How We Rate Recall Severity
Not all recalls are equally urgent. A brake failure defect and a minor label compliance issue both appear in the same government database with no indication of relative risk.
April 14, 2026
Not all recalls are equally urgent. A brake failure defect and a minor label compliance issue both appear in the same government database with no indication of relative risk. We built our severity system to change that.
The Problem with Official Recall Databases
Transport Canada and NHTSA publish recall notices as plain text descriptions. Neither database provides a standardized severity score or urgency indicator. When you look up your vehicle, a recall that could cause your brakes to fail at highway speed sits next to a recall for an incorrect owner's manual — with no visual distinction between them.
This matters because consumers have limited time and attention. When there are multiple open recalls on a vehicle, owners need to understand which ones demand immediate action and which can wait for a routine service appointment.
Why We Built This
Our goal is to help consumers quickly identify which recalls need urgent attention. With roughly 1 in 5 vehicles in Canada carrying an unresolved recall, the friction between "I have a recall" and "I'm going to the dealer today" is too high. Severity ratings lower that friction by making the most dangerous defects immediately visible.
How Our Rating System Works
Major League Recalls scans the official defect description and risk language from each recall notice using keyword analysis. We look for specific terms that signal different levels of physical risk — words like "fire," "crash," and "brake failure" at the high end; "label," "documentation," and "non-compliance" at the low end.
Based on the presence and combination of these keywords, each recall is assigned a score from 1 (Informational) to 5 (Critical). This score is displayed as a coloured badge on every recall listing.
The Five Severity Tiers
Critical
An immediate risk of serious injury, fire, crash, or death. Vehicles with Critical recalls should be seen by a dealer as soon as possible.
Browse Critical recalls →High
A significant safety risk that could lead to loss of vehicle control or injury under certain conditions. These recalls warrant prompt attention.
Browse High recalls →Medium
A moderate risk where a component defect could impair a safety system or create a hazard under specific conditions. Schedule the repair within a reasonable timeframe.
Browse Medium recalls →Low
A minor risk that typically affects compliance, labelling, or documentation rather than immediate physical safety. Repair is still recommended.
Browse Low recalls →Informational
An administrative, paperwork, or minor compliance issue with no immediate physical safety risk to the vehicle or occupants.
This is our own rating system — not an official government classification.
Our severity scores are generated by automated keyword analysis of official recall text and are not endorsed by or affiliated with Transport Canada, NHTSA, or any vehicle manufacturer. The same words can appear in different contexts, and our scoring may not accurately reflect the true severity of every individual recall. A low score does not mean a recall is unimportant — all recalls should be repaired. Always read the full official recall notice and consult your authorized dealer for guidance.
See if your vehicle is affected.