Short answer
Among Bentley Continental model years through 2024, 2002, 2003, 2016 and 3 more years have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2020 has the most (5). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Bentley Continental: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 27 (2000–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 16
- Fewest recalls
- 2002, 2003, 2016 and 3 more years (0)
- Most recalls
- 2020 (5)
- Most recalled system
- Fuel system, gasoline (7)
Bentley Continental Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Power train |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2024 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2023 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2022 | 2 | Not rated | Equipment, Seat belts |
| 2021 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Seat belts |
| 2020 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2019 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2018 | 1 | Not rated | Steering |
| 2017 | 1 | Not rated | Steering |
| 2016 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2015 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2014 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2013 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2012 | 1 | Not rated | Electrical system |
| 2011 | 1 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2010 | 1 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2009 | 2 | Not rated | Seat belts, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2008 | 2 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2007 | 2 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2006 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2005 | 1 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2004 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2003 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2002 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2001 | 1 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2000 | 1 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20262 recalls
- 20251 recall
- 20240 recalls
- 20230 recalls
- 20222 recalls
- 20214 recalls
- 20205 recalls
- 20190 recalls
- 20181 recall
- 20171 recall
- 20160 recalls
- 20151 recall
- 20141 recall
- 20131 recall
- 20121 recall
- 20111 recall
- 20101 recall
- 20092 recalls
- 20082 recalls
- 20072 recalls
- 20062 recalls
- 20051 recall
- 20043 recalls
- 20030 recalls
- 20020 recalls
- 20011 recall
- 20001 recall
Bentley Continental: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Bentley Continental recalls are fuel system, gasoline (7), service brakes, hydraulic (6), electrical system (5), air bags (4) and seat belts (4). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Bentley Continental Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Bentley Continental?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2002, 2003, 2016 and 3 more years are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Bentley Continental model years have the most recalls?
2020 has the most, with 5 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Continental", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy