| When you purchase a vehicle, you expect it to meet | | | | mail. The letter must contain certain information, |
| certain performance and safety standards. But with | | | | including where to go to get the defect corrected, |
| more than 200 million vehicles on the road today, | | | | when you can do this and how long it will take. |
| problems are inevitable. That's why consumers are | | | | Manufacturers are required by law to follow this |
| protected by the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle | | | | procedure. You can also visit the NHTSA's website to |
| Safety Act. At its core, this law requires that | | | | search for recall information. |
| manufacturers remedy serious flaws in their vehicles | | | | What should I do if I receive a recall letter? |
| at no cost to the owner. In fact, the National | | | | The manufacturer is required by law to fix the |
| Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), | | | | problem, and they have three options: repair it, |
| which monitors car safety, claims that since 1966, | | | | replace it or issue a refund. If you've already paid for |
| "more than 390 million cars, trucks, buses, recreational | | | | repairs on the problem that prompted the recall, in |
| vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds, as well as 46 | | | | many cases you can be reimbursed by the |
| million tires" have been recalled. | | | | manufacturer. It's necessary, however, to save your |
| Here is a quick look at how car recalls work and | | | | receipts. The manufacturer is not required by law to |
| what to do in the event your car is involved in one: | | | | reimburse these costs or any others accrued due to |
| Who issues a car recall? | | | | damage the defect caused. In many cases, |
| Most recalls are issued by the manufacturer. | | | | consumers are able to work out an agreement |
| Manufacturers often discover that problems exist via | | | | privately. |
| their internal testing and inspection methods. | | | | By law, you are entitled to one of the three free |
| Sometimes consumers notice issues before the | | | | remedies if your vehicle is younger than 10 years old |
| manufacturer does. Consumers can report these to | | | | on the date the defect is documented. The age of |
| the NHTSA. Once a significant number of complaints | | | | your vehicle is determined by the date of the original |
| regarding the same issue has been registered, the | | | | owner's purchase. Even, if your car is older than 10 |
| NHTSA investigates the problem and notifies the | | | | years, it's still prudent to get the problem checked |
| manufacturer if they find evidence of a major safety | | | | out and taken care of yourself. |
| defect. The NHTSA will then require the | | | | How are tire recalls handled? |
| manufacturer issue a safety recall. | | | | Manufacturers are required to follow the same |
| Why are car recalls issued? | | | | notification procedures on your tires. To take |
| Car recalls are typically the result of two main | | | | advantage of a free fix from the manufacturer, your |
| problems: failure to meet overall federal safety | | | | tires can't be more than 5 years old when a recall is |
| standards or an unforeseen safety defect identified | | | | issued. To get a free replacement or repair, you |
| in the car or its parts. Safety defects are limited to | | | | must bring the tire to the dealer within 60 days of |
| serious problems that can cause owners to lose | | | | being notified of the safety recall. |
| control of the vehicle or cause the vehicle to react | | | | In certain cases when a problem is widespread but |
| poorly in a crash. Examples include problems with the | | | | not a major threat to safety, manufacturers will elect |
| steering equipment, fuel system, wheels, airbags and | | | | to issue a safety advisory rather than a car recall. A |
| child safety seats. Issues like malfunctioning air | | | | recall is very expensive, so companies prefer to |
| conditioning systems and routine wear and tear on | | | | avoid it if possible. In a safety advisory, |
| equipment like brakes and batteries are not | | | | manufacturers notify customers of potential |
| considered safety defects. | | | | problems and offer suggested solutions. |
| How will I know if my car is part of a recall? | | | | Safeguarding your car is always a wise idea, whether |
| When a defect is documented and a car recall is | | | | it's part of a recall or not. Take steps to protect |
| issued, the manufacturer must notify owners, dealers | | | | yourself and your car without breaking your budget |
| and the government, then remedy the problem at no | | | | with discount auto insurance. |
| cost to you. You as the owner will be notified by U.S. | | | | |