Are You Up to Speed on Recalls?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Traffic crashes are the primary cause of debilitating injuries in the United States and the number one killer of Americans under the age of 34.” And while the number of lives lost on the nation’s highways has undoubtedly decreased over the years, there’s still a lot of improvement to be made. While distracted, reckless, and drunk driving continue to be the leading sources of traffic incident, defective vehicle equipment or parts still make up a substantial piece of the pie.

That’s why, through the authority given to them by the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, the NHTSA sets vehicle safety standards that they can then use to determine any necessary manufacturer recalls. Most automakers wisely try to get ahead of any problems by issuing a recall voluntarily. Often these problems are discovered through their own quality testing, customer complaints, and dealership reports. Sometimes, however, the NHTSA has to step in and launch an investigation or get the courts involved. This was seen with the Ford-Firestone debacle in the early 2000s as well as in Toyota’s payment of a huge criminal penalty in 2012 because of an unintended acceleration scandal due to flawed gas pedal assembly.

Regardless of how the recall is initiated, the steps taken afterward are usually the same. Manufacturers must notify car-owners and dealerships, as well as parts distributors. They then set up a system for repairing the problem at no cost to the owner. The NHTSA monitors this process and determines if any more corrective action needs to occur. Similarly, many automakers will issue Technical Service Bulletins to address any issues that affect customer satisfaction. These would be things like maintenance or quality concerns, rather than solely a safety defect.

Should I Be Concerned?

According to Edmunds, safety recalls have “soared in recent years,” with 2016 setting a record-breaking 53.2 million passenger vehicle recalls. And that number is expected to keep climbing every year. And that statistic may cause some consumers to feel wary of placing their faith in automakers. But the truth is that cars are safer now than they’ve ever been. The extensive adoption of safety tech like collision avoidance systems, emergency braking, advanced seatbelt and airbag features, and even design assets like crumple zones have dramatically improved overall safety ratings.

And as Edmunds points out, “the increasing use of common parts and suppliers across multiple model lines, and even by multiple automakers, has made it possible for a substantial number of vehicles to be affected when a faulty component or software problem forces a recall.” So, unfortunately, when a problem does arise, it often affects millions of vehicles. Additionally, most of the vehicles being recalled are older models. Many of these problems are just being discovered because of wear and tear, greater NHTSA oversight, or an increase in customer self-reporting. So despite a rise in recalls being a bit worrisome, it’s actually a good thing. It means the government is doing its job, manufacturers are staying alert, and the cars on the road can stay safe even as they age.

Buyer, Be Aware

That doesn’t mean that car owners should grow complacent and stop taking recall notices seriously. The NHTSA is notoriously understaffed, underfunded, possessing limited authority, and at the end of the day is only as good as the people comprising it. They rely heavily on consumer reporting, media support, and manufacturer cooperation to raise awareness about potential safety threats. And cover-ups still occur.

For example, a recent and highly publicized recall of defective Takata airbag inflators revealed that the company knew, as far back as 2004, that a metal cartridge in their product could explode. This defect could shoot shrapnel and chemicals into drivers’ and passengers’ faces. The scandal has affected 10 major automakers and upwards of 30 million vehicles. Worse, many car owners are now stuck with the defective parts for the unforeseen future because of low replacement availability. According to Forbes, Takata sold these defective airbags for over a decade. And not only did they know the dangers, but they took criminal steps to hide the data from their Big Auto clients.

See Something, Say Something

Cases like this drive home the fact that while automakers are, on the whole, interested in creating safe, beautiful, and sustainable vehicles, they are also titans of business, interested in turning a profit. And sometimes a few bad apples really can ruin the bunch. That’s why it’s important that consumers keep them accountable by reporting any issues–especially safety defects–to the regulatory bodies that can apply pressure. And even more importantly, respond to those recall letters by utilizing the free repairs offered by dealerships.

According to the Center for Auto Safety, 1 in 6 cars on the road is recalled but not fixed. (And that’s an already year-old estimated statistic.) And sure, availabilty of parts and recall awareness can affect compliance. But a larger reason is that owners don’t see it as a high priority or simply don’t understand the recall process.

Don’t let you or a loved one become the tragic statistic of a traffic incident. Stay aware of recalls in the news, and check your VIN on the government’s website safercar.gov at least twice a year to see if your vehicle has an open recall. By the way, check out Cars.com, for an updated list of recall alerts.