Recall volume hit a 10-year low—but dealers are still finding ways to stay top of mind

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(Data source: NHTSA via BizzyCar)

U.S. vehicle recalls fell to 3.5M in Q1—nearly half of Q4’s 6.58M, and the lowest we’ve seen in 10+ years, per BizzyCar.

Electrical issues (822K), back-over prevention tech (497K), and seat belts (396K) led the list, with 90.5% tied to crash or injury.

But even with 27.7% eligible for over-the-air (OTA) updates, most still need to hit the service lane.

And the backlog is massive.

More than 75M vehicles on U.S. roads have at least one open recall. That’s 1 in 4—each one a safety concern, and a service opportunity waiting to be booked.

Simply put: If sales slow under tariff pressure, this is the moment to double down on fixed ops.

Ford and Tesla alone made up nearly half of all vehicles recalled at 1M+ and 662K units, respectively.

Although, the majority of Tesla recalls are OTA updates and don’t require a service trip.

Then there’s Mazda, with just 63.

For variable ops, that spread matters. High-recall brands can mean sales slowdowns, warranty delays, and tougher conversations at the desk.

But on the service side? It’s a different story.

More recalls = more ROs, especially when they’re OEM-paid.

The move: Use recall data to guide both sides of the house. Stock smart. Staff smarter. Because when the VIN hits your system, it’s either a headache or a hand-raiser.

As recall volume drops, dealers are facing fewer opportunities, fewer touchpoints, and a shrinking window to win back loyalty.

But for Dave Rogers, a 40-year fixed ops veteran running multiple rooftops (with the Piazza Auto Group), the strategy isn’t to squeeze more out of every visit. It’s the opposite.

So, his stores take a measured, more “passive” approach:

“If you say no, I just note it on the RO,” he said. “The tech will make sure the tires aren’t bald and nothing obvious is hanging—but we’re not going to waste time or break trust trying to sell you something you didn’t ask for.”

The upside: When customers do opt in, they’re far more likely to come back. And Dave’s team is ready—piloting multiple AI tools to match VINs to their DMS, flag overdue recalls, and trigger personalized outreach.

Still, he’s concerned about what comes next.

With some OEMs pushing maintenance intervals to 21 months and fewer recalls requiring in-person visits thanks to OTA updates, service traffic is under pressure.

“How do I build a relationship when I don’t see the customer for almost two years?” he asked. “It’s not just quality control—it’s the design, the cheap oil, the longer intervals. We’re feeling it.”

Big picture: Recalls are down, but the stakes are up.

There’s a tension in fixed ops right now that’s easy to miss.

Recalls are shrinking, but the backlog is still massive. And with more OTA updates, plus stretched service intervals, the typical paths back to the store are thinning out.

That’s the real shift: fewer natural touchpoints, more pressure to make each one count.

Some dealers are leaning into AI tools to chase down the right VINs. Others are rethinking the entire recall experience by ditching the upsell and rebuilding trust from the first interaction.

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