1 in 4 U.S. Vehicles Subject to Recall, Study Finds

Is the car you are driving safe? If yours is one of the 63 million vehicles subject to recall across the country, you and your family could be taking an unnecessary risk.

CARFAX Report Says Vehicles Subject to Recall Are On the Rise

An annual survey by the used car review company CARFAX, reveals that over 63 million vehicles on the road in America are subject to one or more recall. That’s 1 in 4 cars Americans drive. Gulf Coast states are even higher – Texas ranks in at nearly 1 in 3. Other top five states (by percentage of recalled vehicles) include Hawaii, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. When it comes to the number of recalled vehicles, the leading states are California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York. The number is up 34% from 2016, and that has experts nervous.

“Reducing the number of open recalls on the road is an ongoing effort,” said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax. “Safety is our number one concern. Carfax, manufacturers and government are working together to make it easier for drivers to get accurate information and timely alerts about open recalls. It may be inconvenient, but people driving recalled cars should make getting them fixed a high priority.”

Among the vehicles, Minivans and SUVs were the most likely to have unfixed recalls. That means family life may be getting in the way of moms and dads responding to necessary safety recalls.

Is Your Vehicle Affected By a Recall?

It can be easy to ignore notices of safety recalls in the midst of kids, work, and family responsibilities. Manufacturers with active safety recalls include:

• Hyundai
• Nissan
• Volkswagen
• BMW
• Toyota and
• Lamborghini

To find out if you have a vehicle subject to recall, you can use your 17-character VIN to search the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database on its website. You can usually find your VIN number under the driver’s side windshield, inside the door behind the seat, or under the steering wheel. You can also sign up for NHTSA safety alerts using your VIN or myCarfax.com using your license plate.

What to Do If Your Car is Recalled

When a manufacturer issues a recall, it means that vehicle owners are able to take their cars into a manufacturer’s dealership to have replacement parts installed for free. If there is a delay or a waiting list for the repairs, read the recall notice carefully to decide whether you need to park the vehicle to be safe. Vehicle recalls should not be ignored. If you think yours is among the 1 in 4 vehicles subject to recall, take steps now to protect you and your family.

Dani K. Liblang is a lemon law lawyer at The Liblang Law Firm, PC, in Birmingham, Michigan. If you are driving a defective vehicle, contact The Liblang Law Firm, PC, for a free consultation.