Recalls are often looked upon negatively, but MailOnline and This is Money Motoring Editor Rob Hull says they should be welcomed rather than frowned upon.

Car recalls are ten times more common than they were back in the 1990s, according to new analysis.

And they can happen to any car. The BMW Group's recent recall of 1.5 million vehicles included not just some Mini models but also Rolls-Royce's first EV, Spectre. 

It hit the headlines this month, as the German car giant attempts to put right a potential issue identified with the internal braking system across various motors sold worldwide.

An investigation by motoring advice website The Car Expert found that the rate of vehicle recalls has surged more than tenfold compared to initial figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in 1994.

Almost 1.1 million cars (and almost 1.2 million vehicles in total) have been recalled by the DVSA in the first eight months of 2024. 

At the current rate in 2024, The Car Expert predicts 260 recalls could be issued by the end of the year, affecting up to 1.8million cars. 

Whereas 30 years ago, just 27 passenger car recalls were issued, according to the DVSA records. 

Passenger cars make up the vast majority of DVSA vehicle recalls, which also include vans, trucks, buses, motorcycles, motorhomes, trailers and even accessories like car seats.

Recalls, especially in the UK, are serious business.

That's because the DVSA only issues recalls for safety concerns.

Any non-safety-related faults can also lead to voluntary recalls, though it is up to the manufacturers discretion to do so. 

The severity of a recall can vary, ranging from adjustments in maintenance schedules to ‘Stop Drive’ orders where a vehicle must not be driven until repairs are made.

And they can be very costly for car makers. 

BMW Group's recall is estimated to cost $1billion to make the necessary fixes, which wiped about ten per cent of the company’s market value last week.

Here in the UK, Mercedes-Benz has recalled more than 337,000 passenger cars to date this year for various issues, some up to six years old. 

However, it’s not just brand-new or nearly-new vehicles that are at risk of a recall, the oldest cars recalled this year include Audi A4 models dating back to 2004 – cars built 20 years ago.

Stuart Masson, Editorial Director at The Car Expert, said: 'Recalls in the UK are a serious matter because the DVSA only issues them when there are safety concerns. 

'This means the potential risks to drivers and passengers are significant if the recall isn’t remedied immediately.

“With the number of recalls increasing year by year, it’s more important than ever for drivers to be informed about the process. 

'Clear, accessible advice is essential so that vehicle owners understand not only the nature of the recall but also the steps they need to take to address the issue. 

'Educating drivers on how to promptly book their vehicles in for repairs and ensuring these problems are resolved swiftly can greatly reduce the risks to road safety.'

According to The Car Expert, 41 different car manufacturers have issued recalls for vehicles so far this year, ranging from budget brands like Dacia and Fiat to über-luxury brands like Koenigsegg and Rolls-Royce.

Car recalls are a GOOD thing

There often seems to be strong negative connotations around vehicle recalls. 

They're commonly reported in the media under a cloud of doom and gloomy, suggesting affected owners should feel hard done by and the process of getting the fault resolved a major inconvenience to them.

But this really shouldn't be the case.

In fact, recalls should be celebrated for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it gives drivers peace of mind that any potential problem with their car - especially a safety recall where they, their passengers and other road users could be at risk - is addressed.

A recall also guarantees that a potentially dodgy component is rectified by the manufacturer, using a consistent approach and factory parts covered under warranty. That's not always the case when faults are fixed generally.

The other major positive for drivers is that a recall will come at zero cost to them. Manufacturers are responsible to pay for the parts and no labour costs are passed to customers.

The car maker is also responsible for identifying owners of impacted models, contacting them and arranging a suitable date to carry out the replacement of parts at a time that suits the customers.

Repairs are also often not too time sensitive and can be resolved within a day.

It's also worth remembering that safety recalls are commonly triggered by low volume cases of problems - in some instances, less than a handful of accidents or near crashes being reported.

There are some exceptions to this rule, however, such as the enormous Takata airbag call back that affected tens of millions of vehicles and reportedly caused 28 deaths and at least 400 injuries in the US alone.

While recall action should be seen as a positive, it's important for motorists to be on top of any existing or previous call backs affecting the car they drive. 

If you're not the first keeper of the motor, there's a chance the manufacturer might struggle to find your contact details and therefore be unable to send a recall notice via post or email.

Owners of second-hand cars should call the manufacturer shortly after buying to check if there is an outstanding recall on their vehicle. 

There's also a Government recall checker site that's very easy to use and allows you to see if any safety or voluntary call backs have been logged for your motor. 

And while it is necessary to have a recall notice actioned over safety grounds, it's also worth ensuring your car is rectified as it can result in loss in value when it comes time to sell.