---
license: cc-by-4.0
language:
- en
pretty_name: "US Vehicle Recall-Gap Index (NHTSA-verified)"
tags:
- automotive
- vehicles
- nhtsa
- recalls
- vehicle-safety
- consumer-protection
- open-data
size_categories:
- 1K<n<10K
configs:
- config_name: default
  data_files:
  - split: train
    path: recall-gap-index.csv
---

# Recall-Gap Index

High-complaint failure patterns that have NO corresponding NHTSA recall — defects owners report in volume that regulators never forced a fix for. Every row is cross-checked against the live NHTSA recalls API, so vehicles that WERE recalled for the component (even when our local DB missed it) are excluded.

## Columns
| column | meaning |
|---|---|
| `year` | Model year |
| `make` | Manufacturer |
| `model` | Model |
| `component` | Failure category with no NHTSA recall |
| `complaints` | Total NHTSA complaints in this cluster |
| `mileage_median` | Median failure mileage (if available) |
| `alleged_deaths` | Complaints alleging death (unverified) |
| `alleged_fires` | Complaints alleging fire (unverified) |
| `severity` | critical \| severe \| moderate |
| `url` | Source page on ProblemsByVin |

## Source & methodology
Candidates are (vehicle, component) clusters with no recall for that component in our DB and ≥ the complaint threshold. Each candidate vehicle is then queried against the live NHTSA recalls-by-vehicle API; any cluster whose component is in fact covered by a real NHTSA recall is REMOVED. Survivors are genuine recall gaps as of the verification date. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; absence of a recall is per NHTSA records on the verification date.

Canonical version, full methodology, and the other datasets: **https://problemsbyvin.com/data/** .

## License
CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution to **ProblemsByVin (https://problemsbyvin.com)**.