There were 894 vehicle recalls affecting 34,862,036 vehicles in 2023, according to data the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released. 

According to the data, about 4 million more vehicles were affected by recalls in 2023 than the year before. It was the highest year for the number of vehicles recalled since 2019 when 38,597,607 were affected by 880 recalls. 

Tesla saw the most vehicles recalled in 2023, with 2,569,141 vehicles affected. General Motors followed with 60,154 vehicles recalled. 

The data release coincides with the start of Vehicle Safety Recalls Week Monday. 

Collision repairers can search for recall notices via multiple tools, including recalls that could have contributed to the collision. The newest tool launched by NHTSA allows recalls to be searched by a vehicle’s license plate. NHTSA launched a tool last year that allows recalls to be searched via vehicle identification number (VIN). 

Recalls can be searched by license plate, VIN, or OEM via tools on NHTSA’s recall page by clicking here. The page also allows consumers and repairers to search for car seats, tires, and other equipment recalls, such as electric vehicle (EV) chargers. 

“While not all recalls are high profile, all recalls are a safety issue,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said in a news release. “Unrepaired recalls can make your vehicle less safe for you, your family, and others on the road. When you change your clocks, check for recalls. And if you have an open recall, call your dealership immediately to schedule a free repair.”

Repairers can also inform consumers about the NHTSA’s SaferCar App, which sends notifications to vehicle owners regarding recalls. Consumers can also sign up for email alerts via NHTSA.gov/Alerts. 

If anyone suspects a vehicle has a defect and should have a recall, it can be reported at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem#index or by calling 888-327-4236. 

Repairer Driven News has followed multiple significant recalls in recent years, including the Takata airbag recall. 

Approximately 67 million airbags used by 19 OEMs have been recalled because the inflators can explode when the airbags are deployed, causing serious injuries or death. The inflators use phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate as a propellant that has been known to result in violent explosions and send metal shrapnel into the faces of vehicle occupants.

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