You know that car that just hit you, there’s actually a one-in-five chance that the owner of that vehicle hasn’t gotten around to fixing a safety recall on it, according to recent industry studies.1 In 2014 alone, U.S. automotive manufactures recalled approximately 62 million vehicles.2
Currently, used-car history service provider Carfax and the National Traffic and Safety Administration have put the number of unfixed recalled cars at somewhere between 47-and-51 million. Incidentally, there are now a minimum of 100,000 vehicles in each state with open recalls on them. It’s actually risky and hazardous to drive a vehicle with a defective part or device.
“Our data shows there’s still much hard work to be done in addressing recalls,” said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax.3
Most Likely to Have a Recall
Those driving a minivan or an SUV, and those living in Alaska, Mississippi, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia are most likely to have recalls that are not fixed. One-in-four minivans, one of the most popular family vehicles on the roads, are the most highly affected vehicles.
The following is a list of some of largest auto recalls trending:4
- Toyota recalled 9 million vehicles for an ‘out-of-control gas pedals’ from 2004 to 2010, which has been is linked to nearly 13 deaths
- Ford/General Motors recalled 21 million vehicles for ‘slip from park into reverse’ problem for all of its vehicle built from 1976 to 1980, which caused more than 6,000 car accidents, 1,700 injuries, and linked to 98 deaths
- Takata seatbelt recall involved 8.3 million vehicles from 1986 to 1995
- Takata ‘exploding airbag’ recall affects more than 34 million vehicles beginning in 2008, which has injured at least 139 and has been linked to two deaths
- Ford vehicles ‘faulty electronic switch that causes fires’ recalled more than 14 million vehicles beginning in 1996
- Ford recall of 8.7 million vehicles for ‘faulty ignition switch’ affecting vehicles form 1988 to 1993
- Toyota’s recall of nearly 4.5 vehicles for an ‘unintended acceleration issue,’ which started in 2009
Do Your Part to Avoid Damaged or Defective Vehicles
Consumers are not always aware that their vehicle may be under recall notification. Here’s a really quick and easy way to find out. Just go to the NHTSA’s recall look-up by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) form. You can locate your car’s VIN number either on the inside door jam of the driver-side door, on the tab at the lower side of your windshield on the driver’s side, or on your vehicle registration paperwork.
Contact the Law Offices of Pius Joseph – Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been hurt in a car accident, contact a Pasadena car accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Pius Joseph – Personal Injury Attorney by calling (626) 397-1050 or by emailing us via the contact form on this page.
- “One in five car recalls not completed” published in Consumer Affairs, February 2016.
- “The truth about car recalls” published in Consumer Affairs, February 2016.
- “Carfax: Vehicles with unfixed recalls now top 47 million” published in Carfax, February 2016.
- “Biggest auto recalls ever” published in CNN Money, May 2014.
