10 Massive Recalls Created By Modern Technology

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As technology evolves and becomes more complex, so do the automobiles in the mass manufacturing market, which take great advantage of these strides in technological innovation. The effects of this can be seen when comparing the cars of today to those of a decade ago; what would’ve been a costly option box to tick in 2014 is more often than not a standard feature on even true entry-level vehicles like the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. On the one hand, drivers and consumers alike benefit from these advancements thanks to cost-saving benefits which work to both parties’ advantage. Consumers particularly also gain the added benefit of having more flexibility in their options by nature of not missing out on features such as Bluetooth audio, a backup camera, and so on.

Why The Number Of Automotive Recalls Is Much Higher Than 20 Years Ago

The frequency of automotive recalls has skyrocketed in recent years, so CarBuzz investigated why this is the case.

Yet there also comes a downside to this advancement, with contemporary vehicles becoming too “smart,” or technologically based, in the opinions of some. There’s certainly evidence for this in the contemporary market, with Tesla’s Cybertruck and all the problems that have followed its release serving as prime examples. However, recent tech-based recalls not only highlight the dangers of too much technology, but also show how new technology is creating new reasons for cars to be recalled.

10 2023 Tesla Autopilot Recall

First up on the list is one of the most recent recalls caused by technology, being none other than Tesla’s 2023 autopilot recall. Over 2 million vehicles were affected by the recall across manufacturing years, ranging from as wide as 2012 to 2023. The recall essentially boiled down to the fact that Tesla’s Autopilot system could be exploited by drivers to the point where they may not have been paying as much attention to the road as they otherwise should’ve been.

This was fixed via a software update which rolled out to Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y vehicles on December 7, 2023. The update added in additional checks to ensure that drivers are maintaining the ultimate responsibility, even given the option to automatically end the Autopilot program if the vehicle decided the driver wasn’t paying enough attention.

9 2024 Jaguar I-Pace Recall

While the above example with Tesla highlighted when software updates are used to fix software issues, cars today are so reliant on computers that software updates can even be used to fix mechanical issues. The 2024 Jaguar I-Pace recall highlights this, affecting 2,760 vehicles and counting as of this article’s writing which were manufactured between January 2018 and March 2019. The issue stems from the car’s batteries lighting on fire due to thermal overload as a result of being overcharged when their capacity was set to 100%.

The recall repair was implemented via a software update which limited the maximum charging capacity of the batteries to 80%. While 2,760 vehicles affected may seem scant, it’s worth emphasizing that this is higher than the number of I-Paces sold in the US throughout all of 2019, making it relatively significant.

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8 2024 Stellantis Electronic Stability Control Recall

This recall is also one of the more recent on this list, with news of it breaking in early September 2024. Stellantis recalled well over a million Dodge Ram pickup trucks from the 2019 and 2021 through 2024 model years, the majority of which were in North America. A statement issued by Stellantis in September saw them explain that the affected trucks have software which could inadvertently shut down electronic stability control. Federal safety standards require electronic stability control to be active and functional essentially the entire time a car is driving, hence why this is a major issue. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem that any crashes or injuries have come as a result of the issue, which will be fixed by a software update sent out to owners free of charge.

7 2024 Tesla Backup Camera Recall

While the aforementioned Tesla recall didn’t include the Cybertruck in its list of affected vehicles, the stainless steel behemoth gets a section all to itself via the backup camera issues the vehicle faced. Over 27 thousand Cybertrucks were recalled for issues with the backup camera, which saw it take a significantly longer amount of time to activate than the federally regulated two seconds after shifting into reverse.

While not as dangerous as other recall issues mentioned on this list, it’s nevertheless a significant recall which could create major issues. As is the running trend, a software update was rolled out over-the-air to affected vehicles manufactured between November 13, 2023, and September 14, 2024. While Tesla’s choice to not report Cybertruck sales figures muddies the waters, it’s likely this affected nearly the entirety of the Cybertruck population.

Finally! The Cheaper Cybertruck Can Now Be Ordered… If You’re On The List

Tesla has started contacting wait listers, giving them a chance to order a Cybertruck well below the Founder Series pricing.

