Car Recalls and You: How They Work and What to Do if Your Car is Recalled
Car recalls should never be ignored but finding accurate information is not always easy. Photo by soleilani/Flickr
Car recalls have received a lot of attention last year and at the end of 2009 because of the widespread media focus on Toyota. When the government penalized Toyota for the automaker’s delay in properly notifying the public and government agencies of potential safety issues, the spotlight on vehicle safety shone even brighter. These events and recalls have left a strong impression on many automakers as now minor vehicle defects that may have been previously ignored now result in official recalls.
Vehicle owners may now be in a better position than in years prior as automakers are so quick to issue a vehicle recall, but car recalls is still a hot topic among certain media outlets and, unfortunately, the seriousness of the recalls may be exaggerated by some.
At MI Auto Times, we want all of our readers to know where to go to learn accurate information about car recalls and what steps should be taken if your vehicle is included in a recall.
How Car Recalls Work
Knowing more about how automotive manufacturers issue recalls may help you understand why you might learn about a recall on the news and then not receive an official recall letter until weeks later.
Here’s a general rundown of how the process works:
- Drivers report a problem or safety issue to the automaker of their vehicle, their dealership or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- The NHTSA notifies automakers of all complaints it receives.
- The NHTSA will determine whether the issue is a potential safety defect.
- If necessary, the NHTSA conducts an investigation and notifies the automaker of its findings.
- During the preliminary evaluation, the automaker presents its analysis of the alleged defect.
- If no further investigation is needed, the preliminary evaluation is closed.
- If more investigation is required, the NHTSA moves forward with an engineering analysis.
- Some engineering analyses may take longer than one year due to their complexity.
- If a safety-related defect is determined, the NHTSA sends a Recall Request Letter to the automaker.
- From this point on, there’s opportunity for automakers issue the recall or to decline conducting a recall and the NHTSA can respond to their refusal if the agency still feels the recall is warranted.
- Once a recall is decided upon, many different pieces must come together to fix the problem.
- How the problem should be fixed needs to be determined.
- The proper parts or equipment required to fix the safety defect must be ordered and made available to dealerships.
- Automakers use state DMV records to mail first-class letters to owners whose vehicles are included in the recall.
Once You Receive the Recall Letter
The official safety recall notice will provide affected drivers with exact instructions about what they should do next, where they can find more information and what phone numbers to call. Once drivers receive the letter, they may take their vehicle to the dealerships listed in the letter that are performing any needed repair work.
Automakers are required to let drivers know the risk of the safety defect, let them know when the solution or remedy will be available and to let them know how long it will take. Manufacturers pay the dealerships for the costs associated with the recall repair, so drivers should not have to pay for any services associated with the repairs. Some, though not all, dealerships may also provide a courtesy vehicle while the driver’s recalled vehicle is being repaired.
If a driver has had the same repair made that’s listed in the recall notice before the recall was officially announced, automakers are required to reimburse drivers if they had the repair made up to one year prior to the official recall.
Though dealerships are required to make repairs on any recalled vehicles in its inventory, private sellers may not have had the repairs made, so always check out the vehicle after a purchase from a private seller.
Where to Find More Information
NHTSA www.safercar.gov
An excellent resource for learning about car recalls is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) website: www.safercar.gov. Not only is recall information posted here but so is the safety rating information of vehicles including applicable 5 Star Safety ratings on crash tests and rollover tests, as well as information about vehicle safety features.
Recall information is searchable by vehicle and people may review recalls that were issued the day before, for the entire month and for previous months. It’s also possible to sign up for email alerts to receive notifications from NHTSA.
Automaker
Automakers often post recall information on their press or media websites that will include the official information about the recall, affected vehicles and how the automaker is going to repair the safety defect. Automakers also have 800 numbers that will direct drivers to appropriate recall information or persons who can help answer their questions about recalls.
Dealerships
The dealership that drivers purchased their affected vehicles from or another dealership of the same vehicle make will also have information about the official recalls. Drivers should have their VIN ready when they call so dealerships can look up the recall information. Dealerships are also another place drivers could contact to report any suspected safety issues with their vehicles.
A quick search on Google may also provide drivers with more information about a recall or potential safety issues but be wary; not all websites are unbiased and some may overinflate recalls for scare factor in order to bring more traffic to their websites.
MI Auto Times seeks to bring all drivers continued updates about car recalls. We’d love to hear your stories or comments regarding car recalls, and we’ll post any of your tips to help other drivers navigate the process.
[Source(s): SaferCar.gov, Bankrate.com, Automedia.com]
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41 Responses to “Car Recalls and You: How They Work and What to Do if Your Car is Recalled”
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[...] Check back with MI Auto Times, the leading source for Detroit MI and national recall information, for more information about car recalls. [...]
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[...] How They Work and What to Do If Your Car is Recalled Posted on February 5, 2011 by facebook Car recalls have received a lot of attention last year and at the end of 2009 because of the widespread media [...]
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[...] will be releasing its findings in its investigation of Toyota’s sudden acceleration car recalls tomorrow. According to The Detroit News officials from NASA and the NHTSA who led the study, [...]
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[...] Problems Found in Toyota Probe February 8th, 2011 After a 10-month investigation into Toyota car recalls, it was determined that there are no problems with Toyota’s electronic throttle control [...]
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[...] in the Detroit MI area but all Infiniti owners should find out if they’re affected by these car recalls from [...]
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[...] safety car recalls of about 3,800 Lexus late 2009 and some 2010 model year Lexus LS 460 and LS 600 h L vehicles [...]
