BOISE, Idaho — According to AAA, Monday, March 4 is the start of Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, and AAA is urging drivers to complete repairs with a sense of urgency.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in 2022, there were more than 1,000 active safety recalls affecting more than 31 million vehicles in the U.S. alone.
"When a part failure or safety concern rises to the level of a recall, previous occurrences are not being dismissed as trivial or as outliers. At that point, there is a serious chance that other vehicles of a similar make and model may encounter similar challenges," AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde said. "Like checking your smoke detector batteries, AAA and NHTSA recommend a quick search in NHTSA's open recalls database twice a year for all of your vehicles. It's an easy process, and it may result in a timely repair that prevents death or injury."
To check a recall for your vehicle, visit the NHTSA website and enter your car's VIN number. The database on their site will have information going back 15 years.
If your car does have a recall, AAA suggests calling your local dealer to schedule a recall repair, which the car manufacturer pays for.
"Please, don't put off something this important – for example, there are still plenty of vehicle owners who have not addressed the air bag recall that has been in effect for years," Conde said. "We understand that sometimes, people are afraid of what they'll find out, and having your car in the shop is never convenient. But the safety risks are too great to ignore."
AAA provided further information as to how to handle a recall:
- Be proactive. Though some car manufacturers will reach out to you, it's better to double-check yourself.
- Consult NHTSA's database before purchasing a used car
- Stay current on car repairs and maintenance
- Speak up! All recalls begin with owners sharing their observations
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