Automotive Safety Recalls

It is estimated that one in three recalled cars go unfixed. Many of those cars are unsafe and have been sold or are being sold to unsuspecting buyers.

When a recall is issued on a car, a notice is sent to the original buyer by the manufacture, but if the buyer's address has changed or the car has been sold the car owner doesn't usually know about them.

Many used car lots don't check for recalls or want to take the time to have them addressed. There is no law that says a dealer must disclose any recalls.

"There are literally millions of vehicles on the road today with open recalls and one of the most alarming things is the number of these recalls that don't actually get fixed," said Larry Gamache, communications director of Carfax.com.

So it's buyer beware. Before a consumer buys a car they need to ask about any recalls. Also, they should get a vehicle history report making sure that it includes recalls.

For free, both Carfax.com and the auto manufacturer websites will let you know about open recalls if you have the VIN for the car. Usually your local dealer can check also.

The good news is that safety recalls will be fixed at no cost to the owner by the manufacture.









  The top 12 largest recalls in the U.S.

You can check for open recalls at Carfax. You will need to supply the entire VIN number.
You can also check with your dealer for recalls.

Sign up for email alerts for new recalls on your car at NHTSA.


Wayne's Garage is a AAA Approved Automobile Repair Facility and we have been awarded the Blue Seal of Excellence by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.



VIN location
The VIN is located driver's side dashboard and the door post on most cars.
     
Here are the top 12 recalls in the U.S. along with the oldest known recall.    

#1 - 1996
The honor of the biggest screw-up in automotive history thus far belongs to Ford when it recalled 7.9  million vehicles made in 1993-1998 because of a faulty ignition switch that would spark and start fires in the steering column.

#2  - 1971
General Motors gets the top two spot for recalling 6.7 million 1965-1969 vehicles because of the engine mount, which would separate itself from the frame and fall back onto the throttle causing unintended accelertation. the Camaro, Caprice, and Impala being just a few of the vehicles recalled.

#3 - 1981
General Motors grabs hold of the top three spot for the largest recalls with 5.8 million 1965-1969 vehicles recalled due to loose bolts in the suspension which rendered the driver useless in steering the vehicle.

#4 - 2010
Toyota recalled 5.3 million vehicles for reports of the driver side floor mats becoming wedged beneath the gas pedal causing the vehicles to accelerate uncontrollably.

#5 - 2005
Ford recalls 4.5 million vehicles for the cruise control safety switch causing fires.

#6 - 2009
Ford recalls another 4.5 million vehicles for the cruise control safety switch causing fires.

#7 - 1972
Ford recalled 4 million vehicles for the seat belts becoming frayed and eventually would detach themselves from the vehicle frame.

#8 - 1973
General Motors recalls 3.7 million vehicles from 1949-1969 to install engine shields to prevent stones being kicked up and disabling the steering.

#9 - 1972
Volkswagen recalled 3.7 million 1949-1969 Beetles for the windshield wiper blades coming loose and falling off.

#10 - 1995
Honda recalls 3.7 million vehicles 1986-1991 for passengers becoming trapped in their vehicles due to cracked and broken seat belt release buttons.

#11 - 1987
Ford recalls 3.6 million pickups and cars for fuel line connectors coming loose and posing a serious fire hazard.

#12 - 2004
General Motors recalls 3.6 million SUVs for tailgate cables fracturing and causing the tailgate to fall on the bumper causing injuries.

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And the oldest recorded recall in the US was in the early 1900's by Ford. Henry Ford stuffed the seats of his first Model T's with Spanish moss, which prompted the first automotive recall when little bugs called red bugs or chiggers started crawling out and biting drivers on the rear ends.