive to my control. It plowed through a pedestrian walkway, a row of bushes, and crashed into the exterior wall of the YMCA building before shutting itself off. The steering wheel was also unresponsive during the unexpected acceleration. After the crash, the car shut itself down and would not restart. The crash caused injury to my neck, and it was a miracle that no one was behind me at the normally very busy parking lot. The sudden acceleration and loss of control over the car was terrifying. In addition, all other safety mechanisms such as automatic braking failed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Main issue is that the vehicle will take about 30 seconds to unlock/awake, this is completely unacceptable! even the cheapest car on the market unlocks within a fraction of a second, this can also be a dangerous situation if i need to enter my vehicle quickly. Second issue is that the drivers side windshield wiper leaves smudges after wiping, even after changing the blades, the wiper still performs the same, i believe its the shape of the windshield that causes this. third issue is that the driver side lower seat cushion is retracting and buckling, this has been replaced once and its doing it again, but warranty says its normal wear and tear, this vehicle only has 18k miles on it. 4th issue is that Lucid just sent out an email blast for customers have an option to purchase a hardware upgrade for future enhancements and faster response on screen animations, this is completely insane! this vehicle manufacturer should've calculated all this before vehicle production, this should be a free upgrade for customers to offer future updates and safety features on the vehicles computer hardware. 5ft issue is, i contacted Lucid customer service to voice my opinion and find a resolution more than 5 times, which nobody ever got back to me, i asked to speak to someone on a higher role in the company, and that seems to be impossible. 6th issue is that i asked my service advisor for someone to get in touch with me for a buy-back, he replied that he will forward this to his team and they will send me an application for the buy-back process, that was 6 months ago! and contact from Lucid.
Following the OTA software update to V2.6.16, the car will randomly refuse to shift out of Park and into either Drive or Reverse. This occurs after the car has been recently plugged in to charge as well as randomly regardless of charging activity. This is a significant safety issue in that the car will not move despite having foot on the brake.
Showing 20 of 82 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Lucid AIR
These pages show model-year patterns across 5 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Lucid AIR, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Lucid AIR has 82 complaints on record across 5 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Lucid AIR has 47 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 17 of the Lucid AIR's 82 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Below Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Lucid AIR vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Lucid AIR vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Lucid AIR has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
Check a Lucid AIR by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Lucid AIR.
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Keep researching before you buy
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Lucid AIR reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Lucid AIR reliable?
Below Average. The Lucid AIR has 82 NHTSA owner complaints and 47 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Lucid AIR years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2023 (28 complaints), 2022 (24 complaints), 2025 (14 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Lucid AIR problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (26 complaints); POWER TRAIN (19 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (17 complaints).
Does the Lucid AIR have recalls?
Yes — 47 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Lucid AIR. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.