Electric Car Recalls: How to Check Yours

Electric car recalls are more common than many owners realise, and the good news is that checking whether your vehicle is affected takes only a few minutes. The DVSA runs a free online checker at gov.uk/check-vehicle-recalls where you enter your registration number and see any outstanding safety recalls. If your car is affected, the repair is always carried out free of charge by an authorised dealer. Before you worry, most recalls are precautionary, covering software updates or minor component adjustments rather than urgent safety failures. To make sure your EV is always running the right cable and charging setup alongside keeping its software current, visit our charging cables by car guide.

How do I check if my electric car has an outstanding recall?

The simplest route is the DVSA's vehicle recall checker at gov.uk/check-vehicle-recalls. Type in your registration plate and the tool will tell you whether any recall notices are open against your car. If you want more detail, including whether a previous recall was completed before you bought the vehicle, search the manufacturer's own owner portal using your VIN. The 17-character VIN is printed on your V5C logbook, stamped into the driver's door sill, and often visible through the bottom of the windscreen. You can also register your email with the DVSA so that you receive automatic notifications if a future recall affects your registration.

What kinds of things get recalled on an electric car?

Recalls cover a wide spectrum, from urgent safety issues to precautionary software updates. On electric vehicles, common recall categories include:

• Battery management software: Updates to how the battery monitors temperature, charge level, or charging speed, often to reduce any risk of thermal events.
• High-voltage system components: Connectors, contactors, or insulation materials that may not meet the required safety standard.
• Charging system hardware: Issues with the onboard charger, charge port latch, or communication between the car and the charging station.
• Driver assistance and braking systems: Software bugs in regenerative braking calibration or lane-keeping systems.
• Structural and restraint items: Seatbelts, airbag control units, and mounting points, which are common across all vehicle types.

Most EV recalls in recent years have been resolved over-the-air (OTA), meaning the manufacturer pushes a software fix directly to the car without you needing to visit a dealer at all.

What should I do if my car is affected?

If the DVSA checker shows an open recall, the manufacturer is required to contact you in writing, usually by letter to the address on your V5C. Do not wait for that letter if you already know about the recall. Contact your nearest authorised dealer to book the remedy. All recall work is carried out free of charge regardless of your car's age, mileage, or warranty status. Bring your V5C or have your VIN to hand when you call. Once the work is complete, ask the dealer to mark the recall as resolved on the DVSA system so future checks show a clear record. If you are buying a used EV, always run the DVSA check before you hand over any money.

Are EV recalls different from petrol car recalls?

The process is identical: the manufacturer notifies the DVSA, the DVSA publishes the recall, and owners are contacted. What differs is the nature of the fault. Electric vehicles add a layer of software complexity that petrol cars do not have to the same degree, so a higher proportion of EV recalls are resolved by software updates rather than physical part replacement. This often means shorter or no workshop visits. On the flip side, recalls involving the high-voltage battery pack or its management system can sound alarming but are usually precautionary, triggered by data from a small number of vehicles showing a potential risk rather than widespread failures already occurring.

Can I still drive my car while waiting for a recall to be fixed?

This depends on the severity of the recall. The manufacturer's recall notice and any letter you receive will state clearly whether the car should not be driven until the remedy is applied. For most software recalls, you can continue driving normally while you wait for an appointment. For recalls related to braking systems, high-voltage insulation, or structural safety, the guidance may be to stop driving until the repair is done. When in doubt, call the manufacturer's customer helpline and ask directly. They are obliged to tell you whether your specific vehicle is safe to use.

How do over-the-air software updates relate to recalls?

Many modern electric vehicles can receive software updates wirelessly, in the same way a smartphone receives an operating system update. When a manufacturer discovers a software fault, they may push a fix OTA and simultaneously file a recall with the DVSA. In these cases, your car may have already received the fix before you even hear about the recall. Check your car's software version in the settings menu and compare it with the version listed in the recall notice or on the manufacturer's website. If your car has already updated to the corrected version, the recall is typically considered resolved, but confirm this with the dealer or manufacturer to be certain.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free to get a recall fixed on my electric car?

Yes. Recall repairs are always free of charge, regardless of your car's age, mileage, or warranty status. The manufacturer is legally required to fix the identified fault at no cost to you. This applies to both software updates and physical part replacements at a dealer.

What if I bought my car second-hand and did not receive a recall letter?

Manufacturers send recall letters to the registered keeper shown on the DVSA's records. If the V5C was not updated when you bought the car, you may not receive the letter. Always run the DVSA online check using your registration number, and update your V5C address promptly so future notices reach you directly.

How do I find my VIN?

Your VIN is a 17-character code found on your V5C logbook, on a plate in the driver's door sill or door jamb, and usually visible at the base of the windscreen on the passenger side. Manufacturer apps and owner portals often display it in the vehicle information section as well.

Will an outstanding recall affect my car's MOT?

An open recall does not automatically cause an MOT failure, but testers are advised to check recall status and note it on the certificate. Some testers may refuse to pass a vehicle with a serious outstanding safety recall. Getting any open recall resolved before your MOT appointment is always the sensible approach.

Does a recall affect my car insurance?

Failing to act on a known safety recall could, in theory, affect an insurance claim if the fault contributed to an accident. Contact your insurer if you are unsure, and book the recall remedy promptly to avoid any ambiguity. Most insurers will not penalise you simply for having an open recall as long as you are taking steps to address it.

Can I check recalls for a car I am thinking of buying?

Yes. The DVSA checker works for any UK-registered vehicle, so you can enter a prospective purchase's registration before you buy. You can also ask the seller to provide evidence that all previous recalls have been completed, which a dealer should be able to show you in the service history or via the DVSA portal.

Staying on top of recalls is one of the simpler parts of EV ownership. Bookmark the DVSA checker, register your email for automatic alerts, and make sure your V5C always shows your current address. For everything else around keeping your EV set up correctly, browse our guides index or check our portable EV charger recommendations to make sure you have a reliable backup charging option wherever you are.