Just last year, multiple car recalls have been made. Surely, you have seen all of them in the news. It is alarming. It make us shiver that millions of cars have a defect or two. And one problem in a car can raise the probability of accidents happening.
In addition, it is unfortunate that some recalls do not appear on news. And even if they do appear, missing it is always a possibility. Now, the question is: Are you sure your car is not one of the vehicles currently listed on recalls? How will you able to make sure?
It is always the manufacturers’ duty to notify their customers regarding car recalls. And usually, the main method that they employ to do just that is to send the recall message through snail mail. And that is good and all; however, if you relocated or you are not the original buyer of the car, you might miss the notification mail.
In case you have a pre-owned car, Transport Canada recommends that you register the vehicle in one of the car manufacturer’s dealers. This will assure you that you will notified whenever there are recalls that concern your vehicle.
What is in the mail anyway? The mail will inform you about the recall issuance, the reason the vehicle is being recalled, the solution to the problem, the time needed for it to be replaced/repaired, and the contact information of the people you need to get in touch if you have inquiries needed to be answered.
Recall Database
Transport Canada is the one who mostly deals and initiates vehicle recalls. Fortunately, for vehicle owners, Transport Canada has a recall database that they can access anytime. Here is a link to the recall database.
If you are planning to buy a new car, always make sure that you check the database for possible recalls for the vehicle you want to get. On the other hand, some manufacturers provide vehicle owners an easy way to check for recalls.
You can visit their site, and look for the recall section. Using the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of your car, you can search the manufacturer’s site if there is a certain issue or recall with your car.
What to Do in Case of a Recall
If your car has been recalled, be sure to contact your dealer. Of course, if you received a notification, be sure to follow the instructions indicated there. Nonetheless, getting an appointment with the dealer’s service department is the usual course of action.
Repair
Repair or replacement depends on the reason your car is being recalled. However, it is standard that your car will stay in the service department for investigation and for possible repair or replacement.
In case that the reason for the recall is a safety hazard, the manufacturer will always be the one who will shoulder the repair fees. Even if your car is already old, has a lot of mileage, and has an expired warranty, the manufacturer is responsible in making sure that the problem will be fixed without further inconvenience to you.
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