logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2025
17m 28s

Why are millions of cars being recalled?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Transport regulators around the world are forcing the automotive industry to fix faults in their cars, even if they are discovered years after the model rolled off the assembly line.

It seems the drive to use more complex technology in vehicles is undermining reliability.

We find out how tighter global scrutiny by road safety watchdogs is making manufacturers recall cars to repair them, even if the process is expensive for the industry.

Produced and presented by Russell Padmore

(Image: In May 2024 Tesla announced that the recall of over 125,000 of their vehicles in the US due to a possible seat belt warning system malfunction that can increase the risk of injury in a collision. Credit: Getty Images)

Up next
Yesterday
Taking Stock: China Gains in AI race
Rahul Tandon is joined by Walter Todd in the US and Rebecca Choong Wilkins in Singapore to discuss whether China is rapidly catching up with the United States in the race to dominate artificial intelligence, following a week of sharp moves in AI-related markets and growing questi ... Show More
24m 19s
Apr 7
Headspace: from mindfulness app to military partner
Headspace started life as a mindfulness app. Now it's partnering with the US Navy and investing in artificial intelligence for mental health support.The company's CEO Tom Pickett speaks to us about therapy, the increasing role of technology, and tackling burnout at scale.If you'd ... Show More
17m 28s
Apr 7
Anthropic: the $300bn AI firm at war with the White House
Anthropic’s rise from startup to one of the world’s leading players in artificial intelligence has been staggering, but so in recent weeks has been its row with the US Government.Today, we look at that journey to becoming a 380 billion dollar company, ask why Claude has become on ... Show More
17m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2010
Automotive Recalls
<p>It's no secret that recalls can be bad news for auto manufacturers. But what exactly is a recall, and how does it work? Listen in as Scott and Ben break down the process in this episode.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork. ... Show More
20m 15s
Sep 2023
Car repairflation
One spending category that is seeing inflated costs compared to last year, according to the August CPI, is motor vehicle repairs. We’ll visit a mechanic to find out why. Hint: New car parts are a lot more expensive than they used to be. Plus, tech giants met with congressional le ... Show More
7m 26s
Dec 2023
Tesla Cars Recall and Apple's EU Antitrust Challenges
Bloomberg's Caroline Hyde and Ed Ludlow break down break down what Tesla's biggest car recall ever means for drivers. Plus, a look at Apple's EU antirust order in its fight with Spotify, and Netflix reveals viewer data on every show in an effort to boost transparency. See omnystu ... Show More
41 m
Aug 2016
Blame Game
In the summer and fall of 2009, hundreds of Toyota owners came forward with an alarming allegation: Their cars were suddenly and uncontrollably accelerating. Toyota was forced to recall 10 million vehicles, pay a fine of more than $1 billion, and settle countless lawsuits. The co ... Show More
37m 46s
Apr 2024
Tesla woes and Canada’s big EV bet
Tesla is having its worst year since the pandemic. The company is selling fewer cars, and its stock is plummeting. And it’s not just Tesla. We’re seeing a cool down in North America’s EV industry as a whole. Why is this happening? And as Canada pours billions of dollars into the ... Show More
22m 3s