DATA STUDY
The most-recalled model years
The model years carrying the most NHTSA safety recalls in our catalog.
Recalls are the strongest defect signal NHTSA publishes. Below are the 25 model years in the MotorCaliber catalog with the most vehicle recalls on record. A high recall count is not the same as a dangerous car: it can reflect a manufacturer catching and fixing problems, and every recall comes with a free repair. It does mean an owner has more campaigns to confirm, so a VIN check matters most on these.
| Vehicle | Recalls | Park-outside |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | 42 | No |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 | 41 | No |
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 | 38 | No |
| 2020 Ford Explorer | 33 | No |
| 2020 Lincoln Aviator | 30 | No |
| 2021 Ford F-150 | 29 | Yes |
| 2019 Ram 1500 | 29 | No |
| 2022 Ford Maverick | 28 | Yes |
| 2021 Lincoln Aviator | 28 | No |
| 2021 Ford Explorer | 26 | No |
| 2020 Tesla Model Y | 24 | No |
| 2022 Ford Explorer | 24 | No |
| 2022 Ford F-150 | 23 | No |
| 2021 Tesla Model S | 23 | No |
| 2020 Ford Escape | 23 | No |
| 2022 Ford Bronco | 23 | No |
| 2019 Tesla Model 3 | 22 | No |
| 2022 Tesla Model X | 22 | No |
| 2021 Tesla Model 3 | 22 | No |
| 2021 Lincoln Corsair | 22 | No |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 | 22 | No |
| 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 | 22 | No |
| 2020 Tesla Model 3 | 21 | No |
| 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 21 | Yes |
| 2022 Lincoln Aviator | 21 | No |
How we compiled this: we ranked every vehicle in our catalog by its count of NHTSA vehicle recalls, excluding equipment recalls. Counts are point-in-time as of Oct 1, 2026; confirm any specific car's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.