For some automakers, 2025 was a year of success. For others, it was defined by a wave of costly recalls.
The past year brought mixed results for the automotive industry. While some brands enjoyed strong momentum, others struggled with large-scale recall campaigns that overshadowed their achievements.
Analysts have now tallied the numbers and identified the brands with the most recall activity. What stands out is that one of the biggest disappointments was a Japanese automaker long associated with high quality and rock-solid reliability.
1st Place – Ford
Ford topped the list as the most recall-prone automaker of the year, issuing recalls for approximately 12.9 million vehicles. The company was forced to launch multiple service campaigns to address serious issues, including low-pressure fuel pump failures, cracked fuel injectors, detached interior door trim, and faulty rearview cameras.
2nd Place – Toyota
In a surprise to many, Toyota took second place in this negative ranking. Just a year earlier, the Japanese brand recalled about 1.2 million vehicles. In 2025, that figure jumped by more than two and a half times—an alarming reversal of fortunes. Toyota vehicles were recalled for a wide range of issues, including problems with engines, transmissions, instrument clusters, and rear lighting systems.
3rd Place – Jeep
Rounding out the top three was Jeep, part of the Stellantis group, with roughly 2.7 million vehicles affected by recall campaigns. The most widespread issues involved the Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrids, where battery defects raised concerns about potential fire risks.
It Could Have Been Worse: 4th and 5th Place
Also making the list of the five most frequently recalled brands were Honda, with about 1.56 million vehicles recalled, and Hyundai, which issued recalls for roughly 1 million vehicles over the year.
Overall, the 2025 recall data serves as a reminder that even the most respected automakers are not immune to quality challenges—especially as vehicles become more complex and technology-heavy.