Vehicle Recall

Recalls filed in 1983

Manufacturers filed 182 US vehicle safety recalls in 1983, covering 7,173,745 vehicles. 2021 remains the busiest year on record, with 1,094. Ford filed the most that year, with 20.

Campaigns
182
Vehicles covered
7,173,745
Largest recall
930,000
Rank by volume
#55 of 60

Makes that filed most in 1983

  1. Ford1,621,794 vehicles20 recalls
  2. Chevrolet578,505 vehicles14 recalls
  3. Dodge7,403 vehicles6 recalls
  4. International Harvester8,875 vehicles6 recalls
  5. Mack6,905 vehicles6 recalls
  6. Cooper3,662 vehicles5 recalls
  7. Goodyear53,300 vehicles5 recalls
  8. Kenworth3,500 vehicles5 recalls
  9. Honda67,577 vehicles4 recalls
  10. Fleetwood3,070 vehicles3 recalls
  11. Freightliner343 vehicles3 recalls
  12. Nissan576,231 vehicles3 recalls

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

Parts recalled most in 1983

  1. Tires9 recalls
  2. Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar7 recalls
  3. Tires: Tread/Belt7 recalls
  4. Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings6 recalls
  5. Fuel System, Gasoline: Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings5 recalls
  6. Equipment: Labels4 recalls
  7. Seats4 recalls
  8. Electrical System: Alternator/Generator/Regulator3 recalls
  9. Engine and Engine Cooling: Fan3 recalls
  10. Fuel System, Gasoline: Tank Assembly3 recalls

Largest recalls of 1983

  1. Volkswagen — Fuel System, Gasoline: Fuel Injection System83V1170009 November 1983930,000
  2. Kmart — Exterior Lighting: Flasher Unit83E0210006 December 1983878,080
  3. Volkswagen — Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings83V1160009 November 1983661,585
  4. Ford — Latches/Locks/Linkages: Latch83V06300022 June 1983610,000
  5. Ford — Seat Belts: Anchorage83V13400020 December 1983530,000
  6. Chevrolet — Fuel System, Gasoline: Carburetor System83V0270004 March 1983491,736
  7. Oldsmobile — Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Differential Proportional Valve83V10500013 October 1983352,036
  8. Nissan — Fuel System, Gasoline: Mounting83V0580001 June 1983328,318
  9. Ford — Seat Belts83V01300017 February 1983245,000
  10. Buick — Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Foundation Components83V01800024 February 1983239,799
  11. Nissan — Visibility: Windshield Wiper/Washer83V11200026 October 1983238,055
  12. Mazda — Seat Belts: Anchorage83V05200010 May 1983232,373
  13. Subaru — Electrical System: Fuses and Circuit Breakers83V0260003 March 1983230,041
  14. Plymouth — Fuel System, Gasoline: Mounting83V01900024 February 1983160,000
  15. Audi — Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Pedals and Linkages83V09500022 September 1983117,000
  16. Ford — Power Train: Automatic Transmission83V0280007 March 198398,162
  17. Subaru — Seats: Recliner83V0060001 January 198384,253
  18. Ford — Engine and Engine Cooling: Fan83V0250001 March 198383,000
  19. Toyota — Electrical System: Alternator/Generator/Regulator83V1330008 December 198348,737
  20. Honda — Electrical System: Alternator/Generator/Regulator83V1300007 December 198347,253
  21. Ford — Power Train: Column Shift83V01700024 February 198336,000
  22. Goodyear — Tires: Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire83T00900024 June 198332,000
  23. Porsche — Seat Belts: Retractor83V11100026 October 198326,300
  24. Norcold — Equipment: Recreational Vehicle/Trailer83E01700019 October 198325,294
  25. Cadillac — Visibility: Rear Window83V0650007 July 198325,053

The 25 largest of 182 filed in 1983. See every recall or the largest on record.

← 1982 (174)1984 (209) →

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

About this figure

1983 here is the year the recall was filed with NHTSA, not the model year of the vehicles. A 1983 filing routinely covers vehicles built years earlier, and a car of model year 1983 appears in filings for years afterwards.

“Vehicles covered” sums the manufacturer’s own estimate for each campaign. A vehicle recalled twice in 1983 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 1983 because the flag did not exist then \u2014 not because no 1983 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.