Posted in Accident & Injury on April 10, 2014

Recently, General Motors has been the subject of extensive media attention and congressional hearings amid allegations the car manufacturer covered up a dangerous ignition switch defect that has been linked to 31 crashes and 13 deaths. However, GM isn’t the only auto manufacturer experiencing problems.

The Motley Fool writes:

“Meanwhile, competitors in the automotive industry are taking advantage of General Motors’ massive recall by scheduling recalls of their own, knowing the media spotlight will remain focused on GM.”

Vehicle Recalls

Chrysler also recently announced a worldwide recall of nearly 870,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos to address problems with the brake system.

Ford issued two recalls involving nearly 435,000 vehicles. The first recall affects nearly 386,000 Ford Escape SUVs to fix rusty frame parts. The second recall warns consumers to replace improperly welded seat back frames on 49,000 cars, including the Ford Fusion, Lincoln MKZ, Ford Escape, and C-Max vehicles.

Toyota has announced the recall of 2.34 million vehicles in North America (6.39 million vehicles worldwide) due to several separate issues, including seats not locking properly, airbags not deploying, and faulty windshield wipers. The recall spans 27 Toyota models including the RAV4 SUV, Yaris, Corolla and Camry.

New Mandatory Recall Mailing Label

When sorting through your mail, sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between a legitimate manufacturer’s recall and junk mail. To address this issue, the NHTSA now requires all auto manufacturers to use a distinctive label, notifying owners of recalled vehicles or equipment.

“Recalls only work if consumers are aware of them,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “This new label will allow consumers to quickly recognize recall notices mailed to their homes so they can act quickly to get their vehicles, child restraints, tires, or other motor vehicle equipment fixed.”

 Consumers can also receive relevant notifications by utilizing a variety of online tools, such as:

• Email notifications  – Receive updates when register your cars, tires and car seats.
• Mobile Alerts – NHTSA’s Safercar mobile app sends recall information directly to Android and iPhone users and is available for both Apple devices and Android devices, or RSS feed. It provides information on crash test ratings and child seat installation locations.
• Check for Open Recalls on Used Cars – The NHTSA’s website, www.safercar.gov, provides a general search tool to help consumers identify recalls that may affect their vehicle. Later this year, a VIN look-up will be available on the site when a new NHTSA mandate goes into effect making it easier for consumers to access this information.

Remember, no matter how you hear about a vehicle recall, don’t ignore it—follow up with your dealer.