Vehicle Recall

Recalls filed in 1971

Manufacturers filed 253 US vehicle safety recalls in 1971, covering 9,650,686 vehicles. 2021 remains the busiest year on record, with 1,094. Dodge filed the most that year, with 20.

Campaigns
253
Vehicles covered
9,650,686
Largest recall
6,682,084
Rank by volume
#45 of 60

Makes that filed most in 1971

  1. Dodge295,640 vehicles20 recalls
  2. Ford347,511 vehicles17 recalls
  3. International Harvester149,794 vehicles17 recalls
  4. Chevrolet7,653,762 vehicles12 recalls
  5. Mack63,784 vehicles8 recalls
  6. Volkswagen100,764 vehicles7 recalls
  7. American Motors33,517 vehicles6 recalls
  8. Harley-Davidson28,307 vehicles6 recalls
  9. Plymouth11,057 vehicles6 recalls
  10. Triumph66,290 vehicles6 recalls
  11. Atlas3,254 vehicles5 recalls
  12. Kenworth101 vehicles5 recalls

Counted by the make named on each filing, so a manufacturer that sells several brands appears once per brand.

Parts recalled most in 1971

  1. Latches/Locks/Linkages: Latch19 recalls
  2. Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings16 recalls
  3. Suspension: Non-Powered Axle Assembly11 recalls
  4. Tires10 recalls
  5. Wheels: Hubcap/Cover8 recalls
  6. Exterior Lighting7 recalls
  7. Structure: Frame and Members7 recalls
  8. Seat Belts: Anchorage6 recalls
  9. Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Master Cylinder5 recalls
  10. Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Pedals and Linkages5 recalls

Largest recalls of 1971

  1. Chevrolet — Engine and Engine Cooling: Engine71V23500029 December 19716,682,084
  2. Chevrolet — Visibility: Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System71V2240003 December 1971679,900
  3. Ford — Fuel System, Gasoline: Carburetor System71V0450006 April 1971215,823
  4. Toyota — Unknown or Other71V08400019 May 1971190,000
  5. Chevrolet — Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Vacuum71V14000019 August 1971136,000
  6. Cooper — Tires71T00900016 July 1971128,000
  7. Dodge — Seats: Recliner71V07000027 April 1971127,087
  8. Chevrolet — Suspension: Coil Springs71V13900019 August 1971124,000
  9. OPEL — Visibility: Windshield71V1760006 October 1971100,661
  10. Volkswagen — Steering: Anti-Theft Device71V0050007 November 197178,100
  11. Aldens — Tires: Sidewall71T00600010 May 197167,944
  12. GMC — Power Train: Pedal/Hand Lever(motorcycle)71V02700019 February 197153,700
  13. Dodge — Power Train: Automatic Transmission71V1730005 October 197152,729
  14. International Harvester — Seat Belts: Buckle Assembly71V06800026 April 197146,582
  15. International Harvester — Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar71V07400011 May 197145,826
  16. Austin Healey — Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Power Assist71V0320001 March 197141,006
  17. Ford — Tires: Sidewall71V01800016 February 197141,000
  18. Dodge — Vehicle Speed Control71V0500009 April 197133,433
  19. MG — Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Master Cylinder71V09700014 June 197132,386
  20. Dodge — Structure71V20200010 November 197129,696
  21. Ford — Seat Belts: Anchorage71V21600022 November 197128,459
  22. Honda — Power Train: Driveline71V14700024 August 197128,000
  23. Mack — Suspension: Coil Springs71V20700030 November 197127,976
  24. Dodge — Engine and Engine Cooling: Emission Control71V0510009 April 197125,500
  25. GMC — Engine and Engine Cooling: Engine71V10100011 June 197122,206

The 25 largest of 253 filed in 1971. See every recall or the largest on record.

← 1970 (162)1972 (332) →

Every year on record, with the long-run trend.

About this figure

1971 here is the year the recall was filed with NHTSA, not the model year of the vehicles. A 1971 filing routinely covers vehicles built years earlier, and a car of model year 1971 appears in filings for years afterwards.

“Vehicles covered” sums the manufacturer’s own estimate for each campaign. A vehicle recalled twice in 1971 is counted twice, so the figure is not a count of distinct vehicles.

Do Not Drive and Park Outside flags entered NHTSA’s public record in May 2025. This page shows no advisory section for 1971 because the flag did not exist then \u2014 not because no 1971 recall was urgent.

Compiled from NHTSA’s published recall files, which are US government open data and rebuilt daily. Figures on this page reflect the record as of 18 September 2026. Read the methodology, or check a specific vehicle at nhtsa.gov.