As we look back at the year that's now in our rearview mirror, it's time to take an annual look at which automakers fared the worst and best when it came to recalls, and how the industry fared as a whole.
BizzyCar
BizzyCar reports that 27.7 million vehicles were recalled in 2024. While that's fewer vehicles than in 2023, when factoring in un-repaired vehicles from prior years, BizzyCar says more than one in four vehicles on U.S. roads have at least one open recall. With approximately 291.1 million registered vehicles nationwide, translating to 72.7 million vehicles currently on the road with an open recall.
For comparison, here's a look at the last few years of recalls:
- 2024: 27.3 Million
- 2023: 33.6 Million
- 2022: 29.0 Million
Tesla leads the way in recalls for 2024, followed by Chrysler and Ford. Other report highlights include:
- Over 27 Million Vehicles Recalled in 2024: Despite a decrease from 33 million in 2023, the sheer volume of recalls continues to highlight significant safety concerns, with 6.1 million vehicles recalled in Q4 2024 alone.
- Safety Concerns: 25.5 million vehicles (93.3% of total recalls) pose a risk of crash and/or injury.
- Tesla Leads in Vehicles Affected: 5.1 million vehicles, surpassing Chrysler’s 4.7 million and Ford’s 4.1 million. (All of Teslas recalls can be addressed through Over-the-Air (OTA) updates, which the NHTSA is required to refer to these issues, which are fixed without any physical attention, as a recall.)
- OTA Updates: Of the 27.3 million vehicles affected by recalls in 2024, 9.2 million (33.7%) can be repaired via Over-the-Air (OTA) updates.
- Electrical Systems Remain the Top Recalled Component: Advanced vehicle technologies drove a surge in electrical system recalls, accounting for 6.3 million vehicles in 2024, making it the most recalled component across the industry.
- Top Four Manufacturers Responsible for 85% of Q4 Recalls: Honda, Chrysler/Stellantis, Tesla, and General Motors accounted for the majority of recalls in Q4 2024, underscoring concentrated safety challenges among major automakers.
- Improved Recall Management with OTA Remedies: Over 33% of vehicles recalled in 2024 can be fixed via OTA updates, up from 21% in 2023, reflecting the industry's shift toward more efficient and customer-friendly recall solutions.
BizzyCar calls the recall figure staggering, saying it highlights a critical and ongoing challenge for manufacturers as they struggle to maintain quality control amidst increasingly complex vehicle technologies. Researchers say the sheer volume of recalls isn't just a safety risk - but also negatively impacts consumer confidence in the reliability of their vehicles. BizzyCar says there's a need for stricter quality assurance measures and proactive recall management and says and manufacturers must prioritize rigorous testing and swift response strategies to address defects, safeguard drivers, and restore trust in the automotive industry.
Automotive Recalls in Q4 2024
When it comes to the fourth quarter, BizzyCar data shows that Honda led the way in recalls. While BizzyCar says Ford showed significant improvement compared to earlier in the year.
According to BizzyCar Q4 data:
- Total Recalls Issued in Q4 2024: 96 recalls issued.
- Total Vehicles Affected in Q4 2024: 6.1 million vehicles.
- Total Recalls in 2024: 27.3 million vehicles.
According to BizzyCar data, Honda issued the most recalls in Q4 2024, with 2.7 million vehicles affected, taking the top spot for the quarter. Meanwhile, it says Ford showed remarkable improvement, ranking 9th with only 76,000 vehicles recalled in Q4. This marks a significant drop compared to earlier quarters, with Ford issuing 2.2 million recalls in Q1, 1.4 million in Q2, and 454,000 in Q3.
BizzyCar calls Ford's efforts to reduce recalls over the past three years "impressive". In 2022, the manufacturer issued 8.7 million recalls, but by 2024, this number had dropped to 4.1 million—a reduction of more than 50%. In Q4 2024, Ford issued just 76,000 recalls, which BizzyCar calls a "remarkable achievement" compared to its Q1 peak of 2.2 million.
"This improvement reflects Ford's renewed focus on quality assurance, proactive defect detection, and streamlined production processes. By addressing key issues earlier in the manufacturing cycle, Ford has demonstrated a commitment to building safer, more reliable vehicles, positioning itself as a leader in recall management and customer trust restoration," said BizzyCar Founder and CEO, Ryan Maher.
How to see if your car is under recall
Besides checking your Car Pro Show Newsletter weekly, looking up recalls for your vehicle is easy. To see if your car is under recall, visit the NHTSA’s recalls website. You’ll be asked to enter your car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN), which is typically located on both the lower left corner of your car’s front windshield and on the driver’s side door jamb.
Once you enter the VIN number, the NHTSA will tell you if you have an unrepaired vehicle that’s been recalled in the past 15 years. It won’t tell you if your car was previously under recall but has since been repaired.
Read Jerry's Advice: "Things You Need To Know About Recalls" →
Photo Credit: Bankrx/Shutterstock.com.