An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Software fixes are now responsible for more than 1 in 5 vehicle recalls. That’s the top finding from a decade of recall data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to an analysis by law firm DeMayo Law. While that’s a sign of growing inconvenience for drivers, the positive is that a software patch is typically a much quicker fix than something that requires a hardware replacement. “Our analysis suggests that we’re witnessing a shift in the way automotive recalls are handled. The growing number of software-related recalls, combined with the ability to address issues remotely, could revolutionize the recall process for both manufacturers and vehicle owners,” a DeMayo Law spokesperson said.
In 2014, 34 of the 277 vehicle recalls were for software fixes. The software recall rate has hovered around 12-13 percent (aside from a spike in 2015) before steadily increasing since 2020. In 2021, 16 percent of vehicle recalls (61 of 380) were for software. In 2022, nearly 22 percent of recalls were for software fixes (76 of 348), up from over 23 percent last year (82 of 356). Chrysler leads the way, with 82 different software recalls since 2014. Ford (66 recalls) and Mercedes-Benz (60) are the two runners-up. Meanwhile, Tesla comes in at just eighth place, with 26 software recalls since 2014, putting it tied with Hyundai (25) and Kia (25).
Electrical systems were the most common problem area, which makes sense — this is also the second most common recall for hardware repairs and would likely be at the top if it weren’t for the massive Takata airbag recall, which has affected more than 100 million vehicles worldwide. The other common systems affected by recalls that required software fixes were related to reverse assist — whether that’s backup cameras, collision warnings or automatic emergency braking — airbags, powertrains and exterior lighting. “It should be noted that not all recalls involving a software fix fix a software problem,” Ars’ Jonathan M. Gitlin notes. “Take the recent Jaguar I-Pace recall, which was sparked by battery fires caused by battery cells that were damaged during assembly. Jaguar’s solution? A software update that places a new, lower limit on the battery pack’s storage capacity, preventing it from fully charging to 100 percent.”