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By Todd
A. Smith*
This time
of year, many Americans are taking advantage of dealer clearance
sales and low interest rates to purchase a new vehicle. If your
family is planning to buy an automobile, it is important to
be aware of any recent recalls that may apply to the vehicle.
The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible
for investigating and requiring companies to recall vehicles
or vehicle parts. Recalls can be issued for problems ranging
from faulty door latches to more dangerous issues, such as gas
leaks or brake malfunction.
Recent recalls include:
- Daimler
Chrysler AG: Faulty fuel tank filler valves were the cause
of a recall for 26,000 2005 Dodge Durangos on February 7,
2005. Fuel can leak from the vehicle if the valve is not closed.
- Ford
Focus: Ford recalled nearly 359,000 model 2000 to 2002 Focus
cars on February 6, 2005 because of a potential problem with
their rear door latches. If not latched properly, the rear
door can fly open while the car is moving.
- Ford
Trucks and SUVs: On January 27, 2005, Ford announced a recall
of approximately 792,000 model 2000 to 2001 pickups and SUVs
because of possible fire danger from the overheating of their
cruise control switches even while the ignition is off.
- General
Motors Corp.: GMC recalled over 87,000 Cadillacs from 2004
on January 20, 2005 because the front and roof rail airbags
may deploy inadvertently, possibly causing injury to the driver
and passengers.
Whom do
I ask to find out about a recall? To find out whether a vehicle,
tires, child safety seat or vehicle equipment is the subject
of a recall, you should contact the manufacturer, or call NHTSA
at 888-327-4236. You can also visit the NHTSA consumer safety
website at www.safercar.gov
and click on “Check for recalls.”
How does
the recall process work? It is the calls, letters, and e-mails
from consumers that lead to recalls. The NHTSA reviews each
complaint and compares it to other complaints. If a trend is
suspected and a problem has a potential for endangering consumers,
the agency will open an investigation to undertake a more detailed
analysis of the problem.
If NHTSA
believes the data indicates a safety-related defect exists,
the manufacturer is asked to conduct a recall. If the manufacturer
does not initiate a recall, the government can order a recall.
You can file a complaint at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
or call the DOT Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236),
and a NHTSA representative will record your complaint information.
How
will I know about a recall? When a recall is issued,
all registered owners and purchasers of the affected automobiles
are notified by first-class letter, which explains the extent
of the recall and gives an evaluation of its risk to motor vehicle
safety. The letter must also instruct buyers on how to get the
problem corrected, state that corrections are to be made at
no charge, inform them when the remedy will be available, how
long it will take, and whom to contact if there is a problem
in obtaining the free recall work.
Remember,
if a safety-related defect exists in a motor vehicle or an item
of motor vehicle equipment that you bought, the manufacturer
must fix it at no cost to you or your family.
Register
that car seat! If you buy auto-related equipment, such
as tires or child safety seats, it is very important that you
register your purchase with the manufacturer so they can notify
you as soon as possible in the event of a recall. Names of owners
of motor vehicle equipment are typically only available to manufacturers
if consumers have registered their products with the manufacturer.
Manufacturers of these products are required to notify the public
of recalls through various methods (such as advertisements and
in-store displays) to ensure as many owners as possible are
aware of the recalls.
For more
information on vehicle recalls and automobile and highway safety,
go to the NHTSA’s Web site at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/.
For more health and safety information and tips, please visit
AAJ's "Keep Our Families Safe" Web site at http://familysafety.AAJ.org.
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