Between the Takata airbag scandal and the Volkswagen ‘Dieselgate’ scandal, along with all the other recalls out there, it’s no wonder that there are millions of vehicles currently under a recall notice. In fact, it is estimated that as many as 30% of vehicles currently on the road are under some sort of recall to fix an issue. However, many recall notices are simply ignored or do not make it to the current owner of the vehicle. M Live reports on a pilot program aimed at notifying owners of recalls at registration, in hopes of getting some of the issues plaguing vehicles fixed.
The Maryland Department of Transportation was recently awarded a grant by the Department of Transportation and the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration. The grant, totaling $222,300 is designed to test a pilot program aimed at alerting the owners of vehicles about any recalls they might currently have active.
The grant funds will be used to test the ability in the updating and notifying owners of current recall information at the time they register their vehicles. The two-year pilot program will also educate owners on the defect and the nature of the recall at the time of registration.
The NHTSA says that the program does not take the burden off of manufacturers, but is more to cover all bases.
Carfax released a report earlier this year indicating that there are more than 63 million vehicles on the road with open safety recalls.
When a safety recall occurs, the manufacturer first notifies the NHTSA. Afterwards, the manufacturer sends a notification to the address of the owner on record, advising them of the recall and to take the vehicle to a local dealership. Repairs are generally made at no cost to the owner.
Have you been affected by a recalled vehicle, such as one involved in Dieselgate or a vehicle with a Takata airbag? You may have a case. Let the attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates fight for you. Call today for a consultation.