51 Million U.S. Vehicles Recalled in 2015
"Millions of vehicles are recalled every year. Old, new, used, or leased – one of those recalled vehicles could be yours," NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind said. "Check your VIN – Safe Cars Save Lives."
NHTSA announced the launch of a "Safe Cars Save Lives" public service campaign on Jan. 21 to urge U.S. consumers to check for open recalls at least twice a year and get their vehicles fixed as soon as parts are available. The reason is simple: There were 51 million vehicles recalled nationwide last year, and an average of 25 percent of recalled vehicles are not repaired, meaning nearly 13 million in 2015.
"Recalls are a serious safety issue that should be promptly addressed," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "An informed consumer is one of our strongest allies in ensuring recalled vehicles are repaired. Do not wait to act if your car is under recall and the parts are available."
The campaign features online banner ads that urge consumers to get into the habit of checking their vehicle identification number at least twice a year using NHTSA's free VIN look-up tool. To remember to check, NHTSA suggests timing it with daylight savings in November when setting your clocks back and in March when setting your clocks forward. If there is an open recall, owners should contact their local dealer to schedule an appointment and bring their vehicle in for repair as soon as possible.
"Safe Cars Save Lives is a critical effort for building public awareness of recalls and is the first national campaign aimed at empowering vehicle owners," NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind said. "Millions of vehicles are recalled every year. Old, new, used, or leased – one of those recalled vehicles could be yours. Check your VIN – Safe Cars Save Lives."