Servicing Your Vehicle After a Recall Can Help Protect your Family
While checking your vehicle’s tire pressure and replacing windshield wipers will go a long way in helping drivers prevent an accident, recalls from manufacturers are a reminder that some things are out of consumers’ hands. With the recent news regarding Takata airbags injuring thousands of people all over the world, Hunter Insurance would like to share how motorists can access up-to-date recall information about their vehicles.
“Checking your vehicle for any recalls is easy, and we encourage motorists to check for recalls on all of their cars a few times a year,” said Brian Hunter, president of Hunter Insurance.
Recalls are typically issued by automakers once they discover a manufacturing or safety-related defect. When recalls are issued, consumers are notified about the defect and are asked to bring in their vehicle for needed service at no additional cost. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will occasionally step-in if they receive several complaints and may, sometimes, force a manufacturer to issue a recall.
Carmakers will make several attempts to contact a consumer about a recall, but it is inevitable that some motorists will not get their vehicle serviced. A recent recall of Takata airbags underscores the importance of bringing in vehicles after a recall has been issued.
In what is being considered the largest recall in automotive history, the NHTSA recently announced that nearly 50 million domestic and foreign vehicles in the United States have Takata airbags installed that can explode upon impact. Reports from all over the world suggest there have been thousands of injuries and fatalities tied to this recall.
One way motorists can protect themselves is by looking up their VIN number on a specific NHTSA website, Hunter said. Anyone can find their car’s VIN number by looking for a 17-digit number on the left side of their car’s windshield. While this tool does not inform you whether your specific car has already been serviced, it is an invaluable way of finding out whether specific makes and models should be brought to a nearby service center.
Given the breadth of the airbag recall in the United States alone, we would also like to share this link to the Takata airbag malfunction, which includes information about what consumers should know and a sign-up sheet to receive future updates on this ongoing issue.
With many of America’s best-selling automotive brands on the list of Takata-related recalls, Hunter Insurance encourages motorists to protect their family by proactively investigating whether their car has been recently recalled. For other ways to protect your family on the road or at home, call us 401-769-9500.