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
Airbags lead, with 87 campaigns since 2010
Vehicle recall campaigns by primary component, 2010 to 2026, twelve most frequent.
Airbags
87
Electrical system
61
Brakes
46
Steering
37
Seat belts
37
Powertrain
35
Fuel system
29
Equipment
23
Visibility and wipers
23
Suspension
22
Seats
20
Tires
16
Source: NHTSA ODI. Each campaign counted once, under its primary component.
Share of vehicles affected
Engines and cooling campaigns covered the most vehicles in 2025
Vehicles affected by 2025 campaigns, by primary component.
Engine and cooling55%
Brakes10%
Powertrain8%
Back-over prevention8%
Structure7%
All other components13%
Source: NHTSA ODI. 1.08M vehicles or units in 2025.
Component mix by year
Airbags remain the leading reason for a recall
Share of vehicle campaigns by primary component, 2016 to 2026. 2026 is through October.
AirbagsElectrical systemBrakesSteeringSeat beltsAll other
Source: NHTSA ODI. The lighter column is a partial year.
Remedy type
Software updates now remedy a third of campaigns, up from 15% 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
Powertrain has climbed fastest since 2019
Campaigns per year, 2019 to 2026, with the 2026 count to date.
Airbags4
Electrical system2
Brakes1
Seat belts0
Powertrain3
Fuel system1
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.