What Constitutes a Vehicle Recall?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has overseen vehicle recalls since 1966. Basically, if a vehicle is deemed unsafe to drive because of a defective component or flawed design, the NHTSA may issue a recall. Now, this doesn’t mean that you swap in your car and get a new one. The measures you need to take depend on the nature of the recall and its threat to your safety.

Sometimes, recalls only affect a handful of vehicles. Other times, they affect entire lines of products. This article will tell you the basics of what happens when a recall is issued.

What Defines a Recall?

Quoted verbatim from the NHTSA, “safety defect is defined as a problem that exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that:

·      poses a risk to motor vehicle safety that may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design or manufacture; or,

·      items of equipment of the same type and manufacture.”

Ideally, defects are caught before anyone is injured or passes away. However, it could take years before a defect is recognized and addressed.

How the NHTSA Issues Recalls

Per the NHTSA, recalls all start with a complaint, either from a consumer, dealership, or another organization. Sometimes, the NHTSA won’t investigate a complaint unless it has reason to believe that it affects multiple consumers.

After all, an issue doesn’t need to be recalled if only one car was affected by a faulty auto part. The car’s manufacturer will likely deal with that instance on an individual basis. However, if the NHTSA moves forward with a complaint, believing that multiple people are at risk:

They Will Launch an Investigation

This four-step process involves:

·      Screening. The NHTSA will review the complaints they’ve received and determine if they’re valid.

·      Analysis. The NHTSA will take these complaints a step further and determine whether they threaten user safety. If the organization decides not to move forward with an investigation, they must submit their reasoning in writing to the Federal Register.

·      The actual investigation. The NHTSA will use their network of resources to determine the extent of the defect. If they find that something is wrong, they will notify the vehicle’s manufacturer.

·      Recall management. At this point, the NHTSA will manage the response to the recall, including how many people got their cars fixed, how many people were affected, and other vital information.

How Do You Know if Your Car’s Been Recalled?

Per CNET, automakers must notify customers of recalls either over the phone, via email, and through other means. If an automaker does not give notices about a recall and their negligence results in an accident, they could be subject to liability. However, in some cases, even if they issue a recall and notify people, they could still be subject to civil penalties.

If you’re not sure whether you’ve missed a recall notice, here are some ways you can check your vehicle’s integrity:

Check the NHTSA’s Website

By clicking here, you can check whether any recalls have been issued on your vehicle. All you need is your 17-character vehicle identification number (VIN). You could find your VIN on a sticker on the driver’s side of your car. It might also be on your car’s registration paperwork.

After entering this information, you can see:

·      Whether a recalls been issued on your car within the last 15 years

·      Whether any major automakers have issued recalls on their own products

Call Your Dealership

Your dealership does not want to be liable if you get into an accident because of a defective vehicle. Sometimes, you won’t even find out that your car’s been recalled by the automaker but instead, the dealership that sold it to you.

When asking for this information, be sure to give the make, model, and year of your car. If you’re having a particular issue, include this information, as well.

Bring Your Car to a Trusted Mechanic

Some mechanics have databases that allow them to look up recent recalls. If they determine that your car does have a faulty and recalled part, take it to the dealership––do not pay for these repairs or replacements out of pocket. After all, it’s not your fault the car manufacturer produced a faulty vehicle.

What Cars Are Recalled the Most?

Per Business Insider, Ford has the most recalls of all time. In the 1980s, their faulty transmission scandal affected nearly 1.2 million vehicles. In fact, out of the 10 most commonly recalled car makes and models in history, Ford’s cars accounted for four of them.

The other car makers on the list include:

·      General Motors

·      Toyota

·      Honda

·      Volkswagen

What Car Parts Are Recalled the Most?

Auto parts that are integral to a car’s operation tend to be recalled the most. Per the NHTSA, these parts include:

·      Brake pads

·      Accelerators

·      Transmissions

·      Tires

·      Engine cooling fans

·      Seat belts and the seats themselves

·      Powertrain components

Although children’s car seats are usually sold separately from new cars, they are also on this list of recalls. Just like how you can look up any recalled cars, you can also look up recalled children’s car seats through the NHTSA’s website.

What Happens if You Get into an Accident Caused by a Recalled Car Part?

The NHTSA noted in one of their studies that only two percent of motor vehicle accidents are the result of faulty car parts. However, when these accidents do happen, they can have devastating consequences. If you were in an accident caused by a defective car part, depending on where you live, you could have these options:

·      You could file a claim with your own insurance company to recover damages.

·      You could file a product liability claim with the car’s manufacturer.

·      You could file a lawsuit against the car manufacturer.

Depending on the nature of your recall, you could even sue the mechanic that did poor work on your car or the dealership that sold the car to you.

The Takeaway

If a recall is issued on your car, you don’t have to give it back and look for a new one. It simply means that one of your car’s components has been flagged as having an issue. While this may or may not be immediately life-threatening, it’s in your best interest to get the problem checked out.