The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) mission is simple: Keep people safe on America’s roadways. One way we work to accomplish this task is through Vehicle Safety Recalls Week March 6-12, 2023. The safety week coincides with the start of Daylight Saving Time, which begins Sunday, March 12, 2023. NHTSA and Acadiana Transportation Safety Coalition (ATSC) are joining together to remind drivers to check their vehicles for open safety recalls. In 2021 alone, there were 1,093 safety recalls affecting more than 34 million vehicles and other automotive equipment in the United States, some of the highest recall numbers on record.
“Checking for recalls is quick and easy,” said Ron Czajkowski, Safety Coordinator for ATSC. “During Vehicle Safety Recalls Week in March, we are urging everyone to take a few minutes to check for an open safety recall. Remember that every vehicle recall is important and should be repaired immediately. The best part? All repairs are free. Your diligence will help keep you and others safe on the roadways.”
Check for Recalls Two Ways
NHTSA has two ways to check for open safety recalls: First, drivers can use the free, user-friendly Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Look-Up Tool, located at NHTSA.gov/recalls. This web tool allows vehicle owners to check for open safety recalls on their vehicles or automotive equipment, such as tires and car seats. Drivers can also check for open safety recalls by downloading the free SaferCar app. Once in the app, enter your vehicle’s VIN and NHTSA will send you an alert if a safety recall is issued on them.
Both methods for checking recalls is free and easy. In both cases, you will need to enter the vehicle’s VIN, located on the lower portion of your car’s windshield on the driver’s side. The VIN is also located on your registration card, and it may be shown on your insurance card.
To use the VIN Look-Up Tool, head to NHTSA.gov/recalls and enter your vehicle’s 17-digit VIN into the search bar. In seconds you’ll know if your vehicle is subject to an open safety recall. While you’re there, sign up for Recall Alerts. If your vehicle is included in a future recall, you’ll receive an email letting you know. NHTSA’s free web recalls tool will provide details on any unrepaired recall in your vehicle for at least the past 15 calendar years. It will also provide details on unrepaired safety recalls from major automakers, motorcycle manufacturers, and some medium/heavy truck manufacturers.
Think of the SaferCar app as your virtual garage: Once you download the app — available for iOS and Android — you can add any vehicle or related equipment, like tires, trailers, and car seats. SaferCar notifies you of all related recalls, even directing you to local dealerships, so you can quickly make an appointment and get it fixed quickly and for free.
Stay Recall Aware Every Day
NHTSA and ATSC are urging drivers to participate in Vehicle Safety Recalls Week March 6-12, 2023. But the awareness doesn’t have to stop there. Take advantage of NHTSA’s free resources — the VIN Look-Up Tool and the SaferCar app — and you’ll be covered every day of the year.
Although last year’s recalls affected millions of vehicles, tires, car seats, and other equipment, millions of recalled vehicles still go unrepaired every year. This puts drivers, passengers, and other road users at risk.
If you think your vehicle may have a safety-related defect that isn’t part of a current recall, contact NHTSA online or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. Sometimes just one complaint is enough to trigger a safety recall.
For more information on NHTSA’s Vehicle Recalls, visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls.
