More than 28 million vehicles were affected by recalls mandated by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration in 2024, but research from recall management systems provider Recall Masters said they might not be the only recalled vehicles that pose a danger.

In addition to 445 NHTSA-required recall campaigns, the company’s annual State of Recalls report identified 238 voluntary manufacturer recall notices, many of which, it said, are not published in the NHTSA database and are often overlooked by dealerships.

It also noted 82 of those voluntary recalls — about 34.5% of them — were classified as “high-risk,” posing dangers to consumers and legal exposure for dealerships, especially when off-brand vehicles are sold with unresolved issues.

While they are not publicly disclosed through NHTSA until an investigation is completed, voluntary recalls can still result in litigation, Recall Masters said.

A total of 505 recalls were labeled “high risk” by NHTSA.

The report showed repair rates for drop significantly for vehicles have not been fixed three years after the recall was issued. Older cars tend to fall out of sight for dealerships and car owners stop paying attention to recall notices, Recall Masters said, which represents a dangerous situation — but also a chance for dealership service departments to re-engage with customers and perhaps generate upsell revenue.

“Behind every missed recall is not just a safety risk — it’s a lost opportunity for dealers to engage, build trust and deliver service that protects customers and boosts their bottom line,” Recall Masters founder and chairman Christopher Miller said. “We’re committed to giving dealerships the tools they need to close the gap and protect both consumers and their businesses.”

The report found the most common issue involved in recalls was software and electronic system failures, which accounted for 174 campaigns affecting 13.8 million vehicles, far more than engine/oil/fuel/coolant/battery, which was next with 62 recalls affecting 2.28 million vehicles. Latches, hinges and seat hardware was cited in 3.4 million vehicles as part of 33 recall campaigns.

The full report can be downloaded here.