What To Do If Your Car Is Recalled?

My Car was Recalled, What do I do?

If you have received any recent notification that your car has been recalled, or you’re curious if your car has ever been listed for a recall, you may be wondering, “What exactly do I need to do when my car is recalled?” and  “How do I know for sure; is it really serious?”.

The good news is, a recall on your vehicle doesn’t mean it’s always an emergency. Sometimes they’re for something as simple as a sticky door lock. For example, let’s say that your car has a problem that involves a sticky door lock. If the problem is widespread enough, the manufacturer may decide, (or be forced by public demand), that a recall is necessary.

The recalled vehicles will have their locks repaired by local dealers and auto service repair shops free of charge. The manufacturer will release a service bulletin to the dealer service departments letting them know that they will be reimbursed for repairing any door locks in affected vehicles.

Cars and trucks that are involved in a less serious recall still need to be repaired, but the effort that automakers put into letting the current owners know will be less than a major safety issue.

What is a Recall?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a recall is a warning that is issued when an automotive industry manufacturer or the NHTSA determines that a vehicle, equipment, car seat, seat belts, tire creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum safety standards. Most decisions to conduct a recall and remedy a safety defect are made voluntarily by manufacturers prior to any involvement by NHTSA.

How do I know for sure?

So where can you look to see if there are any pending recalls on your car or truck? The best resource, by far, is the government agency in charge of recalls, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA. They provide the information that directly lists your vehicle.Simply enter you VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) which is usually listed on you vehicle registration identification or on your DMV profile online.

You can also see the motor vehicle safety ratings from the NHTSA to see what your automobile’s safety and safety performance ratings. Simply enter the make, model and model year. The safety recall information is a must for all car owners, whether you’re looking for a new or used vehicle or are simply curious of your current car’s status. For more information on recalls and investigations check out safercar.gov

Top 5 Brands with the Highest Number of Recalls

General Motors (Recalls: 213)

Ford (Recalls: 209)

Chrysler (Recalls: 208)

Mercedes-Benz (Recalls: 117)

Volkswagen (Recalls: 109)

Top 5 Brands with the Lowest Number of Recalls

Tesla (Recalls: 8)

Volvo LLC (Recalls: 14)

Suzuki Motor of America (Recalls: 24)

Porsche Cars North America (Recalls: 27)

Tied: Subaru of America Inc. (Recalls: 35)

Tied: Land Rover Recalls: 35

(credit: rd.com 2020)

What do I do if my car has been recalled?

If you are still unsure about your vehicle or what to do, don’t hesitate to give us a call at Harris Tire Company and we would be more than happy to help. If you know your vehicle is under a recall and you want to have it serviced, contact us today and we’ll get you safely back on the road ASAP!