Tips for Keeping Up With Automotive Recalls

 

The newspaper, Internet, and nightly news frequently discuss automotive recalls. Remarkably, in 2003, a recall occurred for one out of every 12 cars on the roads today. However, even more amazing is that only one-third of recalled vehicle owners sought repairs. The car manufacturers are required to send out letters informing owners of these vehicles of the recall, regardless of whether it is a major or minor event. Additionally, various mediums disseminate recall information to consumers, making it nearly impossible for owners of affected vehicles to remain unaware of the problems. However, people seem to think that if they are not experiencing any problems at the moment, then the recall affects all of the other vehicles instead of theirs, and they end up ignoring it. This is a form of negligence, essentially inviting the car's problem to surface. However, if this occurs subsequent to the recall, the responsibility lies with the owners, who received the information and had the opportunity to fix the issue at no cost, but chose to disregard it. If car manufacturers report the recall and notify owners as required by law, consumers can take advantage of the recall and fix their car. If not, the owner assumes the risk. If you are unfamiliar with car recalls or recently purchased a used vehicle, you should visit www.nhtsa.gov or www.autorecalls.org to verify if the manufacturer has issued any recalls for your car.

In both websites, you can search by year, make, and model to see if your vehicle is listed for recalls from the past. Given that over 31 million cars underwent recalls in 2004, it's highly probable that you'll find your car on one of these websites. That is almost unbelievable considering the amount of technology used in developing cars as well as the fact that automobiles are safer than they have ever been. However, it is true that consumers continue to purchase vehicles with basic issues such as fuses, as well as major problems with gas lines, tires, and seats buckling during crashes. Whether you think your car is safe, you should check the websites mentioned above every few months to ensure your vehicle is not on the recall list. If it has, avoid joining the two-thirds of people who never respond to the recall. Instead, head to the nearest dealership or authorized mechanic who can make the free repairs to your vehicle. Why so many people don’t have time for free repairs is beyond me, but knowing your vehicle has a problem that could be potentially fatal for you and your family and that a free repair is available should be enough to motivate you to have the repair taken care of.

Another thing to keep in mind is that simple problems with your vehicle that result in a visit to the mechanic may not be something you are required to pay for. Millions of Americans each year take their cars to the mechanic for a basic repair, or even a major one, assuming something went wrong and they simply need to fix it. Unfortunately, many of these individuals never check to see if the problem was due to a recall and end up paying for a repair that might be free or discounted by the automobile manufacturer. Armed with this knowledge, the next time your vehicle encounters even a minor issue, ensure you verify if the car has been subject to a recall for similar issues and explore the possibility of receiving free or discounted repairs. It is certainly worth checking out and could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Who Issues Recalls?

In general, the reason so many people don’t respond to recalls is because they simply don’t understand the process. The NHTSA, National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, is responsible for investigating consumer complaints regarding specific vehicles and problems associated with them. The NHTSA launches an investigation after several consumers report the same or similar problem for the same model vehicle. The NHTSA investigation determines if the consumer or vehicle manufacturer caused the problem or malfunction. If the manufacturer is determined to be at fault, then the owners of affected models will receive information in the mail regarding the recall of the vehicle, with information included on how they can have the problem corrected free of charge. However, the NHTSA is not always the one who issues a recall.

Occasionally, the manufacturer realizes a problem exists in a certain model vehicle and will voluntarily issue a recall. Of course, the manufacturer not only informs the NHTSA but also sends a letter to the vehicle owners, informing them of the problem and providing instructions on how to correct it. Many times, however, a recall does not affect all models of a particular year. For instance, a recall on 2005 Ford Explorers is likely to impact only a specific batch of these vehicles, not all of them. However, if you own a vehicle of that make and year, then you can take it to the dealership, and the service department will run the VIN, or vehicle identification number, to determine if in fact your vehicle is affected by the recall. If so, then you can have the repairs made at no cost. If not, then you can head home knowing your vehicle is safe and sound.

However, millions of cars are recalled each year for various reasons, so you should always take your car in if you suspect a recall or receive a recall letter. Don’t take your safety for granted, especially if the repair for the recalled vehicle is free.

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