Sedgwick: Recalled Products in US Hit Lowest Quarterly Level in 3 Years

The number of products recalled across the U.S. in the second quarter fell 31.5% from 125.37 million units in the first quarter to 85.87 million in Q2, a new report shows.

This level marked the lowest quarterly total since the second quarter 2022. It is also one of only five quarters in the past five years in which fewer than 100 million units were affected, Sedgwick’s latest U.S. Product Safety and Recall Index shows.

The number of units recalled fell, but recall events surged to 861 events in the second quarter, the highest quarterly total in more than a year. This divergence between events and impacted units may point to factors such as smaller batch production, earlier defect detection, and a heightened culture of vigilance and recall readiness across industries, according to the report’s authors.

There were 1,636 recall events across the first half of the year, a modest decline from 1,697 in the same period last year. The total number of units impacted was 211.25 million in the first half of the year, compared with the the 384.17 million units recorded in the first half of 2024.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration issued 246 automotive recalls in the second quarter, 14.4% above the first quarter. The number of affected units also increased, rising by 97.3% from 3.73 million last quarter to 7.36 million in Q2. The average recall size for the quarter was 29,925 units, the report shows.

In the second quarter, there were 109 consumer product recalls, a 7.9% increase from 101 events in the first quarter. That was the highest quarterly total since 2008 and one of only nine quarters since 1997 to have more than 100 recalls. The number of units recalled was also higher, rising 163.2% compared to last quarter and reaching 12.21 million units, according to the report.

The number of Food and Drug Administration food recalls rose 12.6% in the second quarter from the first quarter, rising to 143 events. However, the number of units impacted dropped by 79.6%, from 70.25 million last quarter to 14.32 million this quarter, according to the report.

Topics USA