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Automakers Experience Record Recalls this Year

Complexity of New Vehicles and Quicker Response by Automakers to Fix Problems Cause More Recalls

Whats going on with the quality of new cars these days? Were the old ones made better, or are the new models in the current crop filled with so many technical gadgets that recalls are just a result of the added equipment?

According to a statement made by J. D. Powers and Associates in April of this year, the average initial quality of new vehicles improved significantly from 2003 to 2004, while all domestic automakers made headway year-over-year. So why is 2004 already the worst year for recalls on record?

Ironically, GM fared best among the Big 3. Why ironic? Well, GM has had the most recalls

Despite the significant rise in recalls, the average initial quality of new vehicles improved significantly from 2003 to 2004, while all domestic automakers made headway year-over-year. (Photo: General Motors)

of any automaker, affecting more than 10.5 million cars in 2004 alone. That means that GMs recalls made up 42 percent of this years 25 million total recall count so far, tallied annually by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which oversees recalls for the federal government. The only year to fare worse was 2000, in which 24.6 million vehicles were recalled - although 2004 isnt quite over yet.

GM has had the most recalls of any automaker, affecting more than 10.5 million cars in 2004 alone. (Photo: General Motors)

GMs 10.5 million is a record for the worlds largest automaker, with 2003 seeing 7.8 million recalls, and 2002 at 5.7 million. In comparison, Toyota Motor Company, including Lexus and Scion, only experienced about 890,000 recalls so far this year, but still four times as many as it did in 2003.

But there might be more to the rise in recalls than just a particularly tough year. New federal guidelines require automakers to report more defect data to the NHTSA, which no doubt has made a difference. Also as previously mentioned, new vehicles rely more on

Toyota Motor Company, including Lexus and Scion, only experienced about 890,000 recalls so far this year, but still four times as many as it did in 2003. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

electronics than ever before, with 2004 being a record year for navigation equipment sales as well.

But recalls arent necessarily bad. For instance, in order for carmakers to catch flaws before they become lawsuits, theres a greater desire internally to make problems public as soon as possible, and fix potentially dangerous problems faster. Whats more, one component defect can also affect a greater number of vehicles than ever before, now that most automakers are sharing common parts among a larger number of new cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles in order to cut cost expenditures. The process of shared componentry should also simplify component development, and in the long

Recalls arent necessarily bad, as it shows the automaker is being proactive when a problem has been discovered. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

run equal parts that are more reliable.

Just factoring in the complexity of designing todays cars, and its amazing that automakers can sell them for the prices they do and still make money - albeit seems that few still do turn a profit. What, with meeting mandated safety legislation, making the need to add weight to a vehicle in the way of structural protective steel, antilock brake technology, anti-rollover technology, airbags in almost ever position, tire pressure monitors, not to mention new rules for protecting pedestrians, and the list goes on, to meeting fuel economy and emissions standards, which juxtapose safety concerns by causing engineers to remove weight from new vehicles, improve engines with new technology like Chrysler, GM and Hondas various cylinder deactivation systems, or Ford, Honda or Toyotas complicated gasoline/electric

"New functionality always presents new complexity, and complexity means more ways to fail," said Joe Ivers, executive director of quality at J.D. Power and Associates. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

hybrid drivetrains, and finally make something that we all want to drive, with the kind of passion built in that causes us to jump off our collective couches and run down to our local dealer to spend our hard earned money. Yes, building a new vehicle is a massive gamble.

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