This Car Manufacturer Had the Most Recalls in 2022

Here is one year-end list that car manufacturers do not want to be at the top of: Having the most recalls.

The dubious distinction goes to Ford Motor Co., which issued 67 separate recalls last year, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is a whopping 22 more recalls than the next closest manufacturer, Volkswagen (45).

The Ford recalls covered some 8.6 million vehicles, according to UPI. “Twelve of Ford's recalls were for powertrain issues, eight were related to back-over prevention systems and seven were electrical system issues,” the news agency reports.

Daimler Trucks landed third on the list, with 42 recalls over the year, followed by Chrysler (38). Tesla landed behind Ford for the most total vehicles recalled (3.8 million), along with General Motors (3.3 million) and Chrysler (3 million).

“Among all manufacturers, the broad category of ‘equipment’ was the cause of 208 recalls,” Joe Fisher reports for UPI. “Equipment included car batteries, cooling systems, center consoles, dashboards, axels and power steering among many other components. More than 4 million vehicles were recalled to repair faulty electrical systems.”

Ford near the end of the year announced that it was calling back more than half a million sport utility vehicles, citing faulty fuel injectors that the company said could crack and result in engine fires.

In April, the automaker recalled roughly 345,000 vehicles, citing a similar risk of fires stemming from oil leaks. A month earlier, Ford announced that it was calling back 18,000 sport utility vehicles at risk of engine fires if the cars are involved in crashes.

Jim Farley, the company’s CEO, acknowledged that the company has a recall problem in a December interview with Ford Authority.

“Fixing quality is my No. 1 priority,” Farley told Ford Authority. “It is the most important initiative in the whole company. And it’s going to take several years. We didn’t lose it in just one or two years. Until we fix quality, nothing else matters.”

How the California Lemon Law Protects Car Owners

There is some good news for Ford and other car owners in California: You do not have to wait for a recall to get a defective vehicle fixed. The California lemon law offers some valuable rights and protections.

The lemon law generally requires car manufacturers to perform a variety of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces them to buy back covered vehicles that they are not able or are unwilling to fix. A manufacturer can instead offer to replace the vehicle, but it is up to the owner 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.