Automotive Recalls Plunge 30% In 2008- Are Cars Really Getting That Much Better?

Automotive Recalls Plunge 30% In 2008- Are Cars Really Getting That Much Better?
Automakers recalled 10.2 million vehicles last year, down nearly 30 percent compared with 2007 and the lowest number of vehicles called back for repairs since 1994, preliminary government statistics show.

The decline came as the total number of recall campaigns jumped more than 9 percent to a record 642 from 588 in 2007, and those linked to investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rose to a record 233, up from 98 in 2007.

The improvement in the number of autos recalled is largely the result of better vehicle quality and a monitoring system that flags problems early, allowing carmakers to catch more problems and fix them sooner while calling back fewer vehicles, safety experts said.3

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theoptimisticpessimisttheoptimisticpessimist - 1/2/2009 1:39:27 PM
+6 Boost
Are Cars Really Getting That Much Better?

YES!


tundrahqtundrahq - 1/5/2009 1:03:02 PM
+1 Boost
Quality and recalls aren't always related. Recalls often exist to limit liability. The first Ford Focus enjoyed multiple recalls, yet most of them had to do with arcane interpretations of safety regulations instead of quality issues. I remember the interior b-pillar cover had to be replaced in some models, for example, because the material wasn't up to federal code (the plastic didn't have the exactly correct physical qualities).

Don't get me wrong - recalls often are related to quality. But a drop in recalls doesn't mean that cars are now higher quality per se - only long-term reliability studies can prove that.


rockerrocker - 1/2/2009 3:47:52 PM
0 Boost
Sales were 30%+ lower that is probably the reason.


veyron1001veyron1001 - 1/2/2009 4:07:19 PM
-1 Boost
That would be the strongest logical solution to it.


VeeracerVeeracer - 1/2/2009 4:20:30 PM
-1 Boost
Add in the fact that sales for the more reliable brands were probably higher in past years.


0to600to60 - 1/2/2009 8:34:26 PM
+2 Boost
The big three now focuses on reliablity...


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