Recalls exist for a reason. When an automaker releases notifications, it’s meant to rectify potentially dangerous, even deadly issues. However, drivers in the United States have decided to ignore maintenance and repair orders from automakers and the NHTSA to the tune of nearly 60 million vehicles. 

Roughly one in five vehicles in America had an open safety recall as of 2024

57.7 million vehicles on American roads had open safety recalls in 2024. In states like California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Ohio, over two million vehicles have outstanding repair or replacement orders. It’s a sobering set of statistics that Americans aren’t prioritizing keeping up with notifications from automakers, even if the remedies are free of charge. 

According to Carfax, that puts the figure at around one in five vehicles on American streets and highways. Even more troublingly, light trucks lead the segments for unfixed recalls. Roughly 24% of light trucks have outstanding issues.

That’s 1% more than minivans and 3% higher than passenger cars. And with curb weights much higher and handling much worse than smaller cars, a pickup truck with mechanical issues is a serious threat to bystanders in addition to occupants. 

Granted, some recalls are minor inconveniences, rather than life-threatening faults. However, other issues can have serious implications in a disaster. For instance, the Takata airbag recall impacted around 67 million cars, trucks, SUVs, and minivans worldwide. It is the biggest automotive recall in history and affects vehicles going back to the early 2000s. Still, the Takata issue is less than 90% handled.

So, what can you do? You can use your VIN or license plate information on the NHTSA’s lookup tool. The lookup tool can let you know if your vehicle has an outstanding service notification that you can rectify at an automaker’s certified service center.