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Table of Contents

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Recalls. . . . . 2

When Is a Recall Necessary?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

What Is a Safety-Related Defect?. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Examples of Defects Considered

Safety-Related . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Examples of Defects NOT Considered

Safety-Related . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

How Can I Report a Safety Problem

to NHTSA?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

How Will My Report Be Used?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Will I Be Contacted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

How Many Reports Must Be Filed

Before NHTSA Investigates an Issue?. . . . . . . . . . 7

How Does NHTSA Conduct

an Investigation?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

What Happens When NHTSA

Determines a Safety Defect Exists?. . . . . . . . . . . . 9

If NHTSA Makes a Final Decision, Can the

Manufacturer Challenge That Decision?. . . . . . . 10

Do Manufacturers Ever Initiate Recalls

without a Government Order?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

How Will I Be Notified if a Recall Is

Ordered or Initiated? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

How Are Problems with Recalled

Vehicles or Equipment Remedied?. . . . . . . . . . . 12

If I Pay for Needed Repairs before

a Recall Is Ordered, Am I Entitled

to Reimbursement? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Are There Any Limitations to

My Right to Have a Recalled Vehicle

Remedied at No Charge? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

What About Tire Recalls?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

What If I’m Denied the Right to Have a

Recalled Vehicle Remedied at No Charge?. . . . . 14

Once a Recall Is Initiated, Can I Take

Independent Legal Action for Injuries

I May Have Suffered?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Where Can I Find Additional

Resources on Recalls and Other

Vehicle Safety Issues?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

What Every Vehicle Owner Should Know

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Introduction

Approximately 42,000 lives are lost annually on our

Nation’s highways. Traffic crashes are the primary

cause of debilitating injuries in the United States

and the number one killer of Americans under the

age of 34. In addition to staggering emotional costs,

the annual economic loss to society because of these

crashes, in terms of worker productivity, medical

costs, insurance costs, etc., is estimated at more than

$150 billion. Clearly, there is a need for dramatic

improvement in motor vehicle safety. Getting unsafe

vehicles off the road is integral to improving safety

and saving lives. 

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act

(originally enacted in 1966 and now recodified as

49 U.S.C. Chapter 301) gives the Department of

Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) the authority to issue

vehicle safety standards and to require manufacturers

to recall vehicles that have safety-related defects

or do not meet Federal safety standards. Since

then, more than 390 million cars, trucks, buses,

recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and mopeds, as

well as 46 million tires, 66 million pieces of motor

vehicle equipment, and 42 million child safety seats

have been recalled to correct safety defects. 

Manufacturers voluntarily initiate many of these

recalls, while others are either influenced by NHTSA

investigations or ordered by NHTSA via the courts. 

If a safety defect is discovered, the manufacturer

must notify NHTSA, as well as vehicle or equipment

owners, dealers, and distributors. The manufacturer is

then required to remedy the problem at no charge to

the owner. NHTSA is responsible for monitoring the

manufacturer’s corrective action to ensure successful

completion of the recall campaign. 


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Purpose

The purpose of this booklet is to answer the most

commonly asked questions about how and why recall

campaigns are initiated, and to inform consumers of

their rights and responsibilities when a vehicle or

item of motor vehicle equipment is recalled. In these

pages, you’ll discover how to report a safety-related

problem to NHTSA, as well as how participation

by citizens like you helps to keep motor vehicles

as safe as possible. See the following section

for comprehensive answers to some of the most

frequently asked questions (FAQs) NHTSA receives

on recalls. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

(FAQs) on Recalls

When Is a Recall Necessary?

➧ When a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle

equipment (including tires) does not comply with a

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.

➧ When there is a safety-related defect in the vehicle

or equipment.

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards set minimum

performance requirements for those parts of the

vehicle that most affect its safe operation (brakes,

tires, lighting) or that protect drivers and passengers

from death or serious injury in the event of a crash

(air bags, safety belts, child restraints, energy

absorbing steering columns, motorcycle helmets). 

