Things to Know About Car Recalls

What You Should Know About Car Recalls 

What is a car recall? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a recall is necessary when a motor vehicle or piece of motor-vehicle equipment does not comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard or there is a safety-related defect in the vehicle or equipment.  

The U.S. Code for Motor Vehicle Safety states that a defect includes “any defect in performance, construction, a component, or material of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment.”  

Manufacturers are required to send a notification letter to any customers who are affected by a recall through the mail. This letter will generally include, among other information, a description of the safety defect and direction on options available to the vehicle owner . Once a safety-defect determination is made, the law generally gives the manufacturer three options for correcting the defect, according to the NHTSA:     

• Repair the vehicle at no charge  
• Replace the vehicle with an identical or similar vehicle  
• Refund the purchase price in full, minus a reasonable allowance for depreciation     

Those who suspect that their vehicle may have been recalled can do a recall check on the NHTSA website, where they’ll find a list of vehicle recalls. To search that database, they’ll need a vehicle identification number (VIN).  

Hurt in a Recalled Car? Call William Mattar

If you were injured in a car crash stemming from a defect in a recalled vehicle, we may be able to help. The experienced motor vehicle accident attorneys at William Mattar, P.C., can review your case and help determine your options moving forward. You can contact us 24/7 by submitting a contact form online or by calling (844) 444-4444.