Repair And Fix it

home» auto » defect » recalls » Auto Defect Recalls

---

Auto Defect Recalls

In 1966, the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act gave the Department of Transportations National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) authority over safety-related auto defect recalls. NHTSA is charged with investigating consumer complaints regarding auto defects and managing the recall process when defects pose safety hazards or when part of the vehicle doesnt comply with federal safety standards.

Recall Initiation

Many recalls are initiated voluntarily by the manufacturer, after the manufacturer discovers through its own testing or consumer complaints that a safety defect exists. Other times, recalls dont happen until the NHTSA gets involved to investigate. If a manufacturer does not recall the defective vehicles willingly, NHTSA may obtain a court order requiring that the manufacturer recall the affected vehicles.

Notification Letters

Whichever way a recall is initiated, the manufacturer must attempt to notify registered vehicle owners of the safety defect and offer to repair the problem at no charge. Recall notification letters must be sent by first-class mail and are required to describe the defect and the safety risk posed by the problem and describe the offer for free repair including when the remedy will be available and an approximation of how long repairs will take.

Examples of Safety-Related Auto Defects

Safety-related auto defects are ones that pose risk of injury to owners of many or all of a certain vehicle make, model or equipment design. Examples include steering component defects that could result in a driver losing control of the vehicle, sticky accelerator controls that could cause a crash and wiring system problems that could result in a fire.