Car Recall Facts and Statistics 2026

By manufacturer, Ford had the largest number of recalls in 2025: 153 in total, affecting more than 12.9 million vehicles, according to data from the NHTSA.¹ These figures reflect recalls reported between January and December 2025.

Top 20 Manufacturers With Most Vehicle and Equipment Recalls

Ford also had the most vehicles impacted by recalls, by far, in 2025, at nearly 13 million. The company with the second-most vehicles impacted was Toyota, with 3.2 million.

Top 10 Manufacturers for Recalls by Vehicles Impacted

On average, there were around 3.2 recalls per manufacturer in 2025.

While the number of recalled vehicles and equipment increased overall from 2010 to 2025, 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 40 million vehicles recalled in the U.S. per year, with an average year-over-year increase of about 9 percent.

The Most and Least Proactive Manufacturers

Recall completion refers to how many vehicles were fixed and are no longer 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.

Manufacturers With Highest and Lowest Completion Rates for Vehicle and Equipment Recalls

Among manufacturers with 5 or more recalls
Jan 2025 – Dec 2025

Based on the 2025 data, many companies had completion rates of 100 percent on average. Most of these companies primarily manufacture commercial vehicles, including semi-trailers and truck bodies, or motorhomes and RVs.

Several companies also had average reported completion rates of 0 percent in 2025, including ILJIN Hysolus, Micro Bird USA LLC, and Pirelli Tire, LLC. These companies manufacture components for Hyundai EVs, buses, and tires, respectively. ​The average rate across all manufacturers was 45 percent.

Top 10 Components Recalled (Jan 2025 – Dec 2025)

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 vehicle parts that affect safety, such as lighting, brakes, and tires.²

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

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 (note that this is not an exhaustive list):

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

Delayed backup cameras, fire-causing leaking fuel systems, or broken accelerators could lead 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.

Recalls never expire.³ The manufacturer will pay for the repairs, including parts and labor, and there is no deadline you have to meet. 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.

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.

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.

We analyzed data from the following third parties:

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration