Recalls hit big companies

Does this mean that all these vehicles are undrivable? Not exactly. Recalls vary in severity, that’s why manufacturers have to be extra clear on what’s the issue.

At the same time, recalls are more frequent, and there’s a good reason for that.

Recalls are the result of lessons learned

Recalls, in some form or another, have existed since the 1960s, when the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act was signed into law.

Now, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration supervises recalls, but the manufacturers are responsible. 

Ford, Honda, Tesla, and other companies that want to sell vehicles in the US must perform routine quality assurance checks on their products. They must also know of any complaints or reports from dealerships, customers, and authorities. 

If manufacturers don't disclose these defects, they face severe fines, and with due reason. We all remember the Ford Pinto.

If you don’t, here’s a great article from Motor Trend. 

What does a recall mean?

The NHTSA defines recalls as any defect that poses a risk to motor vehicle safety and may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design and manufacture or equipment of the same type and manufacture. 

This is very legal jargon: if something poses a risk to you, it's best to recall it. That's why, in some cases, peeling paint isn't a recall. In others, it might be, but a fuel tank that could explode in a rear collision is. 

It sounds logical but recalls must be done this way to cover any potential problem. 

All the issues we've mentioned above are high-risk; historically, they aren't the only ones. But there's one big question regarding recalls: Can I drive my car?

A manufacturer should be clear in its instructions when issuing a recall. In 2022, Chrysler issued a warning urging owners not to plug their hybrid Pacifica vans or park them near structures.

Twenty thousand vehicles were affected by the recall, and the manufacturer offered a software update for better temperature control. 

The biggest recall in history

Though 3 million Honda could face a recall, it's not the biggest recall in history. We'd have to 20x that amount. 

That's right: the biggest recall in automotive history involved 67 million vehicles, and it was a critical one: airbags. 

Japanese manufacturer Tanaka produced OEM airbags for significant companies, such as Nissan, Toyota, Subaru, Ford, and BMW. Their products seemed trustworthy for years, reaching 20% of the global market.  

However, in 2013, several manufacturers began extensive recalls, and they had one thing in common: Takata airbags. Honda, one of the most affected by the situation, had known of 100 injuries and 13 deaths. 

That year alone, 3.6 million cars were recalled, with the flaw being faulty actuators that could activate unexpectedly.

The following year, millions more cars were recalled, in a snowballing effect that would total 67 million and highlight faulty quality control issues. 

After all, it affected not only 67 million vehicles but 100 million airbag inflators worldwide. This recall's impact was so massive that it even changed how airbag inflators were produced, highlighting an urgency for increased quality controls. 

The company had to file for bankruptcy and eventually was sold to Key Safety Systems. Moreover, it's not done. Honda is still reeling from the consequences and trying to determine whether vehicles are still out there with the faulty Takata airbags. 

With companies pushing to produce more cars and with more strict quality controls, it shouldn't come as a surprise that we'll have more frequent recalls. However, there's a big challenge: reaching out to the millions of owners. 

So, it's also up to the dealerships and owners to stay current. Here’s what to do if you have a Honda CR-V facing a recall!