NHTSA files every campaign under a component. Grouped that way, the record shows which systems keep failing, which are fading, and how often the fix now arrives as a software update rather than a part.
Components tracked27Plain-language groups of NHTSA codes
Software remedies18%of 2026 campaigns
Advisories issued152026 to date
Campaigns by component
Powertrain leads, with 109 campaigns since 2010
Vehicle recall campaigns by primary component, 2010 to 2026, twelve most frequent.
Powertrain
109
Electrical system
94
Fuel system
57
Airbags
56
Back-over prevention
49
Brakes
49
Visibility and wipers
48
Engine and cooling
41
Seat belts
38
Structure
38
Lighting
36
Steering
33
Source: NHTSA ODI. Each campaign counted once, under its primary component.
Share of vehicles affected
Back-over prevention campaigns covered the most vehicles in 2025
Vehicles affected by 2025 campaigns, by primary component.
Back-over prevention39%
Fuel system12%
Brakes9%
Electrical system9%
Structure7%
All other components23%
Source: NHTSA ODI. 12.9M vehicles or units in 2025.
Component mix by year
Electrical systems have overtaken airbags as the leading reason for a recall
Share of vehicle campaigns by primary component, 2016 to 2026. 2026 is through October.
PowertrainElectrical systemFuel systemAirbagsBack-over preventionAll other
Source: NHTSA ODI. The lighter column is a partial year.
Remedy type
Software updates now remedy a third of campaigns, up from 18% in 2016
Share of campaigns by remedy, 2016 to 2026. Inspections, labels, refunds, pending and unstated remedies make up the remainder.
Physical repair or replacementSoftware update
Source: NHTSA ODI remedy descriptions, classified by rule (see Methodology).
Trends by component
Back-over prevention has climbed fastest since 2019
Campaigns per year, 2019 to 2026, with the 2026 count to date.
Powertrain11
Electrical system10
Back-over prevention7
Visibility and wipers7
Brakes1
Airbags3
Source: NHTSA ODI. The blue bar is 2026 to date.
Advisories
When NHTSA says stop driving
A small number of campaigns carry an advisory to stop driving the vehicle or to park it outdoors until it is repaired. They are tracked separately here because the risk is immediate.