We ranked every recall campaign in NHTSA's files by one number: how many vehicles the campaign covered. The list holds a surprise - the biggest campaign in the record is not a modern air-bag recall. It was filed in 1981, and it covers 21,000,000 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles built between 1970 and 1980, all for one power train problem.
Ranked by vehicles covered, as reported to NHTSA at the time. Campaign numbers link to the campaign's page when it is part of the published record.
| # | Campaign | Brands | System | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81V008000 (1981) | Ford, Lincoln, Mercury | Power Train | 21,000,000 |
| 2 | 96V071000 (1996) | Ford, Lincoln, Mercury | Electrical System | 7,900,000 |
| 3 | 71V235000 (1971) | Chevrolet, GMC | Engine And Engine Cooling | 6,682,084 |
| 4 | 15V320000 (2015) | Acura, Honda | Air Bags | 6,281,043 |
| 5 | 14V400000 (2014) | Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac | Electrical System | 5,877,718 |
| 6 | 81V025000 (1981) | Buick, Chevrolet, GMC | Suspension | 5,821,160 |
| 7 | 18V332000 (2018) | Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep | Electrical System, Vehicle Speed Control | 4,815,661 |
| 8 | 16V352000 (2016) | Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep | Air Bags | 4,648,270 |
| 9 | 05V388000 (2005) | Ford, Lincoln | Vehicle Speed Control | 4,500,000 |
| 10 | 09V399000 (2009) | Ford, Mercury | Vehicle Speed Control | 4,500,000 |
| 11 | 09V388000 (2009) | Lexus, Toyota | Vehicle Speed Control | 4,445,056 |
| 12 | 26V104000 (2026) | Ford, Lincoln | Electrical System, Exterior Lighting | 4,381,878 |
| 13 | 15V313000 (2015) | Chrysler, Dodge, Mitsubishi | Air Bags | 4,077,169 |
| 14 | 72V160000 (1972) | Ford, Lincoln, Mercury | Seat Belts | 4,072,000 |
| 15 | 73V013000 (1973) | Buick, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile | Structure | 3,707,064 |
| 16 | 72V256000 (1972) | Volkswagen | Visibility | 3,700,000 |
| 17 | 95V103001 (1995) | Acura, Honda | Seat Belts | 3,700,000 |
| 18 | 04V129000 (2004) | Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC | Structure | 3,662,211 |
| 19 | 16V651000 (2016) | Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet | Air Bags, Seat Belts | 3,640,162 |
| 20 | 87V139000 (1987) | Ford, Lincoln, Mercury | Fuel System, Gasoline | 3,600,000 |
| 21 | 07V336000 (2007) | Ford, Lincoln, Mercury | Vehicle Speed Control | 3,600,000 |
| 22 | 15V370000 (2015) | Acura, Honda | Air Bags | 3,498,481 |
| 23 | 19V645000 (2019) | Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3,456,719 |
| 24 | 16V244000 (2016) | Chevrolet, Infiniti, Nissan | Air Bags | 3,296,947 |
| 25 | 14V355000 (2014) | Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet | Electrical System | 3,141,731 |
| 26 | 84V149000 (1984) | Buick, Chevrolet, GMC | Power Train | 3,100,000 |
| 27 | 69V031000 (1969) | Buick, Cadillac, GMC | Vehicle Speed Control | 2,966,979 |
| 28 | 22V413000 (2022) | Ford | Power Train | 2,925,968 |
| 29 | 20V024000 (2020) | Toyota | Air Bags | 2,891,976 |
| 30 | 95V103002 (1995) | Infiniti, Nissan | Seat Belts | 2,730,462 |
Campaigns have grown more numerous and, on paper, larger - partly because there are more vehicles on the road, and partly because modern campaigns are reported in finer detail.
| Decade | Campaigns | Vehicles Covered | Biggest Campaign of the Decade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 409 | 13,972,915 | 69V031000 - Buick, Cadillac, GMC, 2,966,979 vehicles |
| 1970s | 2,399 | 66,723,585 | 71V235000 - Chevrolet, GMC, 6,682,084 vehicles |
| 1980s | 1,736 | 79,741,332 | 81V008000 - Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, 21,000,000 vehicles |
| 1990s | 2,664 | 127,985,681 | 96V071000 - Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, 7,900,000 vehicles |
| 2000s | 5,377 | 177,917,009 | 05V388000 - Ford, Lincoln, 4,500,000 vehicles |
| 2010s | 7,490 | 318,908,281 | 15V320000 - Acura, Honda, 6,281,043 vehicles |
| 2020s | 6,126 | 219,244,375 | 26V104000 - Ford, Lincoln, 4,381,878 vehicles |
"Vehicles covered" is the manufacturer's own estimate of how many vehicles might have the problem, reported when the campaign was filed. Campaigns overlap - a vehicle recalled twice is counted twice - so the totals describe the size of the record, not a count of distinct cars. A big campaign does not mean every covered vehicle was defective; it means the maker cast a wide net. See also: Most-Reported Problems by Brand.
Data as of November 1, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.