These Federal Standards are applicable to all vehicles

and vehicle-related equipment manufactured or

imported for sale in the United States (including

U.S. territories) and certified for use on public roads

and highways.

What Is a Safety-Related Defect?

The United States Code for Motor Vehicle Safety

(Title 49, Chapter 301) defines motor vehicle safety

as “the performance of a motor vehicle or motor

vehicle equipment in a way that protects the public
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against unreasonable risk of accidents occurring

because of the design, construction, or performance

of a motor vehicle, and against unreasonable risk

of death or injury in an accident, and includes

nonoperational safety of a motor vehicle.” A defect

includes “any defect in performance, construction,

a component, or material of a motor vehicle or motor

vehicle equipment.” Generally, a safety defect is

defined as a problem that exists in a motor vehicle or

item of motor vehicle equipment that:

➧ poses a risk to motor vehicle safety, and

➧ may exist in a group of vehicles of the same design

or manufacture, or items of equipment of the same

type and manufacture.

Examples of Defects Considered 

Safety-Related

➧ Steering components that break suddenly, causing

partial or complete loss of vehicle control.

➧ Problems with fuel system components, particularly

in their susceptibility to crash damage, which result

in leakage of fuel and may cause vehicle fires.

➧ Accelerator controls that break or stick.

➧ Wheels that crack or break, which may result in

loss of vehicle control.

➧ Engine cooling fan blades that break unexpectedly,

causing injury to people working on a vehicle.

➧ Windshield wiper assemblies that fail to operate

properly.

➧ Seats and/or seat backs that fail unexpectedly

during normal use.

➧ Critical vehicle components that break, fall apart,

or separate from the vehicle, causing potential

loss of vehicle control or injury to people inside or

outside the vehicle.

➧ Wiring system problems that result in a fire or loss

of lighting.

➧ Car ramps or jacks that may collapse and cause

injury to someone working on a vehicle.

➧ Air bags that deploy under conditions for which

they are not intended to deploy.


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➧ Child safety seats that contain defective safety

belts, buckles, or components that create a risk of

injury not only in a vehicle crash, but also in the

nonoperational safety of a motor vehicle.

Examples of Defects Not Considered 

Safety Related 

➧ Air conditioners and radios that do not operate

properly.

➧ Ordinary wear of equipment that has to be inspected, maintained, and replaced periodically. Such

equipment includes shock absorbers, batteries,

brake pads and shoes, and exhaust systems.

➧ Nonstructural or body panel rust.

➧ Quality of paint or cosmetic blemishes.

➧ Excessive oil consumption.

How Can I Report a Safety Problem to 

NHTSA?

If you think your vehicle or equipment may have a

safety defect, reporting it to NHTSA is an important

first step to take to get the situation remedied and

make our roads safer. If the agency receives similar

reports from a number of people about the same product, this could indicate that a safety-related defect

may exist that would warrant the opening of an investigation. In order to make it convenient for consumers

to report any suspected safety defects to NHTSA, the

agency offers three ways to file such complaints. 

Vehicle Safety Hotline

NHTSA operates the U.S. Department of

Transportation’s (DOT) Vehicle Safety Hotline telephone service to collect accurate and timely information from consumers on vehicle safety problems. You

can call 1-888-327-4236 or 1-800-424-9393 toll free

from anywhere in the United States, Puerto Rico, and

the Virgin Islands to register complaints or receive

recall information about a vehicle. The Hotline also

has Spanish-speaking representatives and offers a

dedicated number, 1-800-424-9153, for use by persons with hearing impairments. 
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When you call the Hotline to report a vehicle-related

safety issue, you will be asked to provide certain

critical information that agency technical staff needs

to evaluate the problem. The information you provide

is filed on a Vehicle Owner’s Questionnaire (VOQ),

entered into the agency’s consumer-complaint database, and forwarded to NHTSA technical staff for

evaluation. 

VOQs filed through the Hotline will be mailed to you

for verification of data. In addition, you will receive

an explanation of how your report will be used, as

well as a request for written authorization allowing

NHTSA to provide your personal identifiers (e.g.,

name, address and telephone number) to the manufacturer of the alleged defective product you own. 

