Unfixed Recalls Jumps 34 Percent in 2017

Feb. 10, 2017
This issue affects nearly one in three vehicles in Texas, the highest rate in the nation. Hawaii, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama round out the top five.

Feb. 10, 2017—According to Carfax, more than 63 million recalled vehicles are now in use across the country, a 34 percent increase from 2016.

According to NHTSA data, only 75 percent of all recalled vehicles are fixed by automakers and their dealerships within 18 months of the recall being issued. A quarter go unrepaired. 

In a past feature with Ratchet+Wrench, Bill Haas, of Haas Performance Consulting, noted the opportunity recalls present for a shop.

“These are your customers whose vehicles are being recalled or have defects and issues,” he said. “These are the people you’ve spent your time and energy earning the trust of. Why would you want to leave it up to a dealer, or send them to a dealer, to get a recall issue fixed?”

The annual research suggests this issue affects nearly one in three vehicles in Texas, the highest rate in the nation. Hawaii, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama round out the top five.

In addition, drivers in California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania and New York have the most vehicles with open recalls.

The new data also suggests that family life may be a factor for some vehicle owners not knowing about a recall or getting it fixed. Minivans and SUVs—family-oriented vehicles—are the ones most likely to have unfixed recalls.

"Reducing the number of open recalls on the road is an ongoing effort," said Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax. "Safety is our number one concern. Carfax, manufacturers and government are working together to make it easier for drivers to get accurate information and timely alerts about open recalls. It may be inconvenient, but people driving recalled cars should make getting them fixed a high priority."

Sponsored Recommendations

How one auto shop was able to order 20% more parts

Learn how one auto shop talks about the benefit of using PartsTech in their shop.

Vehicle Inspection Checklist For Auto Shops

Vehicle inspections, whether digital or on paper, are crucial for auto shops, ensuring thorough assessments and fostering trust by transparently revealing a vehicle's condition...

6 Reasons Why A Digital Vehicle Inspection Is A Must-Have

In an era of growing technology and innovation, auto repair shops must keep pace with the latest advancements to meet customers preferences and remain competitive.

How Your Auto Shop Can Now Connect To 30 Tire Suppliers For Free

Yep! We have over 50 tire suppliers in our network. And PartsTech is the only platform where you can access more than 30 of those suppliers FREE OF CHARGE.