Related Articles: 
It's not a good look for American vehicle manufacturers when the top three domestic brands lead the list of recalls that are hapening in 2026.
Ford seems to be living up to its reputation for Fix Or Repair Daily instead of First On Race Day.
Ford Motor Company leads all automakers by a massive margin for the most vehicle recalls issued in 2026. By mid-2026, Ford had already recalled nearly 10 million vehicles across dozens of separate safety campaigns, more than double the volume of the next closest manufacturer. This continues a trend from 2025, when Ford shattered a decade-old industry record by issuing 153 recalls in a single year.
One reason for so many recalls is a 2024 consent order with the NHTSA requiring third-party oversight of their safety recalls.
Another reason for Ford's recall woes seems to be a loss of quality control over its supplier base. Poorly made parts that do not meet OEM specifications will cause problems and recalls. It's an issue every auto maker faces but Ford seems to have dropped the ball on making sure the quality goes in before the name goes on the finished product.
Largest 2026 Campaign: A massive February recall affecting 4.3 million vehicles for a trailer lights and brakes software glitch that could reduce driver control.
The Rollaway Risk (741,000 vehicles): Ford recalled 2018-2021 Expeditions/Navigators, 2020-2021 Explorers/Aviators, and 2021 F-150s. An unexpected powertrain control module fault can cause the car to shift while driving, destroying the parking gear. This could allow the vehicle to roll away when parked. Ford is updating software and replacing damaged parts for free.
Ford has alo issued a "Do Not Drive" Warning (4,650 vehicles) for certain 2021-2026 Bronco Sports and Maverick trucks. Defective front suspension ball joints can fail and cause a loss of steering control.
Another Ford recall this year affects 36,000 2022-2026 Broncos. Plastic fender flares on some of these vehicles can detach and fall off, possibly hitting other vehicles. The fix is to have the fender flare clips replaced by a Ford dealer, or wrap some duct tape around the flares to hold them in place. Cool.
The company's largest recall campaign for 2026 is a June recall of more than 1 million vehicles due to power steering pump wiring that could overheat and cause fires even when parked. Vehicle owners are urged to park their vehicles outdoor and away from any nearby buildings until their vehicles can be repaired at a new car dealership. Repairs are free and are covered under warranty.
Other 2026 Dodge Ram recalls include one for 65,000 trucks for a possible Instrument Panel Cluster Failure (NHTSA Recall 26V225000 / FCA 35D). Buggy software can cause the digital dashboard display to go completely blank or fail to show critical safety information such as vehicle speed, warning lights and gear selection.
Another recall is for a Trailer Tow Module Malfunction (NHTSA Recall 26V059000 / FCA 03D). This recall covers over 456,000 Ram trucks and Jeep SUVs. A module failure may cause the trailer's lights and brakes to stop working.
A recall for a problem with the Steering Column Control Module (NHTSA Recall 26V244000) was also issued this year for certain Ram 2500 trucks. The module problem may cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system to fail, increasing the risk of an accident.
Remember when GM said "What's good for GM is good for America?" I guess nobody, including top management at GM, remembers those words.
GM's largest recall campaign so far is 2026 is an April recall of over 276,000 Chevrolet Malibu models due to blank or distorted rearview camera screens.
A more serious recall issued in June 2026 involves a steering control defect in over 26,000 2025 and 2026 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans. A critical nut in the steering assembly was only tightened by hand at the factory. If the nut comes loose, it can cause a complete loss of steering control. The recall involes inspecting the nut and tightening it as needed if it is found to be loose.
In May 2026, GM issued a "Do Not Drive" warning for a possible wheel lockup issue affecting 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV models. A missing component inside the 4WD transfer case can cause the wheels to suddenly lock up while driving. Dealers will tow the recalled vehicles for a free inspection and repair.
A recall for 2023-2026 Corvette Z06/ZR1 models deals with a fuel spillage issue. Fuel can overflow and spill while refueling creating a potential fire hazard.
Although Hyundai (and its sister company KIA) are in the top half of vehicle brands for quality and reliability(according to a 2026 JD Powers Survey of owners), they are having issues with some electrical and mechanical safety issues across its popular SUV lineups. Their largest 2026 Campaign has been a January recall affecting more than 568,000 Hyundai Palisade SUVs for a seating and folding hazard.
A recall has also been issued for over 96,000 2025–2026 Tucson and Tucson Hybrid SUVs because a software error can cause the dashboard screen to suddenly go blank. The fix is a software update.
Another recall went out in May 2026 affecting 421,000 Santa Cruz models. A software issue can cause the brakes to unexpectedly activate.
Toyota's historical reputation for quality and reliability has been taarnished lately by a series of engine failure recalls. Their largest recall campaign for 2026 has been a March recall of 550,000 Highlander models over faulty second-row seatbacks that could fail to lock.
A major safety recall in June 2026 went out for 16,000 2026 Toyota bZ and Lexus RZ electric vehicles. A software problem in the EV battery computer can shut down the electric motor and cause a loss of power while driving. The Battery Computer IssueThe Problem: The vehicle's high-voltage ECU (Electronic Control Unit) can have an error. The remedy is a software update to eliminate the problem.
Nissan has had problems over the years with failures of its CVT (Continuously Variable Transmissions) in some of its Altima cars and small SUVs, but lately it experienced one of the biggest year-over-year spikes, jumping from a minimal amount of affected vehicles in early 2025 to over 669,000 in early 2026, primarily due to a 642,000-unit recall of Rogue SUVs for a severe drive-power defect.
Nissan issed a recall for a digital dash display problem on 51,000 2025–2026 Kicks. The error may cause the display to blank out. Dealers will update the software for free.
Regardless of what brand of vehicle your drive, or its age, if you receive a recall notice in the mail or read about a recall that might apply to your vehicle, don't ignore it. Recalls are issued for a reason: to identify and repair potentially dangerous safety or mechanical defects.
New car owners will usually receive a letter or email from the vehicle manufacturer if a recall applies to their car. The vehicle manufacturers maintain a large data base of vehicle owners for this purpose. But as the years add up, that data base gets out of date as people sell and trade vehicles. Keeping track of second, third or fouth owners of a particular vehicle becomes very difficult is not impossible, so if you own an older used vehicle that has had one or more previous owners, you may never receive an official recall notice. You'll have to check it out on your own.
Go to NHTSA Safety Recall Checks and enter your vehicle's VIN number (usually located on a metal plate at the base of the windshield on the driver's side) to see if there are any outstanding recalls for your car, truck or SUV.
Related Articles: 
Click Here to See More Carley Automotive Technical Articles