If you drive a car, truck, or motorcycle regularly in the United States, you’ve probably heard of the term “motor vehicle recall” before. In essence, when a line of vehicles is deemed to have a dangerous defect that could put drivers and the general public at risk, a recall order is issued for the affected vehicles. Once a vehicle is recalled, the manufacturer that created it is liable for fixing the problem, at no cost to the car’s owner. However, you may not know that there are multiple types of recall orders, depending on the severity of the vehicle defect.
Given that there are more than 21,000,000 people affected by a recall order in the U.S. in 2024, it’s essential to understand what the different types of recalls mean for you as a vehicle owner. In this article, we discuss what differentiates recall orders from one another, as well as what you should do if your vehicle is affected by a defect.
What is a motor vehicle recall?
When a vehicle manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determines that a vehicle, tire, equipment, or car seat does not meet safety standards or creates an unreasonable safety risk, a recall order is issued. In most cases, manufacturers willingly elect to initiate a recall to correct a potential defect long before the NHTSA is involved.
When a recall occurs, manufacturers are liable for addressing the situation. Depending on the severity of the situation, the solution to the issue may be:
- Vehicle repairs
- Replacement of the defective part
- Offering a refund
- Repurchasing the vehicle, if it cannot be safely repaired
Do not drive advisories.
In some cases, a standard recall order may escalate into a “Do Not Drive” advisory. If your vehicle is part of a Do Not Drive advisory, it should not be operated until the defect has been repaired. As soon as possible, the vehicle should be taken to a dealership, where the root cause of the Do Not Drive advisory can be adequately addressed. In most cases, this kind of recall is issued because the manufacturer anticipates an increased risk of crashes or loss of control if the vehicle’s defect isn’t repaired.
Park outside advisories
A second type of recall that can be issued is a “Park Outside” advisory. A Park Outside advisory is declared when a vehicle is a significant fire risk. To prevent injuries and property damage from a vehicle catching fire, whether it is in use or stationary, vehicle owners are encouraged to park their cars outside and away from any flammable structures. While a Park Outside advisory does not ensure that a vehicle will spontaneously burst into flames, the possibility of such an incident cannot be discounted. Currently, more than 700,000 vehicles in the U.S. have been recalled under a Park Outside order in 2024.
How can you find out if your car is recalled?
In most cases, a recall is announced online by the manufacturer and the NHTSA long before vehicle owners are personally notified that their car has been affected. In some cases, vehicle owners may discover a relevant recall order through an online announcement of this nature. Manufacturers also mail recall notices to the registered owners of affected vehicles, although this is generally done weeks or even months after the recall is first announced digitally. In many cases, manufacturers need time to advise their dealerships on repair protocols, send out replacement parts, and ensure all possible complications have been considered in advance of announcing a significant recall.
However, it is possible that affected car owners may not hear of a relevant recall through the channels described in the previous paragraph. Perhaps you bought a used car and improper record-keeping never tracked the car’s change of ownership. Maybe you changed addresses after buying a car and your mailed recall notice got sent to your old residence. Reasons such as these can keep you in the dark concerning a relevant recall. Fortunately, you can use the NHTSA recall portal to check for recalls affecting your family’s vehicles.
What to do if your car is recalled
If your car is affected by a recall, it’s important to start by figuring out how serious the issue is. If the recall has escalated to the level of a Do Not Drive or Park Outside advisory, it may be unsafe to operate your car until it has been repaired. On the other hand, a recall for a minor software glitch, cosmetic problem, or sensor issue may not prevent you from driving like normal until the problem is addressed.
As soon as you are aware of a recall impacting your vehicle, check the NHTSA website or call your local dealership to find out more information. They can help you assess whether it is safe to continue using your vehicle, what repairs need to be done, and how long the dealership will have your vehicle for repair work. You can then schedule a convenient time for the dealership to make the required repairs.
While it may be inconvenient to be without your vehicle while it’s in the shop, you and your loved ones will be safer once the issue responsible for the recall is fixed. You also will not need to pay for repair work for a condition caused by a recall, and may even be able to submit a claim for reimbursement from the manufacturer if you already paid to have the problem fixed elsewhere.
Dealing with an unexpected vehicle recalls
As a vehicle owner, there are few things as alarming as receiving a letter explaining that your car has been recalled due to a significant defect or safety flaw. However, most recalls can be addressed within a reasonable time frame and ensure that your loved ones are safe on the road once more. Remember to check the NHTSA recall database regularly to ensure no issues slip by undetected during the year. We hope this article helps you and your loved ones stay safe on the road!
