Vehicle Recalls

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We generally only worry about vehicle recalls when we hear about a major safety recall on the news. After realizing that the car in the driveway isn’t the one causing all the accidents, we go on with our lives. However, recalls don’t just save lives they improve the overall safety of your vehicle and, can save you money - its time to be recall aware!

Cars aren’t perfect and neither are the humans and machines involved in their design and manufacture. With that in mind, being alert to potential performance and safety defects just makes good sense. And, let’s face it you’d be pretty upset if you realized that you had paid for a repair that was covered by recall and for which you no longer have the receipts or paperwork necessary to apply for reimbursement.

So how are recalls identified, how do you find out about recalls for your vehicle, how do you get the problem fixed and who foots the bill? Let’s find out!

How are recalls identified?

The recall system was introduced in 1966 as a means to identify and resolve potential safety issues and thereby remove unsafe vehicles from the roads. Many recalls are initiated voluntarily by manufacturers. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the government agency responsible for managing, influencing, and indeed ordering many of the recalls.

Manufacturers receive information regarding defects in several ways. Dealers may be reporting unusually high levels of warranty work and will pass the information back to the manufacturer. Consumer complaints can also trigger the manufacturer to start investigating particular incidences. The manufacturer will begin investigating and, if the defect is considered a potential hazard, they will voluntarily issue a recall and notify the NHTSA of their findings.

Consumer complaints can also be registered directly with the NHTSA. When enough complaints are compiled, that agency begins an investigation of the root cause of the complaints. The findings are made public. If the defect is deemed to be safety-related, and the manufacturer does not force a recall, the NHTSA will initiate one.

What kind of recalls are there?

The majority of recalls are safety-related. The following list provides examples of the various types of safety-related defects.

• Issues with fuel system components that may cause leaks and possible fires.
• Wiring problems that may lead to fire or loss of lighting.
• Accelerator controls that break or freeze suddenly.
• Steering components that break, causing a loss of control.
• Air bags that deploy late or for no reason.
• Seats that fail unexpectedly.
• Tires that blow out unexpectedly.

Keep in mind that not all recalls involve safety and indeed not all safety-related recalls are really life-threatening. Recalls can also be initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when vehicle emissions are deemed to be too high due to engineering defects.

How do you find out if recalls have been issued against your vehicle?

If you are the original owner of the car and your address has not changed since the purchase date, you will receive a notice of recall from the manufacturer and, if you are lucky, you will open the notice and not discard it as more junk mail from the manufacturer! If you bought the car second-hand the notice might get sent to the previous owner or not get sent at all. Approximately 28% of vehicles that are affected by recalls never have the work performed. It is, therefore, up to the individual owner to keep up-to-date on recalls affecting their vehicles.

You can register your current personal information together with vehicle data with the manufacturer and receive recall and other maintenance related information via email. A full recall history of a certain model can also be requested by calling NHTSA's Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236.

There are internet sites that provide recall information and most manufacturers provide a searchable online database. One such site is CanOBD2.com. At CanOBD2.com, abbreviated recall information is selectable by picking a year, make and model. This web site is fast and easy to use, allowing a search by vehicle year, make and model. CanOBD2 Vehicle Recall Database provides:

• Campaign ID Number.
• Year and model of vehicles affected.
• Total number of vehicles affected.
• Period during which the affected vehicles were manufactured.
• Full description of the safety defect.
• What the recommended repair will be.

NOTE: Remember that when searching, asking for "Ford," for example, brings up passenger cars, while minivans and SUVs are listed under "Ford Truck."

What is the manufacturer’s responsibility?

Once a safety recall has been issued, the manufacturer has three options; repair, replacement or refund. The manufacturer must repair the vehicle free of charge or, if repair is not feasible offer a replacement vehicle or a pro-rated refund on the vehicle. In the case of equipment, such as child safety seats, the manufacturer can either repair or replace.

Manufacturers do, of course, have the right to appeal recall decisions forced by the NHTSA so unless the defect is really serious, try holding off on repairs until you receive a recall notice from your dealer.

How do you get your vehicle repaired?

If your vehicle is affected by a recall, the official safety recall notice will outline what repairs need to be performed and will list specific dealers who are authorized to complete the work.

Who pays for recall repair work?

The manufacturer is obligated to repair your vehicle at no cost. If you have the work performed by someone other than an authorized dealer, you will have to send invoices and related paperwork directly to the manufacturer for refund.

If you had the recall work performed before the recall was officially announced, you may be able to recuperate some or all of your money if you save your receipts and contact the manufacturer directly. There are time limits so it is in your best interests to keep up-to-date on recalls issued against your vehicle.

Are all vehicles eligible for a recall?

Your vehicle cannot be more than 10 years old on the date that the defect is determined and the official recall issued. The age of the vehicle is calculated from the sale date to the original purchaser. This does not mean that there are no safety defects in vehicles 10 years old or older. It just means that the manufacturer does not have to pay for such recalls. It is therefore important to check your older vehicle for safety recalls and have the work performed at your own expense.

What about defective tires?

When tires are recalled, they must be repaired or replaced at no cost to the owner only if purchased within five years of the defect determination. Consumers must bring the defective tires to the dealer within 60 days of receiving their recall notification letter.

How can I report a safety defect?

If you believe that you have an issue with your vehicle, reporting the problem to the NHTSA is an important first step. You can call in your report to 1-888-327-4236 or report your issue via the agency’s web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov. You can also write the NHTSA at the address listed below:

U.S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Defects Investigation
NVS-216
1200 New Jersey Ave S.W.
Washington DC 20590

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