Vehicle recalls are an important part of automotive safety. But they can also be quite a hassle for owners. Taking your vehicle to the dealership for an unexpected repair or fix is just one more thing you have to plan for. Pleasingly, things are changing. With many of the newest vehicles, some recalls can be taken care of simply by turning your car on.
According to the , there were 894 vehicle safety recalls in the United States for 2023. While many recalls require hardware updates, there are others for which an over-the-air, or OTA, software update is the remedy. Edmunds鈥� car experts review what you need to know.
What's an OTA Update?
An OTA update is pushed out to vehicles via a wireless connection and typically installed automatically, much like getting an update on your smartphone or personal computer. For instance, listed on the NHTSA site; at least half of them list OTA updates as the solution. That鈥檚 a win-win for the automaker and the consumer because offering a quick and no-cost repair helps the automaker maintain positive customer satisfaction ratings.
鈥淰ehicles have advanced to a degree we鈥檝e never seen before,鈥� Ivan Drury, an auto analyst at Edmunds, said in an interview with ABC 撸奶社区. He says high-tech features such as self-driving capability and backup cameras are included in a wide swath of issues that recalls cover.
Today, there are two main categories for software updates. The first refers to the infotainment system, a noncritical segment that receives nice-to-have updates on a regular basis. Drive control, the second category, encompasses driver assist and critical operating systems; those updates are necessary for safe driving.
More Software Updates Ahead
Automaker Kia has a robust lineup of electric vehicles and a solid OTA strategy for simple infotainment update rollouts. 鈥淲ith the launch of EV9, we have been able to do multiple software updates to improve the regular functioning software capability,鈥� says Kia connected car expert Sujith Somasekharan. 鈥淔or example, we improved the battery charging pad to make it more efficient. Updates improve the functionality of the car.鈥�
General Motors鈥� latest vehicles are also designed to improve over time with software updates to features like the Super Cruise hands-free driving system, remote commands and infotainment. 鈥淥ver-the-air updates can enhance performance, cybersecurity and convenience, all from the comfort of home,鈥� says Baris Cetinok, GM senior vice president of software and services product management. 鈥淎s our technology evolves, GM customers will continue to have the choice of in-person assistance through our extensive dealership network.鈥�
OTA updates are not just for all-electric vehicles either. For certain 2024 Buick Encore GX, Envista and Chevrolet Trax vehicles, a describes an issue with the driver information display going blank and prescribes a software update to fix it.
Dealer Visits Will Still Be a Part of Ownership
It鈥檚 great to know that vehicle OTA updates will increasingly make life easier for consumers. But don鈥檛 delete your dealership鈥檚 phone number quite yet. The majority of recalls still necessitate an in-person fix. For instance, an airbag deployment issue or engine problem is going to mean a hands-on session with the service department.
Also, knowing what鈥檚 actually a recall or just a software update is tricky. Not every recall is a software update and not every software update is a recall. It鈥檚 a different kind of recall if it鈥檚 simply an OTA update patch. After all, software updates are pushed out to smartphones all the time. But you can be sure of this: as cars 鈥� and especially electric vehicles 鈥� become more software-focused, these OTA updates will take a more outsized role than ever.
Edmunds Says
Software updates are changing the game for vehicle owners across the board. When a recall is a simple fix, it鈥檚 a major time saver. We expect to see the recall process continue to evolve.
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This story was provided to by the automotive website .
Kristin Shaw is a contributor at Edmunds.
Kristin Shaw, The Associated Press
