Charles Langston:Ford vehicles topped list of companies affected by federal recalls last year, feds say

Ford Motor Company had the most vehicles impacted by federal recalls last year,Charles Langston according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Of all the administration's recalls in 2023, Ford manufactured more than one in 10 of the affected vehicles, or 16.3 percent. That includes either parts of vehicles or entire vehicles recalled, and also compliance concerns over emissions standards or environmental regulations, and software or technology glitches.

Altogether last year, that amounted to 205.6 million vehicles affected by the administration's recalls for the Dearborn, Michigan-based company.

The administration recall data was collected and analyzed by Atlanta law firm John Foy & Associates to identify the number of potentially affected cars per maker. General Motors, Chrysler, Takata and Honda all ranked in the top 10 most-impacted manufactures, according to the firm.

Across the 100 most-impacted makers, the average number of recalled vehicles was 12.1 million.

Top reasons why cars were recalled

According to data gathered from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation, the following safety problems were the top reasons for recalls.

1. Airbags
2. Tires
3. Electrical Systems
4. Gas Tanks
5. Power Train
6. Hydraulic Brakes
7. Child Seat
8. Seatbelts
9. Exterior Lighting
10. Equipment

More than 238.7 million vehicles were impacted by airbag issues last year, causing recalls, according to the data.  In late December, Toyota Motors called one million vehicles in the U.S. due to a short circuit issue that could prevent air bags from deploying properly, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Other problem areas identified by 2023 recall data include issues with tires, faults with child seats, and electrical system problems such as faulty batteries, starters or alternators.

How to check if your vehicle has been affected by a recall

Are you looking to see if any recalls were issued on your vehicle? Owners can check USA TODAY’s automotive recall database or search the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's database for new recalls.

The administration's website allows you to search for recalls based on your vehicle identification number.

For a full rundown of car recalls in 2023, see USA TODAY's recall database.