RoadVitals

1972 Vehicles: Recalls, Complaints & Safety Data

Every 1972 model-year vehicle in our database with enough NHTSA data to publish, ranked by the number of complaints owners have filed. Because all of these vehicles are the same model year, they have had the same amount of time in which reports could accumulate.

Complaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.

Vehicles listed1972 model years that clear the threshold at which we publish a vehicle page.
314
across 39 makes
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
25
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
427
distinct campaigns naming a vehicle of this year
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
13

1972 vehicles by owner-reported complaint volume

60 vehicles of 314, most-reported first

1972 model-year vehicles ranked by owner-reported complaint count
#VehicleComplaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.90 daysRecallsInvestigationsIssue IndexThe Vehicle Issue Index is our own informational metric, not an official safety rating and not a reliability prediction.
1Mercury Comet2011—
2Chevrolet C201001—
3Cadillac Fleetwood1010—
4Mercedes-Benz 4501010—
5Boise Cascade Boise Cascade1010—
6Oldsmobile 881030—
7BMW 20021020—
8Cavalier Cavalier1010—
9Volkswagen Type Iii1030—
10Dodge D2001020—
11Midwest Midwest1010—
12GMC K251010—
13Mercedes-Benz 350SL1010—
14Ford Pinto1031—
15Ford Ford1030—
16GMC C15000001—
17GMC C25000001—
18Jeep Commando0011—
19Jeep CJ70010—
20Mercedes-Benz 450SEL0010—
21Mercedes-Benz 220D0010—
22Mercedes-Benz 250C0010—
23GMC GMC0010—
24Peugeot 3040020—
25Renault 120010—
26Mack RS7370010—
27Mack RL7950020—
28Mack RS7470010—
29Mack RL7730010—
30Mack RL7970020—
31Mack RL7670010—
32Mack RS6850010—
33Mack RL7850010—
34Ford B5000010—
35Buick Lesabre0010—
36Mack RS7970020—
37Dodge D7000010—
38Dodge S5000010—
39Chevrolet Brookwood0010—
40BMW Bavaria 3.00010—
41Mack RL6850010—
42Dodge S4000010—
43Ford B6000010—
44Triumph TR60020—
45Dodge D4000010—
46Buick Centurion0010—
47Mack RS7110010—
48Mack RS7670010—
49Dodge W6000020—
50Mercedes-Benz 3000010—
51Nissan 260Z0010—
52Ford WT90000010—
53Ford Cortina0010—
54Dodge P4000010—
55Buick Electra0020—
56Dodge S6000030—
57Harley-Davidson Super Glide Fx0010—
58Chevrolet TV700010—
59Saab 960010—
60Mack R773ST0010—

Showing the 60 most-reported of 314 1972 vehicles. The rest are reachable through their make and model pages.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.