Which Trucks and SUVs are Expected to Have the Most Recalls?

iSeeCars analyzed the latest recall data from NHTSA and found that 25 cars have the highest projected lifetime recalls, which is significantly higher than average.

According to iSeeCars, "The most recalled cars have quite a bit more lifetime recalls than the industry median of 3.2, and substantially more than the 25 least recalled cars, which are projected to have less than one recall over the course of a 30-year lifespan."

Recalls can really throw a wrench in the works for fleet operations. When a truck gets recalled, it means there’s a serious issue that needs fixing, which can take that vehicle off the road for a while. This downtime hits fleet productivity hard and can mess with schedules.

Plus, ignoring recalls can put drivers' safety at risk, leading to bigger problems down the line. Staying on top of recalls is key to keeping trucks running smoothly and ensuring everyone stays safe on the job.

Work Truck delved into the latest data to identify the pickup trucks and SUVs to help keep your tools of the trade doing the jobs they are needed to do.

The Most Recalled Pickup Trucks

Which pickup trucks have the highest chance of a recall? The list of 25 top most recalled vehicles included four pickup trucks, all of which are popular in commercial fleets:

Ford Maverick

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls: 20.7
• Compared to median: 6.4x

Ram 1500 Classic

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 19.3
• Compared to median: 6.0x

Ram 1500

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 19.1
• Compared to median: 5.9x

Ford F-150

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 17.2
• Compared to median: 5.3x

The Most Recalled SUVs

Which SUVs have the highest chance of a recall? The list of 25 top most recalled vehicles included 12 SUVs, some of which are popular in commercial fleets:

Tesla Model Y

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 66.9
• Compared to median: 20.7x

Genesis GV70

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 22.3
• Compared to median: 6.9x

Kia Telluride

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 22.2
• Compared to median: 6.9x

Rivian R1S

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 20.7
• Compared to median: 6.4x

Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 20.4
• Compared to median: 6.3x

Volkswagen Atlas

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 18.5
• Compared to median: 5.7x

Volkswagen Cross Sport

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 18.1
• Compared to median: 5.6x

Ford Bronco

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 17.0
• Compared to median: 5.3x

Kia EV6

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 14.9
• Compared to median: 4.6x

Ford Bronco Sport

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 14.9
• Compared to median: 4.6x

Ford Explorer

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 14.8
• Compared to median: 4.6x

Kia Sorento Hybrid

• Expected 30-year lifetime recalls, excluding OTA: 14.7
• Compared to median: 4.6x

About the study: iSeeCars analyzed vehicle safety recall campaigns as of May 7, 2024 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for cars from model years 2015-2024. The number of campaigns for each model was aggregated and projected for an expected 30-year lifespan, taking into account the overall behavior of the automaker and when each recall campaign was issued in the car’s lifetime.