Are We Only Concerned With Safety If It Is Convenient? 1 In 4 Recalled Cars Are Never Repaired

One of every four cars recalled in the U.S. isn’t fixed, leaving millions of potentially dangerous vehicles on the road.

Some car owners mistake safety recall notices for junk mail and toss them without opening them. In some cases, owners may not think a recall is serious and opt not to get their cars fixed right away — or at all.

“Our data suggests that there are 36 million cars that are on the road that have an unfixed recall,” said Christopher Basso, public relations manager for Carfax, a company that provides vehicle history reports. “That’s all the recalls that don’t get fixed year after year, that compound year after year.”

Read Article

Agent009 - 6/20/2014 2:40:29 PM

-2 Boost

It is odd we demand safety if we get hurt due to a defect. However once the defect is found and we are notified we do nothing about it.

Terry989 - 6/20/2014 3:32:25 PM

+1 Boost

Interesting data that begs two additional questions:
1) Do 3rd party estimated costs of a recall assume 1 in 4, or are the cost estimates inflated for hidden intentions
2) If a car is recalled for a safety issue, and the owner fails to have it fixed, later resales the car, which is then in an accident caused by said recall, who who is liable? The lawyers will go after all parties; the car manufacture, the local dealer who should have completed the repair, and the previous owner. Question is who would be the biggest looser?

Our current BMW has had a number of recalls, and I will say they the dealer and BMW have been very good with notifications and persistent follow-up. I assume this provides a solid defense trail. But still, if you happen to be on the wrong side of a sympathetic jury you are faced with a long appeals road ahead.

MattDarringer - 6/21/2014 10:25:43 AM

-2 Boost

Not all recalls are for safety issues that are life threatening so don't see the boiling water in the teapot and think it's a tempest.