Everyone makes errors, and everyone experiences bad days. We’ve survived more than one internal crises thanks to the classic song from none other than Hannah Montana, and it also applies to manufacturers. Every now and again, an automaker or one of its component suppliers will make a mistake that might put you in risk.
Fortunately, there are procedures in place to make those errors right. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, tens of millions of vehicles are recalled annually in the United States, including more than 31 million from 786 recalls in 2020 alone (NHTSA). We’re here to explain why and how auto recalls are issued, the cost of doing recall work, and how to find out if your car is now under recall. Let’s start now.
In This Article...
What Is a Car Recall?
A product recall in the automotive industry is a manufacturer’s admission that some of its vehicles pose a safety concern. Recalls are specifically issued when a vehicle or a part of a vehicle does not meet one or more Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards established by the NHTSA or when a vehicle or a part of a vehicle exhibits a safety-related flaw.
A recall campaign may affect a large number of vehicles, such as all 2019 and 2020 model year Volvo automobiles, or it may just affect a small number. Mercedes-Benz and Porsche both conducted recalls in 2021, however they each only affected one model. Although the Takata airbag recall, which affected over 42 million vehicles, is likely the most well-known in recent memory, additional recall campaigns in 2019 were brought on by problems with the brakes, electrical, external lighting, and powertrain systems.
According to the NHTSA, manufacturers typically decide whether to recall a product on their own, without the requirement for intervention from the federal safety agency. That idea was validated in a conversation with Hyundai’s chief safety officer, Brian Latouf. According to Latouf, OEMs, like Hyundai, have safety offices that monitor customer and dealer data streams for trends and, when appropriate, undertake investigations into those trends by calculating the frequency and risk value associated with a particular car issue.
In terms of origin, manufacturing flaws or subpar supplier parts are typically to blame for issues in new cars, though recalls can also occur with older models. Latouf noted that recalls for older cars are typically the consequence of metals corroding or parts wearing out, problems that frequently take years to manifest. To avoid future problems, Hyundai has increased the technical standards for potential fatigue and corrosion.
It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to notify the NHTSA of its findings and take necessary action if a recall is deemed necessary. There are other instances where the NHTSA discovers a car that doesn’t adhere to a safety requirement and notifies the automaker.
Are Car Recalls Free? Do They Expire?
Yes, but there are some exceptions, in brief. The law gives consumers three alternatives for rectification when a recall is issued: repair, replacement, or refund. The decision to repair the issue for free, replace the car with a similar or identical model, or refund the full purchase price after making a reasonable allowance for depreciation depends largely on cost.
However, if the car was made 15 years or more before the fault was discovered, the manufacturer is not compelled to correct it. Although owners would have to pay out of pocket in this scenario, they are still urged to have the recall work done.
How to Check if Your Car Is Affected by a Recall
Oh, and don’t believe that just because you purchased a used automobile from a dealership, all of the recall work has been done. According to Juliet Guerra of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), secondhand cars can still be sold by dealers unless the NHTSA or the manufacturer deems them to be too risky to drive or operate. Guerra claims that “dealers enthusiastically embrace” informing customers of any found flaws so they may arrange to have them fixed as soon as replacement components are available.
Visit the NHTSA’s recall website (nhtsa.gov/recall) and enter your vehicle’s VIN to find out whether there are any active recalls for your model of vehicle. (The VIN of a car is typically located on your registration as well as in the lower left corner of the windshield.)
The NHTSA also just released its SaferCar app, which may alert you when your vehicle is subject to recalls. The app will notify you if the manufacturer issues a recall once you download it. You can enter your VIN or year, make, and model at this point (although the VIN is more precise).
The system will show you any unrepaired safety recalls issued in the previous 15 years when you enter your VIN. It won’t appear if the recall work was done by you or a previous owner. We advise looking into recalls no less than twice a year.
Toyota recalls have a lifespan.
Manufacturers are required to notify all owners of the affected vehicles who have registered their vehicles when a recall occurs. This is accomplished by mailing out a notice that is sent within 60 days of the recall becoming effective.
Additionally, car owners can register with the NHTSA to get email alerts from the agency in the event of a recall.
Can I do a car recall check online?
Simply go to the NHTSA website, yes. You can enter your vehicle’s VIN there to find out if it has had any safety recalls in the last 15 years that haven’t been fixed. Every vehicle has a unique 17-digit number called a VIN. Both the driver’s side door jamb and the driver’s side dashboard on the vehicle have them. It will probably be on the insurance and registration cards for the car as well.
According to AAA Car Doctor John Paul, this strategy is extremely helpful and significant if you intend to buy a secondhand car, especially if the car’s maintenance history is not easily accessible. “Check to see that any open recalls are addressed before taking delivery of the vehicle if you are purchasing a secondhand automobile from a car dealer, advises Paul. “Check the VIN to see if there are any recalls if you are purchasing a secondhand car from an individual, and have any repairs made as quickly as feasible.
My car has been recalled. What should I do?
Although learning that there is a problem with your car may be upsetting, there is no need to worrycars are recalled every day. In actuality, 886 vehicles were recalled in 2020. Call your neighborhood dealer first to find out when they can inspect the car.
According to the recall, any additional parts that need to be replaced due to rust or other damage that naturally occurs with age may be your financial responsibility, Paul adds. The dealership should be able to address the issue quickly and almost often without charging. If not, there will be no charge for the repair. You can proceed once your car has been fixed.
You could occasionally get a recall notification even though the manufacturer hasn’t sent out a new part or found a fix for the problem. ” The message will describe the issue and what you should do, according to Paul. ” They could advise not driving the car or putting it in a garage if the problems are severe.
