Vehicle Recalls

Overview

Vehicle manufacturers are required to design and build their vehicles to meet emission standards for the useful life of the vehicle specified by law. Under Section 207 of the Clean Air Act, if EPA determines that a substantial number of vehicles in a class or category do not meet emission standards in actual use even though they are properly maintained and used, EPA can require the manufacturer to recall and fix the affected vehicles.

EPA conducts emissions testing on randomly procured in-use vehicles at the National Vehicle and Fuels Emission Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The vehicles are screened for proper use and maintenance, and then tested for emissions compliance in the laboratory. If problems are found, discussions begin with the manufacturer on possible remedies, which may include a recall of the affected vehicles.

Manufacturers are required to report certain defects they find to EPA if they affect emission-related parts. Many times the discovery of these defects leads to voluntary recalls or service campaigns. Manufacturers are also required to report to EPA all emission-related voluntary recalls.

Recalls and other remedies are usually conducted voluntarily by the manufacturer, although EPA has the authority to order a manufacturer to recall and fix noncomplying vehicles. Most recalls are initiated voluntarily by manufacturers once a potential noncompliance is discovered. These voluntary actions could be influenced indirectly by the potential for EPA action. Some voluntary recalls are directly influenced via EPA in discussions with manufacturers.

NOTE: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader.

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Current Recalls and Announcements

1st Quarter 2008 Recall Updates (PDF) (8pp, 33K, June 2008). This document contains a list of recent recalls. This list is updated quarterly. A manufacturer reports a voluntary recall via the Voluntary Recall Report which is required by regulation to be submitted within fifteen working days of the date owner notification was given.

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Past Recalls

EPA publishes calendar year summaries of all emission-related recalls. Below are calendar year reports beginning with 1991. Regulations (at 40 CFR 85.1902 (d)) define a recall as any direct owner notification by the manufacturer to correct an emission-related defect. Therefore, included as recalls in these reports are manufacturer service campaigns where the owner was not required to bring the vehicle in unless the problem was evident. Beginning with the 2001 Calendar Year Report, EPA separated recall campaigns (meaning owners were asked to bring the vehicle in as soon as possible), and voluntary service campaigns (meaning owners need only bring the vehicle in if the problem is evident). Note that both of these campaign types are defined as recalls under the regulations.

Each of the following reports lists all the light-duty vehicle and light-duty truck recalls that began by the manufacturers during the indicated calendar year.

• 2007 Calendar Year Recalls (PDF) (16 pp, 260K, EPA420-B-08-012, June 2008)
• 2006 Calendar Year Recalls (PDF) (12 pp, 108K, EPA420-B-07-003, May 2007)
• 2005 Calendar Year Recalls (PDF) (13 pp, 182K, EPA420-B-06-001, February 2006)
• 2004 Calendar Year Recalls (PDF) (9 pp, 48K, EPA420-B-05-022, December 2005)
• 2003 Calendar Year Recalls (PDF) (17 pp, 492K, EPA420-B-04-018, December 2004)
• 2002 Calendar Year Recalls (PDF) (10 pp, 326K, EPA420-B-03-015, October 2003)
• 2001 Calendar Year Recalls (PDF) (10 pp, 445K, EPA420-B-02-003, October 2002)
• 2000 Calendar Year Recalls (PDF) (7 pp, 60K, EPA420-B-02-002, October 2002)
• 1999 Calendar Year Recalls
• 1998 Calendar Year Recalls
• 1997 Calendar Year Recalls
• 1996 Calendar Year Recalls
• 1995 Calendar Year Recalls
• 1994 Calendar Year Recalls
• 1993 Calendar Year Recalls
• 1992 Calendar Year Recalls
• 1991 Calendar Year Recalls

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Related Links

• Cars & Light Trucks
• Inspection & Maintenance (I/M)
• Fuel Economy