In the United States, passenger vehicles are a crucial component of the average person’s everyday life. You rely on your vehicle to get you to work, take your kids to school, and run important errands around town. While advances in technology and safety features have allowed modern vehicles to effectively protect their occupants more efficiently than ever before, no car is perfect.

In some instances, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or a vehicle’s manufacturer may decide that a safety defect exists within a particular model, posing undue risk to drivers, passengers, and other people sharing the road. When safety flaws, design defects, or dangerous parts are discovered, a recall order is issued. In this article, we discuss what vehicle recalls are, why they are important, and what you should do if you receive one.

What Are Vehicle Recalls?

A recall is issued by the NHTSA or a vehicle’s manufacturer when it is determined that a model does not meet federal safety standards or has a safety-related defect. Many recalls are issued for noncompliance with federal regulations, affecting vehicles with excessively bright headlights, glitchy backup camera displays, or poorly functioning emissions systems. While those issues may sound rather benign, recall orders are also frequently issued for vehicles with brake issues, failing engines, or defective airbags. Just about every manufacturer will issue at least a handful of recall orders through any given year, but Ford has led the pack in recalls for the previous two years by a wide margin.

How Do I Know if My Vehicle is Recalled?

When a recall order is issued, manufacturers generally send written notices to the last known address of an affected vehicle’s owner. The notice will be sent to the address used for the vehicle’s registration, so it’s important to keep your address and contact information up-to-date. In some cases, you may also receive an email or other communication from your local dealership.

You can also check for vehicle recalls at any time through the NHTSA website. There are multiple easy methods to check for recalls affecting any of your family’s vehicle. If you have your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), you can look up any potential recalls tied to that specific car, SUV, or truck. You can also search via your license plate or the make, model, and year of your vehicle.

What Do I Do if My Family’s Car Has Been Recalled?

When you are made aware of a recall affecting one of your vehicles, take the time to read through the notice and any associated NHTSA documents carefully. It’s important to understand why your vehicle is being recalled, so you know whether you can safely continue operating your car until it can be fixed. In some rare cases, the NHTSA may warn that operating your vehicle under normal conditions may put you at serious risk of injury or death. If your vehicle is subject to a “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside” advisory, stop driving it immediately.

  • “Do Not Drive” advisories are issued when a vehicle is unsafe to operate normally. This category of recall is generally issued for cars that may unexpectedly suffer catastrophic engine or brake failure. The risk of continuing to drive a vehicle affected by such a defect is significant.
  • “Park Outside” advisories are generally issued for conditions posing a fire risk. Vehicles affected by a Park Outside advisory may catch on fire even when not in operation, so they should be stored outside and away from any flammable materials.

Once you have determined the severity of the issue affecting vehicles like yours, you can schedule an appointment with your local dealership’s service center to have the defect corrected. In some cases, your vehicle may need one or more parts repaired or replaced. Sometimes, your vehicle simply needs a safety inspection to confirm whether a defect found in similar models is present in your car. Many software-related recalls can be carried out via over-the-air (OTA) updates, so you don’t even need to leave your own driveway.

How Expensive Are Vehicle Recall Repairs?

When a recall order is issued, the vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix the defect at no cost to the owner. Additionally, if you became aware of the issue and paid for it to be fixed prior to a recall being declared, you may be able to seek reimbursement. Contact the manufacturer to determine their reimbursement policy.

Do Vehicle Recalls Ever Expire?

If you discover that your vehicle has an outstanding recall order from months or years ago, you may be in luck. Recalls related to safety, compliance, or emissions defects do not expire, and you should still be able to get your vehicle repaired for free. It’s worth noting that manufacturers do also issue Customer Satisfaction Programs to upgrade specific components or update current warranty coverage terms. Customer Satisfaction Programs do have an expiration date, since they are not directly related to vehicle safety.

Stay Safe by Periodically Checking for Recalls

We hope this article has effectively broken down what motor vehicle recalls are and why they are important to pay attention to. Make sure to check the NHTSA website periodically for recalls involving your vehicle and stay safe on the roads!