More unfixed auto recalls on roadways

MOST RECENT AUTO RECALLS

Source: Consumer Affairs.

Almost one in five vehicles on roads in the United States today has been recalled by the government for repair, according to used-car history tracker Carfax.

And too many of them aren’t getting fixed, Carfax said.

There are more than 47 million cars in the United States with at least one unfixed safety recall, up 27 percent from a year ago, the company said.

Two million of those 47 million vehicles are in Ohio, said Christopher Basso, spokesman for Carfax.

In Ohio, Columbus is ranked third and Dayton ninth among cities “where you’re most likely to find unfixed recalls,” Basso said.

But every state today has at least 100,000 vehicles with an open recall, according to Carfax. If you own an SUV or minivan, or live in Texas, Mississippi, Alaska, Utah or West Virginia, “then you’re most likely to have an unfixed recall,” the company said.

“I think often people don’t realize that their vehicle has been recalled,” Basso said. “They haven’t gotten notified or stayed informed about recalls on their vehicles.”

It can also be a question of “lifestyle,” he said. Too often, owners are aware of the recall but mistakenly believe they don’t have time to get them fixed.

“In reality, most of the recalls that have gone unfixed on vehicles can be completed in less than a day,” Basso said.

The minor inconvenience involved in getting your recalled vehicle fixed pales in comparison to what might happen if you don’t, he warned. Some recalls can be life-and-death matters in the right — or wrong — set of circumstances, he said.

An on-board computer update may not sound important, Basso said, but when that update can better control how your airbag deploys in an accident, “that’s a huge deal.”

“These are safety recalls,” he said. “It’s an issue that can maintain the performance and safety of your vehicle.”

Dave Murphy, owner of Beavercreek’s Murphy’s Auto Care & Tire, said his business notifies customers if their cars are subject to open recalls.

“People still ignore that stuff,” Murphy said. “And they shouldn’t, because recalls are going to be done for free.”

And recall repair work is often less inconvenient than people may think.

Cleveland-area resident Zeljko Radjenovic told this newspaper that he was able to get his recalled car fixed without even specifically asking for the repair.

“It happened that I had to take the car to the dealer regarding an unrelated issue within two months after the purchase, and without even asking the dealer about the recalls, they performed the recall service,” Radjenovic, 44, said in an email.

He said he was aware his vehicle, a 2012 VW Jetta GLI, had two open recalls when he bought it.

Murphy’s shop can’t legally perform recall work, but it will take a customer’s vehicle to a dealer who can perform that work.

“There are some recalls that aren’t that critical,” Murphy said. “But when you’re talking about an airbag or something like that, a brake issue, a suspension issue … that’s an issue.”

Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began a new campaign urging car buyers and owners to check for open recalls at least twice a year and to get their vehicles fixed as soon as parts are available.

“Last year, there were close to 900 recalls affecting 51 million vehicles nationwide,” the administration said in an announcement. “Every year, on average, 25 percent of recalled vehicles are left unrepaired.”

The agency offers a website for owners and buyers to use a vehicle's vehicle identification number (VIN) to monitor recalls.

Barry Hall, president of Dayton’s Champion Auto Service, advises owners and would-be owners to check the status of their vehicle.

“They need to check into it,” Hall said. “Get the VIN of the vehicle and check into it.”

Automakers have long eyed the issue, too. A recent Automotive News editorial noted Honda has warned dealers that they could be legally liable if they sell vehicles with unfixed safety recalls on which Honda has issued stop-sell orders.

“For many years, our dealer agreements have required Honda and Acura dealers to complete any open recalls of which they have notice and ensure the vehicle is in proper operating condition prior to sale, whether new or used,” said Chris Martin, a spokesman for American Honda Motor Co. “We have consistently reminded our dealers of these obligations for some time, including in stop-sale orders.”

He added, “Honda is a customer-focused company, and our customers’ safety is our top priority. Also, it’s simply the right thing to do.”

And there’s this bottom line, Martin added: Federal law prohibits the sale of any new vehicle with an open safety recall.

“Fixing recalls is everybody’s responsibility,” Basso said.