The media has been flooded with information about recalls lately. First we had the massive and controversial General Motors ignition switch recall that affected a huge number of GM vehicles. Then we had the even more massive Takata airbag recall that was the result of the high risk of a shrapnel burst from passenger side airbags, especially in hot climates. With all of the talk about these two issues, there has been little focus on recalls in general and how important they are to the health of your car or truck.


Sometimes even your personal health and safety can be affected by a vehicle recall. 

In the case of the high profile recalls, the news media has done a very good job of letting vehicle owners know that their car could be affected by one of the very serious issues mentioned above. But what about all of the less newsworthy recalls? How are you supposed to find out about smaller issues that may be plaguing your car or truck? I have good news for you! As part of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s latest guidelines, vehicle manufacturers are required to provide you with a way to check on any recalls affecting your vehicle, no matter how small they may seem. The following links will take you directly to the manufacturers site where you can enter your Vehicle Identification Number and find all recalls on your vehicle from old to new. It’s a valuable resource that you should check on regularly. Some of the sites even offer sign-up lists so that you can register to automatically receive word of new recalls.

 

To find out what recalls, if any, your specific make and model vehicle is subject to, follow the links below:

Acura
Audi
BMW
Chrysler (Chrysler, Dodge, RAM)
FIAT
Ford
General Motors (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Hummer, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn)
Honda
Hyundai
Infiniti
Jaguar
Kia
Land Rover
Mazda
Mercedes-Benz
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Porsche
SMART
Subaru
Toyota
Volkswagen
Volvo

If you find your vehicle on one of the above recall lists, or you suspect that there may be a recall on your car or truck that didn't come up on either the general search or the very specific Vehicle Identification Number search, your next step is to contact the manufacturer. Unfortunately the only way to do this is through a dealership. Depending on what the specifics of the recall are, the dealer will be anywhere from extremely helpful to outright evasive. The relationship between a new car dealer and the manufacturers of the vehicles they sell on their lot can take many forms depending on the situation. Recalls can be touchy areas, because the dealer service department will either be paid very well for performing the required repairs to rectify the recalled condition or they will be compensated poorly. The older the recall, in most cases, the worse the payout for the dealership. This being the case, sometimes the service you receive is a reflection of the deal they have with the manufacturer. 

The dealer is your only portal initially, so use it, but don't be afraid to be pushy if you aren't getting the answer you wanted. Do some research ahead of time so you have at least some idea what the recall is specifically asking for. I've heard stories of partial repairs being authorized by car owners who only much later discovered that their recall repairs were less than satisfactory. Education is your greatest ally, at least as much education as you can stand. The most important thing to remember is the service writer (that's the guy or girl you're talking to about your repairs) isn't going to throw you out for asking too many questions or making demands. So do a lot of both, it's your safety that's at risk if thing don't get done correctly.