BOISE – It’s Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, a timely reminder from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and AAA to resolve recall issues before they put people at risk. According to NHTSA, there are currently 886 safety recalls affecting nearly 55 million vehicles that travel on American roads. About 25 percent of these urgent repairs have not been addressed.
“Some drivers had to put their cars in hibernation mode during the pandemic. But as we start thinking about spring and summer road trips or even a typical commute, it’s important to make sure we can operate our vehicles safely,” says Matthew Conde, public affairs director for AAA Idaho. “It might be inconvenient to deal with a repair, but these recalls have been issued for a reason – to prevent loss of life and serious injury. We can’t afford to put them off.”
To check for open safety recalls, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your vehicle’s 17-digit VIN. You can also sign up for future Recall Alerts or download NHTSA’s SaferCar app for the latest updates. NHTSA maintains a database with 15 calendar years’ worth of recall information.
AAA urges drivers who have been affected by a safety recall to contact the dealer as soon as possible to schedule a repair.
“Dealers have plans in place to protect your health throughout the process,” Conde said. “Ask about distancing and cleaning policies, and please do your best to avoid delaying a necessary repair. Lives may depend on it.”
NHTSA and AAA also encourage the public to voice their safety concerns about vehicle defects that may not be part of an existing recall by contacting NHTSA online or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.