Note that you are not required to provide such authorization. However, sometimes sharing this information

with the manufacturer can help facilitate the recall

process. 

Safercar.gov

You can also report a vehicle safety issue to NHTSA

online at our vehicle safety Web site: www.safercar.

gov. Select “File a Complaint” within the Defects and

Recalls section of the home page. The information

you submit via the Web site is recorded in VOQ format, entered into our consumer complaint database,

and provided to our technical staff for evaluation.

When you fill out a VOQ online, you will be given

the option of checking a box to authorize or not

authorize the release of your personal identifiers to

the manufacturer of the alleged defective product you

own. Again, while you are not required to provide

such authorization, doing so can sometimes help

facilitate the recall process. 

U.S. Mail

To report a safety complaint to NHTSA by mail, send

your letter to:

U.S. Department of Transportation

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Office of Defects Investigation (NVS-210)

400 Seventh Street SW.

Washington, DC 20590


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How Will My Report Be Used?

Information you provide on the questionnaire is

entered into the NHTSA consumer complaint

automated database, and catalogued according to

vehicle make, model, model year, manufacturer, and

the affected part, assembly, or system. These reports,

with the consumer’s personal identifiers removed, are

listed on www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems and

updated weekly. Citizen and consumer reports help

NHTSA and manufacturers to determine if a safety

recall is warranted, and also provide motorists with

valuable information about potential safety problems

currently under review. 

Will I Be Contacted?

In some cases, an investigator from the Office of

Defects Investigation (ODI) may call to clarify or

verify information from your report. Unfortunately,

the large volume of reports received by the agency

does not permit a return call for each report filed. 

Questions about whether your concern involves

an investigation or recall are best answered by

contacting the DOT Vehicle Safety Hotline or by

viewing our Web site.

NHTSA technical staff conducts a continuous analysis

of these reports to determine whether an unusual

number of complaints of potential safety-related

problems have been received on any specific line of

vehicles, tires, or equipment (e.g., child safety seats,

jacks, trailer hitches, etc.). The number of reported

complaints and the severity of the consequences

are carefully reviewed by technical staff and

measured against the number of vehicles (or items of

equipment) manufactured, and how many years the

vehicles or equipment have been in service. 

This ongoing evaluation process allows NHTSA

technical staff to determine whether complaints

represent isolated reports or a trend. If a trend is

suspected and a problem has a potential for causing

a risk to safety, the agency will open an investigation

for more detailed analysis of the problem.
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How Many Reports Must Be Filed Before 

NHTSA Investigates an Issue?

There is no established number. Agency technical

experts review each and every call, letter, and online

report of an alleged safety problem filed with NHTSA. 

Although NHTSA has no jurisdiction over defects that

are not safety-related, it does review each report that

suggests a potential safety defect involving groups of

motor vehicles or vehicle equipment.

How Does NHTSA Conduct an Investigation?

The agency’s Office of Defects Investigation

investigative process consists of four parts:

➧ Screening – A preliminary review of consumer

complaints and other information related to alleged

defects to decide whether to open an investigation. 

➧ Petition Analysis – An analysis of any petitions

calling for defect investigations and/or reviews of

safety-related recalls. 

➧ Investigation – The investigation of alleged safety

defects. 

➧ Recall Management – Investigation of the

effectiveness of safety recalls.

This four-step process is outlined below:

1. Screening

Under the screening process, available information

– including but not limited to Vehicle Owner’s

Questionnaires (submitted through the Vehicle Safety

Hotline, Internet or U.S. Mail), e-mail, additional letters, anonymous reports, and manufacturer-submitted

information – is reviewed by the Defects Assessment

Division (DAD). DAD also reviews incoming service

bulletins and other documents prepared by the manufacturers to identify foreign safety recalls, customer

satisfaction campaigns, consumer advisories, and

similar campaigns that should have been conducted

as safety recalls in the United States. If DAD determines the available information indicates a safetyrelated trend or that a catastrophic failure is d

eveloping, this information is presented to a panel

of ODI staff for a recommendation on whether to

open a safety defect investigation.


