Safe cars save lives: Drivers should check their vehicle during Vehicle Safety Recalls Week

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) mission is simple: Keep people safe on America’s roadways. One way we can all be assured that our vehicles are as safe as possible is by raising awareness of Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, which is March 4-10, 2024. NHTSA Region 7, which includes Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska is taking this opportunity to remind drivers to check their vehicles for open safety recalls. In 2022 alone, there were 1,050 safety recalls affecting more than 31 million vehicles and other automotive equipment in the United States.
“Checking for recalls is quick, easy, and best of all, free,” said NHTSA Region 7 Administrator Susan DeCourcy. “During Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, we are urging everyone to take a few minutes to check for any open safety recall on vehicles, tires, car seats, and other vehicle-related equipment. Remember that every vehicle recall is important and should be repaired immediately. Staying diligent will help keep everyone safe on the roadways. One easy way to remember to check a vehicle’s recall status is knowing that Vehicle Safety Recalls Week always coincides with the start of Daylight-Saving Time, which is Sunday, March 10 this year.”
Simple Ways to Stay Current with Recalls
NHTSA has multiple ways to stay informed about open safety recalls:
Drivers can use the free, user-friendly Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Look-Up Tool, located at NHTSA.gov/recalls. This web tool allows vehicle owners to check for open safety recalls on their vehicles or automotive equipment.
Drivers can sign up for Recall Alerts. If their vehicle is included in a future recall, they’ll receive an email letting them know. NHTSA’s free web recalls tool will provide details on any unrepaired recall for a vehicle during the past 15 calendar years. It will also provide details on unrepaired safety recalls from major automakers, motorcycle manufacturers, and some medium/heavy truck manufacturers.
Drivers can check for open safety recalls by downloading NHTSA’s free SaferCar app. Once in the app, drivers can enter their vehicle’s VIN and NHTSA will send an alert if a safety recall is issued on their vehicle. Think of the SaferCar app as a virtual garage: Upon downloading the app — available for iOS and Android — any vehicle or related equipment, like tires, trailers, and car seats can be added. SaferCar sends notifications for all related recalls and even directs drivers to local dealerships. This ensures they can quickly make an appointment and get their vehicle fixed quickly and for free.

Checking for recalls is free and easy. All vehicle owners need is their VIN, located on the lower portion of the windshield on the driver’s side. The VIN is also located on registration cards and possibly auto insurance cards.
Stay Recall Aware Every Day
Even with alerts and warnings emailed or mailed by manufacturers, millions of recalled vehicles go unrepaired each year. This puts drivers, passengers, and other road users at risk. For example, an urgent airbag recall, currently the largest vehicle recall in U.S. history, has resulted in 27 deaths so far in the U.S. alone. This recall is still ongoing due to unrepaired vehicles that are still on the road today.
If a driver believes their vehicle may have a safety-related defect that isn’t part of a current recall, contact NHTSA online at NHTSA.gov or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. Sometimes just one complaint is enough to trigger a safety recall.
While Vehicle Safety Recalls Week is a great reminder to keep drivers’ vehicles up-to-date on safety recalls, the awareness doesn’t have to stop there. If everyone takes advantage of NHTSA’s free resources — the VIN Look-Up Tool and the SaferCar app — they will be covered every day of the year.
For more information on NHTSA’s Vehicle Recalls, visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls.