KYTC reminds drivers to check for vehicle recalls

In News, State by OC Monitor Staff

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, in partnership with the National Safety Council, encourages every Kentucky vehicle owner to check their recall status during national Vehicle Safety Recalls Week March 7-11 and schedule a free repair if needed.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, nearly 53 million vehicles on the road today have unrepaired safety recalls. This is roughly one out of every five vehicles. In Kentucky, 21.5% of vehicles on the road today have unrepaired safety recalls. Many recalls involve defective parts that can pose life-threatening risks to drivers or passengers. Led by NSC, the Check to Protect campaign encourages all vehicle owners to proactively check their recall status and, if necessary, schedule a free repair at a local dealer as soon as possible. Owners are encouraged to check for recalls every time the vehicle is serviced.

“Springtime and safety checks go hand in hand, “said KYTC Secretary Jim Gray. “Kentuckians can choose one of two convenient ways to check if their vehicle has an open recall. With free repairs, there’s no reason to neglect this life-saving safety practice that can save you and others on the road.”

“Preparing your vehicle before you depart for your destination is a critical component to safety,” said Lonny Haschel, senior program manager of mobility safety at NSC. “Checking for open safety recalls is important and easy to do. NSC encourages every driver to check their vehicle for an open recall and get it repaired for free as soon as possible, so they can drive safely knowing their vehicle is in good working condition for all involved.”

Vehicle owners and fleet managers can easily learn if their vehicle(s) have an open recall by visiting CheckToProtect.org and entering their license plate number(s) and state.  Owners may also enter the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number to learn about open recalls. The VIN can be found on the driver’s side dash, inside the driver’s door, on registration documents, or on insurance documents. Another option for vehicle owners is to text “RECALL” to 99724 – or, for Spanish speakers, text “REVISA” to 99724 – and snap a picture of the license plate when prompted.

All recalls are FREE to have repaired at authorized dealers, regardless of whether the vehicle was purchased from the dealer. For more information on safety recalls, visit CheckToProtect.org.