Vehicle recalls, make sure your car is fit for long-distance travel

Back view of couple traveling by car.

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Vehicle recalls can disrupt your travel plans, depending on the issue at hand.

This is something many drivers will have to consider this fall. Subaru, Volkswagen, General MotorsMercedes-Benz, Toyota and honda cars It was one of the automakers that issued a recall notice to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in November, affecting more than 2.3 million vehicles in total.

Among them, Toyota recalled nearly 1.9 million RAV4 vehicles to solve battery problems that may cause fires.Honda last week recalled nearly 250,000 Honda and Acura vehicles because of a manufacturing error that could cause Engine damage.

Fortunately, “automakers are making repairs covered by the recall at no cost to the consumer,” says Tom McParland, a staff writer for the automotive website Jalopnik and operator of the car-buying service Automatch Consulting. . If drivers’ vehicles are subject to a recall, they should make an appointment with their local dealer for repairs.

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However, as many Americans prepare to drive long distances over the holiday weekend to see family and loved ones, travel plans may need to change depending on the severity of the recalled vehicles, experts say.

The recall occurred “without incident”

Brian Moody, executive editor of Kelley Blue Book, said the government can sometimes force automakers to recall vehicles, but those notices typically come after multiple people report the same problem or the automaker discovers a flaw in the manufacturing process after an investigation.

“It is common for recalls to be conducted before any incident has occurred,” Moody’s said.

Once a recall is issued, the manufacturer will send mailed notices to drivers, but these notices may take weeks or months to arrive.

For example, NHTSA informed Honda of its November 2 owner notification letter steering control recall It is expected to be mailed on December 18th. For the Nov. 16 recall for damaged engines, drivers can expect to be notified on Jan. 2, 2024.

Experts say if you hear about a recall in the news, you can call your dealer or the automaker’s customer service line to find out if your car is affected.

“Recalls don’t always apply equally to every version of the model you have. There may be limitations,” Moody said.

Travel plans ‘will depend on the nature of the recall’

As for whether travel plans should be changed, the decision will depend on the nature of the recall, McParland said.

“If a recall indicates a possible transmission failure, the risk on a long trip is much greater than the risk of a navigation system failure,” McParland said.

If you decide to rent a car instead of driving yourself because of a recall notice, the automaker is unlikely to compensate you.

McParland said “rent is usually not included” as part of the recall repairs.

While some policies may include breakdown cover, which may include leasing if the vehicle is in-store for a major recall service, this is uncommon.

“It’s worth calling your carrier and asking,” adds McParland.

It’s more common for luxury automakers to offer rental cars to customers. Otherwise, it depends on the individual dealer or manufacturer’s terms of sale, Moody’s said.

Here are three tips to help drivers cope with recalls:

1. Determine if your car is affected

“There is a government database that people can check to see if their car is affected by a recall,” McParland said. Drivers can enter their VIN into National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. Moody’s says it will pull up all recall records for your model.

Moody’s says to see if the recall has been resolved, you can check the government website or browse the manufacturer’s website.

In addition to government data, Moody’s said motorists can check different online resources. Other website services can help you find repair shops near you and typical car problems you may encounter with your model.

If you receive a notice in the mail from the manufacturer, follow the instructions and call your dealer as soon as possible.

2. Make a reservation “as soon as possible”

If your car is affected by the recall, “you need to make an appointment as soon as possible,” Moody said.

While repairs can be done for free to consumers, some dealers may have a backlog of appointments for a certain issue, McParland said. “It may not be repairable right away,” he said.

3. Check if the mechanic is covered by the warranty

Moody says if your local dealer is facing a backlog of recall appointments and chooses to take the vehicle elsewhere for faster service, check with the manufacturer first. Contact customer service and explain your situation. He said the company might be able to cover recall repairs through external official channels.

Otherwise, the rule of thumb for recalls is to take your vehicle to that automaker’s local dealer. Moody said there is a system in place that allows manufacturers to compensate local dealers and provide free service to customers.

All in all, if you don’t know the reason for the recall or don’t understand what the affected auto parts are for, call your local dealer or manufacturer and ask, especially before you head out on a long road trip.