Nearly 64M Recalls in 2014 Sets Record
The final tally for vehicle safety recalls last year shattered the previous record of 30.81 million in 2004.

A technician replaces a faulty ignition switch on a Chevrolet Cobalt. Photo courtesy of General Motors.

A technician replaces a faulty ignition switch on a Chevrolet Cobalt. Photo courtesy of General Motors.
Vehicle manufacturers set a new record for safety recalls in 2014, calling back 63.95 million vehicles for repairs at dealerships, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The previous record was 30.81 million vehicles in 2004.
Last year saw 803 separate recall campaigns, with General Motors accounting for 84 of them. GM’s ignition switch recalls, along with the Takata air bag recalls by 10 different automakers, made a significant impact on the final tally.
Air bag defects were responsible for about one-third of all the vehicles recalled in 2014.
In contrast to last year’s figures, 2013 saw 22.1 million vehicles recalled as part of 632 campaigns.
Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
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