It can be quite unsettling to discover that your car has been recalled. And it\u2019s happening more than ever: There were over 400 recalls in the U.S. in 2022 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Recently, the NHTSA issued a recall on Takata airbags, one of the largest and most complex safety recalls in U.S. history, affecting approximately 47 million vehicles. Visit\u00a0NHTSA<\/a>\u00a0for details and see if you\u2019ve been impacted.\u00a0[1]<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWith so many new cars on the market every year, the chance of yours being recalled at some point during its life span is pretty good,\u201d says consumer auto expert Kristin Varela of Cars.com.<\/p>\n For starters, car recalls can result from a number of events. Car manufacturers will put their products through multiple tests and may issue a recall based upon subsequent findings. NHTSA can also ask for a recall after investigating a number of complaints from owners. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, don\u2019t panic; it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that the car has a defect. Sometimes a recall is intended to check for potential defects, Varela says.<\/p>\n \u201cRecalls are issued because the defect or possible defect might make the vehicle unsafe in some way,\u201d she says. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to wait to be contacted by mail, which happens 2 or 3 months after a recall is announced. After all, chances are that you\u2019re transporting your most precious cargo: your family. It\u2019s always better to be safe than sorry.\u201d To stay connected, NHTSA provides\u202frecall notifications and updates<\/a>. You can sign up there to receive notifications via email or have alerts sent directly to your phone through NHTSA\u2019s Safer Car app.<\/p>\n The recall letter should have instructions on how to proceed. Typically, you will be advised to take your vehicle into an authorized local dealer to\u00a0conduct a maintenance check<\/a>\u00a0for defects, update software or replace parts. Make sure to call and set up an appointment beforehand.<\/p>\n For any recall, defective parts are replaced at no cost to the owner. As for anything else, that depends upon the manufacturer in question. However, automakers have been known to provide free rentals, taxi reimbursements and even the free pickup and return of the vehicle in question.<\/p>\n In addition to paying attention to vehicle recalls, having\u00a0the right auto insurance<\/a>\u00a0is another safety essential. Learn about Nationwide\u2019s available\u202fcar insurance<\/a>\u202fcoverage options today.<\/p>\n Sources:<\/p>\nWhat is a car recall?<\/h2>\n
What happens if your car is recalled?<\/h2>\n
Is there a cost to car recalls?<\/h2>\n