Tesla Wins ‘Award’ for Most Recalled Car

Tesla has earned a new title it may not want to tout: the brand with the most car recalls.

A new study(Opens in a new window) by iSeeCars analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) list of recalls from 2014 to 2023. It examined when each recall was issued in the car’s lifetime. Then, the researchers projected the total recalls over an (admittedly high(Opens in a new window)) expected 30-year lifespan of the vehicle.

The average number of recalls per model is four, the study found, but researchers were surprised to find a wider-than-expected variance between models.

5 Least Recalled Vehicles

1. Mini Convertible – 0.2 recalls over projected 30-year lifetime

2. Lexus NX 300h – 0.3

3. Lincoln MKZ Hybrid – 0.5

4. Mercedes-Benz CLS – 0.5

5. Lexus RX 450h – 0.5

Overall, Toyota and Mercedes had the most vehicles in the least recalled list. “Buyers seeking a model with a low recall rate have plenty of choices, while brands like Mercedes and Toyota have strong reputations for quality, and this list backs up their brand image,” the study says.

Tesla Model Y, the top-selling and most recalled Tesla
(Credit: Tesla)

In terms of the most recalled models, the data paints a clear picture: Teslas will cause buyers the most trouble of any car brand. The electric-vehicle maker’s core lineup—Models 3, Y, X, and S—claimed four of the top five spots. The fifth goes to the gas-powered Porsche Panamera.

5 Most Recalled Vehicles

1. Tesla Model Y – 62.4 recalls over projected 30-year lifetime

2. Porsche Panamera – 61.8

3. Tesla Model 3 – 56.8

4. Tesla Model X – 27.3

5. Tesla Model S – 26.4

Outside of Porsche and Tesla, vehicles from BMW and Jeep made the list of most recalled three times each, while Ford, Lincoln, Ram, and Volkswagen show up twice. Chevrolet and Kia each have one model on the list.

“Most vehicles behave like the Toyota Camry–most of their recalls are issued when they are first introduced, with a rapid decline after 1-3 years,” says Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars. “But some cars, like the Tesla Model S, see a pattern of ongoing recalls, or even an increasing number of recalls, as time passes. Owners of vehicles with that pattern will continue to face recall hassles for years after they acquire their car.”

(Credit: iSeeCars)

While some Tesla issues require physical fixes—such as tightening loose bolts and replacing mirrors—many are software-related. That means there’s no need to physically return the cars for service, as the issues are solved via over-the-air (OTA) updates. For example, a Tesla recall last fall required a software update to fix steering issues. A few months earlier, an OTA update reprogrammed the retraction on automatic windows.

“Thankfully, Tesla’s ability to enact ‘over-the-air’ updates suggests at least some portion of its recalls won’t involve service center visits,” the study says. But that doesn’t mean these issues aren’t concerning. In February, Tesla recalled over 360,000 vehicles over a potentially fatal update to its self-driving software.

No other electric vehicles made either list, although the Chevrolet Bolt had a notoriously big recall(Opens in a new window) years ago. As EV adoption grows rapidly in the coming years, we will be able to compare models more easily.

In general, EVs save owners money(Opens in a new window) on maintenance costs because they have just a fraction of the total mechanical parts. That means no oil changes and no transmission blowouts.

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