They have been around for years......they just have to tell you now if your car has one.

Approximately 64 percent of the model year 2005 passenger vehicles are equipped with EDR data-recorders.

 

Maximilien is correct they have been around for close to 10 years.

 

As long as it doesn't record track day speeds than let it be lol.

 

Sure, they've been around for years but why would anything economy such as our vehicles use something like this? I can see a higher end vehicle like a Nissan GT-R where an owner might complain their engine blew up when they were racing it.