Follow the manufacturer’s interim safety recommendations in this situation, and occasionally check with your neighborhood dealer to find out when the problem can be rectified. A recall is never something you should disregard. Paul cautions that delaying maintenance on a recalled vehicle may put you and other motorists in danger. According to some research, between 20 and 30 percent of the recalled vehicles have never had maintenance.
Other Considerations
From John Paul, here are some further details about auto recalls:
- Recalls typically don’t have an expiration date. They will also change hands from one owner to the next. Even though you were not the owner at the time of the recall, you are still entitled to the repair if you purchase a used automobile and later learn it has an open recall.
- The manufacturer might demand a price for the repair after the car is ten years old.
- A recall does not necessarily indicate that a car is of bad quality. It simply indicates that a component needs to be replaced since it is faulty or performing poorly. It does not constitute a criticism of the car as a whole.
- Recalls and extended warranties are not the same (sometimes referred to as secret warranties). In the latter, a component may not last as long as it should, in which case the manufacturer may decide to extend the warranty for that specific component. Volkswagen, for instance, informed some owners of specific models via letters that the ignition switch warranty had been increased to 10 years or 100,000 miles. Since the ignition switch did not need to be fixed, the vehicle was not subject to a recall.
Which Toyota model years are being recalled?
About 460,000 Toyota vehicles are being recalled in the United States by the automaker to remedy a software issue that could accidentally turn off the electronic stability control system.
DEARBORN In the United States, Toyota is recalling nearly 460,000 vehicles to correct a software issue that could accidentally turn off the electronic stability control system.
The company claims that occasionally, when the vehicles are restarted, the software may fail to put the system into “on mode.” In order to assist drivers in maintaining control, the system uses a computer to individually brake wheels.
The Venza, Mirai, RAV4 Hybrid, RAV4 Prime, Sienna Hybrid, and Highlander Hybrid from the Toyota brand are among the vehicles included in the recall that spans the model years 2020 to 2022. The Lexus luxury brand’s LS500h, LX600, NX350h, and NX450h-plus are also listed.
To solve the issue, dealers will update the software on the skid control computer. By mid-June, owners will be notified.
Can I search for recalls using my VIN number?
You can get recall information provided by the company initiating the recall using our VIN lookup tool, even if it might not yet be available on the NHTSA website.
Is it free to utilize Carfax?
Utilizing CARFAX The only place to obtain a free, comprehensive CARFAX Report is at Used Car Listings. CARFAX data can be used to locate vehicles that have been reported as being accident-free, having only one owner, and more.
What happens if I fail to address a vehicle recall?
Being proactive is the best course of action. Check your vehicle frequently for recalls, especially if you purchase a used vehicle. You can use a tool on the NHTSA website to search for pertinent recalls that apply to your vehicle.
Get your car fixed if you do learn that it has been recalled for whatever reason. According to NHTSA, there is no deadline for having your recalled vehicle fixed. Dealers would typically still respect a recall and fix your automobile even if you found out about it five years after it was issued.
There are numerous exceptions that can make it impossible to fix your car. For instance, it’s possible that vehicles that were older than 10 years at the time a recall was issued won’t get their problems corrected for free. But if a flaw renders your vehicle dangerous to use, don’t put off having it rectified.
Are Toyota vehicles subject to a recall?
Dallas, Texas (Nov. 17, 2021)
Certain Camry automobiles from the 20182019 model years are the subject of a safety recall by Toyota in the US. Involved in this recall are about 227,400 automobiles.
When the driver hits the brake pedal, the involved vehicles feature a mechanism that offers power braking assistance. A rapid loss of power braking assistance may result from the premature wear of certain components in a particular area of this system. Braking without power assistance will still be possible. However, a quick loss of power while using the brakes could raise the chance of a collision.
Toyota dealers will evaluate the vacuum pump and either repair or replace it for free to customers for all the affected vehicles. By mid-January 2022, owners of the concerned automobiles will be contacted.
Call the Toyota Brand Engagement Center (1-800-331-4331) for Toyota vehicles or the Lexus Brand Engagement Center (1-800-255-3987) for Lexus vehicles if you have any additional inquiries.
Can I repair a recall on my own?
Recalls by the manufacturer are possible, even for some of the most dependable vehicles on the road. Today, a car can be recalled for software issues as well as mechanical ones, albeit mechanical ones are more common. For instance, the Toyota Highlander has been recalled for both software- and mechanical-related reasons. The latter situation is particularly challenging because Toyota is currently awaiting the parts needed to repair the harmed automobiles. Some owners may be left stranded as a result, afraid to drive for fear of getting hurt. But recall repair is different from routine maintenance; it is absolutely not a DIY project.
What recent Toyota recall is there?
Certain 2021-2022 Sequoia and 2021 Tundra cars are being recalled by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota). An oil leak could be caused by improper manufacturing of the power steering gear assembly. A rapid loss of power steering assistance due to an oil leak may increase the likelihood of a collision.
In 2021, how many vehicles did Toyota recall?
Dallas, Texas (Feb. 24, 2022)
In the United States, Toyota is undertaking a safety recall concerning certain C-HR automobiles from the 2021 model year. The number of automobiles included in this recall is around 37,000.
It’s possible that during production, the radar sensor employed by the Pre-Collision System (PCS) in the concerned vehicles wasn’t initialized correctly. The PCS would then be inoperative and the driver would not get any warning signals. In some driving circumstances, an inoperative PCS without a PCS malfunction signal may increase the risk of a collision.
Toyota dealers will evaluate the radar sensor and, if necessary, properly initialize the radar sensor for free for all the relevant vehicles.