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
Electrical systems and airbags account for more campaigns than the next four components combined
Vehicle recall campaigns by primary component, 2010 to 2026, twelve most frequent.
Electrical system
87
Airbags
87
Powertrain
72
Brakes
34
Back-over prevention
33
Engine and cooling
31
Lighting
26
Steering
26
Equipment
26
Fuel system
21
Structure
18
Visibility and wipers
18
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 prevention21%
Electrical system19%
Engine and cooling16%
Powertrain13%
Airbags12%
All other components19%
Source: NHTSA ODI. 2.69M 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.
Electrical systemAirbagsPowertrainBrakesBack-over preventionAll other
Source: NHTSA ODI. The lighter column is a partial year.
Remedy type
Software updates now remedy 47% of campaigns, up from 11% 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
Lighting has climbed fastest since 2019
Campaigns per year, 2019 to 2026, with the 2026 count to date.
Electrical system3
Airbags2
Back-over prevention4
Powertrain3
Lighting2
Brakes0
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.