What Are Motor Vehicle Recalls?
Manufacturers issue recall notices when they discover a problem with a vehicle that could endanger its occupants or cause property damage. When the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identifies a potential threat to public safety, a recall is issued and the affected products must be repaired.What Are Safety Defects?
A safety defect is something that:- Creates an unsafe driving environment
- Exists among a fleet of cars that were all made by the same company
Procedures for Recalls Issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration enforces car safety regulations in the United States. The NHTSA mandates that automakers cover the cost of fixing any safety-related issues for their customers at no extra charge. Manufacturers may hesitate to initiate widespread recalls due to the high costs of replacing faulty components and performing related repairs. However, The NHTSA uses a recall procedure to fix any problems that could compromise safety. The recalls process usually entails the following:- Car complaints
- An investigation by the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
- Vehicle recall notice issued by NHTSA
How Can I File a Car Complaint with the NHTSA?
Manufacturers may voluntarily initiate recalls when they find potential safety issues. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the courts initiate recalls for other manufacturers. The latter can emerge from consumers’ own exploration. There are three ways to notify the NHTSA of a safety issue:- Make a call to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s vehicle safety hotline
- Report the issue online
- Send a letter to the Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of Defects Investigation.
ODI Investigation
The NHTSA may launch an investigation if it receives multiple complaints about the same problem with the same vehicle make, model, and year. Now that a recall has been issued, the Office of Defects Investigation will investigate the cause of the problem. The process usually entails the following:- Screening: Reviewing customer complaints to see if further investigation is needed
- Petition analysis: Reviewing petitions for defect probes
- Investigation: Through two phases that look into possible safety defects.
- Management of Safety Recalls, or Recall Monitoring
Vehicle Recall Issued by NHTSA
Recalls issued for potential safety issues are the responsibility of the NHTSA. The NHTSA is the final authority, but manufacturers can dispute claims and provide new data. The public is alerted and given instructions once the recall has been issued. Customers usually need to schedule an appointment with the service department of their preferred dealership. You can sign up for alerts if you’re concerned about recalls but aren’t sure if they apply to your vehicle.Is My Car Under Recall?
Are you wondering if your car is safe or has been recalled? If it’s under recall, you should get a notification. Manufacturers must send a notice to all known owners of the recalled vehicle within 60 days of making a recall decision. Visit their website to sign up for automatic email alerts whenever the NHTSA issues a recall. By searching the NHTSA’s recall database, you may also see if your vehicle is included in a recall. You only need the car’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) and a search engine to do this. Recall rates vary by make and model, which may leave you wondering if specific brands are more vulnerable to problems than others.Common Safety-Related Defects
The most common defects related to safety during car recalls include:- The unexpected failure of the steering mechanism leading to a loss of vehicle control
- A malfunctioning or stuck accelerator
- Broken or cracked wheels
- Failing seats
- Random deployment of the airbag system
- Safety belts, buckles, or other components of car seats that are faulty and pose a risk of injury
