How do I find out if my car is on a recall list?

The easiest way to check for open recalls on your car is to visit the NHTSA’s recall site (nhtsa.gov/recall) and enter your Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. (A car’s VIN is usually found in the lower left corner of the windshield and can also be found on your registration.)

Can you look up recalls by VIN number?

Owners may not always know their recalled vehicle still needs to be repaired. NHTSA’s new search tool lets you enter a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to quickly learn if a specific vehicle has not been repaired as part of a safety recall in the last 15 years.

How do I find out if I have an active recall?

The best way to know for sure is to call the phone number that we provide on your vehicle’s recall page or go to the government NHTSA site and look up your specific car by its 17-character VIN number.

How do I find out about a recall?

Visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls to find out if your car or truck is under recall. Search using your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Your search result will tell you if your car or truck is included in any safety recall at this time.

Do recalls expire?

While car recalls don’t have an expiration date, they are only enforced for “reasonable periods,” the agency says. Basically, a recall is over if a vehicle’s manufacturer goes out of business, or if the parts needed to make the necessary repair are no longer being made.

What does NHTSA stand for?

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is responsible for keeping people safe on America’s roadways. Through enforcing vehicle performance standards and partnerships with state and local governments, NHTSA reduces deaths, injuries and economic losses from motor vehicle crashes.

How long does a recall last on a car?

A recall is good through the statute of limitations for up to ten years, with the exception of tire recalls which are valid for 60 days. However a car manufacturer is inclined to fix the issue even after those ten years have passed and most will give you no issues repairing the car.

Are recalls on cars free?

Most of the time. Federal law requires all safety recall repairs to be provided free of charge on cars that are up to 15 years old. That’s counted from the time the car was sold to the first owner, rather than based on model year or the date of manufacture.

How long does a recall take to fix?

4. How Long Will It Take To Get The Recall Repaired? It depends on what the recall is on. Something such as a software update may only take a few minutes but a recall on brakes can usually take a few hours.

Can a dealership refuse to fix a recall?

Manufacturers are obligated to attempt to notify owners of recalled products. … The dealer will fix the recalled part or portion of your car for free. If a dealer refuses to repair your vehicle in accordance with the recall letter, you should notify the manufacturer immediately.

How Much Do car recalls cost?

The average cost of an auto recall over the last 10 years was about $500 per vehicle, according to Mike Held, a director in the automotive and industrial practice at AlixPartners, a global consulting firm.

Can I fix a recall myself?

Even some of the most reliable cars on the road can be subject to manufacture recalls. Although usually for mechanical reasons, today software glitches can also prompt a car to be recalled. … But fixing a recall isn’t like ordinary maintenance: it’s definitely not for DIYers.

Do dealerships get paid for recall work?

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law that will force vehicle manufacturers to pay retail rates to dealers for warranty and recall work. … It could be because the reimbursement rate from a manufacturer to a dealer for that work is significantly less than what standard retail repair work brings in.

Can I return a car with a recall?

Although the manufacturer may repair your vehicle for free, replace it, or give you a refund for your vehicle if it is named in a recall, that does not compensate you for any injuries you may have suffered as a result of that vehicle defect. … The vehicle defect was the direct cause of the accident.

Can I trade in my car if it has a recall?

You can keep your old car until your dealership has a solution to the recall. Or you can try to trade it in at a lower value. If you tell your salesperson that trade-in value may make the difference between your buying a new car or having to wait, they will do their best to take your trade-in.

What if a recall Cannot be fixed?

When the recall does not fix the problem specified in the defective issue within the recall paperwork or the issue increases and harms the driver, a passenger or causes additional property damage, the owner of the vehicle may need to contact the manufacturer to make amends immediately.

Can a recall be done twice?

If your car is having a problem for which the auto manufacturer has issued a car recall , that repair should be completed at no cost to you, even if the problem occurs again. … Keep in mind, if the auto manufacturer issues a recall for the second repair, you can get a refund for the cost you paid.

Do I get a loaner car for a recall?

If you have a serious safety recall and a repair is not yet available, getting a loaner car is often the best option. According to Cars.com, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration encourages auto manufacturers to offer consumers loaner cars until they can repair their recalled vehicles.

How many times can a recall be fixed?

There is no time limit on getting a recall fixed, and most dealers should honor the recall and fix your car free of charge. The only exception is if your vehicle is older than ten years at the time of the recall, the dealer may not fix the vehicle for free.

How do you get reimbursed for a recall?

Here’s what you’ll need to be reimbursed:
  1. Your name and address.
  2. A copy of the title to prove that you own the affected vehicle.
  3. Identification of the vehicle or the piece of equipment affected by the recall.
  4. A copy of the recall letter.
  5. The receipt for the work you had done on your vehicle or equipment.

Do recalls cover towing?

The dealership should notify you when it has the spare parts in stock. Once an automaker alerts the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to a recall, it has 60 days to notify owners, regardless of whether the spare parts are in stock. … In that case, it should tow your car to a dealership and provide a loaner.