Related: Unfixed Vehicle Recalls Increase 34% Year-Over-Year
Auto Recalls Reach 53.2 Million in 2016
Automakers recalled a record 53.2 million vehicles last year in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2015, 51.2 million vehicles were affected by recalls.

Photo courtesy of International Franchise Systems

Photo courtesy of International Franchise Systems
Automakers recalled a record 53.2 million vehicles last year in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In 2016, there was a total of 927 recalls, according to NHTSA. That means there was an average of 2.5 recalls per day and 145,753 vehicles affected daily.
The recall of Takata Corp. airbag inflators has added to the climbing number of recalls. As of December 2016, there were 46 million recalled Takata airbag inflators in 29 million vehicles in the U.S., according to NHTSA.
Over the next three years, automakers must recall additional inflators. The recalls will eventually affect up to 69 million inflators in 42 million total recalled vehicles.
2016 is the third year in a row that U.S. vehicle safety recalls have set a record.
Vehicles affected | Affected Per day | Recalls | Average Recalls | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
(Million) | Total | (Per day) | ||
2014 | 51 | 139,726 | 779 | 2.1 |
2015 | 51.2 | 140,274 | 868 | 2.4 |
2016 | 53.2 | 145,753 | 927 | 2.5 |
Data courtesy of NHTSA
In 2015, 51.2 million vehicles in the U.S. were affected by recalls. There was a total of 868 recalls — an average of 2.4 recalls per day and 140,274 vehicles affected daily, according to NHTSA. In 2014, 51 million vehicles were recalled in the U.S. There was a total of 779 recalls — an average of 2.1 recalls per day and 139,726 vehicles affected daily.
From 1996 to 2013, annual U.S. auto recalls ranged from 10.2 million to 30.8 million, according to NHTSA.
Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
More Rental Operations

Rental Car Fleet Sales Show Mid-Year Strength
June gains ensured rental fleets closed out the first half of 2026 in positive territory.
Read More →
Surprice Mobility Opens Corporate Rental Station at Milan Malpensa Airport
The Milan opening is part of Surprice Mobility's broader strategy to expand its corporate operations while increasing the use of technology across its network.
Read More →
Brazilian Executive MBA Targets Growing Domestic Rental Car Industry
Rental car companies face a unique combination of challenges that are rarely addressed in traditional programs.
Read More →
Green Motion Expands Into Japan With Master Franchise Agreement
Japan's tourism industry, business travel market, and demand for vehicle rental services are reasons the country represents an important market for the company.
Read More →
ACRA Carrying Fuller Industry Load As AI and EVs Lurk In Future
The leading car rental professional business group details an active legislative, regulatory, and macro-trends agenda affecting car rental operators.
Read More →
World Cup Travel Data Shows Longer Car Rentals and More One-Ways
A recent analysis of FIFA bookings found varied demand patterns that influenced rental car pricing.
Read More →
A Leveling Force: AI Morphs Into A Rental Car Profit-Seeker
Revenue managers can’t match the emerging AI tools gobbling lots of data that could counter the competitive race to the rate bottom.
Read More →Stop Losing Money On Rental Tolls
Regardless of your rental fleet size and structure, fleet managers, executives, and owners can gain valuable insights into an often-overlooked area of fleet operations.
Read More →
Rethink The Future To Avert A Race To The Bottom
Rental car operators heard a sobering industry message and a stern challenge at the close of the International Car Rental Show.
Read More →
DriveItAway, Free2move Plan Shared Fleet Program for Independent Rental Fleet Operators
Vehicles would be placed with participating rental operations to support car renter demand and provide additional fleet capacity.
Read More →
