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Last updated: October 9, 2024

Car Recall Facts and Statistics 2024

So far in 2024, Ford has had the highest number of potentially recalled vehicles: over 3.6 million, accounting for 36 percent of the total number of potentially recalled vehicles.

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Car recalls occur when a manufacturer, consumers, or the federal government finds a defect in a car that causes it not to meet federal safety standards. As a result, manufacturers must notify consumers of the defect and either repair, replace, or refund the affected vehicle part — or even the entire vehicle.

In 2024 so far, over 21 million vehicles in the U.S. were recalled due to 635 separate issues that posed safety risks. But which car companies had the most recalls, and how did they respond? We dived into the most recent national data to find out.

Editor’s note (last updated August 26, 2024): We have updated this page with the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, focusing on data from January 1 to August 8, 2024.

Car Recall Statistics

In 2024 so far, Chrysler has had the largest number of recalls: 39 in total, affecting more than 2.6 million vehicles and 25 percent of all potentially recalled vehicles. But while that’s the largest number of recalls, Ford had the largest percentage of potentially recalled vehicles: 36 percent, or over 3.6 million vehicles, according to data from the NHTSA.1

Car manufacturer Number of recalls, 1/1/24-8/8/24 Percent of total recalls in 2024 so far Number of vehicles potentially affected Percent of recalled vehicles in 2024
Chrysler 39 16% 2,628,831 26%
Forest River 38 15% 73,554 1%
Ford 37 15% 3,673,005 36%
BMW 19 8% 885,242 9%
Daimler Trucks 18 7% 33,665 Less than 1%
Hyundai 17 7% 619,360 6%
Kia America 15 6% 1,120,958 11%
Mercedes-Benz 15 6% 330,384 3%
General Motors 14 6% 655,873 6%
Jayco 14 6% 4,676 Less than 1%
Jaguar 12 5% 90,809 1%
Nova Bus 12 5% 3,510 Less than 1%
Total 250 n/a 10,119,867 n/a

On average, there were 21 recalls per manufacturer in 2024, affecting about 843,000 cars each.

While the number of recalled vehicles and equipment increased overall from 2009 to 2023, it’s not a straight line. Recalls have been up and down since peaking in 2015. On average during this time period, there were over 41 million vehicles recalled in the U.S. per year, with an average year-over-year increase of 14 percent.

Year Total vehicle and equipment recalls by affected population number
2009 17,576,820
2010 22,645,254
2011 15,567,909
2012 18,269,690
2013 26,291,270
2014 60,369,817
2015 86,305,524
2016 76,071,445
2017 42,654,384
2018 35,384,948
2019 53,062,646
2020 56,228,522
2021 34,804,230
2022 32,007,623
2023 39,818,928
2024 (until 8/8/24) 21,130,035

This information is the latest available from the NHTSA’s 2023 report on safety recalls, plus the 2024 data available so far as of August 8, 2024.

The Most and Least Proactive Manufacturers

Recall completion refers to how many vehicles were fixed and are not still on the road with the defect. If a company completes a vehicle recall, it means it either replaced the car, repaired the car, or refunded the consumer to fix the issue.

Car manufacturer Average completion rate reported, 1/1/24-8/8/24
Chrysler 59%
Mercedes-Benz 49%
BMW 48%
Hyundai 42%
Kia America 41%
Ford 38%
Forest River 37%
General Motors 31%
Jaguar 27%
Daimler Trucks 26%
Jayco 21%
Nova Bus 18%

Based on the 2024 data so far, Chrysler has the highest recall completion rates reported, 59 percent on average. Mercedes-Benz and BMW follow.

Nova Bus had the lowest average reported completion rates in this period of only 18 percent. That’s half the rate of the average across all manufacturers, 36 percent.

Basic Facts on Car Recalls

What Is a Car Recall?

A car recall is when either a vehicle manufacturer or the federal government, via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), determines that a vehicle doesn’t meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. This federal legislation mandates minimum performance requirements for parts of vehicles that affect safety, such as lighting, brakes, and tires.2

If a recall is issued, car manufacturers need to either fix the defect or, in the most extreme cases, repurchase the vehicles so they aren’t on the roads.

Why Do Car Recalls Happen?

