We write with increasing frequency about vehicle recalls here, and as we document more and more of them we started wondering exactly why there are so many to write about. After all, vehicles have improved by leaps and bounds in the last century—but if they've come such a long way, how is it that we see new recalls virtually every day? Let's explore some of the main reasons for that.
Vehicles Are More Complex than Ever
Modern vehicles have more electronics, sensors, and software than ever before, to the point that climbing into many new models feels a little like entering a space shuttle compared to the ones on the market even 20 years ago. For the most part all the updated features seem like good things (though I sometimes question the wisdom of a distracting touch-screen device in the middle of the dash), but more complex bells and whistles also mean more things could potentially fail.
Computers have run vehicles behind the scenes for quite some time now, and those "brains" have to handle endless computations to keep everything running smoothly. Many cars these days ask even more of them as systems once under human control become automated, like lane assist technology and automatic braking. While each individual system may generally be more reliable, the sheer number of components in modern cars increases the chance of them breaking or not coordinating properly.
If there's an upside to software being the culprit in many of these recalls, it's that fixing those bugs is a lot easier than gutting a vehicle to get at a faulty part. That may be a factor in seeing more recalls as well: If a manufacturer or dealership just has to reconfigure some code via an "Over the Air" (OTA) update, then they may be more willing to acknowledge the problem since they already have a fix in hand.
Better Detection and Reporting
All that improved technology I mentioned includes diagnostic tools and data collection methods, which make it easier for manufacturers to spot potential safety issues before they escalate. It's in their interests to watch carefully for problems, because in the Information Age someone else will find it if they don't. Social media and consumer watchdog groups force companies to act faster and recall more to avoid bad PR and legal trouble.
The increased efficiency of error detection and reporting actually relates indirectly to a concept called Jevons Paradox, which says that as a resource is used more efficiently, more of it may actually be consumed. Since defect or malfunction detection and reporting have become far more efficient, more issues are caught more quickly—meaning that even though modern cars are safer than ever, more recalls happen to proactively deal with possible concerns before they can become serious problems.
Staying Competitive in the Industry
Manufacturers are in a never-ending fight for customers; that means each one is eager to put out "the next big thing." In modern vehicles that's usually some new feature, like AI-driven enhancements. In this arms race, one issue that frequently pops up is that problems that aren't seen on the testing track tend to reveal themselves when tens of thousands of people start driving millions of miles in real-world conditions. When the gizmo starts failing in those cars, recalls necessarily follow.
Global Supply Chain Problems
Automakers rarely produce every part of their vehicles in-house, opting instead to source components from all over the world. Moreover, some part suppliers become go-to sources for multiple automakers. If such a supplier makes a million parts with the same defect, and those parts are put in a million vehicles, then a recall is likely to follow when those parts fail.
That's essentially what happened with Takata airbags. For those who don't know or remember, the company Takata reportedly used an unstable propellant (ammonium nitrate) in its airbag inflators. If those airbags were exposed to fluctuations in temperature or humidity, there was a chance the inflators would explode improperly and send out sharp metal debris during airbag deployment. In other words, having a Takata airbag—which were put in over a hundred million vehicles worldwide by more than twenty automakers—was like potentially having a grenade in your steering wheel. The defect has been linked to 27 deaths and over 400 injuries in the United States alone, and the recalls about it are ongoing.
Increased Government Oversight
Governments and regulatory bodies like the NHTSA have changed their approach to recalls somewhat over the years; some might even say they've lowered the bar for what might be considered a safety risk. The agency took some flak in the mid-2010's for its lax approach to the Takata airbag recall (the biggest recall in history), which may have made it a little more sensitive about potential problems—and more aggressive about enforcing recalls overall. Car manufacturers are now held to stricter guidelines, which can lead to more recalls when certain issues are discovered that don’t meet those standards. Even seemingly-small issues, like a faulty warning light, might trigger a recall.
Greater Numbers of Vehicles
Simply put, there are just more cars on the road than ever, and manufacturers are making more at a faster ratee. Higher production and a greater volume of products means more of them will have problems.
Just Because Vehicles Are Safer Doesn't Mean They Can't Kill You.
That's a rather grim heading, but it's very true. Even though modern vehicles are safer than ever, people should do their best not to ignore any recalls they learn about that affect their cars. It might be tempting to go numb to all the bulletins, warnings, and updates every couple of days, but whatever the subject of a recall there's a reason it was issued—safety.
Advances in technology and stricter regulations have helped reduce overall vehicle dangers, but recalls exist because defects—whether they lurk in a vehicle's parts or its software—can still turn up unexpectedly and cause a lot of damage. Ignoring a recall, even for what may seem like a minor issue, can have serious consequences, especially if those small problems stack up or get worse over time. Many recalls are also preventive measures meant to catch problems before they cause harm, so taking them seriously helps keep vehicles as safe as they're supposed to be.
Even if some recalls seem minor, it's always best to take each of them seriously and not for granted. Complacency can put everyone on the road at unnecessary risk, so be sure to check with your car's manufacturer and the NHTSA once in a while.