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2. Petition Analyses

Any person may submit a petition requesting NHTSA

to open an investigation into an alleged safety defect. 

After conducting a technical analysis of such a

petition, ODI informs the petitioner whether it has

been granted or denied. If the petition is granted,

a defect investigation is opened. If the petition is

denied, the reasons for the denial are published in

the Federal Register. Similarly, a person may submit

a petition requesting NHTSA to hold a hearing

on whether a manufacturer has reasonably met its

obligation to notify and/or remedy a safety defect or

noncompliance with a Federal motor vehicle safety

standard. If the petition is granted, a hearing is held

to assess the matter and decide what corrective action

should be taken. If the petition is denied, the reasons

for the denial are published in the Federal Register.

3. Investigation

Investigations are conducted in two phases: the

Preliminary Evaluation and the Engineering Analysis. 

➧ Preliminary Evaluation (PE)

Most PEs are opened on the basis of information

submitted by DAD, but they may be opened on the

basis of other information as well. During the PE

phase, ODI obtains information from the manufacturer

(including, but not limited to, data on complaints,

crashes, injuries, warranty claims, modifications, and

part sales) and determines whether further analysis

is warranted. At this stage, the manufacturer has an

opportunity to present its views regarding the alleged

defect. PEs are generally resolved within four months

from the date they are opened. They are either

closed on the basis that further investigation is not

warranted, or because the manufacturer has decided

to conduct a recall. In the event that ODI believes

further analysis is warranted, the PE is upgraded to

an Engineering Analysis.

➧ Engineering Analysis (EA)

During an EA, ODI conducts a more detailed and

complete analysis of the character and scope of the

alleged defect. The EA builds on information collected during the PE and supplements it with appropriate
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inspections, tests, surveys, and additional information

obtained from the manufacturer and suppliers. ODI

attempts to resolve all EAs within one year from the

date they are opened, but some complex investigations require more time. At the conclusion of the EA,

the investigation may be closed if the manufacturer

has notified the agency that it will conduct a safety

recall or if the agency has not identified a safetyrelated defect. However, if ODI believes that the

data developed indicates that a safety-related defect

exists, the ODI investigator prepares a briefing to be

presented to a panel of experts from throughout the

agency for peer review. If the agency panel concurs

with ODI’s recommen-dation that a recall should be

conducted, ODI notifies the manufacturer of the panel’s concurrence and may, if appropriate, provide a

final opportunity for the manufacturer to present new

analysis or data. ODI then sends a Recall Request

Letter to the manufacturer.

4. Recall Management

The Recall Management Division (RMD) maintains

the administrative records for all safety recalls, and

monitors these recalls to ensure that the scope is

appropriate, and that the recall completion rate and

remedy are adequate. NHTSA’s monitoring of recall

performance may lead to the opening of a recall

investigation if the facts appear to indicate a problem

with the recall adequacy or execution. A recall

investigation can result in expanding the scope of

previously announced recalls, or in the adjustment of

existing recall remedies.

What Happens When NHTSA Determines a 

Safety Defect Exists?

If the manufacturer declines to conduct a recall in

response to the Recall Request Letter, the Associate

Administrator for Enforcement may issue an Initial

Decision that a safety-related defect exists. An Initial

Decision will be followed by a Public Meeting, at

which the manufacturer and interested members of

the public can present information and arguments on

the issue. Prior to the Public Meeting, the manufacturer is sent copies of all information on which the
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Government’s decision is based. A copy of the file is

also made available for public inspection in the agency’s Technical Information Services (TIS) Office. 

During the meeting itself, the manufacturer may

attempt to refute the Government’s evidence in

addition to presenting new information. Public

interest groups, other manufacturers, trade

associations, and consumers may also present

information that will be considered and evaluated by

NHTSA’s Administrator in making a final decision

on whether a safety-related defect exists. The entire

investigative record is then presented to NHTSA’s

Administrator, who may issue a Final Decision that

a safety defect exists and order the manufacturer to

conduct a recall.

