The car makers that have issued the most recalls since 1992
REVEALED: The car makers that have issued the most recalls since 1992 – but drivers need to understand they can be good news
- Thousands of vehicle-related recalls are registered on the national database
- Many, though not all, are car recalls issued in the UK by manufacturers
- The brand that has the most has a total of 818 notices, according to a new study
- We explain why car recalls shouldn’t always be considered negative…
Product recalls are a common occurrence and that’s also the case for cars.
Thousands of vehicle-related recalls have been issued since 1992, according to records held by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency – many of them by the car manufacturers.
Analysis of the Government’s recalls database has revealed which makers have issued the most, with Toyota topping the charts with 818 notices issued for its vehicles in the last 30 years.
But while recalls are often looked upon negatively, drivers should see them as good news when it comes to making their motors safe, even years after a warranty has expired.
Total recall: We reveal the 15 brands that have issued the most car recalls in the UK since 1992
A study by Zutobi, an app designed to help learners pass their driving test, has named the car brands that have issued the most recalls in the UK since the database was created.
It shows that Toyota is the vehicle manufacturer with the most entries, ahead of BMW (698), Mercedes-Benz (629), Volvo (551) and Citroën (520).
Making up the remaining top 10 car makers with the most recalls in the UK were Peugeot (505), Volkswagen (329), Ford (321), Honda (285) and Vauxhall (278).
Toyota has issued 818 recall notices for models in the UK, according to official records held by the DVLA. While this is the more than any other brand, it shows responsible action
Splitting the data by individual models, it’s Toyota’s Yaris that has been subject to the most call-backs by the Japanese firm.
Its supermini, which has been available in various guises since 1999, has been recalled 131 times; the most recent cases coming last year for issues including the headlight controls, potential problems leading to fuel leakage and the long-running Takata airbag saga that’s affected millions of vehicles from varying manufacturers.
The Yaris – the latest version of which picked up the European Car of the Year 2021 award – is followed by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (114), BMW 3 Series (92), Toyota Avensis (83) and BMW 5 Series (77).
Of course, how long the model has been available in various generations should be taken into account when considering these figures, with the E-Class name dating back to 1993 and the BMW 5 Series available from the 1970s – pre-dating even the recalls database.
The study by Zutobi also highlighted which were the most common recall reasons.
Topping that list is ‘fire may occur’, which has sparked 643 individual recalls from car brands since 1992.
While this might sound dramatic, the risk tends to be extremely low, with manufacturers looking to rectify any tiny defect that may cause such a catastrophic outcome.
It is also why it is vitally important for drivers to respond to – and comply with – recall letters and get their cars repaired.
You can also check if your vehicle has been subject to a safety recall notice using the government’s online tool.
‘Engine may stall’, with 458 recalls, was second on the list, most commonly a cause of faulty fuel pumps.
Completing the top three recall reasons is ‘fuel may leak’, leading to 231 model call-backs in the last 29 years.
The Toyota Yaris is the most recalled model in the UK, according to analysis of record by Zutobi
Left: Some 114 recall notices have been issued for Mercedes E-Class models since 1992. Right: The BMW 3 Series is the third most-recalled model, with 92 issued by the German car maker dating as far back as UK records go
Recalls should be celebrated, not chastised
Rob Hull, This is Money’s Deputy Motoring Editor: When a car maker issues a recall for a vehicle, there tends to be a flood of stories covering the issue, the number of units impacted and what the worst case scenario could be.
But drivers shouldn’t see recalls as such a negative action.
In an ideal world, nothing would ever go wrong with the cars we buy. However, that’s simply not the reality.
So when a problem does occur – and one that might impact your safety – it is a manufacturer’s responsibility to take the required action to put it right for a consumer. Though not all do.
While some car brands – like Toyota – recall readily to resolve a problem big or small, others are less inclined to take the same action.
The requirement for car makers to force recalls is a bit of a grey area, with the UK system a voluntary code of practice – unlike in the US, where the NHTSA can make it a necessity for brands to fix their motors.
The latest high-profile case of this came earlier this year, when the US regulator forced the hand of Tesla to call back and fix issues with faulty touchscreens in Model S and Model X electric cars produced from 2016 to 2018.
While some drivers will consider a recall notice as a sign that their car has been poorly made, it should be considered as the manufacturer taking responsibility for an issue it hadn’t foreseen during production that they are now willing to resolve without a charge to a customer
Despite being a voluntary process, the DVSA assures us there is legal framework that can be pursued to force the hand of an unwilling vehicle maker – though there hasn’t been a single instance of this in the UK…yet.
In all recall cases, a car maker that issues the notice will rectify the problem via its network of franchised dealers. This will be free of charge to the vehicle owner, with a set schedule and agreed methodology for fixing the problem.
Being without your car for a matter of hours or even a full day might not be ideal, but repairing the problem won’t cost you a penny and will also give you the peace of mind that your motor is safe – and the brand who built it will take responsible action to ensure it is in the future, well beyond when the manufacturer warranty has expired.
It’s for these reasons we should be praising car brands that are openly recalling their cars if they do find a problem with a vehicle they’ve produced.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders: ‘Safety is the number one concern for car makers and the UK has one of the best records for vehicle recall fulfilment.
‘The process delivers an exceptionally high response rate compared with other sectors and most other markets.
‘Car manufacturers act swiftly once a safety defect has been identified to contact the owner of an affected vehicle, fix the fault free of charge and ensure it remains safe throughout its lifecycle.
‘SMMT’s Vehicle Safety Recall Service means consumers can look up a vehicle, for free, to see if it has any outstanding recalls and the sector continues to work with DVSA on ways to improve the recall process further, including enhancing the MOT to cover outstanding recalls which would help ensure appropriate vehicles are identified and fixed.’
