The Luxury Car Recalls You Likely Never Hear About
When it comes to car recalls, the stories dominating headlines usually involve mass-market vehicles. However, luxury brands, known for their exclusivity and high price points, are also subject to safety recalls, though these often receive less public attention. This article examines recalls affecting high-end vehicles, the reasons behind them, and how consumers can stay informed.
The Tesla Cybertruck and Ineos Grenadier 4×4 are recent examples of luxury vehicles facing recalls, which have ranged from fire hazards to potential oil leaks.
High-End Brands and Safety Concerns
While recalls for mainstream brands like those related to Takata airbags (affecting 67 million cars), capture widespread attention, recalls of premium brands often fly under the radar. These luxury vehicles, despite stringent quality control measures, are not immune to safety-related faults.
For example, Bentley recalled 11,000 Bentayga SUVs due to a fire risk, a problem that could have serious consequences for owners. Another case involves Aston Martins potentially losing all their engine oil due to a fault.
The Numbers Behind Recalls
In 2024, the European Safety Gate reported 249 recalls affecting 256 car models from 41 different brands. The increasing complexity of modern vehicles has contributed to a rise in recall incidents, with the current figures approximately five times higher than in the 1990s.
Adding motorcycles and commercial vehicles further amplifies the upward trend. Figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) revealed 1,025 affected vehicles last year, a substantial increase from the 92 recorded in 1994. The DVSA has already issued 35 recall notices in 2025, about half of which involve commercial vehicles or motorcycles.
Luxury Cars: Not Immune to Recalls
Even the most expensive vehicles on the market are not exempt from recalls. Rolls-Royce contacted owners of its £300,000-plus Cullinan and Ghost models in 2022 due to a potential issue with their fuel tank feed lines. A malfunction could leave the vehicles inoperable.
The potential for fire is a common thread in recall notices. Lamborghini’s Urus SUV was recalled in 2020 due to concerns about the fuel line connector in the engine compartment. A fuel leak in a hot engine bay presents a significant fire risk.
Currently, 16 Rolls-Royce and 19 Lamborghini variants have outstanding recall actions in the UK, and Ferrari has 55.
Ferrari’s current recalls even extend back to the mid-1980s.
How Recalls Are Regulated
In the UK, the DVSA oversees safety recalls under the General Product Safety Regulations, effective since January 2004. These regulations mandate that producers and distributors inform the authority about any safety issues with their products. For cars, a safety-related defect is defined as a design or construction failure likely to affect safe operation and pose a significant risk to drivers, occupants, and others.
Information is also shared between the DVSA and European authorities through the EU’s Safety Gate system. The effectiveness of this system has been questioned, as recent research indicates that 72% of recalled cars remain on the road without the necessary repairs.
What Happens During a Recall?
When a car manufacturer notifies the DVSA of a problem, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) provides the manufacturer with keeper information. This allows the manufacturer to contact affected vehicle owners. The DVSA warns owners against taking matters into their own hands and encourages them to visit a franchised dealership for free repairs, typically involving part replacement.
EVs and Recalls
Electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly popular, but this doesn’t make the technology immune to recalls. In November 2024, Kia and Hyundai recalled over 208,000 EVs due to drive shaft issues. Tesla has also experienced recalls. The Model 3 has eight recall actions, the Model S seven, the Model X six, and the Model Y two, addressing issues such as airbag deployment and parking brake malfunctions.
Checking if Your Car is Subject to a Recall
The DVSA provides a website to check for recalls by entering the make, model, and year of your car. A relevant independent website is vehicle-recall.co.uk.
