Check Genesis Recalls

From time to time, recalls may be issued on a certain vehicle model when a defect is found that can affect safety, or when a component doesn't comply with federal safety standards in general. Under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, the federally run National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) oversees these recalls. They can order a recall after a consistent and significant problem is discovered on a vehicle model, if the automaker hasn't already started a recall campaign on their own. Recalls may also be put out on nonmechanical items related to the vehicle, such as tires, children's car seats, and other automotive accessories.

The Recall Process

Most often it's the manufacturers themselves who discover the safety defect and declare the need for a recall. At that point, they must tell not just the vehicle owners and the NHTSA but also every dealership that sells the vehicle and every distributor that carries the defective component. Another way that recall-worthy problems are uncovered is through consumer reporting. There's a complaint form on the NHTSA website that drivers can use to submit the details of the problem they're having with their vehicle. Each of these complaints is reviewed, and the NHTSA will look further into any that they feel merit an investigation. The result of the investigation may be a recall, after which they'll inform the manufacturer of their findings.

The next step will be to notify all registered owners and lessees of that vehicle model that a recall is being issued. The NHTSA oversees this part of the process to ensure the best results of the recall campaign. If your vehicle is the subject of a recall, you'll get a notice in the mail with the details of the problem and its urgency level. Your next step will be to set up an appointment with your local dealership to get the issue corrected. Any recall-related repairs will be at the manufacturer's expense, not the vehicle owner's.

If you'd like to check for any open recalls on your vehicle, you can enter your vehicle identification number into the search-by-VIN tool on the NHTSA website. In the unlikely event that there is ever a Genesis recall, the service department at Genesis of South Knoxville will be ready to take care of it quickly and efficiently.