When you have an issue with your vehicle, from check engine lights coming on to major breakdowns, it can be a very stressful thing. You’re wondering how much it is going to cost you, what other problems your auto mechanic will find with your vehicle while they’re in there and how long you’ll be stranded without your vehicle. When you receive a vehicle recall in the mail, those can be stressful, too. Sometimes they’re just minor fixes and other times, they’re serious issues that could pose a major risk to you and your passengers if they aren’t addressed right away.

If a problem or negative trend is discovered that may be safety related and a recall is issued, the vehicle manufacturer must notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Association NHTSA of the recall. Once the NHTSA has been notified of the recall, the manufacturer has 60 days to notify car owners of the recall. Recalls have become a common issue in recent years. In 2015, more than 52 million recalls were issued in the United States, and that number is expected to climb in subsequent years. With so many complex parts of a vehicle, things are bound to go wrong.

A recent article in Your Mechanic by Jason Unrau, talks about how to handle a vehicle recall and what you’ll need to know throughout the repair process. Sure, recalls don’t usually cost you money, but they do take time. One of the most common consumer complaints is that bringing a recall to a dealership takes a very long time. Most recalls must be performed at the dealership so they can be recorded, the quality can be monitored, and recalled parts can be made available to the manufacturer for inspection. With many customers in the same situation, it could take weeks or even months to settle a recall situation in some circumstances.

People react in different ways to a recall; anger, frustration, complacency, or filing them away to never look at them again. However, it is important to promptly address any recall notices you may receive. Jason Unrau urges recipients of recalls to first confirm the recall applies to your vehicle by checking the VIN number, then determine if you have to pay for the recall, and third, contact your dealership service department right away. Have the recall completed and stay safe on the road.

We also urge you to regularly have our preventative maintenance services performed. You’ll be able to maintain your vehicle and save on major repairs and maybe even keep your vehicle running so that a recall doesn’t cause even more harm. Big or small … we do it all.