If NHTSA Makes a Final Decision, Can the 

Manufacturer Challenge That Decision?

Yes. Once the agency has made a final decision of a

safety-related defect and ordered a manufacturer to

recall, the manufacturer may challenge that order in a

Federal District Court.

The agency can also go to court to compel a

manufacturer to comply with its order. Once a case

is in court, the burden of proof lies with the agency. 

In other words, the agency’s evidence that a defect

exists and that it is safety-related must be sufficient

in the opinion of the court to outweigh evidence to the

contrary presented by the manufacturer.

While the case is in the courts, however, the

manufacturer may be required to notify consumers by

letter that the agency did make a final decision of a

safety defect, but that the manufacturer is contesting

the decision.

Do Manufacturers Ever Initiate Recalls 

without a Government Order?

Yes. Most decisions to conduct a recall and remedy a

safety defect are made voluntarily by manufacturers

prior to any involvement by NHTSA. Through their

own tests, inspection procedures, and informationgathering systems, manufacturers often discover

that a safety defect exists or that the requirements
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of a Federal safety standard have not been met. The

manufacturer is obligated to report such findings to

the Government and take appropriate action to correct

the problem. However, as vehicles age with use,

certain design and performance problems may occur

that prompt vehicle owners to file complaints with

NHTSA. The many reports received by the public

form the basis for NHTSA’s defect investigations,

which often result in significant safety recalls.

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 also 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 vehicle

manufacturer but think that your vehicle might be

involved in a recall campaign, call the Vehicle Safety

Hotline at 888-327-4236 or 800-424-9393, visit the

NHTSA www.safercar.gov Web site, or contact the

manufacturer or your dealer. 

Manufacturers of motor vehicle equipment,

particularly tires and child safety seats, maintain lists

of owners who have registered their products with the

manufacturer. When product or equipment recalls are

initiated, the manufacturer uses these lists to directly

notify owners. Product and equipment manufacturers

may also be required to notify the public of recalls

through a variety of additional methods (e.g.,

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
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contact the manufacturer, call the Vehicle Safety

Hotline, or log onto www.safercar.gov and click on

“Check for Recalls.”

How Are Problems with Recalled Vehicles or 

Equipment Remedied? 

Once a safety-defect determination is made, the law

gives the manufacturer three options for correcting

the defect – repair, replacement, or refund. In the

case of a vehicle recall, the manufacturer may choose

to repair the vehicle at no charge; replace the vehicle

with an identical or similar vehicle; or refund the

purchase price in full, minus a reasonable allowance

for depreciation. In the case of equipment, including

tires and child safety seats, the manufacturer may

either repair or replace the affected equipment at no

charge to the consumer. 

If I Pay for Needed Repairs before a Recall Is 

Initiated, Am I Entitled to Reimbursement?

Yes, under certain conditions. Manufacturers are

required to provide reimbursement for certain costs

incurred by owners to remedy safety defect conditions

prior to a recall. Vehicle manufacturers are required

to reimburse owners for costs incurred to remedy a

defect based on either (1) the date NHTSA opens

its Engineering Analysis, or (2) one year prior to the

manufacturer’s notification of a defect to NHTSA,

whichever is earlier. The closing date of eligibility for

reimbursement of repair of a motor vehicle is 10 days

after the manufacturer mails the last of the owner

notices informing owners of a safety defect recall and

cost-free remedy. For replacement of equipment, the

closing date is either the same as for motor vehicles

or 30 days after the manufacturer’s closing of its

efforts to provide public notice of the existence of a

defect, whichever is later. Documentation of the costs

is required for reimbursement. While the current

reimbursement policy is a relatively new requirement,

manufacturers have in the past often voluntarily

agreed to absorb such costs, provided customers

could prove the pre-recall repairs remedied the defect

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Are There Any Limitations to My Right to 

Have My Vehicle Remedied at No Charge?

