A vehicle recall occurs when a manufacturer of a vehicle recognizes that there is a problem with the vehicle and offers to fix all affected models free of charge. It might seem like a hassle to take your car to the dealership and potentially be without transportation until the repair is being done, but a recall is not something you can ignore. 20-50 million people are injured, disabled, and even killed on the road each year, so you should take every precaution that you can when it comes to vehicle safety.
Safety
Recalls occur when a make, model, and certain years of vehicle are determined to be unsafe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA. They cost a great deal of money for the manufacturers and are only issued when a major problem or danger is noticed. If you choose to toss a recall notice aside, you may be jeopardizing your safety as well as the safety of others on the road. The most common reasons for recalls include problems with brakes, airbags, seat belts, tire blowouts, or problems with a car’s structure. Recalls are only issued for safety issues, not minor flaws such as your window motor or air conditioner not working.
Injuries
Another significant reason not to ignore a safety recall is that if you become injured, you might not be able to file a successful claim because you didn’t get the problem fixed when the recall was issued. It’s a huge risk and puts you in danger financially, especially if others are injured in the accident as a result of not getting the issue fixed. You may be liable for their injuries and expenses instead of your insurance company.
Disability and Social Security
If you sustain injuries in an accident and end up disabled, you may not be eligible if it is determined that the accident or injury could have been prevented with due diligence. This is definitely not something you want to have to fight when the cost to prevent it is free. Your claim may be denied if an investigation determines that you were aware of the risk and chose not to address it.
It’s absolutely critical to get your vehicle fixed if there is a recall. Be proactive and look up your vehicle specifically to see if there have been any recalls, especially if you purchase a used vehicle from a private seller because you might not receive direct notices about applicable recalls from the manufacturer.
