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Last updated: December 20, 2024

Car Recall Facts and Statistics 2025

From January 2024 through the first quarter of 2025, Ford had the highest number of recalls at 94, accounting for 7 percent of the total number of vehicle recalls during that time frame. Meanwhile, Tesla had the highest number of vehicles impacted by recalls — over 5.7 million.

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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 2025 so far, over 3.5 million vehicles in the U.S. have been recalled due to 197 separate vehicle and equipment issues that posed safety risks. But which car companies were most impacted, and how did they respond? We dove into the most recent national data to find out.

Car Recall Statistics

Recall Rates by Manufacturer

From January 2024 through March 2025, Ford had the largest number of recalls: 94 in total, affecting more than 5.6 million vehicles, according to data from the NHTSA.1

Top 20 Manufacturers With Most Vehicle and Equipment Recalls

Car manufacturer Number of recalls, 1/1/24-3/31/25 Percent of total recalls
Ford Motor Company 94 7%
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) 78 6%
Forest River, Inc. 67 5%
General Motors, LLC 41 3%
BMW of North America, LLC 39 3%
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC 33 3%
Hyundai Motor America 28 2%
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC 26 2%
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. 25 2%
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC 24 2%
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) 24 2%
Kia America, Inc. 24 2%
Jayco, Inc. 22 2%
International Motors, LLC 21 2%
Nova Bus (US) Inc. 21 2%
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing 21 2%
Nissan North America, Inc. 20 2%
Tesla, Inc. 20 2%
Mack Trucks, Inc. 17 1%
Winnebago Industries, Inc. 16 1%

However, while Tesla had fewer recalls overall (20), it had the most vehicles impacted by recalls at nearly 5.8 million. Over 40,000 of those vehicles are Cybertrucks recalled due to a risk of trim detaching from the vehicles.2 Most other recall issues over the past year have been resolved via over-the-air software updates.

Top 10 Manufacturers for Recalls by Vehicles Impacted

Manufacturer # Cars Potentially Affected (Jan 2024-March 2025)
Tesla 5,799,778
Ford Motor Company 5,686,112
Chrysler 4,884,662
Honda 4,100,232
General Motors, LLC 2,037,337
BMW of North America, LLC 1,874,010
Aisin World Corp. of America 1,750,015
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing 1,539,025
Kia America, Inc. 1,526,983
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. 1,380,600

On average, there were around 4.8 recalls per manufacturer from the beginning of 2024 through the first quarter of 2025.

While the number of recalled vehicles and equipment increased overall from 2010 to 2024, 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 about 10 percent.

Year Estimated vehicles affected by vehicle and equipment recalls
2010 22,535,003
2011 14,226,018
2012 17,073,387
2013 24,784,776
2014 52,153,681
2015 85,650,987
2016 75,499,971
2017 41,281,295
2018 38,065,423
2019 52,991,265
2020 56,158,897
2021 33,856,550
2022 31,773,899
2023 39,097,918
2024 33,024,359
2025 (First Quarter) 3,539,989

This information is the latest available from the NHTSA’s report on safety recalls, plus the 2025 data available so far as of March 31, 2025.

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 2024 – March 31, 2025

Manufacturers with highest completion rates Average completion rate Manufacturers with lowest completion rates Average completion rate
Gillig, LLC 100% Orange EV 0%
Cummins, Inc. 81% Grand Design RV, LLC 15%
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. 80% Lucid USA, Inc. 20%
Oshkosh Corporation 76% Storyteller Overland 26%
Daimler Vans USA, LLC 69% Corp. Micro Bird, Inc. 30%
Suzuki Motor USA, LLC 66% Lamborghini (Automobili Lamborghini) 30%
Forest River Bus, LLC 64% Motiv Power Systems 31%
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing 62% Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. 31%
Nissan North America, Inc. 60% Fisker Group Inc 31%
Tesla, Inc. 59% Indian Motorcycle Company 33%

Based on the 2025 data so far, Gillig, LLC has the highest recall completion rates reported at 100 percent on average. Cummins, Inc. and Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. follow. Gillig primarily manufactures heavy-duty transit buses for public transportation. Cummins produces engines and power systems for commercial and industrial vehicles, while Kawasaki focuses on motorcycles, ATVs, and other powersports vehicles.

Orange EV had the lowest average reported completion rates in this period of 0 percent. The company specializes in manufacturing pure-electric, heavy-duty terminal trucks, commonly known as yard trucks, designed for moving trailers and containers. ​The average rate across all manufacturers was 48 percent.

Top 10 Components Recalled (Jan 2024-March 2025)

Component Total recalls
Electrical System 262
Equipment 208
Steering 77
Structure 69
Air Bags 66
Exterior Lighting 57
Back Over Prevention 56
Power Train 55
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 42
Suspension 40

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 vehicle parts that affect safety, such as lighting, brakes, and tires.3

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 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. 

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.

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:

  • 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 March 2025, Tesla has had the highest number of potentially affected vehicles at almost 5.8 million. The recalls included an issue with 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, so it didn’t require customers to spend any money on repairs. The latest recall is for a risk of the trim on Tesla’s Cybertrucks falling off. Tesla will be replacing the trim on all affected vehicles.

Ford has had the highest number of recalls, accounting for 7 percent of all vehicle recalls from January 2024 through March 2025.

What is the safest car of all time?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has a list of the safest cars of 2025 by type and size. Winners include the following 2025 models:

  • Honda Civic
  • Mazda 3
  • Honda Accord
  • Hyundai Ioniq
  • Toyota Camry
  • Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  • Honda HR-V
  • Mazda CX-30
  • Hyundai Santa Fe
  • Mazda CX-70
  • Volvo XC90
  • BMW X5

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

Aliza Vigderman
Written by:Aliza Vigderman
Senior Writer & Editor
A seasoned journalist and content strategist with over 10 years of editorial experience in digital media, Aliza Vigderman has written and edited hundreds of articles on the site, covering everything from plan coverages to discounts to state laws. Previously, she was a senior editor and industry analyst at the home and digital security website Security.org, previously called Security Baron. She has also contributed to The Huffington Post, SquareFoot, and Degreed. Aliza studied journalism at Brandeis University.

Citations

  1. NHTSA Recalls by Manufacturer. Transportation.gov. (2025).
    https://datahub.transportation.gov/Automobiles/NHTSA-Recalls-by-Manufacturer/mu99-t4jn

  2. Tesla recalls most Cybertrucks due to trim detaching from vehicle. Reuters. (2025, Mar 21).
    https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-recall-over-46000-cybertrucks-nhtsa-says-2025-03-20/

  3. 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

  4. Can a Ford recall expire? Ford. (2025).
    https://www.ford.com/support/how-tos/recall/recalls-and-faqs/do-recalls-expire/