How To Find Out if Your Car Has Been Recalled

If it seems that recalls of cars are constantly in the news, that’s no coincidence. Although cars should be safer as technology advances that has not seemed to be the case in recent years.

Indeed, 2014 was a record year for car recalls. No fewer than 64 million vehicles were caught up in safety warnings, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

There are indications that 2016 may rival it. The recall of cars because of dangerous Takata air bags is ongoing and may prove to be the largest in the history of the automobile industry.

Many of these airbags have issues with their inflators that mean they can unexpectedly explode, even in a minor crash. The flying shrapnel has caused deaths of drivers and passengers. We recently noted how a teenager in Texas lost her life in an airbag explosion.

The Takata airbag recall has extended to 70 million cars. Numerous carmakers use Takata airbags, which makes it more difficult to know if your car may have a defective airbag.

Before the Takata airbag scandal, General Motors recalled millions of cars due to an ignition switch defect. The power loss associated with this defect was linked to at least 124 deaths and twice as many injuries.

How To Find Out If Your Car Is Defective

Large numbers of drivers ignore recall notices or are not even aware that their vehicles are defective.

Here are some sites that can help you find out if your car is a potential death trap.

1 The NHTSA Website

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for recalls so it’s a good first place to check out for recalls. The NHTSA website has a search tool on specific vehicles so as you can find out the make and model.

2 Consumer Reports

Consumer reports are a great way to find out if you are driving a car that has been subjected to a recall. Simply visit Consumer Reports and enter some basic information such as your VIN number.

3 Cars.Com

Another useful site to check out is Cars.com. Simply enter a few basic details. The site uses information that’s gleaned from the NHTSA website.

The scale of recent recalls has put automakers under almost unprecedented pressure. There is some evidence that the increased automation of cars is leading to more defects. If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective car, call us today at (757) 455.0077.