GasBuddy Finds 70 Percent of Vehicles on the Road Have at Least Two Recalls; Ford, Chevy, Dodge Amongst Brands With Most Defects

Company stresses the importance of checking vehicles for recalls in recognition of National Safety Month’s Driving Week, June 24-30

Today we found that 70 percent of vehicles on the road have at least two recalls based on the evaluation of registered Car Profile vehicles in the GasBuddy app.

As the country enters National Safety Month’s Driving Week, we stress the importance of checking your vehicle’s recall status to prevent hazardous road conditions.

We found that 56 percent of vehicles on the road have more than three outstanding recalls, 34 percent with more than five recalls, and 10 percent of vehicles on the road have more than 10 recalls throughout the lifetime of the vehicle.

“With a large secondary market with vehicles changing hands, it’s sometimes very difficult for manufacturers to find and notify the new owner leading to recalls that go unheeded,” says Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “To avoid potential serious injury, major breakdowns or emergency repairs that can be untimely, motorists should actively monitor recalls issued for their vehicle and have their car serviced as soon as possible if they locate a recall on their vehicle.”

According to our Car Profile data, the top five recalls affecting the highest volume of vehicles involve exterior lighting issues that cause poor illumination and potential car accidents without warning. Currently 19 percent of vehicles are affected.

The top 5 car brands that have been involved with the highest number of unique recall campaigns are:

1. Ford (343)
2. Chevrolet (252)
3. Dodge (218)
4. Toyota (138)
5. Nissan (125)

The top 5 vehicle makes with the most recalls include:

1. Ford F-150 (51)
2. Ford E-350 (50)
3. Jeep Grand Cherokee (48)
4. Ford E-250 (45)
5. Dodge Ram (40)

Top 5 categories with the highest number of recalls are:

1. Air Bags
2. Exterior Lighting
3. Electrical Systems
4. Brakes
5. Fuel Systems

How much does recall repair cost the average driver? “Usually nothing,” says DeHaan. “The cost of taking care of a recall is covered by the manufacturer for cars 10 years and younger, so it’s no extra cost to ensure the safety of your car. When recalls are issued for even older vehicles, those costs are typically covered as well.”

The findings were collected from GasBuddy’s Car Profile feature that lets drivers enter their car make and model to receive important recall information and notifications about their vehicle. More than 700,000 vehicles have been entered into the Car Profile feature since its debut in February 2018.

To ensure your vehicle is safe, we offer these tips:

• Read your owner’s manual and follow the factory maintenance schedule along with other recommended servicing methods
• If something feels or sounds unusual while you’re driving, get your vehicle inspected by a certified automotive technician as soon as possible
• Enter your car information in GasBuddy’s Car Profile to obtain a list of outstanding recalls for your vehicle or visit the NHTSA website.