Sedgwick’s latest U.S. product recall index report — which analyzes recall data from five key industries — showed automotive helped to fuel a notable rise in overall product recalls.

The firm’s data from the first quarter indicated that the number of product recalls in the U.S. increased 14.2% from the previous quarter, rising to the highest single-quarter total in four years.

Sedgwick said automotive recalls in the U.S. rose 3.4%, up from 237 in Q4 2022 to 245 events in Q1. The latest recall index report also mentioned the number of units impacted also increased slightly to 7.6 million.

A separate message sent to Auto Remarketing by Sedgwick pointed out that electrical systems were the leading cause of automotive recalls, accounting for 48 events, and were linked to the most units recalled with 1.68 million units.

With three quarters in the year yet to be reported and regulatory and consumer scrutiny continuing to increase, Sedgwick said through a news release there is still the possibility of a third consecutive year with over 1 billion recalled units across all industries.

“As the number of recall events increase across industries, the risks to manufacturers grow more serious, with increased regulatory enforcement and a more publicized recall process,” said Chris Harvey, Sedgwick senior vice president of brand protection. “Regulators are working to prioritize product safety while balancing innovation with oversight — meaning manufacturers can expect to contend with new rules and regulations. Businesses will need to remain agile to keep pace with these changes and prepare for future ones.”

The recall index is published every quarter by Sedgwick’s brand protection experts. The report aggregates and tracks recall data across multiple regulatory agencies and industries to help stakeholders navigate the regulatory environment, product recalls, and other in-market challenges.

For more information, go to sedgwick.com/brandprotection.