Ignoring unfixed car recalls? Why you should act now

From malfunctioning airbags to software issues and fuel leaks, it’s not unusual for a vehicle to have one or two recalls during its lifetime. In 2024 alone, more than 21 million people were impacted by one. If you receive a Utah vehicle recall, is it still safe to drive your car?

What to do if you receive a car safety recall

A recall is issued by the manufacturer if there is a safety issue with your car or truck. That could be anything: components, seats, tires. If you receive a notice or see a recall on a vehicle inspection report, there’s no need to panic. Unless the notice says otherwise, you can continue to drive your car. 

Not all recall notices are urgent, but they are all important to get repaired.

That doesn’t mean you can just ignore the recall notice. Certainly some fixes are more urgent than others, but you should always schedule an appointment as soon as possible. You wouldn’t want to be in an accident on I-15 with a defective airbag, or be cruising down Little Cottonwood Canyon with a leak in the brake line. 

But even if the repair seems minor to you, all recalls are important. When you receive a notice or otherwise discover there is a recall on your vehicle, you’re responsible for reaching out to the authorized service center. Ignoring a recall notice could put you, your passengers and other drivers in danger.

There are legal ramifications as well. If you skip a recall it will be you, not the manufacturer, who will be responsible for financial or other liability associated with the issue.

Why drivers ignore safety recalls

Postponing your recall appointment? You’re not alone. According to Carfax data, some 58 million vehicles are on the road with unfixed car recalls — roughly one out of every five. In Utah alone, 161,000 vehicles had at least two open recalls as of March 2025.

Why don’t drivers take their cars in for recall repairs?

• Cost: It’s free! Manufacturers will not charge you for any labor or parts associated with the recall.

• Unsure where to go: Regardless of where you purchased the vehicle, you can take it to a service center of any authorized dealer.

• Inconvenient: Most service centers will set up an appointment for the repair work, assuring they’ll have the parts on hand. Many will even shuttle you between the shop and your workplace (or another location) so you don’t have to wait around.

• Not the original owner: There is no charge on recall work, regardless of the car’s current owner.

• Pressure for additional service: You are not obligated to receive any additional service.

• Suspected spam: Notification letters are sent via First Class Mail and will explain what the recall is for and where to get it repaired. They won’t ask you to sign up for any service or warranty program.

There's no reason for unfixed car recalls. Repairs are totally free for the car owner.

How to quickly check for car recalls

If you’re purchasing a used vehicle, or think you may have thrown a notice away, you can easily check car recalls online with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lookup tool. The free service shows all current, unrepaired recalls. It won’t show a safety recall that has already been repaired, nor recalls over 15 years old.

You’ll need to enter your license plate number and state, or input your VIN, found in the front left corner of the dashboard, on the inside of the driver’s side door frame or on your vehicle registration.

Check your vehicle history report

Unrepaired recalls will also appear on a KSL Cars vehicle history, available through Carfax. Be sure to order a report before purchasing a previously owned vehicle. You’ll not only discover any Utah vehicle recalls, you’ll also see other important details such as accidents, number of owners and approximate mileage.

If you do see an unfixed recall on your vehicle history report, even if the vehicle is older, you may still be able to get it repaired. Safety, emission and compliance recalls never expire. However, if it has a salvage title, recalls may not apply.

Keep your family safe on the roads: Follow through with Utah vehicle recalls.

Vehicle safety in Utah is up to you

Keep yourself and your family safe on Utah’s roads by following through with safety recalls. Contact your service center promptly if you receive a notice.

When you’re purchasing a car or truck, look for a KSL Cars vehicle history report by Carfax to check on any missed fixes. For your current vehicle, visit the NHTSA website. 

Act today! Getting any recalls fixed won’t cost you anything, but it will buy you peace of mind.

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