GLEN BURNIE, MD (March 7, 2022) – Safe cars save lives. That’s the message the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) is highlighting after Governor Larry Hogan proclaimed this week as Vehicle Safety Recalls Week in Maryland. Starting today, March 7, through Sunday, March 13, MDOT MVA encourages Marylanders to check their vehicles and automotive equipment for open recalls. Repairing these reminders is free and easy.
“Many factors go into keeping Maryland’s roads safe. Good driver behavior is essential, of course, but it’s also important that our vehicles are safe and well maintained,” Governor Hogan said. “During Vehicle Safety Recall Week, I urge Marylanders to check the status of their vehicle for any open recalls and resolve them as soon as possible to keep themselves, their families and companions safe. of travel.”
In 2018, Maryland became one of the first states in the nation to notify drivers of open vehicle safety recalls through registration renewal notices, which are sent to vehicle owners every two years. All open reminders are printed at the bottom of a driver’s registration renewal notice sent by mail and email approximately 60 days before the end of a registration period. Although the program ended in 2020, MDOT MVA continued the recall notification service indefinitely due to its success.
“The most common vehicle recalls we see repaired in Maryland after receiving our vehicle recall notices are related to airbags, seat belts and electrical systems, all of which are critical safety issues,” a said Chrissy Nizer, administrator of the MDOT MVA, who also serves as Governor Hogan. Road safety representative. “Each resolved recall reduces the risk of an accident, and we all have a responsibility to Be the driver that saves lives ensuring that our vehicles are safe for the road.
In 2021, more than 900 safety recalls were administered, affecting 22.8 million vehicles, but every year millions of recalled vehicles go unrepaired or unaddressed, putting drivers, passengers and other road users at risk. the road.
“We are committed to zero deaths in Maryland, and one of the significant issues facing Maryland drivers today is safety recalls that go unchecked and unaddressed,” said MDOT Secretary , James F. Ports Jr. “Governor Hogan’s proclamation of Vehicle Safety Recall Week gives us an opportunity to remind Marylanders of the many ways they can check their vehicle and equipment for recalls – and remind them that repairs are free.
MDOT MVA, in partnership with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), shares tips on how customers can easily check for open recalls throughout the year. In addition to notices sent with MDOT MVA registration renewals, customers can check for open recalls in several ways, including:
Use your VIN to check recalls
Checking your VIN is easy: the 17-digit number can be found on the lower part of your car’s windshield, driver’s side. It may also appear on your car registration document or on your insurance card. Enter this number in the search bar at NHTSA.gov/recalls and, within seconds, you’ll know if your vehicle has an open safety recall.
Sign up for alerts or download the SaferCar app
Once you have checked your VIN for an open recall, sign up for reminder alerts. If your vehicle is included in a future recall, you will receive an email notifying you. You can also download NHTSA’s updated SaferCar app to stay informed about your vehicle. Once in the app, enter the vehicle’s VIN, along with your car seats, tires, or other automotive equipment information, and NHTSA will send you an alert if a safety recall is issued for them .
If you discover a safety recall, fix it immediately
If your vehicle is affected by a safety recall, contact your local dealership to schedule a recall repair as soon as possible. All recall repairs at your local dealership are free.
Any customer who believes they have a safety-related defect that is not part of an ongoing recall should contact NHTSA online or call the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
