Just What Is a Car Recall? Car Safety Recall Definition - A safety recall is an automotive manufacturer's way of notifying vehicle customers that their product has a flaw. The automobile problem is serious enough that if you do not correct the flaw your and/or your passengers' safety could be at risk. Generally recalls are initiated by the US Government, but sometimes individual car manufacturers will pre-emptively initiate a recall.
Where Do I Find My VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)? Look on the lower left of your car’s windshield for your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Your VIN is also located on your car’s registration card, and it may be shown on your insurance card.
Auto Tip - How Do I Find Out If My Vehicle Has A Recall? ==> An easy way to determine if you have an active car recall is to just enter your VIN number at the top of this page and CarFax will report if there are any issues at all with your vehicle.
THE ENGINE AIR CLEANER PLASTIC TRIM COVER COULD FALL OFF THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY AND LAND ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE CAR IS BEING OPERATED AT THE TIME THAT THE PLASTIC TRIM COVER FALLS OFF, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
AN INCORRECTLY INDEXED WIRING HARNESS MAY CAUSE THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OR PARKING LAMPS ARE ON. FMVSS 108 LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT REQUIRES THAT THIS STOP LAMP BE LIGHTED ONLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ALSO, THE OPERA LAMPS MAY COME ON WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP PROVIDES ADDITIONAL WARNING THAT THE VEHICLE IS SLOWING OR STOPPING. IF THIS LAMP MALFUNCTIONS, IT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A REAR END ACCIDENT.
THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY MAY BE INCORRECTLY ASSEMBLED. THE MISASSEMBLED UNITS WILL RESULT IN REDUCED ILLUMINATION WHICH WILL CAUSE THE LAMP ASSEMBLY TO BE IN NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 108 LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: REDUCED ILLUMINATION WHICH DOES NOT MEET THE FEDERAL STANDARD MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO BE NOTICED ON THE HIGHWAY, THEREFORE MAY CONTRIBUTE TO AN ACCIDENT.
THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING ASSEMBLY MAY FAIL PREVENTING THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE CLOSED (IDLE) POSITION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT DECREASE AND LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
EXCESSIVE ENLARGEMENT OF THE WHEEL CYLINDER PILOT HOLE IN THE REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE COULD ALLOW THE WHEEL CYLINDER TO ROTATE AND CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID LEADS TO LOSS OF REAR BRAKE ACTION, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. FRONT BRAKES WOULD REMAIN OPERATIONAL.
EXCESSIVE ENLARGEMENT OF THE WHEEL CYLINDER PILOT HOLE IN THE REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE COULD ALLOW THE WHEEL CYLINDER TO ROTATE AND CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID LEADS TO LOSS OF REAR BRAKE ACTION, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. FRONT BRAKES WOULD REMAIN OPERATIONAL.
EXCESSIVE ENLARGEMENT OF THE WHEEL CYLINDER PILOT HOLE IN THE REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE COULD ALLOW THE WHEEL CYLINDER TO ROTATE AND CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID LEADS TO LOSS OF REAR BRAKE ACTION, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. FRONT BRAKES WOULD REMAIN OPERATIONAL.
A LOSS OF BONDING ADHESION BETWEEN THE PAINT AND THE WINDSHIELD OPENING AREA COULD ALLOW THE WINDSHIELD TO SEPARATE DURING A 30 MILE PER HOUR FRONTAL BARRIER TEST REQUIRED BY FMVSS 212, WINDSHIELD RETENTION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: WINDSHIELD SEPARATION DURING AN ACCIDENT COULD RESULT IN AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT BEING EJECTED FROM THE CAR AND SEVERLY INJURED.
THE FUEL SYSTEM MAY LEAK AT THE THROTTLE BODY INJECTION FUEL FEED PIPE CONNECTION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHICH COULD SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAUSE BURN INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS.
THE FUEL SYSTEM MAY LEAK AT THE THROTTLE BODY INJECTION FUEL FEED PIPE CONNECTION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHICH COULD SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAUSE BURN INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS.
THE TIRE PLACARD LABEL ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRINTED WITH AN ERROR WHICH SPECIFIES A HIGHER MAXIMUM LOADING THAN IS ALLOWED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: EXCESSIVE VEHICLE LOADING COULD CAUSE A TIRE BLOWOUT AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
THE REAR AXLE CONTROL ARM LOCATES AND HELPS CONTROL AXLE MOVEMENT; IT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME WITH A BRACKET. THE REAR CONTROL ARM BRACKET ATTACHING BOLTS USED ON SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY FRACTURE. FRACTURE OF ALL FOUR BOLTS ON ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAN RESULT IN THE CONTROL ARM DROPPING ENOUGH TO CUT THE REAR BRAKE HOSE. A SEVERED BRAKE HOSE WOULD RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LOSS AND PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY.
THE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WHICH MAY NOT PERFORM ADEQUATELY DURING A COLLISION.
REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AXLES THAT WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE.
REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AXLES THAT WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE.
REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AXLES THAT WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE.
THE TIE RODS ARE PART OF THE STEERING LINKAGE AND TRANSMIT TURNING MOVEMENTS TO THE WHEELS. THE BOLTS THAT FASTEN THE TIE RODS TO THEIR ADJUSTERS MAY NOT BE TIGHT ENOUGH. THIS COULD ALLOW THE TIE ROD TO LOOSEN AND DETACH ITSELF FROM THE ADJUSTER.
OMISSION OF THE CERTIFICATION LABELS AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 110 TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS.
VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT BRAKE PEDAL BRACKET WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE LOCATED IN A POSITION LOWER THAN NORMAL.
SOME VEHICLES HAVE BUCKET SEAT BACK LOCKS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 207, ANCHORAGE OF SEATS. IN EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BACK LOCK MAY NOT FUNCTION.
SOME VEHICLES HAVE BUCKET SEAT BACK LOCKS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 207, ANCHORAGE OF SEATS. IN EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BACK LOCK MAY NOT FUNCTION.
SOME VEHICLES HAVE BUCKET SEAT BACK LOCKS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 207, ANCHORAGE OF SEATS. IN EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BACK LOCK MAY NOT FUNCTION.
SOME VEHICLES HAVE BUCKET SEAT BACK LOCKS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 207, ANCHORAGE OF SEATS. IN EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BACK LOCK MAY NOT FUNCTION.
THE THROTTLE MAY JAM AND MAY NOT RETURN TO THE CLOSED POSITION. THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE OMISSION, DURING ASSEMBLY, OF A NUT ON THE CRUISE CONTROL ROD WHICH LIMITS TRAVEL IN THE THROTTLE MECHANISM.
THE BRAKE PROPORTIONER VALVES MAY BREAK AND SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS WOULD ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK AND WOULD RESULT IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
THE BRAKE PROPORTIONER VALVES MAY BREAK AND SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS WOULD ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK AND WOULD RESULT IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
THE BRAKE PROPORTIONER VALVES MAY BREAK AND SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS WOULD ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK AND WOULD RESULT IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
THE BRAKE PROPORTIONER VALVES MAY BREAK AND SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS WOULD ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK AND WOULD RESULT IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
THE MASTER CYLINDER REAR BRAKE PIPE, WHICH CARRIES BRAKE FLUID TO THE REAR BRAKES, MAY DEVELOP A LEAK DUE TO EXTENDED CHAFING ON THE AIR CLEANER RESONATOR BRACKET.
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE PREMATURE REAR WHEEL SKID DURING BRAKING. REAR WHEEL SKIDDING IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR ON A WET OR SLICK SURFACE.