Yes. There is a limitation based on the age of the

vehicle. In order to be eligible for a free remedy, the

vehicle cannot be more than 10 years old on the date

the defect or noncompliance is determined. Under the

law, the age of the vehicle is calculated from the date

of sale to the first purchaser. For example, if a defect

is found in 2003 and a recall ordered, manufacturers

are required to make the correction available at no

charge only for vehicles purchased new in 1994

through 2003. However, consumers should realize

that even though manufacturers are not obligated

to remedy safety defects in older cars, a safety

problem might still exist. If you receive notification

of a defect on a vehicle older than 10 years, take the

responsibility to have your car repaired at your own

expense – and eliminate unnecessary safety risks.

Also, if the manufacturer challenges the agency’s

final decision of a safety defect, there is no obligation

for the manufacturer to remedy the defect while the

case is in court. If you decide to have your vehicle

remedied at your own expense while the case is

pending and the court upholds NHTSA’s final

decision, you may be entitled to reimbursement. (Be

sure to save all receipts and paperwork so that you

can prove the repairs were made.) However, if the

court ultimately rules the defect is not safety related,

Federal law does not require that the manufacturer

reimburse you for the repair work. 

What About Tire Recalls?

The law requires tire manufacturers to repair or

replace at no cost to the consumer only those

tires purchased within five years of the defect or

noncompliance determination. Furthermore, in order

to obtain free replacement or repair of a recalled tire,

consumers must bring the tire to the dealer within

60 days of receiving the recall notification letter from

the manufacturer. If replacements are not available

when you present your recalled tires, obtain a written

acknowledgment from the dealer, and keep it until the

dealer notifies you that there are more tires in stock.
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What if a Dealer Denies My Right to Have a 

Recalled Vehicle Remedied at No Charge? 

If a dealer refuses to repair your vehicle in

accordance with the recall letter you received from

the manufacturer, you should immediately notify the

manufacturer. In most cases, contractual agreements

between a manufacturer and its dealers require all

dealers to honor the recall and remedy defects at

no extra charge – regardless of where the vehicle or

equipment was originally purchased. 

Under the law, if a vehicle recall has been initiated,

consumers are entitled to the remedy without

charge and within a reasonable time. In most cases,

there will be a time lag between the date of the

manufacturer’s decision that a recall is warranted or

the agency’s final decision, and the date the remedy

is available to consumers. 

This time is provided to allow manufacturers to

identify owners of vehicles or equipment included

in the recall, develop remedial procedures, instruct

dealers on how to repair the defect, distribute the

parts necessary for repair or replacement to the

dealerships, and send letters to consumers informing

them how the recall campaign will be conducted. A

dealer is not required by law to remedy a defect in a

vehicle brought in for repair before this date. 

Although consumers demanding immediate correction

may feel they are not receiving satisfactory resolution

of the problem, there is no legal recourse available

at this stage – patience is the only alternative. In

instances where a manufacturer needs extended time

to develop a remedy, the agency may require the

manufacturer to send an interim notice to consumers

that contains any short-term actions that the

consumer may take to lessen the likelihood that the

defect will occur.
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Once a Recall Is Initiated, Can I Take 

Independent Legal Action for Injuries 

I May Have Suffered?

Yes. The law specifically states that the recall

remedies are in addition to other available legal

remedies. To determine specific State law remedies,

you should consult a lawyer, your State attorney

general, or your local district attorney’s office.

Where Can I Find Additional Information on 

Recalls and Other Vehicle Safety Issues?

Both the Hotline and the agency’s www.safercar.

gov Web site are designed to make it faster and

easier for you to file a safety-related complaint with

NHTSA. However, both also serve as important

sources of information about recalled vehicles,

recalled equipment such as child safety seats, and

ongoing safety defect investigations. In addition, the

Hotline and www.safercar.gov can provide you with

updated NHTSA 5-star crash test results for both new

and used vehicles, information about safety bulletins,

advice about which new vehicles are equipped with

side air bags and/or electronic stability control, and a

variety of other vehicle safety information.