I share a lot about road safety here with you. Whether it be traffic laws, the dangers of drunk driving or how best to watch out for others on the road, I feel it’s always an important topic.
Today, I want to share with you yet another way to keep yourself and those around you safe on the road. Check all of your Vehicle Identification Numbers for open safety recalls using the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s user-friendly VIN Look-Up Tool. This web tool allows vehicle owners to check for open safety recalls on their vehicles or automotive equipment, such as tires and car seats.
Checking for recalls is quick and easy. NHTSA has an app that will do it for you and notify you of any recalls on your vehicle. Every safety recall needs to be repaired – and the repairs are free.
Checking your VIN is easy: The 17-digit number is located on the lower portion of your car’s windshield on the driver’s side. It may also be on your car’s registration card, or on your insurance card. Enter this number into the search bar at NHTSA.gov/recalls and, in seconds, you’ll know if your vehicle is subject to an open safety recall. If your vehicle is affected by a safety recall, contact your local dealer to schedule a recall repair as soon as possible.
This tool also provides details on any unrepaired recall in your vehicle for at least the past 15 calendar years. An urgent air bag recall is still ongoing, currently the largest vehicle recall in U.S. history. Check to see if your car is affected.
Last year’s record-breaking recalls affected millions of vehicles, tires, car seats, and other equipment, millions of recalled vehicles go unrepaired every year. This puts drivers, passengers, and other road users at risk.
Ignoring a recall notice, or failing to check your VIN for recalls, could end in disaster. Protect yourself and loved ones by checking today.