Published August 22, 2025
Software Recalls: How Over-the-Air Updates Changed Vehicle Safety
The rise of software-defined vehicles has fundamentally changed how recalls work. Where traditional recalls required every affected vehicle to visit a dealer for a physical repair, software recalls can now be deployed over-the-air to millions of vehicles simultaneously. This shift is transforming vehicle safety — but it is also introducing new categories of risk.
The Rise of Software-Defined Vehicles
Modern vehicles contain over 100 million lines of code controlling everything from engine management and transmission shifting to collision avoidance and infotainment. As vehicles become more software-dependent, software bugs that affect safety-critical functions must be treated the same as physical defects under federal law.
Over-the-Air Recall Repairs
Tesla pioneered the use of over-the-air (OTA) updates to address safety recalls, and other manufacturers including Ford, GM, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have followed. OTA recalls offer significant advantages: they can reach millions of vehicles in days rather than months, they do not require a dealer visit, and they are typically installed automatically overnight. NHTSA has accepted OTA updates as valid recall remedies when the software change fully addresses the safety defect.
New Risks from Software Complexity
Software recalls also introduce new risks that did not exist with purely mechanical vehicles. A software update intended to fix one issue can inadvertently introduce another. Update failures can leave vehicles in an inconsistent state. And the growing reliance on software for safety-critical functions means that cybersecurity vulnerabilities could potentially create safety defects that require recalls.
Software Recall Categories
The most common software recall categories include autonomous emergency braking system errors that cause false activations or non-activations, rearview camera display failures that violate federal safety standards, battery management software bugs in electric vehicles that can affect charging safety, and electronic stability control calibration errors that affect vehicle handling.
The NHTSA Perspective
NHTSA has adapted its recall framework to accommodate software-based remedies while maintaining safety standards. The agency requires manufacturers to demonstrate that OTA updates are reliably delivered, properly installed, and fully address the safety defect. NHTSA also tracks OTA recall completion rates to ensure that software updates reach the affected vehicle population.
What This Means for Vehicle Owners
If your vehicle supports OTA updates, keep your vehicle connected to WiFi when parked at home and do not defer software updates. For vehicles that require dealer visits for software updates, treat software recalls with the same urgency as physical recalls — the safety risk is equally real. Check your vehicle for open recalls at NHTSA.gov and explore vehicle-specific recall data on our recall rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Only recalls that involve software defects can be fixed with software updates. Physical defects — like a cracked brake line or a faulty airbag inflator — still require a physical repair at a dealer. However, an increasing percentage of recalls do involve software, especially in newer vehicles.
It depends on the manufacturer. Tesla typically deploys OTA updates automatically. Other manufacturers may require the owner to accept the update through the vehicle's infotainment system or a companion app. Check your owner's manual for your vehicle's specific update process.
If an OTA recall update fails to install, the manufacturer is still responsible for ensuring the recall is completed. Contact the dealer or the manufacturer's customer service for assistance. In most cases, a failed OTA update can be retried or completed at the dealer.