Recalls involving software issues are increasing for passenger vehicles and will likely change the way recalls are fixed in upcoming years, according to a Detroit Free Press investigation. 

The total number of vehicles affected by software-related recalls increased from about 15% in 2023 to 42% in 2024, according to a software strategy company, Envorso, the article says. 

Forbes also reported that Envorso’s CEO Scott Tobin said during a panel discussion at the Center of Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City that because of an uptick in software recalls, nearly as many vehicles have been recalled since 2019 as the 138 years prior.

“The bad news: Like your computer, when these glitches happen, they need to be repaired, causing inconvenience,” the Detroit Free Press says. “But the good news is that a software patch can be a much quicker fix than something requiring new parts, experts say.” 

Software updates are becoming increasingly challenging as the industry transitions to more electric-powered cars and trucks with more self-driving features, the article says. 

“Cars and trucks are increasingly connected by electronics to each other and the wider world, only raising the stakes if something goes awry,” says the article. 

The article outlines previous coverage from the newspaper that revealed millions of aging, used passenger vehicles on U.S. roadways are not getting fixed despite recalls issued for dangerous defects. 

“In an interview with the Free Press as part of its investigation, Jeffrey Wu described how he had part of his leg amputated after his Jeep rolled back on him at a gas station, crushing his leg,” the article says. “Wu said he thought he put his 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee — which had an unrepaired safety recall for its problematic gear shifter — into park, but instead, it rolled backward into him on March 4, 2022. The safety recall fix involved a software solution but Wu said he never knew about the recall.”

Over-the-air remedies (OTA) could save consumers and OEMs time and money, the article says.  Yet, OEMs have been slow to transition to OTA updates. The article states only 22,000 recalled vehicles were remedied with an OTA update in 2019. 

“The cost savings could be enormous. ABI Research predicts that by 2028, U.S. automakers will shift to over-the-air recall remedies to save $1.5 billion a year,” the article says. “According to the global technology intelligence firm, performing software updates in person today costs car companies $500 million every year.”

Todd Warren, Envorso senior advisor, told the newspaper he estimates only 13% of software-related recalls can be resolved with an OTA update. He said OEMs have to start thinking about software updates at the earliest stages of development in order for the software to be effective over the lifecycle of the vehicle. 

“While customers, for example, may hold on to their mobile phones for just a few years before trading them in for new models, car and truck owners have their vehicles for many years,” the article says. “And that ownership time is growing as the average age of a vehicle on the road hit a new record of more than 12 years.”

Forbes also notes that software fixes will remain expensive for OEMs, even if OTA options are available. 

“Per the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), even the costs of fixing software defects just prior to production costs more than fifteen times (15x) catching problems early in development. And depending on the market, any recall can significantly decrease the likelihood of a consumer purchasing the same brand.” 

Warren told the Detroit Free Press that updates can be more difficult for vehicle safety critical features such as powertrain control, brakes, and steering. 

“Some vehicles are hampered by limited computer memory,” the article says. “A personal computer or cellphone, for example, can download updated software while running its current version. But Warren said that’s not necessarily possible on some vehicles when it comes to updating software for some steering and brake systems.”

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