Whenever
a vehicle is being recalled, you hear about it on the news, in the
newspaper or on the web. Since 2003, one in 12 cars on the road is
recalled for some reason. Here’s an interesting tidbit: one-third of
recalled vehicle owners have taken their vehicles to be repaired.
How Persons Can Learn Of A Vehicle Recall
Owners
are generally notified of recalls by a letter, regardless of whether or
not it’s a minor or major event. There are many ways in which a person
can obtain a recall. Thus, it’s nearly impossible for recalled vehicle
owners not to learn of the possible problems.
The real problem
is that most folks feel that if they’re not having any problems when
the vehicle is recalled, it’s affecting all the other vehicles and not
theirs. Thus, they ignore the recall. This is pure negligence and could
be asking for trouble if the recall issue arises. When this
happens, it’s the owner’s responsibility for repairs, especially if
they were given the information and did not fix the problem when it was
for free.
As long as vehicle owners are made aware by car
manufacturers of the recall, the owner decides whether or not to take
advantage of it and get their vehicle repaired. When the repair is not
done, the owner will be taking a huge risk. If you have yet to hear
anything regarding a vehicle recall for your make and model vehicle or
you’ve recently purchased a used car and want to know if there’s been a
recall, check out the following links to locate the information you
need:
www.autorecalls.org
www.nhtsa.org
Both websites
have information about the various recalls over several years. To find
your make, model and year of vehicle, you can search through the
database to see if your vehicle has been recalled. Bear in mind that
since 2004, more than 31 million vehicles have been recalled… seeing
your vehicle listed won’t be that hard of a stretch. It can be hard to
imagine that 31 million cars have been recalled especially with the
technology being used to manufacture vehicles and how safe these
vehicles have become.
What To Do In The Event That Your Vehicle Has Been Recalled
Of
course, mistakes can and do occur and people tend to purchase vehicles
that have basic issues like fuses or big problems such as tires,
buckling seats or gas lines. It does not matter if you believe you have
a safe vehicle, you need to check out the vehicle you drive to ensure
it has not made the list. If your vehicle has made the list, just
remember to not become one of those individuals who ignore the recall.
What
you need to do is to your vehicle to an authorized mechanic or
dealership that will make free repairs on your vehicle. Keep in mind
that the only thing you’re paying for is your time… nothing else! Why
take a chance with yours and your family’s lives by not getting your
recalled vehicle fixed… for free?!
Bear in mind this: simple
vehicle problems that require a trip to the mechanic may not be an
issue you have to shell out money for. Every year, millions of
Americans will take their vehicles to a mechanic for a simple or major
repair, thinking something went wrong and it needs to be repaired.
The
real shame is that most folks don’t ever research the issue to
determine if the problem that’s occurring is a recall issue. They end
up paying money on a repair that could have been free or a discount by
the vehicle manufacturer. That means the next time your vehicle is
having issues, you need to find out if the problems relates to a recall
and determine if you can get the repair for free. The issue is
certainly worth researching and can save you thousands of dollars in
repairs.
Who Will Issue Recalls
The
biggest reason folks tend to ignore the recalls is that they’re unaware
of how the process works. It’s the responsibility of the National
Highway and Transportation Safety Administration (or NHTSA) to look
into consumer complaints about vehicles and the problems. After
complaints have rolled in about a particular issue from several
consumers, the NHTSA will launch an investigation.
The point
behind the investigation is to find out if consumers caused the issue,
if there is a malfunction or if the vehicle’s manufacturer is behind
it. If it’s learned that the manufacturer is the cause, the owners of
the vehicles affected will be given notice through the mail about it
including how they can have the problem fixed for no money. Of course,
the NHTSA is not the only entity that issues recalls.
Every now
and then, a manufacturer owns up to a mistake on a vehicle and
voluntarily recalls the car in question. The NHTSA is also notified and
an additional letter is mailed out to make owners aware of the issue
and how it can be corrected. Keep in mind that vehicle recalls doesn’t
always affect every model of a certain year. Thus, you can own a 2010
Toyota Camry where a limited number of them are affected by the recall.
If
you do have a make, model and year of vehicle that’s been recalled, you
should take it to the dealership and have the service department check
the vehicle identification number to find out if the vehicle you own is
affected. If it’s been determined to be a recalled vehicle, repairs are
made for free. If it’s not an affected vehicle, you can rest easy
knowing that your vehicle is safe.
There are all kinds of
reasons that vehicles are recalled. And, if you believe your vehicle is
affected by a recall, don’t hesitate to bring it in. You should never
take for granted your safety. And remember, the repair is free so
there’s no reason you shouldn’t do it!
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