DETROIT and LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. -

Coinciding with software provider Recall Masters enhancing its tracking solution, J.D. Power through its SafetyIQ platform combed through data generated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Analysts found that more than 45 million vehicles subject to safety recalls issued between 2013 and 2015 are still un-remedied.

On Monday, J.D. Power described the situation created by a record number of vehicle safety recalls, parts shortages and inaction on the part of the owners of recalled united as leaving automakers and dealers with “a serious challenge.”

During the past 20 years, J.D. Power indicated more than 437 million vehicles have been affected by safety recall decisions in the U.S. In 2015 alone, more than 51 million vehicles were the subject of safety recalls, more than in any previous year.

By analyzing NHTSA and proprietary J.D. Power benchmarking data using its SafetyIQ platform, analysts identified that primary factors impacting completion rates for those recalls are vehicle age, vehicle type, overall population of recall and type of recall.

“The steady surge in recalls, combined with NHTSA's stated goal of 100 percent recall completion rates, have made the number of un-remedied recalls still on the road a critical statistic for automakers and dealers," said Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive at J.D. Power.

“By understanding the behavioral trends of vehicle owners, as well as recall completion rates among different vehicle and recall types, as an industry we can better tailor communications to improve those completion rates,” Stephens continued.

The following four points are the key findings in the J.D. Power SafetyIQ analysis. All data is based on recall decisions made from 2013-2015, as reported through six quarters of completion information.

1. Un-remedied vehicles more common in older models: The total recall completion rate for vehicles with model years between 2013 and 2017 is 73 percent. This compares with a completion rate of just 44 percent for vehicles manufactured between 2003 and 2007.

2. Vehicle type plays a big role in recall completion: Among vehicle segments, large/work vans have the highest overall recall completion rate at 86 percent, followed closely by compact premium SUVs at 85 percent. This contrasts with the mid-premium sports car segment, which has a completion rate of just 31 percent, and with large SUVs, which have a completion rate of 33 percent.

3. Larger populations present bigger completion challenges: The completion rate for individual recalls affecting more than 1 million vehicles is 49 percent. This reading compares with a 67 percent completion rate for individual recalls affecting less than 10,000 vehicles.

“It is sometimes difficult to obtain parts to launch large campaigns,” J.D. Power said. “In addition, customers can more easily receive a targeted communication method, such as a phone call, with a smaller population of vehicles.”

4. Powertrain and electrical system recalls most likely to get fixed: Of the major safety components, the groups with the highest recall completion rates are powertrain (71 percent), electrical (62 percent) and hydraulic brakes (66 percent). Airbags and suspension issues have the lowest completion rates at 47 percent and 48 percent, respectively.

“By better understanding the specific factors driving recall compliance among vehicle owners, manufacturers and dealers can better tailor their communications and manage the recall process much more efficiently,” Stephens said.

“This is a critical level of intelligence for the industry, which we believe will ultimately help reduce the number of un-remedied vehicles still on the road,” Stephens went on to say.

For more information on J.D. Power SafetyIQ, visit www.jdpower.com/safetyiq.

Recall Masters adds tracking to its software system

As J.D. Power shared its data analysis, Recall Masters added “Don’t Drive” and “Stop Sale” recall tracking into its software system, claiming to be the first software company to digitize this data into its SaaS API and batch processing platforms.

The company emphasized the tracking of recalled vehicles has greatly increased in the United States and new severity warnings such as “Don’t Drive” recalls are increasingly published in the news so as to inform consumers.

For example, certain vehicles with Takata airbags become more susceptible to malfunction as they age, which has prompted a public notice by NHTSA warning consumers to “Don’t Drive” these vehicles until the requisite repairs are made, especially in high-humidity states. Subaru also recently issued a “Don’t Drive” recall for steering column malfunctions.

Recall Masters is now tracking and making this vital information available for instant lookup via its API and data processing service.

“Recalls have become such a widespread problem across the United States that a Silicon Valley Big Data approach is needed to tackle the problem, and that is where Recall Masters comes in,” Recall Masters chief executive officer Christopher Miller said.

At every touch point from vehicle sales, to inventory management, repair scheduling and service lane visits, to rental and corporate fleets, Recall Masters highlighted that it now can place actionable information at the fingertips of automotive sales and service centers, as well as consumers, nationwide.

“As the government, manufacturers, automotive repair centers and Big Data software companies like Recall Masters better unite to tackle the recall epidemic faced across the United States and beyond, we are continually evolving our systems and database to provide the most relevant information possible to consumers and their automotive service providers,” Miller said.

“The addition of ‘Don’t Drive’ and ‘Stop Sale’ recall tracking into our data set is just one more step in the right direction to ensure consumer safety and to mitigate risk of automotive-related injuries,” he added.

To learn more about Recall Masters’ complete solution, schedule a demo or receive a free trial, call (888) 651-4480; send a message to info@recallmasters.com or visit www.recallmasters.com.