How to know if your car has been recalled
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Car recalls can be annoying. They require you to take time off from work, stand in line at the dealership, and sit around while your car is being repaired. And if the repair takes several days, you will also have to find an alternative to transportation.
Some of the reviews are pretty minor. In mid-March 2016, Maserati recalled over 28,000 vehicles sold between 2014 and 16 due to faulty floor mat attachments.
Other reviews are serious. In 2014, GM recalled 30 million vehicles worldwide due to faulty ignition locks. By GM's own count, 128 people died in switch-related accidents.
Recall Process
In 1966, the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act was passed. This gave the Department of Transportation the power to force manufacturers to recall vehicles or other equipment that did not meet federal safety standards. Over the next 50 years:
In the US alone, 390 million cars, trucks, buses, motorhomes, motorcycles, scooters and mopeds have been recalled.
46 million tires were recalled.
42 million child seats have been recalled.
To illustrate how difficult some years have been for car manufacturers and consumers, 2014 million vehicles were recalled in 64, while only 16.5 million vehicles were sold.
What evokes memories?
Car manufacturers assemble cars using parts made by many suppliers. In the event of a serious breakdown of parts, the car is recalled. In 2015, for example, airbag manufacturer Takata recalled 34 million airbags that the company had supplied to nearly two dozen car and truck manufacturers. It was found that when the airbag deployed, fragments were sometimes fired at parts of the supercharger. Some of the recalled airbag models date back to 2001.
Vehicle manufacturers were responsible for the recall and repair of cars and trucks equipped with Takata airbags.
Choosing a safe car to buy
iSeeCars.com is a website for buyers and sellers of new and used cars. The company conducted a study of the history of vehicles sold over the past 36 years and the history of recalls since 1985.
The survey concluded that Mercedes is the car that is least remembered. And the manufacturer with the worst recall-to-sales ratio? Hyundai has the lowest recall rate, with 1.15 vehicles recalled for every vehicle sold since 1986, according to the survey.
The other companies on the list with the most recalls are Mitsubishi, Volkswagen and Volvo, each of which has recalled one vehicle for every vehicle sold over the past 30 years.
How to know if your car is being recalled
If you purchased your vehicle, new or used, from a dealer, they will have your VIN and contact information on file. If there is a recall, the manufacturer will contact you by mail or phone and provide instructions on how you need to have your vehicle repaired.
Recall letters sometimes have the phrase "Important Safety Recall Information" printed on the front of the envelope, making it look like junk mail. It's a good idea to resist the temptation to play Karnak the Magnificent and open the letter.
The letter will explain the revocation and what you must do. You will most likely be asked to contact your local dealer to get your car fixed. Keep in mind that you are not the only one in your area who has received a recall notice, so it is best to contact the dealer immediately and make an appointment to have your vehicle repaired.
If you hear about a recall in the news but are not sure if your vehicle is affected, you can contact your local dealer who will check your VIN. Or you can call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Auto Safety Hotline (888.327.4236).
You can also visit your vehicle manufacturer's website for the latest news on vehicle recalls. You may be asked to enter your VIN to ensure accuracy.
Who pays for recall repairs
Automakers are only willing to pay for repairs for eight years from the date the vehicle was originally sold. If there is a recall eight years after the original sale, you are responsible for the repair bill. Also, if you take the initiative and fix the issue before the recall is officially announced, you may not have much luck trying to get a refund.
However, some companies, such as Chrysler, have reimbursed customers whose vehicles were damaged by the yet-to-be-announced recall.
Ten most memorable cars
These are the most popular cars in America. If you are driving one of these vehicles, it is a good idea to check if yours is one of the recalled vehicles.
- Chevrolet Cruze
- Toyota RAV4
- Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Dodge Ram 1500
- Jeep Wrangler
- Hyundai Sonata
- Toyota Camry
- Chrysler Town and Country
- Dodge grand caravan
- N
What to do if you receive a recall letter
If you see something in the mail that looks like a car recall notice, open it and see what it says. You will need to decide for yourself how serious the proposed repair is. If you think this is serious, call your local dealer to make an appointment.
Ask how long the repair will take. If it takes all day, ask for a free car or shuttle to and from work or home.
If you find out about the recall before the manufacturer announces it and decide to do the work ahead of time, ask your dealer who will be responsible for the repair bill. Most likely it will be the owner.
