How to Check Production Defects and Safety Recalls?

When you buy a new car, you expect that you will not have any problems with the car at least during the warranty period. However, this is not always the case in practice.

Problems can also occur with new cars due to a manufacturer's error. These errors, or manufacturing defects, lead to manufacturer recalls and can be frequent and occur several times during different periods of time.

The advantage when you buy a used car is that you can check the history of the vehicle to see if the car had recalls in the past, when they were and how often they happened.

The VinCheckExpert vehicle history report allows you to check if a used car has had defects, recalls, the time (month and year) when they occurred and the number of cases.

What is a car recall?

A car recall is a safety campaign carried out by a car manufacturer to address a specific safety defect in a vehicle. These problems represent manufacturing defects that affect the safety of a vehicle or group of vehicles/models.

If errors occur, then the manufacturer takes full responsibility and issues a safety recall. These defects can be anything. Customers are informed that a recall has been made and that the car needs to be brought in for repair.

In addition to the manufacturer, a recall can also be initiated by a regulatory body, such as the European Commission, a national authority or consumers based on their own complaints if they appear frequently.

All defects must be rectified at the manufacturer's expense. However, sellers often try to cheat the buyer and charge recall costs, especially for older vehicles.

Which parts of the vehicle are recalled most often?

Safety recalls occur if manufacturing defects appear on vehicle parts that could cause a safety hazard.

The recalls may be due to problems with tires, four-wheel drive or anti-lock braking systems. If these problems occur, they can have a significant impact on driving safety and then the manufacturer issues a safety recall.

The most common recalls are due to problems with airbags, brakes, or related to a software error or some minor defect. However, some manufacturers have had more serious problems with the recall of their vehicles.

Most often, recalls occur in connection with an error with the software or some minor defects. However, some manufacturers have had more serious problems with the recall of their vehicles.

The most general example is Volkswagen, which was at the center of a scandal in the auto industry in 2016 for falsifying emissions data. When the fraud was discovered, VW had to recall 11 million vehicles and pay 15.4 billion euros in costs.

Also, in 2022, Mercedes recalled more than one million vehicles due to problems with the braking system in the ML, GL (BR 164) and R-class (BR 251) models. The problem is in the brake booster, which can fail. In cases where corrosion is present, a sudden or hard braking maneuver could cause mechanical damage to the booster in which case the contact between the pedal and the braking system would cease. This means that the vehicle could not be stopped using the brake, which increases the risk of an accident and injury.

When is a safety recall issued?

Car manufacturers are responsible for reporting all defects identified on vehicles to the relevant authorities. When manufacturing defects are discovered, it is necessary for the manufacturer to inform the owners of the vehicles affected by the recall and offer an appropriate solution.

Manufacturers can publicly notify car buyers through national news on TV and print media, on the manufacturer's website or other websites and media.

Most often, vehicle owners are invited to come to an authorized service center where the fault on the vehicle would be identified and repaired. In addition to the repair, the manufacturer can replace the vehicle or refund the money.

Vehicle recall campaigns begin when the first problems with a specific vehicle model appear or are identified, in order to protect vehicle owners and other road users.

What are my rights in the event of a car recall?

In the event of a vehicle withdrawal and a safety recall being issued, the vehicle owner in Europe has the right to a free repair or replaced for another vehicle. The manufacturer is obliged to inform the owner of the vehicle about the reasons for the recall, the risks and the measures to be taken.

The manufacturer should set a deadline for repairing or replacing the vehicle. Within this period, he is obliged to take over and eliminate the identified faults on the vehicle. On the other hand, the driver can claim compensation if he had a traffic accident caused by this defect.

If the owner of the vehicle suffered physical injuries or material damage, he can request monetary compensation from the manufacturer. The practice of compensation depends on the country and type of defect, as well as the legal regulations in a particular country.

Can I buy or sell a used vehicle that has safety recalls and manufacturing defects?

Buying or selling a used vehicle that has a recall is legal and possible on the used car market. If you are a buyer, it is good to know whether the car you intend to buy has an open recall or has had recalls in the past. If you are selling a used car, it is a good idea to inform the future buyer about the open recall, because the safety and security of all road users is the most important.

How can I check a car recall?

A vehicle recall can significantly affect the value and safety of the vehicle. The most common vehicle recalls are in the case of new cars. But how do you check for recalls on used cars?

When you buy a used car, it is very important to check whether the car has had a recall, or whether there are production defects. Based on the VIN number, you can get a vehicle history report where you can see if the car has an "open recall" or if there have been recalls in the past as well as the number of cases.

How to create a used vehicle history report by chassis number (VIN)?

All you need to do is enter the 17-digit VIN number in the "Enter VIN" field and click the Search button. After a few seconds, VIN Decoder will provide a free VIN check and some basic information. This info should be enough to check whether the VIN is valid or not.

To create a complete report about the vehicle, such as mileage records, odometer fraud, estimate mileage, accidents and damages, theft check, market value, and previous images, you should download a VinCheckExpert vehicle history report.

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