How to check if your car has a recall

While car manufacturers take many precautions to ensure the safety of the cars they sell, defects sometimes go unnoticed. Whether these defects result from insufficient testing of new technology or from a poor-quality batch of materials, security threats are not to be taken lightly. This is why, when potential hazards associated with a particular vehicle are identified, the manufacturer or even a government agency will recall that product in order to resolve the issue or conduct further investigation.

Unfortunately, consumers don't always know when a recall is being made. In a recall, normal steps are taken to contact owners, such as calling or sending emails to those who purchased directly from the dealer. However, sometimes mail messages get lost in the clutter or the current owner of a recalled vehicle cannot be found. In these cases, it is the responsibility of the owner of the vehicle to check if the recall is valid. Here's how to check if your car has one of these reviews:

• Visit www.recalls.gov
  • Click on the "Cars" tab and then select the recall type you want to search for. When in doubt, select Vehicle Reviews.
  • Use the drop-down menus to select the year, make and model of your vehicle and then click Go.
  • Read the results to view all reviews related to your vehicle. If a recall has been made, follow the recommended course of action.

Do you drive a used car and are not sure if your car has been repaired after a recall? Visit the VIN Revocation page on the Safercar.gov website at https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/.

If, after searching for reviews of your vehicle as a whole or any part of it, you are not sure what action to take, please contact us. One of our mechanics can help you decipher any technical automotive jargon and provide guidance on how to proceed.