Vehicle owners: daylight savings time is the perfect reminder to do your bi-annual recall check on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) website. It’s also important to know that should you find a safety recall that affects your car, you do not have to pay to fix it. Those with an outstanding recall can call their dealership at any time to schedule a free repair.
There are hundreds of new vehicle safety recalls each year that affect millions of vehicles in the United States. As part of its Safe Cars Save Lives Check for Recalls campaign, the NHTSA is reminding the public to check their vehicles for open recalls.
How to Check for a Vehicle Recall
Start by visiting NHTSA.gov/recalls. You can then search for your vehicle using your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The 17-character VIN is located on the lower-left side of your car’s windshield. Your VIN is also printed on your car’s registration card.
Search results on the NHTSA’s recall page will tell you if your vehicle is included in a safety recall at this time. These results include:
- Vehicle safety recalls that are incomplete,
- Recalls conducted over the past 15 calendar years, and
- Recalls conducted by major light auto automakers, including motorcycle manufacturers.
“Millions of vehicles are out there with open recalls and may be dangerous to drive, the NHTSA announced this week. “So, if your car has a recall, get it fixed – it could save a life.”
Check Regularly for Recalls
It’s important to check for vehicle recalls at least twice a year. Daylight savings time is the perfect reminder for vehicle owners to search for recalls online – once in March and again in November. As we “spring forward” this weekend, now is the perfect time to visit NHTSA.gov/recalls and enter your VIN. Car owners can also sign up at NHTSA.gov/Alerts to receive alerts about new recalls affecting their vehicles.
