Tesla often gets painted in the mainstream media as the automaker with the most recalls, which are typically associated with costly and time-consuming Service Center visits. However, the reality is far less exciting – Tesla has among the fewest recalls of any automaker in the United States, and even when recalls do occur, the vast majority are resolved with a simple over-the-air (OTA) software update.
When looking at the pure number of recalls, not just those that were fixed with an OTA update, Fiat Chrysler (FCA) topped the charts in 2024 with 72 recalls in 2024, while Tesla recorded just 15, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) compiled by Sawyer Merritt on X.
Even when looking at the data this way, Tesla is near the bottom of the list, trailing far behind other automakers like Ford (62 recalls), BMW (36), and General Motors (33). However, the real differentiator lies in how these recalls are handled.
Out of the 5,096,386 Tesla vehicles impacted by recalls in 2024, nearly all of them (99.23%) were fixed through software updates that required no Service Center visit. Only 39,311 vehicles (or 0.77% of the total) required physical repairs or parts replacement.
In comparison, FCA and Ford recalled 4.8 million and 4.3 million vehicles, respectively, for issues requiring physical service visits. Honda and GM followed closely, with nearly 3.8 million and 1.8 million vehicles impacted.
Tesla’s ability to resolve the majority of recalls remotely is unmatched. Out of 401 total recalls across all manufacturers, only 14 were addressed through OTA updates, and Tesla was responsible for 57% of them. Lucid followed with three OTA recalls, while Hyundai, Rivian, and Nissan each had one. Notably, automakers like FCA, Ford, GM, and BMW had zero OTA recalls, highlighting their reliance on traditional, labour-intensive recall processes.
Physical recalls often entail logistical challenges, downtime for vehicle owners, and increased costs for manufacturers. Tesla’s OTA fixes minimize disruption, ensuring that vehicles are updated and improved seamlessly, often overnight.
Critics mainstream media have often suggested that Tesla vehicles are prone to breakdowns or constant fixes. However, the 2024 recall data paints a very different picture. Despite handling millions of recalls, Tesla’s streamlined OTA process ensures that owners rarely need to step foot in a Service Center.