Vehicle Recalls

Vehicle safety recalls are issued through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration when a car, truck, motorcycle, RV or piece of vehicle equipment has a defect that creates an unreasonable safety risk, or fails to meet a federal safety standard. Manufacturers file a report describing the defect, the consequence, and the remedy dealers will perform.

Two things make vehicle recalls different from other categories. First, repairs are free — federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall at no cost, regardless of warranty status or whether you bought the vehicle new. Second, recalls usually cover only part of a model year, so the only reliable way to know if yours is affected is to check your specific VIN. Some notices also carry a "do not drive" or "park outside" warning, which should be followed until the repair is done.