How to Tell if Your Car has a Recall

MELVILLE, N.Y. – Over 32 million cars have been impacted by the Takata air bag recalls but the big question: Is your car one of them? According to a new study conducted by Kelly Blue Book, most car owners aren’t even aware of the largest auto-recall in history.

The study found that more Americans are familiar with the Zika Virus and Hillary Clinton’s e-mails than the air bag problems that have already claimed over 100 lives. A Long Island car accident lawyer at Cellino & Barnes says unlike Zika or Clinton’s e-mails, the Takata recall could affect almost every family in America.

“When air bags aren’t functioning properly, there’s a huge risk for anyone driving in Long Island,” car accident lawyer Ross Cellino said. “Some air bags, like those covered in the recent Takata recalls, could even explode with deadly force so it’s important for everyone to know if their vehicle is under an active recall.”

Kelly Blue Book found that only 52 percent of those surveyed were aware of the Takata recall. Of those who knew about the largest auto recall in history, only a portion of them had taken steps to find out if their cars were affected.

The Takata recalls impacted millions of vehicles manufactured by more than 30 automakers around the globe. A defective air bag could explode with deadly force, even if the crash was minor. In some cases, the air bags deploy with such force it can shoot metal shrapnel at the driver’s face and neck.

So, how does one know if their vehicle is under recall? All you have to do is search online.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the government agency in charge of directing auto recalls, set-up the website “safercar.gov” to help car owners find more information about active recalls and to see if their car is affected.

“We urge anyone who owns or leases a car to check for active recalls at least once a month,” Cellino said. “All it takes is five minutes and you only need your vehicle’s VIN number to find out if your car has a potentially deadly defect.”

If you don’t know your VIN number, you can find it inside the driver-side door or on your registration. You can also sign-up for e-mail alerts, which will automatically update car owners if their vehicles have been impacted by a recent auto recall.

As one of the leading personal injury firms in New York State, it is our goal at Cellino & Barnes to make our communities safer for everyone. Our Long Island car accident attorneys urge everyone to drive carefully and frequently check vehicles for recall notices. You can also find some major recall notices on the Cellino & Barnes Twitter page.

If you believe you’ve been injured by a defective vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Us today for a free consultation.