Vehicle Safety Recall Week

March 8 – 12 is vehicle safety recall week. According to NHTSA a vehicle recall is, “when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle, equipment, car seat, or tire creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum safety standards. Manufacturers are required to fix the problem by repairing it, replacing it, offering a refund, or in rare cases repurchasing the vehicle”.

A vehicle safety recall is serious and should be treated as so to avoid accidents or injury. “NHTSA administered nearly 900 safety recalls affecting more than 55 million vehicles and other equipment in 2020. Yet only about 75% of vehicles recalled in a given year are ever fixed. Being part of that other 25% puts you, your passengers, and others on the road at risk.”

How to find out about your recall:

The NHTSA states that a manufacturer must attempt to let the owners or buyers know within 60 days by mail. The letter should entail, “how to get the issue fixed, the time frame for when the fix will be available, how long the repair should take and whom to contact if there is an issue getting the repair made”

The NHTSA also offers an online tool for owners to look up vehicle recalls. Follow this link, https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls. Then, plug in your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The website will let you know if there has been any safety recall on your vehicle. You will then be prompted on what to do next to get your vehicle repaired. 

What to do after a vehicle safety recall:

After finding out your vehicle or a part of your vehicle has been recalled contact your manufacturer and remember that the manufacturer must choose to either repair the vehicle or part, replace the vehicle or part or to refund the purchase.

Contact: Glisson Law