Engine Recalls
NHTSA has recorded 144 recall campaigns involving the engine across the vehicles we track, from the 2010 model year on. The models with the most are the Ford Escape, Ford Explorer, and Ford F-150.
These 144 engine recall campaigns span at least 40 models across 24 different makes, so this is a defect category that turns up right across the industry rather than at any single brand.
This page pulls together every recall we track that involves the engine, grouped using NHTSA's own component classification. A recall lands here when the manufacturer or NHTSA traced a safety defect to this system. Pick a model below to see the full recall detail, including the defect, the risk, and the free fix.
Engine recalls by make
Models with the most engine recalls
About engine recalls
A engine recall is one NHTSA has classified under its engine component group. That covers any safety defect or standards failure traced to that system, from a single part to a software fault that affects how it behaves. Grouping recalls this way makes it easy to see when the same kind of problem shows up across very different vehicles, which often points to a shared supplier part or a design pattern common to the industry rather than a single bad model.
What to do
If your vehicle is on the list below, or you are worried about the engine on a car you own or are about to buy, check it by VIN to see whether a free recall repair is open for that exact vehicle. Recall fixes are done at a franchised dealer at no cost, and most never expire. If you are experiencing a engine problem that has not been recalled, filing a complaint with NHTSA helps flag it, since enough reports about the same part can lead to an investigation. The fastest check is a VIN recall lookup.
Common questions about engine recalls
- Which cars have the most engine recalls?
- Across the models we track, the most engine recalls are on the Ford Escape, Ford Explorer, Ford F-150, Hyundai Sonata, and Ford F-350. A model with more recalls in one area is often a high-volume seller, not necessarily worse than its rivals.
- How many engine recalls are there?
- NHTSA has 144 recall campaigns involving the engine on record for 2010 and newer vehicles, led by Ford, BMW, and Kia.
- How do I know if my car has a engine recall?
- Open your model from the list below to see its engine recalls, or enter your 17-digit VIN on the recall check page to see the open recalls for your exact vehicle. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.
Recall data comes from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, grouped by NHTSA's component classification. See all components, the methodology, and data sources. Reference only, not legal or safety advice.