In the almost six years I’ve served as your sheriff, I’ve made sure we, at the Sheriff’s Department, are doing all we can to help make Lexington County’s roads safer. We’ve worked with the South Carolina Highway Patrol to respond to crashes and on enforcement initiatives to save lives.
With that in mind, I want to let you know next week is Vehicle Safety Recall Week. When we take care of our vehicles, it makes our roads safer for everyone.
In 2020, there were 886 safety recalls affecting 55 million vehicles and other equipment in the United States, but a quarter of vehicle recalls are unrepaired. This puts drivers, passengers, and others on the road at risk.
Recalls are easy to check, free to check and free to repair. You can check your vehicle identification number for open safety recalls using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s VIN Look-Up Tool. This web-based portal allows checks for open safety recalls for vehicles or automotive equipment, such as tires and car seats.
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 dealer to schedule a recall repair as soon as possible. All recall repairs at your local dealership are free. 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.
Remember: Every vehicle recall is serious and affects your safety. If you have an open safety recall, do not delay in making an appointment to get the recall fixed immediately and for free.