Boyden Gray PLLC partner Michael Buschbacher discusses concerns of an electric vehicle mandate on ‘The Bottom Line.’
Automakers recalled millions of vehicles over the course of 2024 to address a variety of issues, typically related to the safety of the driver and passengers.
The five recalls with the largest potentially affected vehicle populations this year came from four different automakers: Tesla, Ford, Honda and FCA US, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Each involved upward of 1 million vehicles, with one of the recalls covering over 2 million. According to NHTSA data, they were:
Tesla recall of over 2.19 million vehicles
A Tesla Model Y at the electric vehicle maker’s showroom in Beijing, China Jan. 5, 2021. (REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo / Reuters Photos)
In late January, Tesla recalled 2.19 million vehicles because the font for the brake, park and antilock brake system warning lights shown within their instrument panels was smaller than the size required by federal safety standards.
The electric vehicle maker, run by billionaire Elon Musk, rolled out an over-the-air software update to the recalled 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2023 Model 3, 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2024 Model X and 2019-2024 Model Y vehicles to make the font bigger and resolve the issue, according to NHTSA. The update was free.
TESLA RECALLS OVER 2 MILLION VEHICLES IN US DUE TO WARNING LIGHTS ISSUE
At the time, Tesla said it was “not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths that may be related” to the issue.
Ford recall of nearly 1.89 million vehicles
A 2015 white Ford Explorer in Solvang, California. (George Rose/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Ford’s recall of nearly 1.89 million of its 2011-2019 Explorer SUVs in January was prompted by a possible issue with the A-pillar trims that bordered “the right and left side of the windshield,” according to the recall report.
The trims on the recalled SUVs “may detach from vehicle,” the automaker said at the time. It linked the potential issue to the trim retention clips, which it said may not have been “property engaged due to improper assembly or repair.”
FORD RECALLS NEARLY 2 MILLION EXPLORERS OVER TRIM PART THAT COULD DETACH, CREATE ROAD HAZARD
It is estimated that 5% of the recall population was affected, per the report. When the company recalled the SUVs, it said the issue hadn’t resulted in any crashes or injuries.
The fix involved taking the recalled Explorers to a dealership and getting replacement A-pillar exterior trim if needed.
Tesla recall of roughly 1.85 million vehicles
A worker positions a new Tesla Model X on a truck at a logistics drop zone in Seattle, Washington, on Aug. 22, 2024. (M. Scott Brauer/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The July recall of roughly 1.85 million Model 3, Model S and Model X vehicles from the model years 2021-2024 and Model Y vehicles from model years 2020-2024 addressed software that could potentially fail to detect an unlatched hood, according to NHTSA.
“Unknowingly driving a vehicle with an unlatched hood may result in the hood fully opening and obstructing the driver’s view, increasing the risk of a collision,” the recall report said at the time.
Tesla said it issued an over-the-air software update that “detects the open hood and provides a customer-facing user interface notification of the open hood state” as a remedy beginning in mid-June. It did not require a visit to a dealership.
There weren’t any accidents or injuries caused by the issue.
Honda recall of about 1.69 million vehicles
Vehicles for sale at an AutoNation Honda dealership in Fremont, California, on June 24, 2024. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
In October, Honda announced a recall of some 2022-2025 Honda Civic Sedan, 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan, 2022-2025 Honda Civic Hatchback, 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Hatchback, 2023-2025 Honda Civic Type R, 2023-2025 Honda CR-V, 2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2025 Honda CR-V Fuel Cell, 2023-2025 Honda HR-V, 2023-2025 Acura Integra and 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S vehicles that potentially had an “improperly produced steering gearbox worm wheel.” It encompassed about 1.69 million vehicles.
The worm wheel and the worm gear in the recalled vehicles could potentially experience “increased friction” that could make steering more difficult and require more effort, the automaker said at the time.
The first complaint about the issue occurred in September 2021. However, it did not cause any injuries or deaths, according to the October recall report.
HONDA RECALLS 1.7M VEHICLES FOR DEFECTIVE STEERING GEARBOX COMPONENT
Honda told owners to have dealers “replace the worm gear spring with an improved part and redistribute or add grease” to the recalled vehicles to fix the issue.
FCA US recall of over 1.03 million vehicles
A 2022 Ram 1500. (Stellantis / Fox News)
FCA US recalled over 1.03 million vehicles across several brands in mid-June due to a radio software issue that could impact the display of the rearview camera.
A rearview camera image “that does not display decreases the driver’s visibility, increasing the risk of a crash,” NHTSA said in June, noting rear visibility requirements for vehicles.
Certain 2021-2023 Chrysler Pacificas, 2021-2022 Dodge Durangos, 2022-2023 Jeep Compasses, 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokees, 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneers and 2022-2023 Jeep Wagoneers were among the recalled vehicles. Some model year 2022 Ram 1500s, 2500s and 3500s as well as model year 2022-2023 Ram Promasters were also part of it, according to the recall report.
The automaker provided a free update to the radio software to fix the potential rearview camera display issue. Owners were notified in early August.
A Stellantis spokesperson told FOX Business in June that the radio software issue hadn’t been linked to any injuries or accidents.
