Vehicle Problems by Make — NHTSA Complaints & Recalls

Ford vehicles — particularly the F-Series truck line — have the highest total NHTSA recall campaign count since 2010, largely due to the sheer volume of vehicles sold. General Motors combined brands rank second, followed by the FCA group (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM). High recall counts do not necessarily mean a vehicle is less safe today — what matters is whether open recalls have been repaired.

Enter your 17-character VIN at VIN Check Engine for a free, instant lookup. Our tool queries the NHTSA database directly and shows all open and historical recall campaigns for your exact vehicle. You can also check recall.gov or call NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236. Recall repairs are always free through an authorized dealer.

Vehicles with CVT transmissions (Nissan Altima, Sentra, Rogue), models affected by the Takata airbag recall (Honda Accord, Civic), and high-volume sellers like the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado have the most NHTSA complaint filings by raw count. Complaint volume scales with fleet size — the more vehicles sold, the more complaints filed.

No. NHTSA complaints are owner-reported issues filed voluntarily and do not require any manufacturer action. Recalls are formal actions that mandate a free repair. However, complaint patterns are the primary early-warning system NHTSA uses to open investigations that lead to recalls. A high complaint volume for a specific component is often a leading indicator of a future recall.

It depends on the recall. Some recalls address minor issues (label errors, software bugs) while others — particularly those involving airbag inflators, fuel system fire risk, or brake failures — are serious safety defects. NHTSA designates the most urgent recalls as 'Do Not Drive' situations. Always check the specific recall summary to understand the risk level.