Keep me logged in until I sign out. The recall system identifies defective automobiles that are already on the road, by notifying car owners about how to get them fixed. Generally, it includes defects that affect the car's safety, cause it to fall below federal safety standards, or both, and that are common to a group of the same kind of cars or equipment. The defect can be in performance, construction, components, or materials found in the car or in related equipment, such as child safety seats.
Many recalls result from the manufacturer's response to owner complaints.
The manufacturer must either remedy the defect or launch its own defect investigation. The manufacturer must remedy the defect for free. This does not apply when the first buyer bought the car more than eight years earlier. In comparison, the standard for tires is three years. The manufacturer has the option of repairing the defect, replacing the car, or refunding the purchase price.