A recall is an action taken to remove a product from the market, usually due to safety concerns. An automobile recall is often the result of inadequate or faulty design or manufacturing error, that creates a safety risk. Recalls are usually initiated voluntarily by the manufacturer or at the request of the appropriate government agency. If the manufacturer does not initiate a recall, the government can order the manufacturer to issue a recall.

The National Highway Traffic & Safety (NHTSA) is responsible for issuing and publicizing recalls, warnings and safety alerts concerning unsafe or defective automobiles, motorcycles and tires. The U.S. coast guard is responsible for recalls, warnings and alerts involving boats and other watercrafts. The Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) is responsible for recalls and warnings involving other vehicles such as ATVs and certain automotive products such as child safety seats.

When there are reports of a possible vehicle problem, the government gathers all information on a problem, government engineers analyze the problem, and where warranted, manufacturers are asked to conduct a recall. Examples of vehicle safety defects include: tires in which the tread separates causing a blowout, seatbelts that fail in a collision, airbags that fails to deploy in a collision or which deploy unexpectedly, child seats that fail crash, faulty accelerator control or brake failure, and fuel system problems that may result in leaks or fires. Additionally, a defect may include the failure to include proper warning or instructions on a vehicle or product.