Something to reflect on: Are recalls good or bad?

Since the Ford Model T rolled off the assembly line, cars have been plagued with production issues that can vary from something like poorly fastened lugnuts (true story) to bumper bolts that puncture the gas tank in rear-end collisions (again, true story).

But the horrors of these issues are mitigated by the industry practice called a Recall. Here, manufacturers request owners of cars who might suffer from identified issues to bring their vehicles into the dealership to be repaired or replaced for free.

While some brands combat the negative connotation of a recall by calling it a Preventive Service Campaign, a Technical Service Bulletin, or some other fancy mix of positive-leaning words, at the end of the day, it is still a practice that involves rectifying an issue that might affect the car's performance or safety.

Should you be worried?

Naturally, the idea that a car might be flawed or broken before it even gets to you might scare some people off. Still, truth be told, that’s simply part of doing business in the manufacturing game – mass production isn’t free from the laws of statistics and numerical control, in the sense that there’s no such thing as zero error processes.

The name of the game is minimizing the errors that may come out, and that minimization means that some examples, but not all, will have issues.

One major recall involved the inflator cartridges of Takata-made airbags. Another recall followed this, this time with heat and humidity causing the airbags to explode when deployed and possibly injure or kill a vehicle's occupants. 

Approximately 67 million vehicles are covered by this recall covering various car brands. The positive in this is that manufacturers have placed their customers' safety ahead of profits. And in the long run, patronizing a brand with this corporate culture will benefit the business. 

Is it better than no recall at all?

Is this a good thing or a bad thing, you ask? Well, it depends on how you look at it.

If your definition of bad is that the car must come from the factory perfect and with no fault, then yes, it’s terrible.

Recalls may mean that a car wasn’t thoroughly tested and developed before it was released, and to be frank, while recalls may come and go, they aren’t a requirement for every vehicle, and some models can go several years without one.

On the other hand, knowing that a manufacturer is actively testing and ensuring their customers are getting the quality control they deserve can reassure some people – which makes recalls a good thing.

It doesn’t often happen enough that it can affect everyone. But when it does happen, it happens quickly, unlike before, when certain manufacturers – one in particular – felt it was cheaper to pay off court settlements for buyers instead of issuing a recall.

Today, manufacturers and distributors have become proactive in their approaches to contacting their customers. Aside from the usual snail mail, brands often get in touch with car owners via SMS, mobile calls, press releases, and even through dedicated microsites on their web pages where car owners can check if their vehicle is covered by the recall. 

Better be safe than sorry

The bottom line is that most recalls can be regarded as a bad thing – companies have to shell out massive sums of money to fix cars at no cost to the customers, and car owners need to take the time to bring their vehicles to the dealerships to get the work done. Sometimes, the government even mandates the recall if the manufacturer refuses to.

So much inconvenience for many parties involved makes it something you wish would never happen. 

But in the name of customer safety, most manufacturers have learned that becoming proactive and forthright with issues plaguing their products will pay off in the long run as they develop and nurture the trust of their customers.