As I sit here, Halloween is just around the corner. It’s a fun, spooky time of year, but in the automotive world, we’ve already seen spookiness that is anything but humorous. Several vehicle recalls have stood out for all the wrong reasons, being driven by issues that cause serious safety concerns for the vehicle’s occupants and others on the road.
Vehicle recalls are an unfortunate part of the modern driving landscape. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), between 2015 and 2023, there were more than 800 automotive recalls in the U.S. all but one year, with those recalls affecting an average of more than 30 million vehicles annually. By comparison, the 800 threshold was never reached between 2002 and 2014. As companies continue to develop new technology and features, they sometimes don’t work as intended, or something goes wrong during manufacturing. Either way, the results can be disastrous.
While no recall is something to look forward to, some are particularly horrifying. In the spirit of the season, I want to discuss the eight scariest worst car recalls of 2024 so far. Whether it’s cars with phantom steering or airbags that deploy randomly, these recalls (plus one potential recall) are worthy of a ghost story.
Ford Mustangs That Steer by Themselves
Unless you’re buying a self-driving vehicle, you don’t want the car turning without your input. Unfortunately, that was the case with more than 30,000 Ford Mustangs from the 2022 and 2023 model years. Ford recalled these vehicles in June 2024 because the software for the secondary power steering torque sensor was calibrated the wrong way. As a result, when the driver went to steer, their Mustang could start weaving from side to side as if cleaning its tires for a restart. On the road, that could lead to a major crash.
Dodge Journeys That Trap People
Next, we have something more widespread and disturbing. In August, the NHTSA announced it was expanding an investigation into all model years of the Dodge Journey crossover SUV, nearly a million vehicles. More than half a dozen reports have surfaced of the windows and door locks malfunctioning, leaving occupants stuck inside. This includes a tragic death when someone was trapped after a crash and subsequent vehicle fire. As of this moment, no official recall has been issued, which is the only reason it doesn’t get the top spot. Considering the severity and scope of the problem, though, it must be on the list.
The Hyundai Santa Fe’s Randomly Deploying Airbags
Hyundai has come a long way toward being recognized as a reliable nameplate. However, the new 2024 Santa Fe couldn’t even make it a year before needing work. The automaker issued a recall in late July due to an airbag wiring harness design that caused it to sometimes rub against the second-row seat. Over time, the resulting design could cause the airbags to either go off without notice or not work at all. (You decide which prospect is scarier.) Officially, no crashes or injuries have resulted from the defect. Hopefully it stays that way.
Land Rovers That Can Burst Into Flames
Fire and vehicles don’t mix. For nearly 2,000 2024 Land Rover vehicles, though, the risk of an engine fire is all too real. Jaguar Land Rover North America issued a recall on June 17 affecting certain Range Rovers along with the Defender and Discover. The problem was a defective oil filter housing prone to cracking and leaking. The oil can then ignite due to the hot engine and exhaust. This is the second recall of the year for the 2024 Range Rover. Another was issued less than three weeks earlier because of concerns about the transmission shifting itself into neutral while driving.
The Mazda CX-90 PHEV That Does Its Own Braking
Stopping power is important on the road. Cars stopping by themselves, though, is another story. Such is the case for the 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV. Mazda recalled nearly 10,000 of these plug-in hybrid SUVs on May 16 because of a problem with the automatic braking system. In short, it sometimes detects objects that weren’t there and hits the brakes, which is a good way to get into a crash. Like the Land Rover, this was the second recall of the year for the CX-90 PHEV. In addition to the hallucinating brake system, more than 40,000 vehicles were recalled in January due to a faulty worm gear assembly that was causing the power steering assist to fail.
Stellantis Rear View Cameras Failing on a Massive Scale
In a recurring theme, a software bug is to blame for this entry. Following an investigation that began in October 2023, Stellantis issued a recall in June affecting 2021 to 2023 model-year vehicles that were losing the rear view camera display, preventing the ability to detect pedestrians, cars, and objects. While the rear view camera isn’t as big a concern as some other recalls on this list, the scary part is how extensive the problem was. The recall covers 1.16 million Stellantis vehicles in the U.S. and Canada, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ram 1500, Dodge Durango, Jeep Wagoneer, and Chrysler Pacifica.
Paccar Trucks That Won’t Steer
We already talked about vehicles that self-steer, but a commercial truck that doesn’t steer at all is just as ominous. On June 25, Paccar recalled 16 Kenworth and Peterbilt medium and heavy-duty truck models from the 2025 model year. (How scary that 2025 trucks couldn’t even make it to 2025.) Affecting nearly 4,000 trucks, the recall notice concerned a ball stud in the suspension that wasn’t heat-treated correctly, which could cause it to break and thus render the truck unsteerable. Thinking about a large truck barreling towards me with no steering control gives me flashbacks to Steven Spielberg’s Duel.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Is Recalled Five Times
One recall a year for a vehicle is unfortunate. Two in a year is concerning. What do you call it when a vehicle is recalled five times in just three months? That’s the story of the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee. In addition to the rearview camera problem already discussed, this SUV also suffered from:
- Faulty windshield defrosters and defoggers
- High-beam headlights not activating
- A steering knuckle not machined properly
- Vehicles manufactured without impact-absorbing foam
While not all issues affected all vehicles, having so many potential problems in the initial rollout might send chills up your spine like it did mine.
What Other Horrors May Come?
This list barely scratches the surface of the automotive recalls we’ve seen in 2024. Here are just a few recalls that didn’t make the top eight:
- Nearly two million Ford Explorers were recalled because roof support trim clips came loose at speed and struck other cars.
- GM recalled more than 800,000 Silverado and Sierra trucks because of the tailgate switches short-circuiting.
- The 2024 Kia EV9 was recalled three different times for loose seat belt retractor covers, headliners that didn’t meet crash protection standards, and differential bolts that weren’t tightened correctly.
- Toyota recalled more than 100,000 2022 and 2023 Toyota Tundra trucks and Lexus LX SUVs because of concerns that machining debris in the engine could cause stalling, rough running, or even failure.
The year isn’t even over, either. The lesson is that regardless of what vehicle you drive, keep your eyes peeled for any recall notices, and if you receive a notification, bring your ride to an authorized dealer as soon as possible so it can be fixed. Recall repairs are always free, and a little time spent is worth it in the name of safety.
