According to the Associated Press, the total number of recalled vehicles for 2004 is the
highest figure ever for automakers in the United States. So far this year, about 25 million
vehicles have been recalled, surpassing the previous high of 24.6 million set during 2000.
General Motors led all other manufacturers with 10.5 million vehicles recalled in North
America this year. That is up from 7.8 million in 2003 and 5.7 million during 2002. Toyota,
with 890,000 recalled vehicles, has quadrupled its total recall numbers since 2003.
Shared
componentry, stiffer reporting rules for defects, and swifter response to issues to prevent
litigation were cited as factors in the rise.
