Recalls have been around long before the NTSB took control of them in 1966, but they weren’t as well organized. Most manufacturers have gone through a recall at one time or another. So, what was the first auto recall? The first automotive recall came in 1913 for the legendary Ford Model T. The real surprise is that the recall had nothing to do with a mechanical aspect of the vehicle. There wasn't a dangerous component to the vehicle that triggered the recall. The engine didn’t blow up, the wheels didn’t fall off. Instead, the danger came from bugs………yes, actual bugs. Henry Ford decided to stuff his car seats with Spanish moss, which turned out to form a small ecosystem where bugs could thrive. It wasn’t long before chiggers began biting people and Ford had to issue the very first recall.
