Recalls- What Should you do About Them and What if it's too Late?

Each year, thousands of vehicles around the world are recalled when manufacturers discover problems that could make them a potential hazard on the road. It's essential that drivers see to these issues as quickly as possible, because many times, they are safety-related.

Does that automatically mean you should panic when you find a recall notice in your letter box, though?

 

Should you Worry?

While your first thought may to be panic that something is potentially wrong with your car, you shouldn't. While many recalls are safety-related, the majority are precautionary. This doesn't mean you should ignore the recall notice, though. As soon as possible, you should contact your dealer and set up a time to have the work on the car done. This will not only keep you safe, but will help your car maintain its value so when you go to sell, you'll get the price you want.

The process of dealing with a recall notice can be a little different, depending on the type of recall it is.

 

Safety Recalls

A safety recall occurs when the manufacturer discovers or is told of a defect with a particular car that could result in serious injury or death if not taken care of. When this happens, they are required by law to issue a recall notice, where they must make every effort to contact customers that could have faulty car parts that need to be repaired or replaced.

After the safety recall has been registered, the manufacturer will send a notice to your letter box that will include:

• Details about the car part in question

 

• Information about the repair needed

 

• The length of time the repair will take

 

• What you will need to do in order to get the repair

 

• Information on how to contact the manufacturer with any questions

If you don't respond to this letter, they will write again to let you know how serious the issue is.

Luckily, any car parts that need repaired or replaced because of a safety recall are done at the manufacturer's expense. You won't have to pay out of pocket for any of the repairs, unless additional problems arise that must be dealt with at the same time. In this case, it will be up to you whether the additional repairs are made.

There is no time limit on a safety recall. Even if you purchase a Vauxhall from someone who ignored the notices they received years before, you can still take the car to the dealer and have it fixed for free. If they attempt to charge you, immediately contact Trading Standards.

 

Other Recalls

While safety recalls are the most common type of recall, other recalls can be made as well. These may be related to:

• Quality improvement campaigns

 

• Technical upgrades

 

• Customer satisfaction programmes

 

• Service campaigns

These types of recalls are not reported or monitored by the Vehicle Safety Branch of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, but that does not mean you should ignore them. Many of these recalls are free and will improve the quality, selling price, and performance of your vehicle. Most often, the car parts associated with these recalls are only available for a short time, though. Once the time limit has passed, the cost of these repairs and replacements will come out of your own pocket.

 

Buying a Used Vehicle

When you decide to purchase a used vehicle, you'll need to carefully consider the possibility of a recall prior to handing over any money. If you're purchasing from a used car dealer, the chances of ending up with a Vauxhall with faulty Vauxhall parts is slim, as the DVSA has issued guidance that encourages used car dealers to check for safety recalls and have them completed before putting any car up for sale. That doesn't always mean it's done, though.

Private sellers can be quite a problem as well. While we all want to believe the best of people, not everyone takes as good of care of their car as you do. They might have received the notification from the manufacturer regarding the recall, but chose to ignore it. This not only means you might buy a car with faulty parts, but you may also overpay for the car.

 

The solution? You have to be the one to take action prior to the purchase of the car. Don't leave it up to the seller to be honest about the recalls the car has had- check for yourself. This can be done easily. The first option you have for checking this information is contacting the a local dealership or the manufacturer of the car itself. Most manufacturers have central helplines staffed by knowledgeable staff who will know how to answer your questions.

You can also look at the DVSA database. Here you will find the make, model, VIN number ranges, and build dates for vehicles that have been affected by a safety recall.

 

Once you've established the car is in need of repair, you can contact the dealership and arrange for the repairs to be made. You can also have the information you need to bargain for a better price on the car. While the repair may be free, there's still something wrong with it that will require your time to fix.

Once you've purchased the used car, take steps to make things easier for yourself and the manufacturer. You can do this by registering your information with the manufacturer and confirming that you own the car now. This way the manufacturer will be able to contact you quickly and easily should a safety recall, or any other type of recall, occur.

 

What if I Already Fixed it?

What if you purchased a Vauxhall, discovered a certain car part wasn't functioning correctly, and paid to have it fixed- before a recall notice was sent out? In this case, unfortunately, the manufacturer is under no obligation to compensate you for the replacement Vauxhall parts you purchased. There's no harm and reaching out to them to test the waters, though. While it doesn't happen often, they may be willing to pay you back for the money you spent on car parts.

Worried about the recall notice in your letter box? Contact your local dealership as soon as possible to get the repairs done for free. If you've passed the time limit on a recall, though, don't worry. You can still get the quality car parts you need at the right price.