NHTSA Urges Fla. Residents to Check for Takata Air Bags
June 19, 2018—On June 7, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration joined automakers and South Florida community leaders to urge residents to check their vehicle identification numbers (VIN).
NHTSA said in a press release that South Florida is part of the highest risk area of the country. Therefore, vehicles in this region have been prioritized to get repair parts first.
NHTSA also remains concerned that owners of certain higher-risk Model Year 2006 Ford Rangers and Mazda B-Series trucks with defective Takata air bags have not gotten the free repair quickly enough, if at all. These vehicles are under a “do not drive” warning and the air bags must be replaced immediately. Last month, NHTSA issued a second public plea to owners to schedule the free repair immediately for their own safety and the protection of their loved ones.
The Sun Sentinel reported on Monday, that air bag parts ares still on back order for some vehicle models.
Although replacement parts now exist for 90 percent of recalled passenger vehicles, according to a spokesman for AutoNation, owners of some vehicles that have been waiting years to have their airbags replaced say they are frustrated by the continued delays, according to the The Sun Sentinel.
According to the report, Lincoln Motor Co., a division of Ford, said on its website that no parts are available yet to repair four of its models, including the MKZ. But the company is offering loaners “in circumstances where replacement inflators are not available for certain vehicles that fall under the Takata recalls.”
Lincoln spokeswoman Elizabeth Weigandt said the company expects to repair additional models in the second half of 2018, but she did not specify which models. Loaners will be available indefinitely at no charge, apart from insurance and fuel, until parts are available, she said in the article.
According to The Sun Sentinel, other vehicle models with parts on back order include Toyota, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Taking Advantage of Recalls
For many shops, the standard process for dealing with vehicle recalls is to check their information system, see what customers have cars with recalls and then notify them. However, what’s frequently missed is that recalls could mean the loss of business for the shop if a customer is enticed to keep visiting his or her dealership.
While repair shops might only be the first to notify customers regarding recalls, they can also get ahead of losing customers to competitors. The goal, then, is to ensure you retain those customers.