Auto manufacturers recalled 22 million vehicles in 2013—that’s more than any year since 2004 when there were 30.8 million autos recalled. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced this figure in a recent report about 2013. Other key facts and figures:
- There were 632 auto recall campaigns (Up from 581 auto recalls and 16.4 million vehicles in 2012).
- Of the 22 million recalled last year, nearly seven million were from NHTSA initiated-investigations spurred by consumer complaints.
- 15 million occurred because automakers reported a safety problem.
Heading the pack with the most number of cars recalled—almost 5.3 million—was Toyota. About 1.6 million of the autos involved were over potentially faulty air bags. Electronic interference and spider webs obstructing drain holes were two other factors.
Toyota also led the auto recall list in 2012 with over 5 million motor vehicles in the US alone. This is the automaker that previously recalled over 11 million Toyota and Lexus cars in the wake of sudden unintended acceleration lawsuits having to do with ill-fitting floor mats, sticky gas pedals, and other problems.
Now, the car manufacturer is under scrutiny again over a potential fire-safety issue that could affect the seat-heater systems in about 36,000 vehicles. Already, Toyota has stopped selling certain 2013 and 2014 models until the matter can be resolved.
The issue came to light when South Korean safety officials said that parts of the seat-heater system did not meet US fire-retardant standards. Toyota is hoping to get a reprieve from federal regulators because to date no no related injuries, fires, or car crashes have been reported.
Chrysler Group, with nearly 4.7 million autos and 37 actions (including 1.6 million Jeep Liberty and Grand Cherokee vehicles over the risk of fires in rear-impact crashes), was second on this year’s list as the car manufacturer with the most vehicles recalled. With nearly 2.8 million autos in 15 recalls, Honda ranked number three, with Hyundai, at 2.2 million vehicles and 9 recalls, and Ford, at nearly 1.2 million autos and 16 recalls, taking fourth and fifth places, respectively. Kia, Nissan, BMW, General Motors, and Suzuki also recalled vehicles.
Automakers have a responsibility to make sure their cars, trucks, motorcycles, jeeps, SUVs, vans, and buses are free from safety issues that could cause crashes. The same can be said for auto parts manufacturers. At the Gilbert Law Group, our auto products liability lawyers represent clients injured because of auto defects, tire problems, child seat flaws, and other vehicle-related malfunctions. Even if your vehicle was not called back for repairs, a parts defect could still have been the cause of your traffic crash that led to catastrophic injuries and deaths. You may have grounds for a case against the car manufacturer, seller, distributor, maintenance company, and others.
