Vehicle recall complaints rise 459% in the first half of this year

Complaints concerning recall campaigns rose during the first half of this year. From January to June, Portal da Queixa recorded 123 complaints - 101 more than in the same period of 2025, when just 22 were submitted. This represents an increase of 459%.

Portal da Queixa says the rise may be linked to rules introduced on 1 March. Under these rules, vehicles with outstanding recall campaigns automatically fail their mandatory periodic roadworthiness inspection.

According to the organisation, “Portal da Queixa data point to greater visibility of the issue and the new rules as explanatory factors”.

Reasons for vehicle recall complaints

Portal da Queixa reports that many drivers still encounter difficulties after finding out that their vehicle has an unresolved recall action. The issues include unavailable parts, repair delays, problems arranging appointments and a lack of response from manufacturers.

Breakdown of recall campaign complaints

Complaints concerning the product and repairs account for more than 62% of the total. They are followed by complaints about service and customer support, at 24%. A further group relates to safety and compliance with legal obligations, representing around 10% of cases.

The complaints also include reports from drivers who say they were never told about the recall campaign. “I was never notified in advance by the manufacturer about this recall campaign, despite it involving an issue classified as a potentially fatal risk,” one member of the public stated in a complaint.

Pedro Lourenço, founder of Portal da Queixa, believes the increase in complaints does not necessarily mean manufacturers are handling recalls less effectively. Instead, he says the issue has become more visible following the new inspection rules and the launch of the RECALL platform.

Nevertheless, he believes shortcomings still need to be addressed, particularly where repairs are delayed, parts are unavailable or manufacturers struggle to contact current vehicle owners.

“The challenge is to strengthen the effectiveness of processes, ensuring clear communication, timely responses and appropriate delivery capacity - elements that are critical to road safety and public confidence,” he stresses.

Locations with the highest number of complaints

Lisbon and Porto account for the largest shares of complaints, representing 22.48% and 18.60% of the total respectively.

RECALL platform

To check whether a car has an outstanding recall action, IMT and ACAP have created the RECALL platform, which allows users to see whether a vehicle is subject to an active recall action. Owners simply need to enter the vehicle registration number or VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).

If a recall campaign remains outstanding, the owner should contact an authorised dealer for the brand to arrange the work. IMT also recommends checking the platform regularly, particularly before the mandatory periodic roadworthiness inspection, so that any new campaigns can be identified in good time.