Ford Shatters Auto Industry Recall Record in 2025
Key Statistics
- 153 total recalls issued by Ford/Lincoln – more than any automaker in history
- 12.93 million vehicles affected across all campaigns
- Recalls include both physical repairs and software updates
- Average: 1 new recall every 2.4 days (35,414 vehicles/day)
Unprecedented Scale
Ford’s recall crisis reached historic proportions in 2025, dwarfing last year’s record of 89 recalls. To put this in perspective:
- Affected more vehicles than the next 9 automakers combined (12.93M vs. 12.9M)
- Top 3 largest recalls all came from Ford, including:
- Two 1.45M-vehicle campaigns (rearview camera issues)
- One 1.08M-vehicle campaign (fixed via over-the-air update)
Industry Comparison
Top 5 Automakers by Recall Volume
- Ford/Lincoln: 153 recalls | 12,926,436 vehicles
- Toyota: 15 recalls | 3,223,256 vehicles
- Stellantis: 53 recalls | 2,776,952 vehicles
- Honda/Acura: 21 recalls | 1,560,813 vehicles
- Hyundai/Genesis: 21 recalls | 1,078,212 vehicles
(Notable: Hyundai/Kia alliance would rank 4th with 2.6M vehicles across 34 recalls)
Critical Context
- Remedy type matters: Official data delayed on breakdown of dealer-required vs. software-only fixes
- Ford’s technological edge: Many recalls resolved via OTA updates to connected vehicles (F-150s, Mustangs, Broncos)
- Record-keeping factor: Modern tracking detects issues older systems might have missed
The Big Question
While Ford insists precision monitoring explains high recall numbers, critics question:
- Are these proactive safety measures?
- Or signs of fundamental quality control issues?
NHTSA data current through December 19, 2025; Final figures expected to rise with late-year reporting.
