NHTSA uses recalls for all vehicle defects. I have two outstanding recalls for a Ford that will be a software only fix when they're ready.

There’s an interesting linguistic concept of a “retronym” meaning a term that is created because it needs distinction in the context of technological change.

An example is an “acoustic guitar”. There was no reason for that term prior to the invention of an electric guitar because everything was just a “guitar”. Maybe it’s time to differentiate based on user interaction with a recall, but as it currently stands, they are all “recalls” just like acoustic and electric variants are all still “guitars”.

I mean, the more we use the word, the more people will figure it out right?

Also, it seems like we should differentiate between a software update that puts new features in your music app and one that fixes power steering.