Many car owners are used to getting recall notices on their vehicles. Sometimes, it seems like the newer the vehicle is, the more things there are that can go wrong. Oftentimes, recall concerns are related to something with the programming, and the issue doesn’t present a risk if it’s not fixed immediately.
There are other types of recalls that drivers need to deal with immediately. The following are the two most urgent types.
“Do Not Drive”
A “Do Not Drive” type of recall means there’s a problem that creates a serious risk if a vehicle is driven before the defect is fixed. The number of vehicles in the U.S. affected by this kind of recall recently rose to 770,000.
That’s because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and two auto manufacturers announced that a number of older-model vehicles (2003 to 2015) still have Takata airbags that can explode and cause metal shrapnel to go flying. Over two dozen deaths and 400 injuries have been linked to this defect.
Both automakers have advised owners of their vehicles (which include Lincoln and Mercury models manufactured by Ford) that they’ll tow them or repair them remotely so they don’t need to drive them to a dealership. They’ll also provide loaner cars if needed. Anyone who receives a “Do Not Drive” recall notice for any reason should seek one of these arrangements.
“Park Outside”
No one wants to hear that their car needs to be kept outside and away from their property. A “Park Outside” recall is typically issued when there’s a defect that could cause a vehicle to explode or catch fire. While it would seem like this isn’t the type of thing someone would ignore, there are some 3.5 million vehicles with “Park Outside” recalls that haven’t been fixed at present in the U.S.
While these two types of recalls make up less than 10% of all recalls, too many defective vehicles go unrepaired – often because a vehicle has changed hands and the current owner never found out about it or assumed the problem was fixed. Approximately 4.3 million vehicles have unrepaired recalls in these two categories.
Whatever the situation, anyone who suffers injuries or loses a loved one due to a vehicle defect generally has the right to seek justice and compensation. Getting sound legal guidance as soon as possible is a good first step.
