Recalls Supported by NHTSA

1967

NHTSA establishes the first of many safety standards by setting performance requirements for seat belts.

1971

GM recalls 6.7 million vehicles in response to a NHTSA investigation into defective motor mounts that can fail and cause the throttle to be pulled wide open.

1970 – 1976

NHTSA establishes safety standards for brake hoses, windshield wipers, brake fluid, glazing, door locks, seats, windshields, seat belt anchorages, collapsible steering columns, motorcycle helmets and fuel system crashworthiness.

1978

Firestone recalls 14.5 million defective Firestone 500 Steel Belted Radial tires in response to a NHTSA investigation.

1981

GM recalls 55.8 million vehicles to fix failing rear suspensions.

1983

NHTSA requires that 1986 and later model year cars have a center high mounted stop light (CHMSL) to reduce rear end collisions. 

1994

NHTSA collected more than 2,000 complaints since 1984 (first ten years)

1998

NHTSA collected more than 100,000 complaints since 1984 (fourteen ten years)

1999

Dual air bags are required in MY 1999 cars

2000

TREAD Act enacted 

2001

Rollover standards are issued

2003

NHTSA issues a final rule requiring all light vehicles to withstand a 50 mph rear or side impact without leaking fuel, resulting in a significant reduction in post-crash fires.

2005

Ford recalls 4.5 million light trucks and SUV’s in response to a NHTSA investigation into faulty cruise control deactivation switches that can cause the vehicles to catch on fire.

2007

NHTSA upgrades side impact crash protection requirements for model year 2010 and later vehicles, significantly reducing the risk of injury or death in side crashes.

2007

NHTSA issues a final rule requiring electronic stability control in light vehicles beginning in the 2009 model year.

2008

NHTSA collected over 500,000 complaints since 1984 (first twenty-four years)

2010 ( through 2020)

A rolling accumulation of total complaints (~800K over the last decade): historical accumulation of Investigations with highlights on; Firestone, Toyota UA, Takata/ARC Air Bags

2014

NHTSA issues a final rule requiring backup cameras in light vehicles by May 2018.

2014

NHTSA launches its VIN Lookup Tool to allow consumers to learn of open recalls on their vehicles 

2015

NHTSA issues a final rule requiring that heavy trucks and buses be equipped with electronic stability control.

2015

First vehicle recall to remedy a cybersecurity issue.

2015

NHTSA imposes a $105 million penalty on Fiat Chrysler Automobiles for failure to remedy defective vehicles, notify owners of recalls and notify NHTSA about defects and other issues.

2017

NHTSA collected more than 1M complaints since 1984 (first thirty-three years)