A new year has turned over, and with it, a renewed sense of safety should be considered in addition to your normal resolutions. Every time you climb behind the wheel of your vehicle, there are risks associated with its operation. Aside from the obvious risks of driving, possible malfunctions can occur due to unknown/unheeded manufacturer recalls.
To help vehicle owners remember this critical aspect of maintenance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is hosting Vehicle Safety Recalls Week (March 8-12). They want to remind everyone to check for open vehicle recalls, to ensure safety on the roads.
Checking your vehicle for open recalls is free and easy. Visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your vehicle’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN). In seconds, you'll know if your vehicle is subject to a safety recall. While you’re there, sign up for Recall Alerts. If your vehicle is included in a future recall, you’ll receive an email letting you know.
If you’re a DOT employee, set the example for friends and family by pledging to check your VIN during Vehicle Safety Recalls Week. You can contact NHTSA’s Kil-Jae Hong to sign up. You’ll remain anonymous, and it will only take a few minutes.
Vehicle recalls are more critical than you may realize. In 2020, there were 886 vehicle safety recalls affecting more than 54 million vehicles in the United States. Every vehicle recall is serious and impacts your safety. Yet about 25% of vehicle recalls are not addressed and repaired, which puts drivers, passengers, and others on the road at risk.
Need a little reminder to check your car for recalls? NHTSA updated the SaferCar App to keep you informed when you’re on the go. You can enter your vehicle’s VIN, as well as car seats, tires, or any other vehicle-related equipment. We’ll send you real-time alerts to let you know if a safety recall exists for your vehicle. The app is available for Android and iOS.
If your vehicle is affected by a safety recall, contact your dealer to schedule a repair. Every recall is fixed FOR FREE. Remember that while manufacturers mail recall notices to owners, the task of reaching current vehicle owners becomes more complicated when vehicles have had multiple owners. That's why it is essential to take the initiative, check for yourself, and sign up for recall alerts to make sure you’re informed about a recall that affects your safety.
If you think your vehicle may have a safety-related defect that isn’t part of a current recall, contact NHTSA. Even a single complaint is enough to trigger a recall. Contact NHTSA online or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
Keep yourself, your family, and others safe by checking for recalls during Vehicle Safety Recalls Week and getting any open safety recalls fixed. For more information, visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls.
