Recall Masters says 2025 auto recalls topped 28 million vehicles

By AI, Created 11:31 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Recall Masters’ ninth annual State of Automotive Recalls report says U.S. recall activity in 2025 included 447 NHTSA-mandated campaigns and 223 voluntary notices affecting more than 28 million passenger vehicles, light trucks and vans. The report points to software issues, powertrain defects and higher recall completion rates as the biggest trends shaping repairs and dealer response.

Why it matters: - Recall volume and repair speed affect vehicle safety, dealer service traffic and OEM costs. - The report says software failures and powertrain issues are driving a growing share of recall complexity. - Higher completion rates suggest automakers and dealers may be getting better at reaching owners and closing campaigns.

What happened: - Recall Masters released its ninth annual State of Automotive Recalls report covering U.S. automotive recall activity in 2025. - The dataset identifies 447 NHTSA-mandated recall campaigns and 223 voluntary manufacturer recall notices. - Those recalls affected more than 28 million passenger vehicles, light trucks and vans. - The report was released May 4, 2026.

The details: - Software and electronics defects led the field again, with 119 NHTSA campaigns affecting 8,192,000 vehicles. - The report ties many of those campaigns to rearview cameras, driver assistance systems, instrument clusters and similar components. - Powertrain defects accounted for 87 NHTSA campaigns affecting 7,985,863 vehicles. - The report says drivetrain component failures often require specialized diagnostics and repair procedures, which can lengthen repair times and raise costs. - Airbag recalls fell to 19 NHTSA campaigns affecting 404,337 vehicles. - The report compares that with 2024, when airbag recalls affected 721,580 vehicles. - The top 5 brands accounted for 73.7% of all affected vehicles. - The top 10 recall campaigns affected 8,806,863 vehicles, or 30.8% of all affected vehicles. - Approximately 50.3% of all recalled vehicles announced in 2025 were repaired by February 2026. - Many 2025 campaigns posted completion rates above 90% in their first year. - The report says 2025 campaigns also showed stronger consumer awareness and more vigilant dealership service departments.

Between the lines: - The mix of recalls shows how much modern vehicles now depend on software and electronics, not just mechanical systems. - The rise in powertrain recalls suggests repair execution may be getting harder, especially where parts supply and technician training matter. - The drop in airbag recalls may indicate that the Takata-era backlog is easing, though the report does not frame that as a finished problem. - The concentration in a small number of brands and campaigns means a few automakers still account for most of the industry’s recall burden.

What’s next: - Recall Masters says the full report is available at the full report, with breakdowns by OEM, system category and campaign risk level. - Media outlets can request high-resolution infographic assets from Laurie Halter with Charisma! Communications at laurie@charismacommunications.com. - Recall Masters says it will keep building tools for dealerships, manufacturers and the broader auto industry to close recall gaps.

The bottom line: - U.S. recall activity remained heavy in 2025, but repair completion improved — and software plus powertrain failures dominated the risk landscape.