What To Do If Your Car Is Recalled

With a rise in the number of cars that manufacturers are recalling increasing year on year, should we be worried that they are producing more dangerous cars?

The fact that more cars are being recalled than ever before doesn’t actually suggest that cars are getting worse. In fact, it probably indicates that manufacturers are just becoming more cautious by recalling cars for faults that wouldn’t have previously merited such action.

Cars are recalled when there is a safety related problem; they cannot afford to not take matters seriously, either for short term compensation claims or from accidents or injuries caused by these faults.

Should I Be Worried If My Car Is Recalled?

Whilst there are some instances of cars being recalled for serious issues such as catching fire or airbag faults, most recalls are for small fixes to parts to ensure reliability, or to comply with emission regulations.

How Do Recalls Work?

If there is a problem, it is registered with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), authorising the DVLA to supply the details of all current owners to the relevant manufacturer.

Owners are then contacted directly by either phone, email or letter, where the manufacturer will explain how they will organise a repair at a dealer most convenient to them – free of charge or course.

How Long Does A Recall Take?

The length of time for the recall work to be done will depend entirely on the work that needs doing. It could be anything from a 5-minute fix to something that requires several hours. In extreme cases, the manufacturer might instruct you not to drive the car until the work has been completed.

If you are unsure whether your new or used car has ever been subject of a recall, you can always check at the VOSA recall search page.