U.S. automotive recalls surged 8% last year to the highest level in three years, though the number of affected vehicles fell to one of the lowest of the past decade.

There were 988 recalls, according to analysis by Sedgwick that identified electrical systems as the leading cause at 194 recalls. That’s the largest number for that cause in more than five years.

The number of affected units across all recalls last year fell 17% to 32 million, according to the report, which indicates that only one other year in the past decade had fewer impacted units: 2022, which saw a little over 31 million units recalled.

The fourth quarter reflected the year as a whole, electrical systems the leading cause of recalls over the period, leading to 48 events and replacing equipment issues, which dominated the previous two quarters. Steering was the most common reason for recalls by volume, primarily due to a single recall affecting 1.7 million units.

DIG DEEPER: Recall Reconnaissance