Top 10 Cars With the Lowest Recall Rates
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If you’re shopping for a new car and want some peace of mind, here’s a good place to start.
A recent study conducted by iSeeCars.com examined model year 2013 to 2017 vehicles, collecting the number of distinct vehicle recall campaigns from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). From there, an average recall rate – the number of recall campaigns/year per 100,000 new car units sold – was calculated for each model. The study then compared those recall rates to Used Car Reliability ratings from Consumer Reports to see if there’s a connection between reliability and recalls.
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Not surprisingly, there is. The lower average recall rate a vehicle has, the more likely it is to have a higher average reliability score. For this study, the overall average recall rate across all vehicles was 0.79, while the average reliability score was 3.4.
10. GMC Terrain
The GMC Terrain has an average recall rate of 0.26, well below the overall average. Consumer Reports also awarded the crossover with 4.2 stars (out of five) for average reliability.
9. Hyundai Elantra
When it comes to reliability, Hyundai has been really impressive in recent years. The Korean automaker’s Elantra has an average recall rate of 0.23, and also received 4.2 stars from Consumer Reports.
8. Toyota Camry
Arguably the least surprising car on the list, the Toyota Camry. A staple in the Japanese automaker’s lineup for decades, there’s a reason why it’s also the perennial best-selling car in America. Its average recall rate is 0.23 and it received the maximum five-star average reliability rating.
7. Subaru Crosstrek
Subaru‘s Crosstrek also impresses, with an average recall rate of 0.18 and a four-star average reliability rating.
6. Honda Accord
One of three Honda vehicles on the list, the Accord has an average recall rate of 0.16 and a max five-star average reliability rating.
5. Honda CR-V
If you prefer a crossover from Honda, the CR-V is a good place to start. It has an average recall rate of 0.14 and an average reliability of 4.6.
4. Honda Civic
Like the CR-V, the Civic also had an average recall rate of 0.14. It however, didn’t score as well when it comes to average reliability, earning 4.2 stars.
3. Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is one of the most popular affordable sedans on the market, and it’s one of the most reliable ones too with an average reliability score of 4.8 stars. Its average recall rate is 0.12.
2. Chevrolet Equinox
Closely related to the GMC Terrain, the Chevy Equinox has an average recall rate of 0.11. Its average reliability matches the Terrain at 4.2.
1. Hyundai Accent
The Hyundai Accent doesn’t have an average reliability score from Consumer Reports, but if the other vehicles on this list show a pattern, you can expect it to score well. That’s because the Accent leads the way with an average recall rate of 0.10.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Surprised to not see the 4runner here (which basically lasts forever), or it doesn't qualify as a car? And I thought that the Mazda6 was pretty reliable. Surprised to see the Crosstek here and not the Forester as well.
No Mazda?