Did you know millions of cars are recalled every year? Car recalls can be serious, and if your car has been recalled, it could be due to safety or reliability concerns. If you’re worried about car recalls, our guide below gives you all the information you need. We’re answering all your burning questions, from ‘Is there a recall on my car?’ to ‘What is a recall on a car?’ We’re here to help you! Read on for all things car recall and how to find out if you’ve been affected.
What is recall on a car?
Car recalls are preventative measures to fix issues with an already manufactured car. Manufacturers may recall a car if they find the car has a safety defect which needs to be fixed. Usually, thousands of cars are affected if they are recalled, and it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure the defect is corrected. If your car is recalled, the manufacturer is required to have the issue fixed for you, for free, typically at a dealership.
Has my car been recalled?
If your car has been recalled, the manufacturer will contact you via a letter sent to the registered keeper. The letter will detail the reason for the recall and the next steps you need to take. Usually, this will be to contact your nearest dealership and have the recall fixed for free.
If you don’t receive a letter from the manufacturer, it could be due to incorrect information with the DVLA. The registered keeper of a car is the legal owner and it’s important your details are up to date. If you’re think your car may have been recalled, you can check the Gov.uk website to see if a vehicle, part of accessory has been recalled, simply by entering your car’s registration number or VIN number.
Can I ignore a car recall letter?
As the owner of the car, you are required by law to ensure the vehicle is in a road worthy condition, just like keeping on top of your car’s MOT history, it’s a legal requirement to look after your vehicle. A safety recall could impact you, your passengers, and other road users if something should go wrong, so it’s imperative you get on top of any car recalls at the earliest convenience. It’s at no cost to you and the manufacturer will make any repairs for free. Avoiding fixing a car recall can also affect your car insurance if you were to make a claim. If a road accident or collision happened due to a safety fault which has previously been recalled, it can void your insurance claim.
How long do I have to fix a car recall defect?
If you’ve received a car recall notice from the manufacturer or checked the Gov.uk website and found there’s a recall on your car, you should get the work carried out as soon as possible. There’s no set time limit, but if the recall is due to safety concerns, you should make it a priority to have it fixed at your local dealership. The manufacturer will pay for the repair, and it is at no cost to you.
How do I check if a used car has been recalled?
Buying a used car can come with some concerns. As you won’t be the first owner of the car, you may be worried about its history. If you’re buying a used car from a trusted dealer, they will usually do all the required checks on your behalf. When buying a used car from a private seller, you have less control over the information you get about the vehicle. However, you can protect yourself by checking the car’s recall history through the Gov.uk website. Simply enter the registration of the car you’re looking to buy and see if it has any outstanding or previous recalls.
Will a car recall affect my car’s value?
It’s not unusual to buy a car with a recall and it’s not usually an issue. As long as you or the previous owner of a car you wish to buy has had the defect rectified, the car’s value should not suffer.
If a manufacturer reports a car recall on a huge scale and its related to safety concerns, they can receive a lot of bad publicity. If this happens, the model could decrease in value. However, as long as the recall is fixed promptly, a car recall should not affect a car’s value.
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