Major car recalls in 2010

As safety being the major buzzword in automobile industry, and every company is working hard towards setting good safety standard. The automobile companies are under constant watch from NHTSA, which works overtime to help prevent crashes and their attendant costs, both human and financial. The agency strives to exceed the expectations of its customers through its core values of Integrity, Service, and Leadership.

Despite, bodies such as NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more than 12,000 people died in frontal crashes of passenger vehicles in the United States, more than 6,000 died in side impacts, and more than 8,000 died in rollovers, many of which also involved a front or side impact during last year.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1.2 million lives are lost every year in road traffic accidents and only technology and safety measures has the potential to cut the accident rate by half.

2010 will be remembered as the worst year for automobile industry. A number of leading car makers including Toyota, Honda, GM, BMW, Hyundai, Nissan, Ford, Chevrolet recalled lakhs of vehicles because of various defects and safety problems.

Toyota: One of the world's biggest automaker, Toyota recalled the highest number of cars in 2010. Toyota recalls included models like Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Prius, Sienna etc.

Honda: Japan-based Honda recalled cars due to the brake fluid issue that included models like Accord, Civic and Element.

Chevrolet: General Motors (GM) recalled models like Avalanche, Camaro, Cobalt, Colorado, Equinox, Impala, Silverado, Traverse etc.

Nissan: Japanese car maker Nissan Motor Company, Ltd recalled cars that included models like Sentra, Rogue, Armada, Versa, Pathfinder, Frontier, Xterra etc.

Chrysler: The United States based automobile manufacturer Chrysler recalled models like Chrysler Town and Country, Chrysler 300, Chrysler Sebring.

Ford: American automobile manufacturer Ford Motor Company recalled in 2010 models that included Edge, Fusion, Escape, Ranger etc.

Hyundai: Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Company recalled Sonata and Tucson models due to a problem with a faulty steering.

BMW: German automobile maker BMW recalled models including BMW 745i/Li, 750i/Li, 760i/Li; BMW Alpina B7, BMW 645i, 650i, BMW 545i, 550i, Rolls Royce Phantom etc.

Mazda: Japanese automotive manufacturer Mazda Motor Corporation recalled Mazda 3 and Mazda 5 Sedan models due to a problem involving power steering.

Mitsubishi: The sixth largest automaker in Japan and the seventeenth largest in the world by vehicle production, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation recalled Endeavour and Lancer models.