A significant 15,57,195 motor vehicles were recalled by firms owing to defect during the past four years between January 01, 2022 and Noveber 26, 2025, including 11,91,611 two-wheelers and 3,65,584 passenger cars.
According to data maintained by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) under its Voluntary Recall Code, the number and category of motor vehicles recalled due to safety defects over the last three years and the current year are: 2,88,765 vehicles in 2022 (comprising 1,94,397 two-wheelers and 94,368 passenger cars); 2,84,906 vehicles in 2023 (1,57,820 two-wheelers and 1,27,086 passenger cars); 8,64,351 vehicles in 2024 (8,33,476 two-wheelers and 30,875 passenger cars); and 1,19,173 vehicles up to 26 November 2025 (5,918 two-wheelers and 1,13,255 passenger cars).
Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (CMVR), mandates that every manufacturer or importer of motor vehicles must submit the vehicle prototype for testing to agencies specified under the rules. These agencies evaluate and certify the prototype for compliance with the provisions of the Act and CMVR, 1989.
In addition, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways publishes the annual report Road Accidents in India, based on accident data received from State and Union Territory police departments. The analysis of this data shows that road accidents result from multiple factors, including overspeeding, use of mobile phones, drunken driving or consumption of alcohol and drugs, driving on the wrong side, lane indiscipline, jumping red lights, and non-use of safety devices such as helmets and seat belts. Other contributing causes include vehicular condition, weather conditions, road conditions, and faults attributable to drivers, cyclists or pedestrians.
Section 110A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 empowers the Central Government to order the recall of motor vehicles of a particular type or variant. In line with this provision, the Ministry notified G.S.R. 173(E) on 11 March 2021, inserting Rule 127C into the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. This new rule lays down the procedure for recalling defective motor vehicles and issuing recall notices.
