Vehicle Recall

Recalls filed in 1973

Manufacturers filed 277 US vehicle safety recalls in 1973, covering 8,363,732 vehicles. 2021 remains the busiest year on record, with 1,094. International Harvester filed the most that year, with 21.

Campaigns
277
Vehicles covered
8,363,732
Largest recall
3,707,064
Rank by volume
#40 of 60

Makes that filed most in 1973

  1. International Harvester51,836 vehicles21 recalls
  2. Ford286,842 vehicles16 recalls
  3. Dodge246,600 vehicles15 recalls
  4. Chevrolet4,676,143 vehicles10 recalls
  5. White Truck3,632 vehicles8 recalls
  6. Audi50,727 vehicles7 recalls
  7. Harley-Davidson39,081 vehicles5 recalls
  8. Mack4,006 vehicles5 recalls
  9. Volkswagen124,830 vehicles5 recalls
  10. Atlas2,477 vehicles4 recalls
  11. Flxible6,236 vehicles4 recalls
  12. Freightliner10,386 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 1973

  1. Power Train: Axle Assembly14 recalls
  2. Steering: Linkages14 recalls
  3. Tires13 recalls
  4. Wheels13 recalls
  5. Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings12 recalls
  6. Suspension: Multiple Axle11 recalls
  7. Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Pedals and Linkages7 recalls
  8. Steering: Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)7 recalls
  9. Vehicle Speed Control7 recalls
  10. Exterior Lighting6 recalls

Largest recalls of 1973

  1. Chevrolet — Structure: Underbody Shields73V01300024 January 19733,707,064
  2. Questor — Child Seat73C02700031 December 19731,176,159
  3. Chevrolet — Suspension: Upper Arm73V25000027 December 1973782,111
  4. Pontiac — Fuel System, Gasoline: Storage73V18600014 September 1973685,434
  5. Cadillac — Steering: Idler and Attachment73V22600023 November 1973388,877
  6. Dodge — Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery73V01100024 January 1973149,056
  7. Chevrolet — Steering: Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)73V1980003 October 1973123,600
  8. Volkswagen — Fuel System, Gasoline73V17100016 August 1973112,000
  9. Ford — Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings73V03300013 February 197376,670
  10. Pontiac — Electrical System: Wiring73V18700014 September 197375,010
  11. Ford — Power Train: Automatic Transmission73V1810005 September 197374,884
  12. Chrysler — Visibility: Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System73V2180008 November 197360,000
  13. Ford — Steering: Idler and Attachment73V05700012 March 197358,832
  14. Dodge — Suspension: Lower Ball Joint73V07600027 March 197354,000
  15. Ford — Electrical System: Starter Assembly73V17700028 August 197341,462
  16. Dodge — Electrical System: Interior/Under Dash73V20300015 October 197331,412
  17. Hercules — Tires73T00600029 January 197328,000
  18. Firestone — Tires: Bead73T01500026 June 197323,400
  19. Harley-Davidson — Structure: Frame and Members73V2150006 November 197322,310
  20. Chevrolet — Electrical System: Wiring73V23200010 December 197322,215
  21. Dynatrail — Visibility: Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System73E01100016 April 197320,000
  22. Subaru — Seat Belts: Front73V01900031 January 197320,000
  23. Lincoln — Electrical System: Wiring73V22000012 November 197317,821
  24. Porsche — Visibility: Interior73V01400024 January 197317,149
  25. Nissan — Fuel System, Gasoline: Carburetor System73V05200028 February 197317,038

The 25 largest of 277 filed in 1973. See every recall or the largest on record.

← 1972 (332)1974 (292) →

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

About this figure

1973 here is the year the recall was filed with NHTSA, not the model year of the vehicles. A 1973 filing routinely covers vehicles built years earlier, and a car of model year 1973 appears in filings for years afterwards.

“Vehicles covered” sums the manufacturer’s own estimate for each campaign. A vehicle recalled twice in 1973 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 1973 because the flag did not exist then \u2014 not because no 1973 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.