Occasionally, manufacturers or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will find a defect in a car model that needs to be addressed. For example, Takata, the Japanese auto parts maker, filed for bankruptcy after they made one of the most massive safety recalls in automotive history. More than 100 million airbag inflators were recalled, and it affected 19 different auto manufacturers.
It’s vital that when a manufacturer or the NHTSA initiates a recall, you are aware of whether or not you might be affected. Usually, when a car is recalled, it is for safety reasons. The Takata recall, for example, happened after several people were killed by the defective airbag.
The first thing you should do is download the MyCARFAX app. It is available for both Android phones and iPhones and can help you check on recalls related to your car. Look up your car information using your license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN). These can be found on your vehicle’s title, registration card, or insurance documents.
Make sure you check your recall status. If your car has been recalled, call your dealership immediately to schedule an appointment to fix the defective part in question. If your vehicle is on the NHTSA’s recall list, all related repairs should be free of charge.
There’s also a new campaign called Check to Protect that encourages drivers to check for and address open recalls on their vehicles. Visit ChecktoProtect.org to see whether or not your car might be affected by a recall. The link will take you to the NHTSA website, where you can enter your VIN number and read about safety recalls conducted over the past 15 years.
If you or a loved one have been harmed by a defective car product, talk to one of our skilled Denver auto defect attorneys today. The Gilbert Law Group® is dedicated to helping the victims of faulty products seek compensation for their injuries. Let us see what we can do for you.
Contact us at (888) 711-5947 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation today.