Car recalls happen due to clearly identified safety problems. (Emissions issues, in contrast, are handled by the Environmental Protection Agency, not by the NHTSA.) Safety recalls could include issues with the following vehicle parts:

  • Steering systems
  • Headlights
  • Backup cameras3
  • Fuel systems
  • Accelerators
  • Wheels

Delayed backup cameras, fire-causing leaking fuel systems, or broken accelerators could cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle, leading to injuries, property damage, or, in the worst cases, traffic fatalities.

Who Issues Recall Notices?

Vehicle manufacturers are responsible for issuing recall notices to consumers.

Timeliness of Recalls

The manufacturer must issue the recall notice within 60 days of the date it notified the NHTSA of the issue.

Who Pays for Repairs?

The manufacturer should pay for the repairs. If you already paid, however, you can request a reimbursement. Just show a receipt or any documentation of the repair to your manufacturer within 10 days of the original receipt of the recall notice.

So long as the vehicle is less than 16 model years old, the manufacturer will pay for the repairs, including parts and labor, and there is no deadline you have to meet.4 Note, though, that the manufacturer will not pay for a rental car while yours is in the shop — that will depend on your car dealer and your insurance coverage, namely whether it includes rental car reimbursement.5

How to Check if Your Car Has Been Recalled

Unsure if your car is under a recall? You can check on the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls) by entering your vehicle identification number (VIN).

To be even more proactive, sign up for recall notification emails at https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/subscriptions.

The Role of the Government, Manufacturers, and Consumers

The government has federal standards on safety for vehicles. However, it’s not the sole entity that can report safety problems to the NHTSA. Car manufacturers should report them, of course, and consumers can as well. If the NHTSA receives enough complaints about the same issue, the agency will investigate the problem and determine whether the issue violates federal safety standards.

From there, the NHTSA will order the manufacturer to fix the issue, which the company can challenge in federal district court. But if the court rules on the side of the NHTSA, the manufacturer must issue recall notices. Of course, if it’s a problem the manufacturer found itself, it still must report it to the NHTSA and correct the issue, notifying consumers in a timely manner.

Once recall notices are sent, a manufacturer has three possible solutions it can execute:

  • Repair: The company will cover the cost of the needed repairs.
  • Replace: The company will replace the car with an identical or similar vehicle.
  • Refund: The company will give the consumer a full refund for the car’s actual cash value, which takes into account depreciation. Learn more about how insurance companies value cars.

Conclusion

If you get a recall notice, don’t ignore it; it could mean there’s an issue that could cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Staying on top of recalls is critical for any car owner. While no one wants to be involved in a car recall, at least you won’t have to spend a dime on the repairs.

Methodology

We analyzed data from the following third parties:

  • Consumer Reports
  • Kelley Blue Book
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • U.S. Department of Transportation
  • U.S. National Archives

Frequently Asked Questions

Which vehicle has the most recalls?

As of August of 2024, Tesla has had the highest number of potentially affected vehicles with its recall of the warning lights on five different models. A small font size made the panel hard to read, increasing the likelihood of a crash. This recall affected the following models and model years:

  • Model S, 2012-2023
  • Model X, 2016-2024
  • Model 3, 2017-2023
  • Model Y, 2019-2024
  • Cyber Truck vehicles, 2024

This recall was handled with an over-the-air software update, however, not requiring customers to spend any money on repairs.

Chrysler also had a number of recalls, accounting for 16 percent of all vehicle recalls in 2024 so far.

What is the safest car of all time?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has a list of the safest cars of 2024 by type and size. Winners include the following 2024 models:

  • Acura Integra
  • Honda Accord
  • Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  • Toyota Crown
  • BMW 5 series
  • BMW X1
  • Ford Explorer

See the complete list at https://www.iihs.org/ratings/top-safety-picks.

Citations

  1. NHTSA Recalls by Manufacturer. Transportation.gov. (2024).
    https://datahub.transportation.gov/Automobiles/NHTSA-Recalls-by-Manufacturer/mu99-t4jn

  2. PART 571 – FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS. National Archives Code of Federal Regulations. (2004, Apr 9).
    https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-V/part-571

  3. Car Recall Guide: Your Questions Answered. Consumer Reports. (2023, Feb 2).
    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-recalls-defects/car-recall-guide-your-questions-answered-a1115780728/

  4. Can a Ford recall expire? Ford. (2023).
    https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/recall/recalls-and-faqs/do-recalls-expire/

  5. Recalls 101: What You Need To Know To Stay Safe. Kelley Blue Book. (2022, Dec 14).
    https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-recalls/