The number of vehicles recalled in 2024 dropped significantly — but unrepaired recalls still represent a major issue on American roads, according to the latest analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from BizzyCar.

The recall management platform’s 2024 Recall Report found 27.7 million vehicles were affected by recalls issued last year, a decrease of almost 18% from the 33.6 million vehicles recalled in 2023. Some 6.1 million vehicles were recalled in the fourth quarter of 2024, down slightly from 6.5 million the previous quarter.

But the report also noted the number of recalled vehicles on the road that have not had their recall remedied remains staggeringly high at 72.7 million — one-fourth of the 291.1 million registered vehicles in the U.S.

That number, the report said, “highlights a critical and ongoing challenge for manufacturers as they struggle to maintain quality control amid increasingly complex vehicle technologies. The sheer volume of recalls not only poses significant safety risks for millions of drivers but also erodes consumer confidence in the reliability of their vehicles.”

“As safety concerns continue to mount, the need for stricter quality assurance measures and proactive recall management is more pressing than ever. Manufacturers must prioritize rigorous testing and swift response strategies to address defects, safeguard drivers, and restore trust in the automotive industry.”

Electrical systems remained the most recalled component at 6.3 million vehicles, accounting for 23% of 2024 recalls, driven by the steady increase in advanced vehicle technologies, according to the report.

Tesla was the most recalled brand in 2024 with 5.1 million units affected, the report showed. All of those recalls could be addressed without any physical attention through over-the-air updates, part of a growing trend in that direction. About a third of all vehicles recalled last year can be fixed via OTA updates, up from 21% in 2023.

Stellantis (4.7 million vehicles), Ford (4.6 million) and Honda (3.8 million) followed Tesla on the recall list.

More than 2.7 million Honda vehicles were recalled during Q4, the report said, more than a third of the 6.1 million across the industry. Honda, Stellantis (831,000), Tesla (697,000) and General Motors (685,000) accounted for 85% of all recalled vehicles in Q4, which BizzyCar said illustrates “concentrated safety challenges among major automakers.”

On the positive side, the report highlighted the “turnaround story” of Ford, which has cut its number of recalled vehicles almost in half over the past two years, from 8.7 million in 2022 to 4.6 million in 2024. After totaling almost 3.7 million units in the first half of last year — 2.2 million in Q1 alone — Ford recalled less than 1 million in the second half.

“This improvement reflects Ford’s renewed focus on quality assurance, proactive defect detection and streamlined production processes,” BizzyCar founder and CEO Ryan Maher said. “By addressing key issues earlier in the manufacturing cycle, Ford has demonstrated a commitment to building safer, more reliable vehicles, positioning itself as a leader in recall management and customer trust restoration.”

The year’s largest recall came from Honda, which recalled some 2.25 million 2021-2024 Accord and CR-V models for a faulty fuel injector that could create a fire risk. A Stellantis recall of 2022-2024 Ram 1500 and Jeep Cherokee vehicles for an ABS control module software error that could disable stability control affected 1.15 million units.

The full report is available here.