The 12 biggest U.S. auto recalls of all time
Along came a spider … only this one prefers gasoline over curds and whey. The yellow sac spider’s propensity for weaving webs in something known as the evaporative canister vent line of Mazda6 cars triggered the recall of 52,000 vehicles in 2011.
According to Mazda Motor Corp., certain Mazda6 vehicles produced from April 8, 2008, through Feb. 8, 2010, may attract the spiders, which apparently view the car’s fuel tank as prime real estate. The resulting clog puts stress on the fuel tank and eventually can result in a crack, leading to fuel leakage and increased fire risk.
While it may be one of the weirdest recalls in automotive history, it’s far from the biggest. But whether it’s large or small, can a vehicle recall affect your auto insurance premiums, either now or in the future?
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| The 1972 Ford Mustang was part of the largest vehicle recall in U.S. history. |
First, a bit of background about recalls. Traffic accidents cause about 33,000 deaths each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Getting unsafe vehicles off the road helps improve safety and saves lives. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issues vehicle safety standards and requires manufacturers to recall vehicles that do not meet those standards.
The manufacturer then must remedy the problem at no cost to car owners. To date, more than 390 million vehicles have been recalled in the United States. That includes an expanded recall announced April 14, 2011, involving nearly 1.2 million Ford F-150 pickup trucks — the most popular vehicle in the United States. The recalled trucks (which may have an electrical problem causing airbags to deploy unexpectedly) are from the 2004 through 2006 model years.
When it comes to auto insurance, recalls should not affect your rates one way or another, says Michael Barry, spokesman for the Insurance Information Institute.
“Auto insurers look at past performance of the vehicle,” Barry says. “Insurance companies look at driving history, age and gender, the type of vehicle to be insured and so forth. They take into account the kinds of claims they actually receive because of the vehicle performing poorly. Prospective accidents don’t count.”
In the case of a campaign or recall on a vehicle, an auto insurance company likely will pursue the automaker to recover any money that was paid for insurance settlements, says Richard Arca, pricing manager for Edmunds.com and a former claims adjuster. “They can put the blame for the accident on the manufacturer’s faulty product,” Arca says.
What’s the difference between a campaign and a recall?
A campaign means that a problem has been found frequently enough to send an “alert” to car dealerships, along with a recommended remedy. Any defect will be repaired — no questions asked — if the vehicle is under warranty.
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| The Toyota Camry was involved in a 2009 recall encompassing nearly 4.5 million vehicles. |
A recall is a defect that’s been branded a safety hazard. The automaker sends a notice to owners of a recalled car, requesting that they contact a dealer and arrange for an inspection or repair. Defects that are considered safety hazards always are fixed free, even if the warranty has expired. Recalls sometimes carry mileage or age limitations, though.
By and large, all vehicles affected by a recall get fixed, Arca says. “If a vehicle is deemed unsafe or not as safe as the others, insurance companies use NHTSA safety ratings to influence the premium a driver must pay to be insured for that particular vehicle,” he says.
From sticky accelerators to faulty steering components and windshield wipers, these recalls top the list for biggest of all time, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
1. Ford
Number of vehicles: 21 million
Date of recall: Jan. 6, 1981
Reason: Ford cars and trucks with automatic transmissions manufactured between 1970 to 1980 failed to hold or engage in “park.”
2. Ford
Number of vehicles: 7.9 million
Date of recall: April 25, 1996
Reason: Ignition switches on the steering wheel caught fire in 1988-1993 Ford Aerostars, Broncos, Crown Victorias and Cougars, among others.
3. GM
Number of vehicles: 6.7 million
Date of recall: Dec. 10, 1971
Reason: Faulty engine mounts (which hold the engine down under the hood) in the Bel Air, Impala, Nova, Townsman and other GM cars from the late 1960s and early ’70s.
4. GM
Number of vehicles: 5.8 million
Date of recall: Feb. 20, 1981
Reason: A component of the suspension system, the rear control arm, failed in the Buick Century, Pontiac Grand Prix, GMC Caballero and other GM models produced from 1978 through 1981.
5. Ford
Number of vehicles: 4.5 million
Date of recall: Sept. 7, 2005
Reason: An overheating cruise control deactivation switch caused cruise control to stay stuck in the “on” position in Broncos, Expeditions and Navigators, among others.
6. Ford
Number of vehicles: 4.5 million
Date of recall: Oct. 9, 2009
Reason: Ford recalled 1992 to 2003 Ford Windstars, Ford Excursions, Mercury Mountaineers and other models because of a speed deactivation switch that may leak internally and then overheat, smoke or burn.
7. Toyota
Number of vehicles: 4.45 million
Date of recall: Oct. 5, 2009
Reason: Sticky gas pedal created sudden and unexpected acceleration in the Toyota Camry, Prius and Avalon as well as the Lexus ES350 and IS.
8. Ford
Number of vehicles: 4 million
Date of recall: June 28, 1972
Reason: Faulty seat belt buckles caused problems in Ford and Mercury vehicles.
9. GM
Number of vehicles: 3.7 million
Date of recall: Jan. 29, 1973
Reason: Stones kicked up under the car could lodge in the engine compartment, causing loss of steering control in the Buick Electra, Buick Riviera and other models.
10. Volkswagen
Number of vehicles: 3.7 million
Date of recall: Oct. 12, 1972
Reason: Wiper arms prone to falling off on Beetles built between 1949 and 1969.
11. Honda
Number of vehicles: 3.7 million
Date of recall: May 16, 1995
Reason: Release button on Hondas built in 1986 to 1991 cracked prematurely, causing seatbelts to unfasten suddenly or stay fastened after an accident.
12. GM
Number of vehicles: 3.7 million
Date of recall: March 17, 2004
Reason: Support cables for tailgates on GM truck models from 2000 to 2004 corroded and failed.
–Linda Melone
