GM to Add Recall Notification Feature to Smartphone App
General Motors will introduce a recall-check feature to its vehicle smartphone app from July 2016, aiming to improve customer awareness and response to safety campaigns.
General Motors will introduce a recall-check function to its smartphone app from 18 July 2016, allowing owners of Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles to see whether their car is affected by a safety recall directly from their phone. The feature is intended to improve recall response rates after a record number of US recalls in 2015.
The new feature will be integrated into the existing vehicle app, which is currently used for remote start, locking and unlocking, sending directions and checking vehicle data. Users will find a 'Check For Recalls' button in the Vehicle Status section. The update will roll out to all four GM brands and replace the OnStar RemoteLink app, which had 2.5 million active users across North America, Europe and China as of early 2016.
Response to record recalls in 2015
The move comes after 2015 saw over 51 million vehicles recalled in the United States across nearly 900 campaigns, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Regulators and manufacturers have been seeking ways to increase the proportion of affected owners who respond to recall notices and bring their vehicles in for repairs. The direct notification and checking feature is intended to make it easier for drivers to stay informed and take action.
GM's decision follows similar digital initiatives in the sector, such as the FordPass app introduced with the 2017 Ford Escape, and BMW's My BMW Remote app for Android users. The recall-check tool is part of a broader push by carmakers to use connected services to improve safety and customer engagement. For more on how automakers are expanding app-based services, seeHyundai to Launch First Branded Android Auto App.
How the new app feature works
Once the update goes live, users will simply tap the 'Check For Recalls' tab within their app's Vehicle Status section. If a recall affects their vehicle, the app will provide details and prompt the owner to contact a dealer. GM expects the change to make recall information more accessible and encourage owners to act more quickly when safety issues arise.
