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 50 campaigns since 2010
Vehicle recall campaigns by primary component, 2010 to 2026, twelve most frequent.
Airbags
50
Electrical system
36
Fuel system
32
Powertrain
24
Engine and cooling
19
Brakes
17
Equipment
14
Back-over prevention
13
Steering
12
Structure
10
Seats
10
Lighting
9
Source: NHTSA ODI. Each campaign counted once, under its primary component.
Share of vehicles affected
Electrical systems campaigns covered the most vehicles in 2025
Vehicles affected by 2025 campaigns, by primary component.
Electrical system48%
Brakes28%
Lighting14%
Powertrain6%
Steering1%
All other components1%
Source: NHTSA ODI. 1.16M 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.
AirbagsElectrical systemFuel systemPowertrainEngine and coolingAll other
Source: NHTSA ODI. The lighter column is a partial year.
Remedy type
Software updates now remedy 17% of campaigns, up from 12% 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
Engines and cooling have climbed fastest since 2019
Campaigns per year, 2019 to 2026, with the 2026 count to date.
Fuel system1
Electrical system0
Back-over prevention3
Airbags2
Engine and cooling0
Powertrain0
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.