6 2022 BMW Power Interruption Recall

Relatively massive in terms of the number of vehicles affected to vehicles sold in corresponding years, 2022’s BMW power interruption recall was certainly a unique case. The problem affected the German giant’s green fleet, such as the i4, the i7, and the general iX line all the way up to and including the iX M60. 14,086 vehicles total were affected, which makes up a majority of the total affected vehicles sold in that same timeframe.

Essentially, an electronic control unit software for the high voltage batteries could lead to an interruption of power during certain operating conditions. This was caused by a misdiagnosis on the software’s part, which would cause the unit to reset and interrupt power to the vehicle likewise. Once again, the fix was implemented via a software update which was offered to owners free of charge.

5 2023 BMW EV Noise Recall

Likely the most unique recall on this list, 2023 saw affected 2022-2023 i4 and iX models get recalled not for issues which posed a danger to the driver, but to pedestrians around them. The vehicles’ external artificial sound generators were liable to not produce the warning sound it needed to in order to warn pedestrians of the vehicle’s presence and movement. This is a major issue as the cars likewise didn’t comply with federal standards on the issue. Once again, the fix was another free of charge software update for the 3,431 affected vehicles, which is still a significant number relative to the total amount sold for those model years.

The BMW iX And i4 Being Recalled For A Faulty Artificial Sound Generator

This time it’s for something more pedestrian.

4 2022 Jeep Engine Shutdown Recall

The affected vehicles in question for this recall are nearly 63 thousand 2021-2023 model year Jeep Wrangler 4xe vehicles. Specifically, those equipped with the 2L Plug-in Hybrid or “PHEV” engine. Essentially, a misdiagnosis by faulty software caused by loss of communication between internal components could lead to an engine shut down without any warning whatsoever. This could even occur while the vehicle was driving, highlighting it as an incredibly dangerous issue. Once again, a free of charge software update was the solution here, with Jeep parent company Chrysler promising to reimburse any customers who had the issue fixed prior to the recall going out.

3 2024 KIA EV9 Parking Assist Recall

Another fairly recent recall on this list, which seems to be essentially the entirety of the Kia EV9 population in the United States currently was affected by this recall. The issue arose from those vehicles equipped with Remote Smart Parking Assist, which allowed drivers to move the vehicle forward or backward via specific buttons on the key fob. However, an error with the Integrated Electronic Brake software could see repeated stops of the RSPA system result in insufficient brake pressure being applied. This could extend braking distances, and likewise cause damage to the EV9 itself and other vehicles, as well as injure pedestrians. Once again, the fix was a software update which owners got for free at dealerships.

Planning On Buying A Kia EV9? You Might Want To Wait A Few Months

There’s good news if you’re in the market for a three-row EV.

2 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 Door Handle Recall

The 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 recall saw nearly 100 thousand units be recalled, which made up an overwhelming majority of the vehicle’s United States population. Like many other electric vehicles, the ID.4 features electronic door handles rather than mechanical ones. The issue arose with some door handles not meeting factory specifications for watertightness. This could create a scenario where the circuit board for the door handles can malfunction and instruct the door to open even while the vehicle is in motion.

This could obviously cause significant injury to passengers and pedestrians alike. Uniquely, this was one issue on this list which wasn’t fixed by a software update, instead seeing customers return the vehicle to dealers who’d inspect and repair as needed on a per vehicle basis (with no charge to owners).

1 Volvo EX30 Speedometer Recall

Despite being one of the most successful EV rollouts in recent history, even the Volvo EX30 couldn’t attain a flawless launch. Nearly 72 thousand EX30s, which represent every unit made so far, were recalled by Volvo for a software issue which could cause the speedometer to go into test mode once it was started. The bug likewise can’t be troubleshooted by owners, since it occurs on startup and seemingly can’t be prevented or reversed once it occurs based on currently available info. Thankfully, the bug is being fixed via an over-the-air software update which is actively being rolled out to affected vehicles as of this article’s writing.

Tags: Created, massive, Modern, Recalls, Technology