Vehicle recalls ten times more likely in 2024 than 30 years ago

With vehicle recalls in the news this week, The Car Expert has been analysing UK recall data over the last 30 years. The analysis shows that the rate of vehicle recalls has surged more than tenfold compared to initial figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in 1994.

Almost 1.1 million cars (almost 1.2 million vehicles in total)* have been recalled by the DVSA in the first eight months of 2024, according to The Car Expert, the leading automotive consumer advice platform. Data collected as part of the introduction of recalls to its Expert Rating Index reveals that the number of vehicle recalls has surged over the last 30 years.

Back in 1994, only 27 passenger car recalls were issued according to the DVSA*. At the current rate in 2024, The Car Expert predicts 260 recalls could issued by the end of the year, affecting up to 1.8 million cars. Passenger cars make up the vast majority of DVSA vehicle recalls, which also include vans, trucks, buses, motorcycles, motorhomes, trailers and even accessories like car seats.

Given the significance of recalls for car buyers and owners, The Car Expert has started integrating DVSA recall data into its revered Expert Rating Index. Now drivers and car buyers can easily see whether their vehicle, or a vehicle they’re interested in purchasing, has been subject to any recalls and confirm if the necessary repairs have been completed.

Recalls can be serious business, and in the UK, the DVSA only issues recalls for safety concerns, but non-safety issues can also lead to voluntary recalls. The severity of a recall can vary, ranging from adjustments in maintenance schedules to ‘Stop Drive’ orders where a vehicle must not be driven until repairs are made.

As has been reported widely in the news over the last week, BMW Group has recalled about 1.5 million cars worldwide – which also includes Rolls-Royce and Mini models – for a potential braking problem. It’s estimated that it could cost the car maker $1 billion to make the necessary fixes, which wiped about ten per cent of the company’s market value last week.

Here in the UK, Mercedes-Benz has recalled more than 337,000 passenger cars to date this year for various issues, some up to six years old. However, it’s not just brand-new or nearly-new vehicles that are at risk of a recall, the oldest cars recalled this year include Audi A4 models dating back to 2004 – cars built 20 years ago.

Stuart Masson, Editorial Director at The Car Expert, said, “Recalls in the UK are a serious matter because the DVSA only issues them when there are safety concerns. This means the potential risks to drivers and passengers are significant if the recall isn’t remedied immediately.

“With the number of recalls increasing year by year, it’s more important than ever for drivers to be informed about the process. Clear, accessible advice is essential so that vehicle owners understand not only the nature of the recall but also the steps they need to take to address the issue. Educating drivers on how to promptly book their vehicles in for repairs and ensuring these problems are resolved swiftly can greatly reduce the risks to road safety.

“At The Car Expert, we’re constantly looking at ways to help drivers navigate vehicle ownership – whether it’s updating them about their current vehicle, or providing insights on new vehicles, to assist in the car buying process. That’s why we’ve added DVSA recall information to our award-winning Expert Rating Index for each model of car. That way, you can see which recalls have been ordered for your car and check to see whether the work has been done.”

According to The Car Expert, 41 different car manufacturers have issued recalls for vehicles so far this year [2024], ranging from budget brands like Dacia and Fiat to über-luxury brands like Koenigsegg and Rolls-Royce.

The Car Expert’s Expert Rating Index, which now includes vehicle recalls, includes 55 vehicle manufacturers and has nearly 550 cars rated. This includes 15,978 independent car reviews and counting, with more than 20 million data points included. Unlike other ratings of this type, The Car Expert includes data from Euro NCAP, reliability data and five-year running cost information. The brand perceives this to be the most comprehensive analysis of expert opinion and real-world data found anywhere in the motoring world.

View the Expert Rating Index here: thecarexpert.co.uk/expert-rating-index