What To Do if Your Car or Truck Has Been Recalled

Buying a vehicle is one of the largest purchases you can make. When you buy a car or truck, you expect it to get you from one place to another safely. Unfortunately, vehicle manufacturers take shortcuts to save money. Vehicle defects put drivers and passengers at risk. After enough drivers report safety problems, manufacturers can issue a safety recall to fix the problems.

If your car or truck has a vehicle recall notice, get it fixed immediately to avoid a serious accident causing injury. For more information about your legal rights after a safety recall, contact a defective vehicle lawyer.

Understanding the Vehicle Recall Process

There were about 1,000 vehicle safety recalls in 2023. Safety issues include problems with car seats, airbags, tires, and other vehicle equipment. Safety recalls give drivers notice of motor vehicle defects that could increase the risk of an accident or injury.

The vehicle recall process generally starts with vehicle safety complaints. Consumers report a problem to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA reviews the complaint and decides whether to investigate. If the investigation finds safety-related defects or failed standards, they can require the carmaker to issue a recall. The manufacturer is required to notify owners of the affected vehicles, and the dealer must fix the defects.

Vehicle recalls can affect any make or model of new or used car. When there is a vehicle recall, the manufacturers are generally required to fix the problem with a repair, replacement, or refund. For some recalls, the dealer may have to buy back the vehicle from the owner.

How To Check if Your Vehicle Is Part of a Recall

If you do not get a recall notice, it does not mean your car or truck is safe. The NHTSA keeps vehicle recall information for cars and trucks going back to 1966. The NHTSA recommends you check the recall notice information twice a year to make sure your vehicle is not part of an open recall. You can check for car recalls with any of the following:

• State and license plate number
• Vehicle identification number (VIN)
• Year, make, and model

A vehicle recall search will show general and specific recalls. A search will also show safety investigations, safety complaints, and communications from automakers. If your vehicle has a safety recall, review the notice. This way, you can see the reported safety problems and how to fix them.

The NHTSA also has a free SaferCar app to get notifications about vehicle safety recalls.

Steps To Take After a Vehicle Recall

Review the recall to see your options and how to fix the safety issue. The recall notice should give a remedy. The remedy will indicate what you can do and how the dealer or automaker will fix the problem. There will also be contact information for you to get started with a recall and repair.

For most vehicle recalls, you can take your car to a local dealership for a free repair or car part replacement. Sometimes, the dealership will offer a loaner car while they fix yours. It depends on the automaker, dealer, and state law. Your auto insurance company may also cover a rental car during the recall repair period.

For example, more than a million Ford vehicles were part of the Takata airbag recalls. The driver’s side airbag inflators could rupture in a crash, resulting in serious injury to drivers and passengers. Drivers got recall letters by mail to notify them of the recall. They could go to an authorized dealer to replace the defective airbag inflator free of charge.

Ensuring Your Safety During a Recall

Recalls are frustrating; however, they can help keep you and your family safe. A safety-related defect poses a serious risk of an accident. Ignoring a recall could reduce your compensation if the defect causes an accident. When you get notice of a recall, contact the dealership as soon as you can. If the dealer will not help, contact the car manufacturer or the NHTSA.

If your car has a problem that has not been recalled, you can report the defect to the NHTSA. The NHTSA bases its investigations on consumer complaints. Reporting a safety problem can begin an investigation to find safety defects and start the recall process. This can help you and other drivers stay safe on the road.

When reporting a vehicle complaint, include any information about the problem. This includes photos, police reports, or repair bills.

Your Legal Options After a Defective Vehicle Accident

Car makers are liable for vehicle defects that cause accidents. This includes design defects, manufacturing defects, and a failure to warn of safety risks. Under product liability laws, injury victims can file a product defect claim for compensation. You can file a lawsuit against the manufacturer, distributor, or dealer.

You have a limited time to file a vehicle defect claim, so contact a lawyer as soon as you can. An experienced defective vehicle attorney can explain your legal options and help you get compensation.