How US Automakers Make It Easier to Recall Products

Recalls are an important part of car safety. But they can also be quite inconvenient for owners. Taking your vehicle to the dealer for an unexpected repair or service is just one of the things you need to plan for. Fortunately, things are changing. For many newer vehicles, some recalls can be resolved by simply turning the car on.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there will be 894 vehicle safety recalls in the United States in 2023. While many recalls require hardware updates, there are others that require an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Edmunds car experts discuss what you need to know.

What is an OTA update?

The OTA update is pushed to vehicles over a wireless connection and typically installed automatically, similar to downloading an update on a smartphone or personal computer. For example, the 2023 Tesla Model Y has 12 recalls listed on the NHTSA website; at least half of them list OTA updates as a solution. It’s a win-win for the automaker and the consumer, because offering a quick and free fix helps the automaker maintain positive customer satisfaction ratings.

“Vehicles have evolved to a degree we’ve never seen before,” Ivan Drury, an automotive analyst at Edmunds, told ABC News. He said high-tech features like autonomous driving and backup cameras are included in the wide range of recalls.

There are currently two main categories of software updates. The first relates to the infotainment system, a non-critical segment that regularly receives useful updates. Drive Control, the second category, covers driver assistance systems and critical operating systems; these updates are essential for safe driving.

More software updates coming soon

Automaker Kia has a solid lineup of electric vehicles and a solid OTA strategy for easy rollouts of infotainment updates. “With the introduction of the EV9, we’ve been able to do a lot of software updates to improve regular software capabilities,” says Kia connected car expert Sujith Somasekharan. “For example, we’ve improved the battery charger to be more efficient. The updates improve the functionality of the car.”

General Motors’ newest vehicles are also designed to improve over time with software updates for features like Super Cruise, Remote Command and infotainment. “Over-the-air updates can improve efficiency, cybersecurity and convenience, all from the comfort of your own home,” says Baris Cetinok, senior vice president of software and service product management at GM. “As our technology evolves, GM customers will continue to have the option of personal assistance through our extensive dealer network.”

OTA updates are not exclusive to all-electric vehicles. For certain 2024 Buick Encore GX, Envista, and Chevrolet Trax vehicles, a November 2023 recall describes an issue with a blank driver information display and recommends a software update to resolve the issue.

Visits to dealers will still be part of ownership

It’s great to know that OTA vehicle updates will continue to make life easier for consumers. But don’t delete your dealer’s phone number just yet. Most recalls still require in-person repairs. For example, an airbag deployment issue or engine failure will require an in-person visit to the service department.

Plus, it’s hard to know what’s actually a rollback and what’s just a software update. Not every rollback is a software update, and not every software update is a rollback. It’s a different kind of rollback if it’s simply an OTA update patch. After all, software updates are being pushed out to smartphones all the time. But you can be sure: As cars — and especially electric vehicles — become more software-centric, these OTA updates will play a bigger role than ever.

Edmunds says

Software updates are a game changer for vehicle owners across the board. When a recall is a simple fix, it’s a huge time saver. We expect the recall process to continue to evolve.

This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Kristin Shaw is an Edmunds contributor.