Stout's 2021 Automotive Defect & Recall Report builds on the original research that Stout began in 2013. As in years past – in order to complete this report – Stout has compiled and analyzed prior-year data from a vast array of sources, including National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), multiple U.S. jurisdictions, international recall databases, financial reports, and other sources.