Vehicle Recall

Recalls filed in 1972

Manufacturers filed 332 US vehicle safety recalls in 1972, covering 12,277,046 vehicles. 2021 remains the busiest year on record, with 1,094. Dodge filed the most that year, with 20.

Campaigns
332
Vehicles covered
12,277,046
Largest recall
4,072,000
Rank by volume
#33 of 60

Makes that filed most in 1972

  1. Dodge102,303 vehicles20 recalls
  2. Ford5,751,295 vehicles16 recalls
  3. Chevrolet1,024,440 vehicles14 recalls
  4. International Harvester31,758 vehicles14 recalls
  5. Mack5,376 vehicles10 recalls
  6. White Truck7,295 vehicles9 recalls
  7. GMC3,266 vehicles8 recalls
  8. Volkswagen3,727,994 vehicles7 recalls
  9. American Motors301,767 vehicles6 recalls
  10. Buick73,433 vehicles4 recalls
  11. Harley-Davidson12,649 vehicles4 recalls
  12. Jaguar7,066 vehicles4 recalls

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

Parts recalled most in 1972

  1. Suspension: Non-Powered Axle Assembly41 recalls
  2. Suspension19 recalls
  3. Wheels: Hubcap/Cover17 recalls
  4. Service Brakes, Electric16 recalls
  5. Steering: Linkages15 recalls
  6. Wheels15 recalls
  7. Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings11 recalls
  8. Equipment: Labels10 recalls
  9. Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar7 recalls
  10. Suspension: Multiple Axle7 recalls

Largest recalls of 1972

  1. Ford — Seat Belts: Webbing72V16000029 June 19724,072,000
  2. Volkswagen — Visibility: Windshield Wiper/Washer72V25600026 October 19723,700,000
  3. Ford — Steering: Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)72V24000029 September 19721,033,800
  4. Chevrolet — Power Train: Axle Assembly72V1640005 July 1972526,000
  5. Ford — Power Train: Axle Shaft72V09500026 April 1972407,244
  6. Chevrolet — Vehicle Speed Control72V11200011 May 1972350,000
  7. American Motors — Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Pedals and Linkages72V31800027 December 1972270,815
  8. Ford — Structure: Bumpers72V16100029 June 1972157,623
  9. Pontiac — Steering: Linkages72V27500014 November 1972155,418
  10. Chevrolet — Fuel System, Gasoline: Carburetor System72V0750007 April 1972129,000
  11. Toyota — Engine and Engine Cooling: Emission Control72V01400018 January 1972110,614
  12. Nissan — Latches/Locks/Linkages: Latch72V0520003 March 197286,429
  13. Goodyear — Tires72T00800020 September 197284,855
  14. Nissan — Vehicle Speed Control72V15900028 June 197262,000
  15. Nissan — Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings72V06500029 March 197261,434
  16. Plymouth — Structure: Bumpers72V1450005 June 197256,371
  17. Toyota — Visibility: Exterior72V32000029 December 197251,906
  18. Pontiac — Electrical System: Wiring72V1980004 August 197242,689
  19. Plymouth — Steering: Rack and Pinion72V1430001 June 197242,000
  20. Buick — Steering: Linkages72V13500025 May 197241,711
  21. Dodge — Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Pedals and Linkages72V19300025 July 197241,000
  22. Volvo — Vehicle Speed Control: Cables72V23500021 September 197239,943
  23. Pride Trimble — Child Seat72C0030001 May 197238,598
  24. Cadillac — Power Train: Axle Assembly72V22400011 September 197237,500
  25. Ford — Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings72V2690007 November 197232,088

The 25 largest of 332 filed in 1972. See every recall or the largest on record.

← 1971 (253)1973 (277) →

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

About this figure

1972 here is the year the recall was filed with NHTSA, not the model year of the vehicles. A 1972 filing routinely covers vehicles built years earlier, and a car of model year 1972 appears in filings for years afterwards.

“Vehicles covered” sums the manufacturer’s own estimate for each campaign. A vehicle recalled twice in 1972 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 1972 because the flag did not exist then \u2014 not because no 1972 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.