Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) is urging drivers across the state to take a simple yet crucial step to enhance vehicle safety: check online for vehicle safety recalls and ensure any necessary repairs are completed.
Last year alone, a total of 1,073 safety recalls were issued nationwide, affecting over 35 million vehicles and pieces of equipment, including tires and car seats. These recalls can range from minor software fixes to critical safety concerns such as faulty airbags or brake failures. Despite manufacturers issuing recall notifications and repairs being available at no cost to the owner, a report by CARFAX, a vehicle history reporting service, estimates that one in five vehicles has an unresolved recall issue.
This suggests that out of approximately 1.4 million vehicles on Hawaiʻi’s roads, about 280,000 vehicles could have at least one outstanding safety recall. If left unaddressed, these unrepaired issues pose a potential danger to drivers, passengers, and other roadway users.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides a free online tool to check for open manufacturer recalls on vehicles, car seats, tires, and other vehicle-related equipment. Drivers can visit www.NHTSA.gov/Recalls and enter either their license plate number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to check for any open recalls. If an open vehicle recall is found, owners should contact their local dealership to schedule a free repair. For recalls involving tires, car seats, or other equipment, owners may need to contact the specific manufacturer for information.
“Checking if your vehicle has an open safety recall is a simple and smart step every car owner can take to reduce the risk of vehicle failure or a breakdown on road that could cause a serious crash,” said Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen.
NHTSA recommends checking for recalls at least twice a year. Vehicle owners also have the option to sign up to receive notifications by email about future safety recalls by visiting www.NHTSA.gov/Alerts.