Vehicle recalls increased by 4.5% to reach to 16.2 million in 2012 compared to the 15.5 million vehicles recalled in 2011, according to a report by US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
According to NHTSA, there were 586 vehicle recalls by manufacturers during the year compared to the 596 recalls made in 2011.
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said: "We have one of the most effective programs in the world and will continue, in 2013, to pursue investigations and recalls wherever our data justifies doing so."
About 41,912 complaints were registered in 2012 that fell from 49,417 complaints made in the previous year.
NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said: "Consumers are the lifeblood of the recall process and recalls are often the direct result of a government investigation into consumer complaints."
The companies that issued recalls in 2012 included Toyota Motors which led the list with 5.3 million vehicles, followed by Honda with 3.4 million vehicles, General Motors recalled 1.5 million vehicles and Ford recalled 1.4 million vehicle in the year.
