\
A NEW law is set to change how drivers are informed about recalls and make it easier to get “critical” problems addressed.
Under the bill, motorists would be able to access automatic updates on the status of their vehicles.
1
Officials in New Jersey have expressed concerns over missed or forgotten recalls putting drivers at risk.
They estimate that more than 600,000 cars are running in the state with “critical safety defects”.
Craig Orlan, motoring expert at Honda, told NJ 101.5 that the firm’s statistics suggest that around a quarter of drivers fail to have repairs suggested by recalls carried out.
As it stands, owners receive letters from manufacturers to inform them of any problems but aren’t usually sent reminders beyond that.
Understandably, many might miss the letter or have it slip their mind, resulting in the repairs remaining incomplete.
How can I check if my car is part of a recall?
If you own a car that’s been recently recalled, you can easily check your VIN.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) makes it incredibly quick and easy for drivers to check and see if their vehicle is part of a recent (or past) recall.
The VIN checking tool also allows drivers to see whether or not the repair was completed within the last 15 years, making it an incredible tool for buyers of used cars.
All recalls initiated by the NHTSA mean free repairs for drivers, even if it’s an engine or a transmission replacement. If your VIN shows an active recall that has not been repaired, it’s important to make an appointment at your nearest dealership.
Here’s how to make an appointment for a recall:
- Look up your VIN using the NHTSA tool.
- Find out the recall number/ID from the manufacturer.
- Call your nearest dealership’s service center with the ID number handy, and mention you’d like to schedule an appointment to repair the recall. The repair can only be done at a dealership, as they’re authorized by the manufacturer to conduct the repair free of cost using genuine parts.
- Try to make the appointment as soon as possible.
- Once the repair is completed, the dealership will update the information associated with the VIN to reflect it’s been completed.
Source: NHTSA
To address this, lawmakers have devised a bill to make it easier to hear about recalls, which has now passed two Senate committees.
Under the proposed rules, vehicle owners would be given a reminder of any open recalls whenever they took their car in for a service.
This would apply whether they used the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission or private mechanic shops.
These facilities would be granted access to a database of open recalls to see which have not been fulfilled.
They could search for the customer’s car by VIN and inform them if any repairs are required.
The MVC would also provide these reminders any time Jerseyites registered their vehicle, which they have to do annually.
Craig said that similar regulations in other states led to a 40% uptick in recall repairs.
He added: “We believe that engaging the MVC and inspection facilities as a partner by having them provide supplemental notice of these defects is the single best way to improve recall completion rates.”
The bill will now continue to progress through the legislature and could come into effect as early as the beginning of next year.
It is not clear how much the change will cost or if extra staff will be needed at dealerships and repair shops to accommodate it.
The move comes after Honda recalled 1.7 million vehicles over a potentially deadly steering issue.
