Auto Recalls Increase by 30% in 2007

Recalls by automobile manufacturers increased 30% in 2007 versus 2006, slightly more than previously anticipated.

While a large number of recalls is certainly not a good thing for an automaker, it beats not finding the problem.

Recalls have risen sharply ever since the TREAD Act of 2000, which — in case you don’t keep careful track of federal consumer safety legislation — was a response to the recall of 10 million Firestone tires. Since then, automakers have averaged 18.9 million recalled vehicles a year, putting 2007’s total of 14.5 million below the average. The total for 2006 was 11.2 million.

The biggest recalls this year came from Ford, which topped 5.5 million vehicles recalled. Ford’s difficulties largely stemmed from an August recall of 3.6 million vehicles with faulty cruise control switches, an ongoing problem that has led to 10 million vehicle recalls over the past decade.

Other big totals included DaimlerChrysler, with 1.4 million vehicles recalled (down from 2.4 million in 2006) and Volkswagen, which saw its worst year of the decade with 1.4 million vehicles recalled.

Some of the “winners” included Toyota and GM, both of which saw sharp declines from previous years, with GM seeing its lowest number of recalled vehicles this decade.

Auto Recalls Up 30% in 2007 (Detroit Free Press)