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[...] will receive a voluntary payment from GM of $100 for the loss of the feature, not because of the car recalls. The reason the feature is being disabled is because the supplier of the technology is no longer [...]
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[...] Car recalls have been announced by Honda and globally the number is almost 700,000. According to the automaker, vehicles included in this round of car recalls are the Fit, Freed and City–both the Freed and City are not available in the U.S. [...]
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[...] M.I. – Car recalls going into effect on or before Jan. 25 have been announced by General Motors. The estimated number [...]
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[...] M.I. – Car recalls may have been boosted not only because of safety defects but also because of car complaints which [...]
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[...] Car recalls have been announced and Volkswagen Routan MI owners should know their minivan might be affected by a recent recall announcement by Volkswagen that is very similar to a recall MI Auto Times posted to alert Chrysler drivers of the Town & Country. [...]
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[...] M.I. – Car recalls have been ongoing for Toyota since November 2009. Recalls ranging from sticky gas pedals to faulty [...]
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[...] Car recalls have been announced for Nissan, and MI Nissan owners should know about a defect in Nissan vehicles that is causing engines to stall while the vehicle is in motion. Nissan recalled 747,000 vehicles in the U.S. and issued a recall in Europe of 354,170 vehicles while Japan is having 834,759 cars recalled. China and Taiwan are having a combined 194,409 vehicles recalled that may be affected by the engine problem. [...]
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[...] Recalls for Toyota Drivers: 740,000 U.S. Vehicles Affected October 21st, 2010 Car recalls have been announced by Toyota. Toyota Motor Sales announced it will be conducting a voluntary [...]
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[...] Car recalls include the 2010-2011 C and E class models of Mercedes. Reported by the manufacturer on October 4 to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, this recall could affect up to and more than 85,000 vehicles. The models included in the car recalls are the 2010 Mercedes Benz 204 C-Class and 212 E-Class. Also recalled are the 2010-2011 Mercedes Benz 207 E-Class Coupe and Cabriolet models. [...]
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[...] latest round of car recalls from BMW is growing in number because of the inclusion of BMWs made globally, a recent Associated [...]
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[...] Auto Times would like to let our readers know about two car recalls recently announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety [...]
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[...] Car recalls have been announced for Hyundai. Though the 2011 Hyundai Sonata has been lauded for its design, it’s about to be marauded for its mechanical integrity.According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Hyundai Motor Co. is enacting car recalls for model year 2011 Hyundai Sonatas manufactured from Dec. 11, 2009, through Sept. 10, 2010. Universal joint connections in the steering column in some of the vehicles manufactured during these dates may have been built improperly or not tightened enough. [...]
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[...] Car recalls have been announced and MI Ford and Toyota owners should know the family van and the family sedan may not be the safest vehicles on the road. [...]
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[...] M.I. – Car recalls are a normal part of the auto industry, it seems, as large and small automakers announce voluntary [...]
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[...] Car recalls have received a lot of attention last year and at the end of 2009 because of the widespread media [...]
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[...] M.I. – Car recalls are a normal part of the auto industry, it seems, as large and small automakers announce voluntary [...]
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[...] M.I. – Car recalls never seem to slow down even as the year continues. Toyota has already seen another large recall [...]
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[...] Car recalls have been announced by Nissan and Nissan Cube MI owners should know about a recall involving 2009 and 2008 model-year Nissan Cubes made between Jan. 30, 2009 and July 30, 2010. [...]
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[...] The Wall Street Journal article that pinned some of the blame on Toyota drivers for car recalls been planted by Toyota? According to the blog Jalopnik, this is decidedly [...]
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[...] M.I. – Car recalls are multiplying as Honda and Hyundai are both issuing two different recalls. The possible issues [...]
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[...] M.I. – Car recalls could be causing an increase in traffic for Volkswagen dealers as VW issues a voluntarily recall [...]
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[...] initial problem had been with the airbags in Ford F150 models from 2004 to 2006 and car recalls had been set in [...]
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[...] M.I. – Car recalls can often come at inopportune times for automakers. For Toyota it was difficult for the automaker [...]
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[...] M.I. – Car recalls have been announced again for automakers still reeling from the Japan Crisis. Nissan recalled the [...]
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[...] M.I. – Car recalls are increasing in number for Toyota this month. Already Toyota has recalled the Toyota Highlander [...]
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[...] M.I. – Car recalls have been announced officially by Kia Motors for its 2011 Kia Sorento models. A driveshaft part may [...]
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[...] M.I – Car recalls have been expanded for different automakers for various reasons over the years, but most recalls [...]
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[...] M.I. – Car recalls may be on their way for two automakers as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [...]
Glad to find such a comprehensive source for car recalls.
Ihave a 2001 Town/Country ,Was it A Recall let me know,1999 300m , 2000 Mercury Grand Marquise,LS.,,,9411 manistique det,mi 48224 let me know please god bless.
Hi Tonya,
You can visit http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/recallsearch.cfm and search for your specific make and model there, or you can contact your local Chrysler or Lincoln dealership and they’ll be able to help you.
MI Auto Times
I want to find out the car recalls on my 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis
I want to find out the car recalls on my 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis? I would like to recieve a reply!
bought 2004 silivero in sep 2010 from dealership. my speedometer when out in jan 2013. found out there was a recall on this, so I called . they said recall ran out the end of 2010. shouldnt they have fixed this recall before selling truck to me, in sep 2010. some one let me know? thanks
Thanks for your comment! One of the best sources for information on recalls and regulations surrounding them is http://www.nhtsa.gov/. Hope this helps.