A new campaign is encouraging drivers to check for and quickly address open recalls on their vehicles.
Launched by the National Safety Council (NSC) and founding coalition partner Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) US, Check To Protect aims to educate drivers about the number of vehicles on the road with unrepaired recalls and underscore the need to promptly fix recalls once drivers become aware of them.
NSC President and CEO Deborah A.P. Hersman said: “When vehicles are in top form, they reduce critical risks. Unfortunately, too many drivers are complacent when it comes to recalls, or they are unsure whether their car is subject to one. Check To Protect should help close that knowledge gap and, by extension, make our roads safer.”
The NSC and FCA US chose to target Check To Protect toward owners of older and used vehicles after discovering a significant difference between recall compliance rates for newer and older vehicles. According to a survey by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and Global Automakers, recall compliance completion rates for newer vehicles is 83%, but just 44% for vehicles five to 10 years old.
Drivers can go to checktoprotect.org and enter their vehicle identification number (VIN) for a full report on the recall status of their vehicle. The 17-digit VIN can be found in the lower left corner of a car’s windshield or on the inside of the driver-side door. It can also be found on a vehicle’s registration card and possibly on insurance documentation. Drivers who have open recalls on their vehicles can visit a local authorized dealership to have them repaired for free.
