🔥 Jeeps recalled: Nearly 200,000 plug-in hybrid SUVs can catch on fire, even with the ignitions off. Yikes! If you have a 2020 to 2024 Wrangler 4xe or 2022 to 2024 Grand Cherokee 4xe, call your dealership ASAP. Don’t charge it, and be sure to keep it outside, away from all structures.
Millions of vehicles are currently recalled - How to check if yours is safe to drive
A whopping 50 million vehicles on the road have open recalls. Thousands of Fords, Nissans, Hyundais and Hondas were recently added to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s list. Tap or click here to check if your model is affected.
Perhaps a manufacturer finds a part on a specific model wears out faster than expected and decides to replace it for everyone. Faulty or outdated software can pose significant problems. And sometimes, the problem is more urgent, like the Takata airbag recall that started in 2013.
If you own a car, this article is for you. I will tell you how you can go online to find out if your vehicle is subject to a recall and get email notifications of future recalls. You should share this valuable intel with your family and friends, too.
1. Find your car’s VIN
The first step is to find your vehicle’s 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, for short.
The VIN is found on most vehicles by standing outside the front windshield and peering down at the lower driver’s side corner of the dashboard. It can be a little hard to see, so look carefully. Some cars also have it printed on an emblem on the driver-side door jamb.
If you can’t locate your car’s VIN, check your vehicle title or registration or look in your insurance documents. By the way, it’s wise to take a photo of your car’s VIN so you always have it handy. Tap or click for 9 more photos you should always have on your phone.
Want my security and safety alerts right to your inbox? Try my free newsletters here.
2. Update your registration
Make sure your car’s manufacturer can reach you. That means keeping your registration up to date and ensuring your current address is on file. Yes, you may hear about a serious recall through a letter in the mail.
Your first step is checking your vehicle. Look at the registration sticker in the corner of your plate to make sure the marked year is current. You can also visit your state motor vehicle department’s website to see whether you need to pay fees or go through emissions testing to bring your paperwork current.
More helpful resources: 10 tech company customer service phone numbers plus a secret way to know wait times.
Recall Alert: Nearly 250K SUVs with faulty wiring could engage brakes unexpectedly
Your vehicle’s ability to stop quickly is a crucial element in keeping you safe, so your brakes must be in perfect working order. But when your vehicle stops for no reason, it could cause an accident. Tap or click here for a Google app that detects car crashes and dials 911.
Recall alert: 400K pickups recalled over risk of exploding airbags
Recalls in the automotive industry occur rather frequently. Many of them are insignificant in nature. You might have a faulty component that could cause an interior light to malfunction.
Then there are more serious recalls that deal with hazards that could put your life in danger. A glaring example recently is millions of faulty Takata airbags that have the potential to explode when deployed. Tap or click here for details on that massive recall.
1.3 million cars recalled: Use this site to check your VIN
The largest auto recall in history keeps getting bigger. An ongoing issue with Takata airbags las led to tens of millions of vehicles being recalled along with several deaths.
A couple of months ago, nearly 6 million more trucks and SUVs were added to the already massive list of recalled vehicles. Tap or click here to find out what you need to do if yours is on the list.
Toyota recall: Over 55,000 Prius and Prius HEV models (2023 and 2024) have a scary flaw — water can short-circuit rear door latches, causing the doors to open while driving or in a crash. Have one? Turn on the “auto-lock feature” when shifting out of park. Toyota says a fix is coming soon, so contact your dealership.
10M more vehicles added to the biggest auto recall in history
Cars are essential tools for daily life, but they can also be deadly weapons in the wrong hands. That’s why you have to jump through so many hoops to be allowed to drive, and why insurance is a must for any driver, regardless of experience.