Some 6.5 million vehicles were recalled in the third quarter of 2024 – thanks mostly to three automakers.

Tesla, Stellantis and BMW accounted for 76% of all recalls during the three months ending Sept. 30, according to the Q3 recall report from recall management platform BizzyCar.

The report is based on analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation.

More than 1.8 million vehicles — about 28% of all those recalled in the third quarter — were Teslas, the most of any brand, though all of those recalls can be resolved through over-the-air updates, which BizzyCar said “showcases Tesla’s innovative approach to recall management that minimizes inconvenience for customers.”

That doesn’t only apply to Tesla. The report found more than 34% of vehicles recalled in 2024 can be fixed by OTA updates, up from 21% the previous year. The reports said the rise illustrates the auto industry’s shift toward more efficient and customer-friendly recall solutions.

Stellantis, maker of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM, has 25% of the recalled vehicles, while BMW was at 23%.

Tesla’s third-quarter surge of recalls vaulted it into the lead for most recalls year-to-date, with 21% of all recalls. That surpassed Ford, which had the most recalls through the first six months due to persistent electrical system issues, but had only 7% of the recalls in Q3.

“With more than 21 million vehicles affected by recalls this year, our goal of keeping drivers safe while also providing dealerships a chance to increase customer loyalty and retention is more crucial than ever,” BizzyCar founder Ryan Maher said in a news release. “We are on a mission to ensure every driver in every vehicle in the nation knows when their vehicle is a part of a recall and what to do to get it properly maintained and back on the road safely.”

The 21.2 million vehicles recalled so far this year is down 4% year-to-date. The percentage of urgent recalls requiring “park outside” and “do not drive” advisories were also fell, with “park outside” advisories dropping from 14% in 2023 to 3% this year, with “do not drive” at just 0.1%.

The report found electrical systems were by far the most common cause for recalls, accounting for 44% of them in Q3 and 33% year-to-date, affecting 6.3 million vehicles.

BizzyCar said those numbers reflect the challenges manufacturers face in maintaining quality control over increasingly complex electronic architectures and software systems that now handle everything from infotainment to critical safety functions.

“As cars transform into complex digital platforms on wheels,” the company said, “even minor electrical faults can pose significant safety risks, potentially leading to unexpected malfunctions or system failures that endanger drivers.”