The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is hosting Vehicle Safety Recalls Week from March 8-12, 2021. The event coincides with the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, which occurs Sunday, March 14, 2021. Twice a year, as Americans set their clocks forward and back, we work to remind drivers to use this time to also check their Vehicle Identification Number for open safety recalls using NHTSA’s user-friendly VIN Look-Up Tool. This web-based portal allows checks for open safety recalls for vehicles or automotive equipment, such as tires and car seats. 

Keeping up-to-date on safety recalls is an important part of vehicle maintenance that motorists should make a priority. AAA encourages vehicle owners to heed NHTSA’s advice for their own safety. “We want to remind all drivers that recalls are easy to check, free to check, and free to repair,” said Dr. Steven Cliff of the Department of Transportation. “Remember: Every vehicle recall is serious and affects your safety. If you have an open safety recall, do not delay in making an appointment to get the recall fixed immediately and for free.” 

Checking Your VIN
Checking your VIN is easy: The 17-digit number is located on the lower portion of your car’s windshield on the driver’s side. It may also be on your car’s registration card, or on your insurance card. Enter this number into the search bar at NHTSA.gov/recalls and, in seconds, you'll know if your vehicle is subject to an open safety recall. If your vehicle is affected by a safety recall, contact your dealer to schedule a recall repair as soon as possible. All recall repairs at your local dealership are free. This tool also provides details on any unrepaired recall in your vehicle for at least the past 15 calendar years. An urgent air bag recall is still ongoing, currently the largest vehicle recall in U.S. history. Check to see if your car is affected.

Staying Ahead of Recalls
Once you’ve checked your VIN for an open recall, sign up for Recall Alerts. If your vehicle is included in a future recall, you’ll receive an email letting you know. The VIN Look-Up Tool also provides details on unrepaired safety recalls from major automakers, motorcycle manufacturers, and some medium/heavy truck manufacturers. You can also search for open recalls on your car seats, tires, and other vehicle-related equipment. To help make life a little easier, download NHTSA’s updated SaferCar app to stay informed about your vehicle. Once in the app, enter the vehicle’s VIN, as well as your car seats, tires, or any other automotive equipment information, and NHTSA will send you an alert if a safety recall is issued on them.

Think of the SaferCar app as your virtual garage. Once you download the app — available for iOS and Android — you can add any vehicle or related equipment, like tires, trailers, and car seats. SaferCar notifies you of all related recalls, even directing you to local dealerships, so you can quickly make an appointment and get it fixed for free. 

This Is Serious Business
Every recall matters. Why? In 2020, there were 886 safety recalls affecting 55 million vehicles and other equipment in the United States, but a quarter of vehicle recalls are unrepaired. This puts drivers, passengers, and others on the road at risk.
If you think your vehicle may have a safety-related defect that isn’t part of a current recall, contact NHTSA online or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. Even one complaint is enough to trigger a safety recall.

For more information on NHTSA’s Vehicle Recalls Safety Week, visit NHTSA.gov/Recalls.