General Motors has just made its third vehicle recall in the last seven years. According to news
reports, many GM vehicles are leaking oil and catching fire. Garages and homes have been
damaged in some cases, and “More than 1,300 cars caught fire after they were fixed by dealers,
the company said.” In most cases, the fires started not long after the engines were turned off.
This is not the only vehicle recall in the news lately. Fiat Chrysler is recalling Ram pickups and
Jeep Cherokees. And Mazda has its own recent recall, affecting millions of vehicles.
Automakers often send recall notices to owners when parts need to be replaced and repairs made.
The defects might be cosmetic, such as paint chipping off vehicles; or they may be responsible
for injuries and loss of life. In any event, whenever your vehicle is recalled, you will do well to
heed the warning. Even if your safety is not at risk, the company will pay for the work on your
car.
Unfortunately, many vehicle owners never get their recalled vehicles fixed. Some of them ignore
the recall, in which case it is their own fault if something bad happens. But not all affected
owners hear about the recall, and that is a problem. It is an even bigger problem with defective
tires, as news yesterday showed that there is no effective system to let owners know that their
tires are not safe. And drivers and passengers are dying because of it.
This is good reminder of how important it is to check out any vehicles you are considering
buying, whether new or used. You should check the Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, to
see if there is a recall on the car. And you can register your tires with the manufacturer. NBC
News says that “Registering tires requires sending your name, address and tire identification
number with the company that made it. The number is on the tire sidewall and starts with the
letters DOT.”
Yes, there should be a better way for this reporting to take place when you buy the tires. But for
now, it is up to you. Even if you are not yet of driving age, your diligence could save your life
and those of your family members and other passengers, as well as others you encounter on the
road.
(Please also see our previous blog entry, Check for Defects When Buying a Used Car. Links to
all stories referred to in this entry appear below.)
READERS, what do you think?
1. How safe do you feel in your current vehicle? Your family’s vehicle?
2. Have you known anyone who had a safety problem with their car? Was it recalled? Were
they notified of the recall?
3. How would you deal with any safety issues you encounter with your vehicle?
References:
Associated Press. (2015, October 22). Mazda Recalls 4.9M Older Vehicles Over Ignition Switch
Fire Risk. NBC News. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/mazda-recalls-4-9m-older-vehicles-over-ignition-
switch-fire-n449331.
Associated Press. (2015, October 27). GM Recalls 1.4M Older Vehicles for Fire Risk After
Earlier Fix Fails. NBC News. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/gm-recalls-1-4m-older-vehicles-fire-risk-after-earlier-
n452361.
Blackman, J., & Gardella, R. (2015, October 27). System to Recall Defective Tires ‘Completely
Broken,’ Says Official. NBC News. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/system-recall-defective-tires-completely-broken-say-
officials-n452506.
Reuters. (2015, October 27). Fiat Chrysler Recalls Ram Pickups, Jeep Cherokees for Different
Issues. NBC News. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/fiat-chrysler-recalls-ram-pickups-jeep-cherokees-
different-issues-n452106.
