Does My Car Have a Recall? NHTSA App Lets You Know Right Away
Cars grow in complexity all the time, which means there are more parts to potentially fail. Even parts that are supposed to keep us safe, such as airbags, can hurt us if they are defective.
Each year, about 25 percent of recalled vehicles are not fixed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA,) which oversees vehicle recalls, requires automakers to mail postcards to notify consumers of such pending recalls. But what if the vehicle owner moves or is otherwise unreachable by mail?
NHTSA’s redesigned SaferCar app (https://www.nhtsa.gov/safercar-app) for iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Android allows consumers to track recalls for cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, tires, trailers, and child car seats.
The free app allows the user to save multiple vehicles in a “virtual garage” by simply scanning the barcode on the dash or b-pillar to input the VIN for recall tracking. According to NHTSA, consumers’ privacy is ensured by storing all data only on the user’s device. SaferCar checks for updates each day and alerts the user if a recall is announced, allowing the user to more quickly get the free recall repairs scheduled.
The information is stored on the device, not in the cloud or on NHTSA servers, so privacy is not an issue, a NHTSA spokesman said.
The app also offers helpful quick links to online resources from www.NHTSA.gov. Consumers can compare vehicles’ safety ratings, select a car seat (input your child’s age, height, and weight to help you find the appropriate-spec car seat), assist with car-seat installation how-tos, locate a car-seat-inspection location, register a car seat for recall notifications, and file a safety complaint for vehicles or equipment. Live chat is also available. (Of course, some of those online features are most easily accessed via a tablet, not a smartphone’s small screen.) It’s a quick download, so try it out today!
SaferCar users can easily access online features, such as child car-seat selection and installation tips, along with live chat.
About Peninsula Auto BodySaferCar users can easily access online features, such as child car-seat selection and installation tips, along with live chat.
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