Data Sources & Methodology

AutoSoftToday relies on various data sources to provide accurate and up-to-date information about automotive software recalls and news. This page explains our data sources, methodology, and update procedures.

Recall Data

Primary Sources

• NHTSA Recall Database: The majority of our recall data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s official recall database.
• Manufacturer Announcements: We supplement NHTSA data with direct announcements from vehicle manufacturers especially for news articles.
• Technical Service Bulletins: Where relevant, we include information from TSBs that relate to software issues.

Collection Methodology

1. Our automated system fetches recall data from the NHTSA API on a daily basis.
2. The data is processed to identify software-related recalls using a keyword analysis that has been tuned over time.
3. Additional data points, such as whether the recall can be addressed via over-the-air updates, are added through manual research and keyword searches.

Update Frequency

• Basic recall data: Updated daily. The site shows the last time the data was updated.
• Statistical analysis: Updated when we pull the data
• Reader reports: Processed within 24 hours of submission to address data quality and factual issues

News Articles

Sources

• Industry publications
• Manufacturer press releases
• Automotive technology conferences and events
• Expert commentary and analysis

Editorial Process

All news articles on AutoSoftToday go through an editorial process:

1. Initial research and drafting
2. Fact-checking against primary sources
3. Technical review by automotive software experts
4. Final editing and publishing

We do often use AI tools to assist with drafting and fact-checking, but all content is reviewed by human editors before publication.

Data Accuracy

We strive for the highest level of accuracy in our data. However, there may be occasional errors or delays in updates. If you notice any inaccuracies, please contact us at data@autosofttoday.com.

Data License

Unless otherwise noted, the aggregate data and analysis on AutoSoftToday is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Primary data from sources like the NHTSA remains under their original license terms.

Privacy

Our data collection focuses exclusively on publicly available information about vehicles and software. We do not collect or store personally identifiable information related to vehicle owners unless explicitly provided with consent for specific purposes.