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The number of critical “Do Not Drive” recalls jumped more than 65% since the summer of 2024, according to recent CARFAX data.
In total, about 725,000 vehicles that are currently on the road have a “Do Not Drive” recall, most of which are concentrated in California, Texas, Florida and Arizona, according to the data.
“When it comes to safety recalls, overlooking or ignoring them can put lives at risk,” CARFAX editor-in-chief Patrick Olsen said, adding that every driver should know their vehicle’s status.
OVER 6M VEHICLES ON ROAD WITH TAKATA AIRBAGS, 10 YEARS AFTER RECALL
Automakers, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), issue “Do Not Drive” recalls when a vehicle’s defect is considered to be dangerous enough that regulators say drivers should not be using the vehicles under any circumstance, even for a short trip.
Cars travel on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) through the neighborhood of Dumbo on November 2, 2024, in New York City. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Such recalls are so severe that manufacturers and federal safety regulators urge owners to park the vehicle immediately and have it towed to a dealership.
VEHICLE OWNERS SLOW TO ADDRESS RECALL ALERTS FOR POTENTIALLY DEADLY ISSUES
The NHTSA has previously warned on its website that “millions of vehicle recalls go unrepaired or unaddressed every year” despite the significant number of recalls issued.
Busy traffic on the Grand Central Parkway and Long Island Expressway in Queens, New York. (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Last year, 1,073 safety recalls affected more than 35 million vehicles and pieces of equipment, including tires and car seats, the NHTSA posted in March ahead of “Vehicle Safety Recalls Week.” Of that figure, about 29 million were vehicles.
FORD, MAZDA ISSUE ‘DO NOT DRIVE’ ADVISORY FOR 457,000 VEHICLES
“Checking for recalls on your vehicle could save your loved ones’ lives or your own,” NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser said in a March statement.
FORD, MAZDA ISSUE ‘DO NOT DRIVE’ ADVISORY FOR 457,000 VEHICLES
The problem is that car owners are slow to act. A 2024 report from LexisNexis Risk Solutions revealed that more than one in three owners drag their feet when it comes to acting on recalls when they are issued.
Vehicles travel on the New Jersey Turnpike in front of the skyline of New York City on March 1, 2025, in Newark, New Jersey. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images / Getty Images)
For its findings, LexisNexis Risk Solutions surveyed U.S. vehicle owners in July 2024 who purchased or leased a used car with the model year 2013 or newer in the last three years.
According to the survey, 29% of vehicle owners had not addressed a recall impacting their car. That figure jumps to about 47% when referring to owners with used vehicles, in particular.
Here are the top 15 states with vehicles that have a “Do Not Drive” recall, according to CARFAX:
California: 118,400
Texas: 61,200
Florida: 40,600
Arizona: 28,000
Ohio: 25,400
Pennsylvania: 23,500
North Carolina: 22,400
Georgia: 21,900
Tennessee: 21,300
Illinois: 18,800
South Carolina: 18,100
Virginia: 18,100
New York: 18,000
Michigan: 17,500
Washington: 17,400
