Millions of potentially dangerous cars and vans remain on UK roads, despite being flagged for safety recalls, according to new data obtained by ADS.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that a staggering 3.2 million vehicles recalled between 2018 and 2023 were never checked by franchise dealers. ADS suspects the real number is likely far higher and continues to rise due to poor customer contact management by dealerships.
Between 2018 and 2023, 14.8 million vehicles across 2,128 models were identified for safety recalls—but nearly a quarter of them were never fixed.
Millions of potentially dangerous cars and vans remain on UK roads, despite being flagged for safety recalls, according to new data obtained by ADS.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that a staggering 3.2 million vehicles recalled between 2018 and 2023 were never checked by franchise dealers. ADS suspects the real number is likely far higher and continues to rise due to poor customer contact management by dealerships.
Between 2018 and 2023, 14.8 million vehicles across 2,128 models were identified for safety recalls—but nearly a quarter of them were never fixed.
Manufacturers notify owners by post, urging them to visit a dealership. Some dealers actively reach out, but many wait for customers to bring in their cars for servicing – a process that can take years, especially with extended service intervals for electric vehicles.
Meanwhile, customers who move house, discard letters, or service their vehicles elsewhere often remain completely unaware of outstanding recalls.
ADS has long warned that poor database management is the root cause of this failure and that without accurate records, dealers lose touch with customers.
Beyond safety risks, dealerships are also missing out on millions in potential revenue. If every affected customer had booked a service or repair, ADS reckons that franchise dealers could have secured hundreds of millions of pounds in additional business.
Currently, an unresolved recall appears as an ‘advisory’ note during an MOT. However, the government is considering making it an automatic failure. If that happens, dealerships could be overwhelmed overnight by a flood of vehicles needing urgent fixes – creating a logistical nightmare for workshops and drivers alike.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) revealed the following outstanding safety recalls by year:
2018: 729,876 (of 4,117,940 total recalls)
2019: 422,729 (of 2,191,143 total recalls)
2020: 467,345 (of 2,130,692 total recalls)
2021: 498,381 (of 2,856,141 total recalls)
2022: 739,705 (of 2,211,061 total recalls)
2023: 394,660 (of 1,373,258 total recalls)
Jon Sheard, operations director at Auto Data Solutions (ADS), issued a stark warning: “With over 3 million outstanding recalls, the real number is almost certainly higher. Nearly a quarter of recalls never get resolved, and that should be a wake-up call for dealerships to take database management seriously.”
“Motorists have a right to know if their vehicle has a safety issue. Dealers must step up and fix this problem before it spirals out of control.”
ADS offers a ‘Recall Alert’ service, helping dealerships update and maintain customer records. Better data management means safer roads – and a major financial boost for dealerships that reclaim lost business.
As Sheard puts it: “Fixing this issue isn’t rocket science. Dealers just need to track their customers properly. The benefits are huge – for drivers, manufacturers, and their own bottom line.”
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