In the wake of record-breaking numbers of recalls in recent years, industry leaders may be acknowledging the importance of initiatives designed to ease the recall process. The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) recently announced its support for two campaigns that were created to monitor the status of recalls and help customers resolve recall issues. The auto industry is hoping that a streamlined system will assist car owners in fixing recalls and avoid injuries that may result from defects in vehicles.
The Vehicle Recall Search Service
The Vehicle Recall Search Service (VRSS), which was announced in March, 2018, is a free program established by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the Association of Global Automakers. The service is designed to allow dealers, DMVs and insurers to search up to 10,000 vehicle identification numbers (VIN) and notify customers about open recalls on their vehicles. This system provides a consolidated method for dealers to perform batch searches and increases the likelihood that owners will be informed about recalls. But the program can only determine whether the car is subject to an open recall; it still requires owners to take the initiative to have their cars repaired at dealer locations.
The Check to Protect Campaign
To tackle this challenge, NADA collaborated with the National Safety Council (NSC) to launch Check to Protect, a campaign that attempts to encourage drivers to check their cars’ recall status and address open recalls immediately. Drivers can use the system to enter their VINs to check their car’s status. If the car has a recall issue, the campaign seeks to help drivers overcome obstacles that impede them from acting on recall notices. These may include lack of time, inadequate knowledge about the seriousness of the issue or feedback from the dealer that replacement parts are not readily available.
The campaign targets vehicles that are five years or older and owners of used cars. For older and used cars, the compliance rate for safety recalls is only 44% compared to 83% for newer cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that three out of every ten cars on the road has an unrepaired safety recall. Raising awareness about fixing recalls promptly is therefore a priority. Since the NSC launched its initiative, more than 100,000 car owners have participated.
If you or a member of your family suffered injury or death as a result of negligence or a defective automobile, contact the attorneys Alexander Law Group, LLP. Our exceptional personal injury lawyers will answer your questions and get you the maximum compensation that is possible. Call 888.777.1776 or contact us online.
