New Report: Automakers With the Most and Fewest Recalls

When it comes to buying a new or used car, one thing you might not think about is how likely the car is to be recalled due to any number of safety reasons. In 2022, there were more than 400 recalls involving more than 25 automakers.

That’s according to vehicle research site iSeeCars.com, which has a new study on vehicles with the most and fewest recalls.

To come up with the study’s results, iSeeCars calculated the number of projected recalls over an expected 30-year cycle for vehicles spanning their last 10 model years using safety recall campaign data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

What Cars Have the Most and Fewest Recalls?

Here are some key findings regarding vehicle recalls:

• Mercedes-Benz tops the list of least-recalled cars, followed closely by Toyota and Lexus.
• “Tesla’s entire model line occupies four of the top five most recalled vehicles.”
• The overall average for lifetime projected recalls across all makes and models is 4.0.

The vehicles on the least recalled list are projected to experience one or fewer recalls over their lifespan, the study says. Let’s take a closer look:

Cars With the Fewest Recalls

Model	Expected 30-Year Lifetime Recalls	Compared to Overall Average
MINI Convertible	0.2	0.05x
Lexus NX 300h	0.3	0.08x
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid	0.5	0.13x
Mercedes-Benz CLA	0.5	0.13x
Lexus RX 450h	0.5	0.13x
Nissan 370Z	0.5	0.13x
Hyundai Elantra GT	0.6	0.15x
Mercedes-Benz GLA	0.6	0.15x
Mercedes-Benz GLC	0.7	0.18x
Lexus IS 300	0.7	0.18x

The most recalled cars are projected to have at least 10 recalls over a 30-year lifespan, according to iSeeCars. The list is led by Porsche and Tesla. It also notes that Tesla’s ability to do electronic updates might mitigate some of the trouble of bringing the car into a service center at least some of the time.

Cars With the Most Recalls

Model	Expected 30-Year Lifetime Recalls	Compared to Overall Average
Tesla Model Y	62.4	15.60x
Porsche Panamera	61.8	15.45x
Tesla Model 3	56.8	14.2x
Tesla Model X	27.3	6.83x
Tesla Model S	26.4	6.60x
Lincoln Aviator	23.0	5.75x
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport	22.4	5.60x
Volkswagen Atlas	20.8	5.20x
Ram 1500	20.5	5.13x
Ram 1500 Classic	20.5	5.13x

Read the full report from iSeeCars.com.

How To Know if a Vehicle Has Been in a Recall

To find out whether a vehicle you’re considering buying has been involved in a recall, enter its VIN into the NHTSA website.

VIN checks tell you other information that you should know before you buy a used car, including if the vehicle has been involved in a flood. Read our guide on how to look up VINs for free.

Final Thoughts

Money expert Clark Howard also recommends that you do your research before purchasing a vehicle. One resource that he loves is the annual Consumer Reports auto reliability survey, which gives you detailed reliability ratings for past model years on all the popular car brands.

Visit ConsumerReports.org to get digital access to the used car ratings starting at $10 a month. Or check your local library to see if it has a copy available for free.

Want more money-saving advice on used cars? Read Clark’s #1 tip on car mechanics.