How Will I Be Notified if a Recall Is Ordered or Initiated?

Within a reasonable time after the determination of a safety defect or noncompliance, manufacturers must notify, by first-class mail, all registered owners and purchasers of the affected vehicles of the existence of the problem and give an evaluation of its risk to motor vehicle safety. The manufacturer must explain to consumers the potential safety hazards presented by the problem. Names of vehicle owners are obtained from state motor vehicle offices. The letter must instruct consumers on how to get the problem corrected, remind them that corrections are to be made at no charge, inform them when the remedy will be available, how long the remedy will take to perform, and whom to contact if there is a problem in obtaining the free recall work.

If you do not receive a letter of notification from the manufacturer but think that your vehicle might be involved in a recall campaign, call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (888-327-4236, 1-800-424-9393), log onto the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov or contact the manufacturer or your dealer. Manufacturers of motor vehicle equipment, particularly tire and child safety seats, maintain lists of owners who have registered their products with the manufacturer. When a recall of these items is initiated, the manufacturer uses that list to directly notify these owners of a recall. In addition, manufacturers of these products as well as other equipment are required to notify the public of recalls through various methods (i.e. advertisements, point of purchase posters, etc.) to ensure that as many owners as possible are aware of the recalls. If you are unsure whether your tire or child safety seat is the subject of a recall, you may contact the manufacturer, call the Vehicle Safety Hotline, or log onto the NHTSA web site.