3.324 trillion
miles traveled on U.S. roads in 2025
Federal Highway Administration preliminary estimates put 2025 travel at 3,323.8 billion vehicle miles, up 0.9% from 2024.
The Car Coach Reference
Car Buying and Vehicle Safety Statistics
Current U.S. figures on driving, crashes, and recalls, gathered in one practical reference for vehicle buyers, writers, and researchers.
Last updated August 7, 2026. Each figure includes its reporting year and primary source.
What the numbers can, and cannot, tell a car buyer
National statistics cannot predict whether one particular vehicle is the right purchase. They do show why a serious comparison should include safety features, a vehicle history report, service records, an independent inspection, and an open-recall check. Use the figures below as context, then evaluate the actual vehicle in front of you.
39,254
people killed in U.S. traffic crashes in 2024
The final 2024 count was 4.3% lower than 2023, but it remains a reminder that safety belongs in every vehicle comparison.
2.42 million
people estimated to be injured in traffic crashes in 2024
NHTSA estimated 2,422,195 people were injured in U.S. motor vehicle traffic crashes during 2024.
6.18 million
police-reported traffic crashes in 2024
NHTSA estimated 6,180,241 police-reported crashes, including injury and property-damage-only crashes.
1.19
traffic fatalities per 100 million miles traveled in 2024
This fatality rate was down from 1.26 in 2023. Rates make it possible to compare safety outcomes as driving volume changes.
29.3 million
items affected by U.S. safety recalls in 2025
NHTSA recorded 29,262,623 affected vehicles, equipment items, tires, and child seats across all safety recall categories.
891
safety recall campaigns reported in 2025
The total covers vehicle, equipment, tire, and child-seat recalls. A VIN check is more useful than assuming a particular model year is clear.
Nearly 35 million
vehicles recalled in the United States in 2023
NHTSA reported 1,000 recalls across vehicles and other safety products that year, and advises owners to check for open recalls at least twice a year.
Before you buy
Use the national picture to ask better questions about the specific vehicle.
Check the VIN for recalls, compare safety equipment between trims, review the vehicle history and service records, and arrange an independent inspection before you commit. A good listing is only the start of the evaluation.
Methodology and sources
Built from primary U.S. transportation data.
This page uses the latest available federal figures when it was updated. Traffic and crash statistics come from the Federal Highway Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Recall totals include the categories stated by NHTSA. Source dates appear with each statistic because the reporting years do not all match.
- Federal Highway Administration, Traffic Volume Trends, December 2025
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2024
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2025 Annual Report: Safety Recalls
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2023 Annual Vehicle Recalls Report
Cite this page
The Car Coach. “Car Buying and Vehicle Safety Statistics.” Updated August 7, 2026. https://thecarcoach.biz/car-buying-statistics
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