Auto recalls improve safety. That is their purpose. Yet many drivers view recalls as a bother. Some ignore them. As we move into summer next week (Memorial Day), many of us will be traveling on our highways. It should make sense to check for any recalls on your vehicle and have the repairs made before you travel.
There are many dangers for drivers everywhere. We think about some of those dangers: distracted drivers, drunk drivers, speeders, etc.). Yet many of us do not think about the danger created by unsafe vehicles. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that approximately 53 million vehicles are on our highways despite having unaddressed safety recalls. This equates to one of every four cars.
Reasons for Non-Compliance
Most of us can recall learning about a serious crash or other event caused by some defect in the vehicle. Some of the most discussed defects have caused cars to burst into flame, caused engines to turn off while driving, caused tire failures, and a plethora of other types of auto and vehicle accidents. Yet many people still drive defective vehicles because they have not responded to a recall.
Some of the most common reasons given for failure to comply with a vehicle recall include:
- Not knowing there has been a recall.
- Driver does not have time or is delaying until a more convenient time.
- They did not believe the reason for the recall was sufficient to justify taking the car for repair.
- They would wait until the recall issue to become a problem before taking it for repair.
- They do not have the cash available to pay for the repairs. (However, there is no charge to the vehicle owner for these repairs).
- The parts needed to repair the vehicle are not available from the dealership at the time.
How to Check for Recalls
It is very easy to check on recalls for your vehicle.
Option 1: If you have your car serviced regularly by the dealership, you might call occasionally to check on recalls.
Option 2: Go to http://www.checktoprotect.org or to http://www.nhtsa.gov for a full report on all recalls for your vehicle. All you need to know is your vehicle identification number (VIN). This number can be found
- In the lower left corner of the windshield
- On the inside of the driver’s door
- On the vehicle registration card
- On vehicle insurance documents.
Before you or your children take to the highways for summer travel and activities, please check for recalls on your vehicle and have the repairs made. Maintaining a vehicle in top condition is the first step in keeping our families safe on the roadways. No one wants to cause an accident, particularly if the cause is a failure to comply with recalls. We also do not want to suffer greater harm in an accident because we have not complied with recalls.
We want you and your loved ones to enjoy summer travel. The single safety step you can take is entirely within your control: check for recalls and have the repairs made. Remember that auto recalls improve safety for your family.
Call Altizer Law, P.C.
If you or a loved one is injured in an auto accident or other vehicle accident through no fault of your own, call Altizer Law, P.C. Bettina Altizer and her team have the experience, knowledge and compassion to represent your interests most successfully.
