Many automobile recalls are for issues that don’t threaten driver safety. Some, however, are for issues that have the potential to cause serious harm or severe car accidents. Unfortunately, recalls are not always effective in getting dangerous vehicles the repairs they need to be safe.
How Effective Are Recalls?
In 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) oversaw almost 900 auto recalls for various safety concerns. The NHTSA regularly monitors the effectiveness of these recalls. It has tried many strategies to improve the percentage of people who actually get the repairs done (known as “recall completion rates”).
A recent study identified the scope of the problem. It found that the annual recall completion rate is regularly under 65%. Recalls are generally less effective the older a vehicle is. As a result, millions of vehicles with known safety problems continue to be operated because recalls do not have their intended purpose.
Failure at Many Points
If a vehicle is recalled, new car dealers are required to have the repairs completed before they can sell the car. This is one of the only situations where a recall is guaranteed to lead to repairs.
Used car dealers are allowed to sell vehicles that have been recalled without doing the repair. If you bring your car into a repair shop, there’s no requirement that they check for recalls.
When you register your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles, they’re not required to check whether the car could be dangerous. And, most importantly, vehicle manufacturers are not responsible for making sure recalled vehicles get the necessary repairs.
Ways to Address a Vehicle Recall
So how do you find out about recalls? The NHTSA has a website where you can check for recalls by license plate number or VIN.
Of course, many owners wouldn’t know how to address a recall even if they found out about it. Where do you take the car? Do you have to pay for the repairs? How long does it take to get the repairs done? Confusion over how to handle a recall may discourage many owners from taking action.
Authorized dealers for manufacturers do have to repair recalled vehicles. The repairs are done for free if the vehicle is less than 15 years old. This may have been enough at one point, but the average age of cars on the road is older than ever. Plus, people who can’t afford repairs usually handle them on their own, so they wouldn’t go to the dealer.
Contact an Attorney After an Accident
Defective vehicles are a serious problem in the United States. They can cause tragic accidents for their owners as well as other drivers. If you’ve been injured in a crash, you need a skilled lawyer. Call The Fell Law Firm at 972-450-1418 to speak to someone from our Dallas offices.
