The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency has said one in 12 vehicles recalled due to manufacturers' safety concerns failed to turn up.

While Vosa, which enforces vehicle recalls, said it was progressing towards higher success rates, there is still concern that too many potentially dangerous vehicles are on the road.

Recalls follow concerns about features such as steering, brakes and seatbelt systems. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency database is used to track down owners, but its information is sometimes incomplete, with data such as changes of address not always registered. According to Vosa, there were 1.3m recalls last year and the successful recall rate was about 92 per cent. This means around 108,000 vehicles deemed unsound by manufacturers remain unaccounted for. The RAC Foundation has emphasised the importance of the DVLA's database being up to date. The Foundation said that lives could be at risk with the current recall rate and that drivers needed to be warned about faulty vehicles.