CARFAX Investigation: More than 1 in 4 Taxis and Rideshares in Major U.S. Cities Have Unfixed Recall

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Sep 14, 2026, 08:00 ET

New CARFAX Investigation Checks Nearly Half a Million Vehicles Across 16 Major Cities

CENTREVILLE, Va., Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 1 in 4 taxi and rideshare vehicles analyzed by CARFAX across 16 major U.S. cities had at least one unfixed recall, a higher rate than the roughly 1 in 5 vehicles nationwide. The risk was even higher in some cities. In New York City, hailing a medallion cab came with nearly a 2-in-5 chance (38.6%) of riding in a vehicle with an unfixed recall, a rate similar to Seattle's (37.5%).

"If you're paying for a ride, you should be able to count on the vehicle being safe, too, but our data shows that isn't always the case," said Paul Nadjarian, Chief Product Officer at CARFAX. The good news is checking for an open recall is free at carfax.com/recall and getting it fixed is free. It's a simple but important step toward creating a safer ride."

Meanwhile, some cities were doing far better than the roughly 20% national average, including Los Angeles at 11% and Boston at 9%. CARFAX analyzed nearly 438,000 VINs from registered taxi and rideshare vehicles across 16 major U.S. cities to find about 27% of vehicles had an open, or unfixed, recall. The VINs were provided by state and city officials, obtained through public records requests or open-data portals, then checked for open recalls using the Vehicle Research Search Service, a joint venture between CARFAX and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.

There are conditions that can keep taxi and rideshare drivers from getting recall repairs done, said Elena Sierra, Executive Director of the Transportation Alliance, a trade group for taxi fleets. "It's important to recognize that not all recalls present the same level of safety risk," Sierra said. "They range from software updates and labeling corrections to more significant mechanical issues."

Consumers can check any vehicle for an unfixed recall for free at carfax.com/recall. The tool provides instant recall information and can help consumers find a dealer to complete the repair at no cost. Drivers can also download the free CARFAX Car Care app for reminders about routine maintenance and newly issued safety recalls.

Editor's note: Interviews are available upon request. Please contact Em Nguyen at [email protected].

About CARFAX

CARFAX, part of Mobility Global Inc. (NYSE: MBGL), helps millions of people every day confidently shop, buy, service, and sell cars with innovative solutions powered by CARFAX® vehicle history information. The expert in vehicle history since 1984, CARFAX provides CARFAX Car Listings, CARFAX Car Care, CARFAX History-Based Value, and the flagship CARFAX Report to consumers and the automotive industry. CARFAX owns the largest vehicle history database and is nationally recognized as a top workplace by The Washington Post and USA Today. Shop, Buy, Service, Sell – Show me the CARFAX®.

Mobility Global is the world's standard for automotive information, providing critical data and analytics across the full vehicle lifecycle. Mobility Global supports the world's major automotive manufacturers, suppliers, dealer groups, media, financial institutions, and consumers with data, forecasts, insights, technology, and innovation. For more information, visit mobilityglobal.com.

SOURCE CARFAX