Auto Express can reveal the worst recall offender for 2011, and this year it’s a car maker that’s close to home – Vauxhall. 

According to data from VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency), 2011 saw 179 vehicle recalls, with more than 900,000 owners receiving a letter from their car maker’s service department.

Vauxhall recalled more than 405,000 Corsas (2006-2011) in September after discovering a problem with the brake pedal bearings. The material used to make them was found to be inadequate for the task, and Vauxhall said it was possible the part could fail when extreme force was applied to the middle pedal. In total more than 435,000 Vauxhalls have been recalled this year.

Honda appears in second place after needing to recall 136,000 Jazzes (2001-08) as the dipped beam lights could fail. Citroen came in third place with 60,237 cars recalled, followed by Toyota/Lexus.

Top marks went to Bentley, Caterham, Daihatsu, Ferrari, Hyundai, Lamborghini, Lotus, Perodua, Proton, Rolls-Royce, Saab, SEAT, Skoda and VW with not a single recall in 2011.

Steve Fowler, Auto Express editor-in-chief, commented: ‘The Corsa is one of the biggest selling cars in the UK, which accounts for the large number involved in this recall. It’s never good news for any car maker to have to recall its cars – customers quite rightly see it as a reflection on a car’s quality standards.’

For the full recall round-up, read this week`s Auto Express magazine.