Vehicle Recall Search Service (VRSS) is joint safety initiative between CARFAX and auto industry
1 in 5 vehicles on U.S. roads today have an open recall
70 million unfixed safety recalls identified in five years; key tool to achieving 100 percent completion rate for recalled vehicles
State motor vehicle agencies, insurers, finance companies, dealers, recyclers encouraged to use free tool; able to check 10,000 vehicles at a time
WASHINGTON, DC – Five years ago, Alliance for Automotive Innovation and CARFAX teamed up to launch the free Vehicle Recall Search Service (VRSS), an online safety tool that helps drivers, businesses, government agencies and others identify open safety recalls on vehicles.
To date, VRSS has performed 3 billion vehicle checks – and counting. Approximately 35 million vehicles checked using the system have had a safety recall repaired – a major step toward the goal of 100 percent completion rate for automotive recalls. However, one in five vehicles on U.S. roads today still have an open recall.
How does VRSS work? The tool allows departments of motor vehicles (DMVs), auto insurers and finance companies to quickly identify any open recalls on thousands of vehicles at a time. If an unrepaired safety recall is found in the VRSS search, the entity (such as a state DMV) notifies the owner so the covered repair can be remedied quickly.
John Bozzella, president and CEO of Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said: “We built this tool to increase road safety by making drivers aware of vehicle recalls. Through our partnership with CARFAX, at least 70 million recalls have been identified – so far. That’s major progress toward our goal of addressing every open recall on every vehicle. More participation from vehicle inspection programs, DMVs, insurers, auto finance companies, vehicle dealers, fleet managers, automotive parts recyclers and vehicle auction companies will help identify and fix even more recalls.”
Ann Carlson, Chief Counsel of NHTSA, said: “Partnerships are crucial to promoting safety on our roadways, and a central part of our National Roadway Safety Strategy. A safety defect on your vehicle is very dangerous for drivers and pedestrians. Recalls often apply to critical safety features, such as seat belts and air bags. That’s why it’s so important that we keep moving toward 100 percent recall completion and tools like NHTSA’s VIN Look Up and the Vehicle Recall Search Service can assist in those efforts.”
Faisal Hasan, general manager for data at CARFAX, said: “We’re thrilled with the progress we’ve made to date, but we’re driven by the knowledge that millions of additional owners could benefit from expanded use of the VRSS. Any unfixed recall is one too many, and we won’t rest until every owner with an open recall understands that they can get their car fixed for free – and gets the work done.”
Safety tools for consumers:
Visit http://www.vehiclerecallsearchservice.org/ to learn more about VRSS.
Individuals can check vehicle recall status at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls or with the NHTSA app.