Most drivers are accustomed to checking their vehicle’s oil, tire pressure, and other vital signs on a regular basis — or at least checking the dashboard lights for any unusual alerts from the car’s own monitoring system. But when was the last time you checked whether your ride was subject to any recalls?
Performing a recall check at least once a year is a smart move, given the number of recalls involving defective parts or compliance issues that occur on a regular basis. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announces hundreds of recalls a year, affecting millions of vehicles; in 2019 alone, 39 million vehicles and 14 million auto parts were taken off the road.
Many recalls involve what may seem like minor glitches. But even a single loose bolt can turn into a significant safety problem. For example, Nissan has had a series of recalls for a faulty hood latch in its Altima sedans for the 2013-18 model years; if the latch fails while in motion, it could block the driver’s view and cause a crash. And exploding Takata airbags, despite years of recalls, still remain in thousands of older vehicles, posing a potentially deadly threat to unsuspecting motorists.
Some other recent recalls of note:
- Jeep has recalled 18,800 2021 Cherokee models over a leaky transmission line that could cause a fire.
- Ford is seeking to fix 617,000 Explorers from 2016-2019 with poorly secured roof-rail covers, which could detach from the SUV while it is in motion.
- Hyundai has recalled 2019-2021 Konas and Velosters, as well as 2019-2020 Elantras, over improperly treated oil rings that could cause a fire in the engine compartment. The same engine defect has led to a recall of several Kia models as well.
Checking for recall alerts on your own vehicle takes only a few seconds and should be an essential part of your vehicle safety and maintenance routine. Simply locate your vehicle identification number, or VIN, a 17-digit figure that can be found on your insurance card, your vehicle registration, your door jamb, or in the lower corner of your windshield on the driver’s side. Then enter it in the search box on the NHTSA recall search page. If there’s no issue, you can breathe easy. If it turns out there is a recall for your vehicle, schedule an appointment with your dealer so you can get back on the road with confidence.
THE PRODUCT SAFETY ATTORNEYS AT FRANKLIN D. AZAR
Over the past thirty years the attorneys at Franklin D. Azar & Associates have helped thousands of injured people obtain complete and timely compensation for their losses. Our proven track record and expertise have allowed us to grow into the largest personal-injury law firm in Colorado, with offices in Aurora, Greenwood Village, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo. We are proud of our approach; we commit attorneys to cases, not paralegals. If you’ve been injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Please call the attorneys at FD Azar day or night at 720-372-2824 or contact us here for a free consultation and no-obligation evaluation of your case.
