Vehicle Recalls have reached a record high nationwide. An estimated fifty million vehicles operating in the United States have had recalls due to safety issues, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 25 percent of recalled vehicles are never repaired. That’s why it’s important to be proactive about vehicle recalls.
There are two ways to determine if your vehicle has been recalled:
• Go to the NHTSA’s website and search for your vehicle identification number (VIN). Your VIN can be found in the corner of your vehicle’s windshield where it meets the dashboard or on the driver’s-side door post. The VIN search tool covers safety recalls that are incomplete on a vehicle and safety recalls conducted over the past 15 calendar years.
• Call your vehicle’s manufacturer and ask about your vehicle.
If you discover that your vehicle has been recalled, you can take it to one of the manufacturer’s dealerships for a free repair. Remember to be proactive about recalls—a vehicle that has been recalled has the potential to endanger its driver, passengers and surrounding traffic.
