You’ll never guess which make and model has the most recalls
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Recall campaigns, every brand knows them. After all, cars are complex products where a lot can go wrong. Recent research by iSeeCars lists the makes and models with the most recalls.
iSeeCars bases the research on data from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Recalls between 2014 and 2023 were considered. The analysts wanted an answer to the question “Which cars are recalled the most in their 30-year lifespan?”.
The make and model with the most recalls
It is striking that Tesla is the brand with the most recalls. The Tesla Model Y is #1. According to the study, the car will be recalled about 62 times over its 30-year lifespan, 15.6 times more than the average.
Cars with the most recalls | |||
---|---|---|---|
Location | model | Expected recalls 30 years | Compared to the average |
1 | Tesla Model Y | 62.4 | 15.60x |
2 | Porsche Panamera | 61.8 | 15.45x |
3 | Tesla model 3 | 56.8 | 14.2x |
4 | Tesla Model X | 27.3 | 6.83x |
5 | Tesla Model S | 26.4 | 6.60x |
6 | Lincoln aviator | 23.0 | 5.75x |
7 | Volkswagen Atlas CrossSport | 22.4 | 5.60x |
8th | Volkswagen Atlas | 20.8 | 5.20x |
9 | Aries 1500 | 20.5 | 5.13x |
10 | Ram 1500 Classic | 20.5 | 5.13x |
The Tesla Model 3, Model X and Model S are also at the top of the list. However, the Porsche Panamera also performs poorly.
No callbacks
Although this study assumes recalls, in the case of Tesla – and some other brands – that’s not entirely true. Updates to the cars are often done in the driveway and the car does not have to physically return to the dealer. Elon Musk has previously stated that he disagrees with what these types of studies say.
The make and model with the fewest recalls
The research not only looked at the brands and cars that have a lot of recalls, but also highlighted the cars with a good score. For example, the Mini Cabrio and the Lexus NH 300h score!
Cars with the fewest recalls | |||
---|---|---|---|
Location | model | Expected recalls 30 years | Compared to the average |
1 | MINI Convertible | 0.2 | 0.05x |
2 | Lexus NX300h | 0.3 | 0.08x |
3 | Lincoln MKZ hybrid | 0.5 | 0.13x |
4 | Mercedes Benz CLA | 0.5 | 0.13x |
5 | Lexus RX450h | 0.5 | 0.13x |
6 | Nissan 370Z | 0.5 | 0.13x |
7 | Hyundai Elantra GT | 0.6 | 0.15x |
8th | Mercedes-Benz GLA | 0.6 | 0.15x |
9 | Mercedes Benz GLC | 0.7 | 0.18x |
10 | Lexus IS300 | 0.7 | 0.18x |
Source: Auto visie

I’m Jamie Bowen, a dedicated and passionate news writer for 24 News Reporters. My specialty is covering the automotive industry, but I also enjoy writing about a wide range of other topics such as business and politics. I believe in providing my readers with accurate information while entertaining them with engaging content.