Over 3.55 Million Vehicles Recalled in Past Year Due to Software and Battery Issues

From March 2025 to March 11, 2026, a total of 125 automotive recall campaigns were initiated domestically, amounting to 3.5545 million vehicles—averaging nearly 10,000 vehicles recalled per day. Nearly 70% of these recalls were linked to software-related defects, such as instrument cluster blackouts and failures in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). Major brands including Toyota, Audi, and NIO conducted large-scale recalls due to software issues, with NIO recalling over 240,000 vehicles in a single campaign—the largest recall to date among new energy vehicles (NEVs). Battery safety remains a critical concern, with Volvo, BYD, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW recalling more than 950,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) due to issues like cell short circuits, poor cell consistency, or high-voltage system malfunctions. Notably, "expanded recalls" and "repeat recalls" have become increasingly common, with BMW, Honda, Audi, and Toyota together accounting for nearly half of all recalled vehicles. Against a backdrop of tightening regulatory oversight, 13 recalls were initiated following investigations by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), underscoring the growing emphasis on automakers’ accountability and consumer safety.