Auto Recalls: Fixing the Problem

Don't be surprised if the folks in a strange dealership's service department fail to jump for joy upon learning of your arrival. Just because a dealership is required to do recall (and warranty) work on any vehicle that shows up, the people in charge don't have to like it. If you have regular maintenance work done at the dealership where you bought the car, they just might be happier to see you if a recall develops later.


Occasionally, a recall has no repair specified. This doesn't mean the matter is forgotten—just delayed. The manufacturer's engineers have isolated the problem, but haven't come up with a suitable remedy yet. You'll need to check back later to see what progress has been made.

Exceptions
Does the manufacturer and its dealers have to fix every single recall that's issued? There is one important exception: When the vehicle is more than eight years old when the defect is determined, the recall rules don't apply and repairs are not free. In addition, if you had the car fixed yourself before a recall was issued, the manufacturer is not obligated to provide reimbursement.

Resource
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), www.nhtsa.dot.gov, (888) 327-4236 (Recall reports)