Today’s recall of 245,000 Lexus vehicles and the more than 12 million vehicles that Toyota has recalled in just over a year has gotten more drivers thinking about the possibility that it could happen to them. We are living in what seems to be the age of the recall, with reports of serious vehicle flaws and defects seeming to crop up every few days.
What is really happening is that safety recalls are getting more public and media attention than they used to. Car makers have discovered certain advantages to taking control of a bad situation by letting customers know as soon as possible that a recall is coming. As a result even problems with vehicles that seem minor are making news because car companies don’t want to appear to be hiding anything.
So what should you do if you receive a notice from your car’s manufacturer or hear on the news that your make, model and year of vehicle is part of a recall? Here are three things you can do to make the process as painless as possible:
1. Don’t panic. Car companies tend to be conservative and often err on the side of caution. So recalls tend to be precautionary and are often based on problems found on a small percentage of a particular make and model of vehicle.
Sure, you hear about the occasional high-profile cases in which cars are losing wheels on the highway, but more often the defects that lead to recalls are more often related to electronic glitches, fluid leaks and fasteners that may not be tight enough. The problems are potentially serious and should be fixed quickly, but rarely do you need to stop driving your car until it is repaired.
2. Act quickly. Don’t wait around after finding out about a recall. Contact your dealer and make an appointment for repairs as soon as possible. If you find out about a recall online or through other media before receiving the manufacturer’s notice, give the dealer a call. You may be able to get the work done sooner. If not, you can at least get closer to the front of the line.
Car makers often wait to accumulate the needed repair parts before notifying customers about recalls. But dealers may already have the parts and be willing to get going on the fixes right. It’s worth a try.
3. Keep track of recalls and safety-related investigations by checking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s site periodically. Recall notices are often posted there long before car companies notify owners.
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What is really happening is that safety recalls are getting more public and media attention than they used to. Car makers have discovered certain advantages to taking control of a bad situation by letting customers know as soon as possible that a recall is coming. As a result even problems with vehicles that seem minor are making news because car companies don’t want to appear to be hiding anything.
So what should you do if you receive a notice from your car’s manufacturer or hear on the news that your make, model and year of vehicle is part of a recall? Here are three things you can do to make the process as painless as possible:
1. Don’t panic. Car companies tend to be conservative and often err on the side of caution. So recalls tend to be precautionary and are often based on problems found on a small percentage of a particular make and model of vehicle.
Sure, you hear about the occasional high-profile cases in which cars are losing wheels on the highway, but more often the defects that lead to recalls are more often related to electronic glitches, fluid leaks and fasteners that may not be tight enough. The problems are potentially serious and should be fixed quickly, but rarely do you need to stop driving your car until it is repaired.
2. Act quickly. Don’t wait around after finding out about a recall. Contact your dealer and make an appointment for repairs as soon as possible. If you find out about a recall online or through other media before receiving the manufacturer’s notice, give the dealer a call. You may be able to get the work done sooner. If not, you can at least get closer to the front of the line.
Car makers often wait to accumulate the needed repair parts before notifying customers about recalls. But dealers may already have the parts and be willing to get going on the fixes right. It’s worth a try.
3. Keep track of recalls and safety-related investigations by checking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s site periodically. Recall notices are often posted there long before car companies notify owners.
Welcome to www.bytrade.com JOin Free.
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