Car Care Tips

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Safety April 9, 2020

Everything You Need to Know About How to Check for Car Recalls

Auto safety recalls

In 2017, the automotive industry recalled 74% more vehicles than it delivered to consumers. A whopping 30.7 million vehicles were recalled, while only 17.6 million new vehicles were sold in the U.S.

While these numbers might seem crazy, auto recalls actually hit a four-year low in 2017, and the number of affected vehicles has been dropping ever since. This is mostly because of the decline of vehicles affected by the Takata airbag defect safety recall.

Whether it’s an issue with an airbag, door latches, seat belts, or engine, it’s important to address the issue immediately if your vehicle is recalled.

What Is a Car Recall?

A car recall is issued when a vehicle manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determines that a car does not comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard or has a safety-related defect.

Safety-related defects could include:

  • Problems with fuel system components that could result in a gas leak and cause a fire in an accident
  • Gas pedal that might break or stick
  • Defective windshield wipers
  • Seats and/or seat backs that fail unexpectedly during normal use
  • Important vehicle components that break, fall apart, or separate from the vehicle, causing a loss of vehicle control and injury
  • Wiring system problems that could result in a fire or loss of lighting
  • Car ramps or jacks that may collapse
  • Faulty airbags

The manufacturer will cover the vehicle recall repair costs for any safety-related defects. Flaws related to the following non-safety defects would not be covered by the manufacturer:

How to Check if Your Car Has a Recall

When a manufacturer announces recalls, they are required to notify vehicle owners of the recall by mail, email or phone. The manufacturer will tell you what to do next, but usually you’ll need to contact your dealer as soon as possible to arrange for the recall repair.

However, according to NHTSA, nearly one-third of the recall letters mailed to vehicle owners are ignored.

If you’re worried you may be a part of that 33% of drivers who have either missed or ignored a recall notice, it’s easy to check for recalls affecting your car.

First, find your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN). Every car has a unique, 17-character VIN, which is usually printed on the lower driver’s side corner of your windshield.

Then, go to the NHTSA website (www.nhtsa.gov/recalls) and search for recalls using your VIN. If you don’t have your VIN handy, you can also enter your vehicle’s make, model and year to see if there are any open recalls.

For even more peace of mind, sign up to receive email alerts at www.nhtsa.gov/alerts.

Stay Safe on the Road with Virginia Tire & Auto

At Virginia Tire & Auto, our expert mechanics are thoroughly trained to help identify safety recalls for all types of vehicles.

From our general service technicians to our service and store managers, the team at Virginia Tire & Auto is here to help make the auto safety recall process easier and less stressful.

Bring your car into one of our 17 locations and we can ensure that it’s up to standard. Schedule a service visit today!

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