What is a Software Recall?

What is a Software Recall?

Two main attributes define a software recall in the automotive industry. We classify a software recall as those issues where either in the recall description or in the NHTSA corrective action, software is mentioned as the root cause of the issue, or where the corrective action is to update the software in the vehicle. This includes both over-the-air updates and those that require a visit to a dealership.

How we determine if a recall is software-related

We use a set of automated keyword searches to identify software-related recalls. These keywords are based on common terminology used in the industry and are updated regularly to reflect changes in language and technology. The keywords include terms like “software,” “firmware,” “update,” “OTA,” and “recall.” We also manually review recalls to ensure accuracy.

When did software recalls start?

The first software recall was in 1994, when BMW recalled vehicles related to faulty software in Door Control Modules. Since then, software recalls have become more common as vehicles have become more reliant on software for critical functions. We view the “modern era” of software recalls as starting in 2014, when Tesla began using over-the-air updates to address software issues. This has led to a significant increase in the number of software recalls, as manufacturers can now quickly and easily address issues without requiring a visit to a dealership; though in fact as of 2024, most software recalls still require a visit to a dealership.