Tesla is Most Likely Recalled Car Brand (And it is Not Close)

Tesla is by far the most likely to be recalled vehicle brand, according to new research.

Automakers announced more than 400 total recalls last year, covering more than 25 million vehicles. Teslas scored four of the top five spots on the list, according to the price-tracking car search engine iSeeCars.com.

“Recall rates can vary between makes and models,” said Karl Brauer, an iSeeCars executive analyst. “But the extreme variation in the number of recalls a car is projected to receive over its lifetime is something we didn’t expect.”

Researchers reviewed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall records for the vehicles in the last 10 model years. They used that data to project recalls for the next 30 years. 

The most recalled vehicle, Tesla’s Model Y, is projected to have more than 62 recalls.  The Model 3 was third, with nearly 57 expected recalls in a 30-year lifetime, followed by the Model X (27) and the Model S (26). 

On the flip side, the Mini Cooper Convertible is projected to have the fewest recalls over the three-decade period (less than 1), followed by the Lexus NX 300h, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Mercedes CLA and Lexus RX 450h.

“For consumers who don’t want to deal with a recall, the top models offer a substantially lower risk than even average models,” Brauer said.

Ford Motor Co. issued the most recalls last year of any auto manufacturer, calling back vehicles 67 separate times over the course of 12 months. That far surpassed the 45 recalls by the next closest manufacturer, Volkswagen.

California Car Owners: Know Your Lemon Law Rights

Major auto manufacturers call back millions of vehicles every year over a wide range of defects that pose real safety threats. They often announce those recalls long after cars have been sold and hit the road.

Fortunately, many car owners and lessors in California do not have to wait for a recall to get a defective vehicle fixed. You have some important rights under the state’s lemon law.

The California lemon law requires GM and other car manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. The law also forces manufacturers to buy back (or replace, in some situations) cars that they cannot or will not fix.

The buyback requirement includes compensating the owner for any down payment on the car, as well as for monthly loan payments and the outstanding balance on any loan. The manufacturer is also responsible for towing, rental car and other related expenses. 

A carmaker can alternatively offer to replace the vehicle. It is up to the owner, however, to decide whether to accept or reject this alternative arrangement. 

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.