WASHINGTON -- After a record-breaking year in 2004, the auto industry recalled 41 percent fewer vehicles in 2005, according to the federal government's final tally released Wednesday.

The industry as a whole conducted 557 vehicle safety recalls last year, covering 18,050,631 vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported. By contrast, in 2004 there were 601 recalls that affected 30,830,469 vehicles.

NHTSA also released its final numbers for each of the four largest manufacturers. Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. led the way with more than 6 million and 5 million vehicles recalled, respectively. Toyota Motor Corp. recalled 2.2 million vehicles last year. DaimlerChrysler AG followed with nearly 766,000 vehicles recalled.

But safety officials cautioned that recall numbers vary widely from year to year, and it is hard to draw conclusions about safety trends from them. While 2005 saw far fewer vehicles recalled than in 2004, the number was pretty close to the total in 2003, when 19.1 million vehicles were recalled.

One factor that sends recall numbers soaring is the industry practice of sharing parts among a large number of vehicles. If a single part goes bad, it can affect millions of vehicles.

"Because of the changing nature of the industry, it doesn't take much to send the numbers upward," said NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson. "We really don't read a whole lot into these fluctuations that occur from one year to the next."

Ford and Toyota saw dramatic increases in the number of recalled vehicles, both attributed to large recalls tied to a particular defect.

In Ford's case, a single recall accounted for nearly two-thirds of its overall tally. To fix a speed control switch that could short-circuit and ignite fires, Ford recalled 3.8 million trucks built between 1994 and 2002. The recall covered the F150, F250, Bronco, Expedition, Navigator and Blackwood models.

Ford also recalled 738,490 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator sport utility vehicles and Ford F150 pickups from the 2000 model year and F150 Supercrew trucks from 2001 for a different speed control switch issue.

Finally, Ford conducted a huge regional recall involving its Focus sedan and wagon. Because of corrosion buildup, a rear door latch might not shut properly on the cars. The recall affected 589,932 vehicles in 21 northern states.

Toyota's recall number soared because of a lower ball joint problem that affected 768,379 Tundra, Sequoia and Tacoma trucks from the 2001 to 2004 model years.

Because of a possible surface scratch, the ball joint can wear down and become loose with time, according to federal investigators. If not repaired, the joint can fail and cause a crash without warning.

GM recalled more than 5 million vehicles in 2005, but that was a drop from 2004 when it recalled more than 11 million.

In 2004, a single recall to fix tailgate cables on Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups accounted for 4 million of the recalled vehicles. In 2005, GM's biggest recall covered 1.4 million SUVs and required a fix for the seat belt in the second row center seating position.

GM also recalled nearly 1.4 million Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Avalanche and GMC Yukon trucks in 21 Northern states to clean anti-lock brake sensors.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic.../601050428/1148

We need a rating system for the severity of a recall. Replacing the cables in a tailgate hatch does not equal replacing ball joints because they might fall off.

Consider the volume that GM does and 5 million recalls compared to Toyota's recall of 2.2 million vehicles compared to the volume they do, the percent has to be in GM's favor, no?

Consider the volume that GM does and 5 million recalls compared to Toyota's recall of 2.2 million vehicles compared to the volume they do, the percent has to be in GM's favor, no?

[post="69107"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

tsk tsk, but you can't spin against Toyota Josh.... is doesn't work that way.

I am with Oldsmoboi on this one. We need a recall rating system. Toyota can make hay on this one just on the pure numbers, but they don't tell the story. GM sells a lot more pick ups than Toyota sells SUVS. Plus, with all the new vehicle launches GM did in 2004 and 2005 I believe it is to GM's credits that recalls are headed down.