Q3 was yet another challenging quarter for vehicle safety in what has been a year full of recalls. Even after a busy first half of the year, automakers still recalled nearly 8.5 million vehicles over the past few months. According to the BizzyCar Q3 2025 Recall Report, this marks the second consecutive quarter of elevated recall volume and the highest quarterly total since the first quarter of 2024.
“The sheer volume of recalls this quarter highlights how complex modern vehicles have become,” said Ryan Maher, CEO of BizzyCar. “Safety-critical systems like brakes, fuel, and electronics must be addressed promptly to prevent accidents.”
A total of 96 recall campaigns were issued in Q3, pushing the year-to-date total to nearly 19.3 million vehicles affected. While this is slightly lower than the same period in 2024, the scale of the recalls still highlights a shift toward critical safety issues rooted in advanced electronics and software.
Ford Leads Recall Volume Again
Ford once again led all manufacturers in recall activity, accounting for over five million of the vehicles affected in Q3. This staggering figure represents nearly 60% of all vehicles recalled during the quarter, putting the company nearly four million ahead of other major automakers. The recalls from Ford centered on critical systems, including back-over prevention, fuel delivery, and braking, to just name a few.
Following Ford, Stellantis recalled 802,383 vehicles, Toyota recalled 685,697, and Hyundai recalled 612,278. BMW rounded out the top five with 415,893 vehicles affected. Ford also issued the most individual recall campaigns at 24, as well as the three largest recall campaigns, leading to its overwhelming volume for the quarter.
Top Issues: Back-Over Prevention and Electrical Systems
The most common issues driving recalls in Q3 were related to modern vehicle technology. “Back-Over Prevention” systems, primarily rearview cameras, was the largest single category, affecting nearly 1.75 million vehicles. This was mostly due to the fact that the largest campaign of the quarter, from Ford, was for rearview cameras. Ford recalled over 1.45 million vehicles for rearview cameras that could display a distorted or blank image.
Electrical system failures were a close second, with recalls impacting almost 1.7 million vehicles. This category includes issues with instrument panels and other electronic modules. A major recall from Toyota affected over 591,000 vehicles due to an instrument panel software error that could prevent the display of vehicle speed and critical warning lights.
Other significant recall categories included:
- Fuel System, Gasoline: Nearly 1.6 million vehicles, with Ford issuing two large recalls for fuel pumps that could fail and cracked fuel injectors that could cause a fire.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Over 811,000 vehicles, Ford had some vehicles in which the rear brake jounce hose could rupture and leak brake fluid.
- Structure: Over 820,000 vehicles.
The gravity of these issues is clear, as recalls affecting more than 7.4 million vehicles, approximately 87.5 percent of the quarterly total, referenced a direct risk of a crash or injury. The quarter also saw three “Park Outside” advisories affecting over 200,000 vehicles from BMW, Ford, and Hyundai due to fire risks. There were no “Do Not Drive” advisories in the quarter.
The Role of OTA Updates vs. In-Person Repairs
As vehicles become more software-defined, over-the-air (OTA) updates are an increasingly common solution for recalls. In Q3, 10 recall campaigns affecting nearly 1.4 million vehicles were eligible for an OTA fix. This represents about 16 percent of all vehicles recalled during the quarter. Since the beginning of 2022, approximately 15 percent of all recalled vehicles have had issues addressed via OTA updates.
While efficient, OTA updates are not a universal solution. The vast majority of recalls still involve physical components that require a visit to a dealership service center. These in-person repairs remain essential for several reasons. They provide technicians with an opportunity to perform a thorough vehicle inspection, identifying other potential safety or maintenance issues.
For dealerships, these visits are crucial for customer retention and revenue generation. A positive service experience during a recall can strengthen long-term loyalty and create opportunities for additional service work or even future vehicle sales.
“OTA updates are helpful, but there’s no substitute for a technician inspecting the vehicle in person,” said Maher. “Dealerships are on the front line of keeping drivers safe and building long-term trust.”
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