Each year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) assesses potential issues with motor vehicles to determine whether they pose a safety risk to drivers, passengers, or other motorists. If the Administration determines that an automobile or item of motor vehicle equipment creates an unreasonable risk or does not meet minimum federal safety standards, a recall is issued. The manufacturer of the vehicle is then required to make the necessary fixes, either by repair, replacement, offering a refund, or by repurchasing the car.
How You Can Find Out Whether Your Car Is Subject to a Recall
In order to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from injuries caused by defects in a motor vehicle, it is important to be aware of any safety recalls. There are several ways to receive notification of these recalls. The following are five examples:
- Pay attention to the mail that you receive from your vehicle’s manufacturer. If there is a safety recall that impacts your car, truck, or motorcycle, the manufacturer will notify you through a letter that contains a “Safety Recall Notice” statement on the envelope.
- Register your vehicle with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This allows you to receive email notifications that your car is subject to a recall.
- Use the Safecar mobile app in order to receive alerts sent directly to your phone. The NHTSA offers a Safercar mobile app for Apple devices, Android devices, and RSS feeds.
- Visit the NHTSA website at www.safecar.gov/vinlookup and conduct a search for your vehicle. To do so, you will be required to enter your vehicle identification number.
- Visit your vehicle’s manufacturer’s website. The NHTSA requires all manufacturers to provide consumers with a free online search tool to look for recall information.