We hear about vehicle recalls in the news almost every day. Some of the recalls involve defects that have already caused numerous accidents and death. But the majority of safety recalls don’t make the headlines, and owners, especially those who bought their vehicles used, are left driving around completely unaware of the dangers. SaferCar.gov offers several ways for drivers of newer vehicles to find out about recalls on their vehicles.
Looking it Up
The NHTSA has a tool that lets you look up recall information by VIN. One of the great things about this feature is that it goes back 15 years and not only tells you if your vehicle has been subject to a safety recall, but whether your vehicle has had the necessary repairs. It also gives you the information you need to get in touch with the manufacturer or dealer so that you can get the free repairs you need to be safe.
Alerts
Even better are the alerts. You don’t have to worry about checking back periodically to see if your vehicle has been recalled. You can sign up for email alerts or download the mobile app. You can sign up to be alerted about recalls on:
- Tires
- Car seats and booster seats
- All vehicles
- All motorcycles, helmets, and equipment
- All school buses
- Up to five specific vehicles by make and year
Do Not Rely Exclusively on Recalls
If you are experiencing problems or warning lights come on in your vehicle, do not assume that everything is OK just because there has not been a recall. Recalls are often the result of investigations prompted by multiple complaints by vehicle owners, and sometimes come only after there have been numerous accidents and deaths.
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