NHTSA Urges Consumers To Get Vehicle Recall Repairs Completed In New Campaign

As a part of a nationwide campaign running this week, federal highway safety officials are urging consumers to check to see if their vehicles are subject to an open safety recall, and make sure any known problems are repaired as soon as possible.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is promoting Vehicle Safety Recalls Week from March 8th through March 12th, as part of an effort to raise awareness about the importance of checking for automobile recalls at least twice a year and making sure all repairs are handled as soon as they become available.

As part of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, auto manufacturers are required to issue vehicle safety recalls when there are dangerous defects or problems associated with motor vehicles. Since 1966, the NHTSA has recalled more than 390 million motor vehicles, including at least 55 million vehicles impacted by nearly 900 different safety recalls issued in 2020.

Recalls are also issued for other vehicle-related equipment such as bike racks, tires, seats, and more, which may cause serious safety risks on U.S. roadways if they are not addressed by vehicle owners.

To check for recalls, consumers can search using their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on NHTSA.gov/Recalls. On the site, information is available to determine whether a specific vehicle is subject to an open recall, and information is provided about the steps that can be taken to fix the issue.

Information about vehicle recalls is also available in the NHTSA SaferCar App, which provides automatic notifications when a new recall is issued for any registered vehicle or equipment.

Data suggests that only 75 percent of vehicles recalled in a given year are repaired. Not only are these recall repairs typically free, but the NHTSA warns it is also dangerous to not have your recalled vehicle repaired. The agency recommends that that consumers check for vehicle safety recalls bi-annually, coinciding with checking smoke alarms at the beginning and end of daylight savings time.