Which Vehicles Have The Least And Most Recalls?

Which Vehicles Have The Least And Most Recalls?

Over the years I've received a handful of recall notices in the mail. Almost all of them are for minor issues that would probably never affect my car, and even if they did they were only correcting minor issues. I usually held off in getting them corrected until my next routine service, but on occasion I'd get one that needed to be addressed immediately. Whether it be a malfunction with the air bags or something that could go wrong with the braking system, there are times where you need to act quickly. Sure, it may be a hassle to take the car in for the day, but hopefully these times are few and far between. 

Unfortunately for some drivers, these may occur far more frequently if you purchase some of the models on one end of a recent survey that analyzed data from each of the auto manufacturers and dealerships in the U.S. to determine which vehicles have received the least and most recall notices in recent years. 

The study was performed calculating numbers in terms of "per 100,000 units sold." The industry average of approximately .79, which is less that one per hundred thousand units.

The most recalled model surprised me: The Mercedes-Benz C Class. It was by and far the highest on the list with a whopping 5.77 units per hundred thousand. BMW also ranked high on the list with its 3 and 4 series models racking up an average of 2.95. Some other notables are the Toyota 4 Runner, Nissan Pathfinder, and GMC Sierra.

On the other end of the spectrum you have the biggest winner: The Hyundai accent. This model had the lowest recall rate with a .1 per every hundred thousand. Other models that made the list are the Hyundai Elantra, Toyota's Corolla and Camry, and Honda's Accord, CRV, and Civic.

How the rate of recalls issued affects customer's satisfaction or faith in their chosen brand is a complicated question, but from personal experience it can be a definite inconvenience. Our partners at Haselwood Volkswagen Hyundai Auto Repair Service of Bremerton in WA advise to get all recalls administered ASAP. Even smaller recalls can affect larger systems, and while spending a few hours at your dealership's service center may be a little inconvenient, the peace of mind it'll give you is priceless.

Written By: Todd Hendrickson
Source: DMV.org