Rust and Corrosion Recalls: Which Cars and Which States

Rust is a recall issue as well as a cosmetic one: NHTSA’s file contains hundreds of recalls where corroded brake lines, subframes, control arms, fuel lines and latches can cause a loss of control or a fire, and many apply only to cars sold or registered in states that salt their roads. Most lists of cars that rust are opinion; this guide uses NHTSA’s recall and complaint files to show which recalls name corrosion, which states they cover, and which cars and years they apply to.

Corrosion recalls: what rusts and how many cars

We count a recall when NHTSA’s own summary or subject names corrosion or rust. They fall under many parts of the car, and rust is not just a body problem:

Source: NHTSA recalls file and US DOT completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; computed by PlainVIN. A vehicle in more than one recall is counted in each.

Looking at the parts named in the recall text, the same few failures repeat. Recalls and vehicle counts overlap, because one recall can name several parts:

Some of the largest, with NHTSA’s campaign numbers and repair rates:

• Nissan Altima 2013–2018 (20V315): if the primary hood latch is released, the secondary latch may corrode and stick, so the hood could open while driving. About 1.83 million vehicles, 49% repaired. See doors and hoods that open while driving for the other latch recalls.
• Toyota Tacoma 2005–2011 (14V604): a rear leaf spring may fracture from stress or corrosion and puncture the fuel tank. About 711,000 vehicles, 48% repaired. See our suspension recalls guide.
• GM Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain 2014–2015 (22V165): corroded wiper module ball joints can stop the wipers. About 682,000 vehicles, 49% repaired.
• Mazda3 2010–2013, Mazda5 2012–2015, CX-5 2013–2016 and CX-3 2016 (16V644): the lift gate stays may corrode and the gate fall. About 580,000 vehicles, 65% repaired.
• Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ 2013–2015 and 2015 Edge (15V250): salt corrosion of bolts can let the steering gear motor detach, causing a loss of power steering assist. About 487,000 vehicles, 91% repaired.
• Subaru Outback, Legacy, Impreza, WRX and Forester (14V311): brake line corrosion may leak brake fluid and lengthen stopping distances. About 461,000 vehicles, 45% repaired. Our brake problems guide covers the other brake recalls.

Vehicle descriptions are NHTSA’s own summary wording; “repaired” is the share the manufacturer reports as fixed, and new campaigns start near zero. Source: NHTSA recalls file and US DOT completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Is your state covered? The salt-state recalls

Several of the biggest corrosion recalls apply only to vehicles tied to certain states, because the defect shows up where road salt is used. We compared seven of them. Eighteen states and Washington, D.C. appear in all seven: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Four more vary: Iowa and Missouri are in six of the seven, and Kentucky and Virginia are in four.

Source: NHTSA recall records, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Ford’s other Explorer toe-link recalls (19V435, 20V675, 26V101) don’t name corrosion; see our suspension guide.

The records show why you should read the wording. Honda’s recall covers vehicles “sold, or ever registered” in the listed states, so a CR-V that moved south may still qualify. Subaru’s covers vehicles “currently, or formerly, registered” there. Toyota’s and Hyundai’s cover vehicles “originally sold in, or currently registered in” them, so a car that was first sold in a salt state but registered somewhere else could be treated differently. NHTSA’s record for Honda’s recall gives the cause:

“An accumulation of road salt may cause the frame to corrode and possibly detach the rear trailing arm.”NHTSA recall record for Honda campaign 23V228, nhtsa.gov

Structure complaints: which cars and years

Counts of owner reports, not verified defects or rates; models that sold in larger numbers draw more complaints. The share compares with all complaints for that model over the same model years. Source: NHTSA owner complaints file, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; computed by PlainVIN.

Source: NHTSA owner complaints file, retrieved Oct 6, 2026; computed by PlainVIN.

NHTSA’s “structure” category is broader than rust: it covers the frame and body, doors, hatches, pillars and trim. We can’t tell from the category whether a complaint is about corrosion. Checking the worst years against the recall file shows the difference:

• Toyota Sienna 2004–2005 (47% and 44% of complaints): a corrosion match. Toyota recalled the 2004–2011 Sienna in 2014 because the spare tire carrier cable corrodes from road salt (14V273), after an earlier 2010 recall for the same cable (10V160, about 600,000 vehicles).
• Toyota Tundra 2000 (52%): a corrosion match. A 2009 recall covers rear crossmember assembly corrosion (09V444, about 110,000 vehicles).
• Ford Explorer 2016 and 2017 and Ford Escape 2020: not rust. Their structure recalls are for exterior A-pillar trim that may detach (24V031, about 1.89 million vehicles, 21% repaired), roof rail covers (21V316, 26V448) and liftgate hinge covers (25V829).
• Dodge Ram 1500 2001, Ford Escape 2005 and Chrysler Pacifica 2005: heavy structure complaint shares, but no structure or corrosion recall for those years in NHTSA’s file.

“If the carrier cable is corroded due to road salt, the spare tire may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.”NHTSA recall record for Toyota campaign 14V273, nhtsa.gov

Corrosion recalls in 2026

Vehicle descriptions are NHTSA’s own summary wording; “repaired” is the share the manufacturer reports as fixed, and new campaigns start near zero. Source: NHTSA recalls file and US DOT completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

The largest is Honda’s June 2026 recall of about 880,000 2016–2022 Pilot, 2017–2023 Ridgeline, 2019–2023 Passport and 2014–2020 Acura MDX vehicles sold or registered in 23 states and Washington, D.C. (26V365). A corroding rear subframe can lead to failure of rear suspension components such as the rear control arm, and NHTSA’s record warns of “a loss of vehicle handling and control.” CBS News reported Honda’s estimate that only about 1% of the recalled vehicles actually have the defect; owners still need the inspection. Other 2026 recalls in the table include Land Rover’s recall of Defender, Discovery and Range Rover models whose driver’s air bag clockspring connector may corrode (26V389, covered in our air bag guide) and a BMW “park outside” recall for a starter that may corrode and overheat (26V441). Our park-outside recall list covers the fire-risk recalls.

Buying or owning a car that could rust

1. Check your VIN for recalls at NHTSA or with our VIN decoder, which links to your model year’s recalls. Rust-related recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.
2. Know where the car has lived. If it was sold or registered in a state on a recall’s list, ask the dealer whether it qualifies, and read the recall’s wording about original sale versus current or former registration.
3. Buying used? Ask for the registration history and inspect the underbody: frame rails, subframes, brake lines and suspension mounts. Our used car inspection checklist covers the walk-around, and the flood damage check covers corrosion from water damage.
4. Don’t assume no recall means no problem. Manufacturers also run service campaigns and warranty extensions for rust that don’t appear in NHTSA’s recall file, so our counts don’t include them. A frame that is rusting without a recall is still worth reporting.
5. Report it. If a part failed from rust, file a complaint with NHTSA; complaint patterns are how regional recalls begin. See the most common car problems for how structure compares with other problem areas.

Corroded liftgate stays are covered in our liftgate and hood strut recalls guide.

Complaint and recall figures are PlainVIN’s analysis of NHTSA’s files and update when we refresh the data; complaints are owner reports, not verified defects. A recall is counted as corrosion-related when its subject or summary names corrosion or rust. This guide is general information, not mechanical advice for a specific vehicle.