If you always wondered which cars are the ones with the most recalls in the US market, you are in the right place. Thanks to Iseecars.com, which compiled the data from NHTSA, we now have a list with the most recalled models, as well as the ones with the least amount of recalls.
Among the worst offenders you’ll find some pretty surprising entries, including cars that enjoy a certain reputation of good quality. Having a car recalled doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s bad at this sector, as recalls can be ordered for a number of reasons, ranging from minor issues like incorrect stickers to major safety-related problems. However, recall rates are still a good indicator of overall quality.
With that said, the car that topped the list with the most recalled models is the Mercedes C-Class. According to the study, the German premium model “has been recalled for a host of safety issues, from several different recall campaigns involving airbags to multiple campaigns involving failure in the steering column.”
Among the list of recalls for the C-Class was also a campaign to fix the sunroof, because it was improperly bonded on the frame and therefore stands the risk of falling on passengers.
“Luxury cars such as the Mercedes C-Class or the BMW 3-Series and 4-Series, which are third on the list, are packed with features, and each additional feature can be another point of failure,” said Phong Ly, iSeeCars.com CEO. “This could explain why C-Class owners have to contend with so many recall-related headaches.”
The GMC Sierra finished second behind the C-Class. It also had many recall campaigns for things like faulty seat belts, loss of power in steering, brake pedals becoming inoperative, and fuel tanks overfilling, among other.
The majority of the cars with the highest recall rates come from domestic manufacturers, while most of the models with the lowest recall rates come from Japanese brands.
The study also compared the recall rates to Consumer Reports’ Used Car Reliability ratings, finding that models with high recall rates tend to have low reliability ratings and vice versa. One surprise on that comparison came from the Toyota 4Runner, which scored a high reliability rating from CR but also suffered from many recall campaigns. Most of these recalls however were for “relatively less severe issues such as improperly tightened roof racks, loose accessories, adhesive for the hood scoop, and incorrect weight labels and spare tire air pressure.”
H/T To Jalopnik!
