Narragansett Police Urge Motorists to Check Cars For Vehicle Recalls

NARRAGANSETT, RI — Narragansett Police Chief Sean Corrigan issued a reminder to motorists of the importance of checking for vehicle safety recalls and getting any unrepaired recalls fixed immediately.

Vehicle Safety Recalls Week is recognized this year from March 4-to-10 and aims to remind motorists that every vehicle recall is a serious safety concern. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2022, there were 1,050 safety recalls affecting more than 31 million vehicles and other automotive equipment in the U.S. NHTSA officials also said that even with alerts and warnings emailed or mailed by manufacturers, millions of recalled vehicles go unrepaired every year, putting drivers, passengers and other road users at risk.

The NHTSA provides two ways to check for open safety recalls. Both methods are free. In both cases, you can enter the vehicle’s VIN, located on the lower portion of your car’s windshield on the driver’s side. The VIN is also located on a vehicle owner’s registration card, and it may be shown on an insurance card.

NHTSA Look-Up Tool

1. Visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.
2. Enter the vehicle’s 17-digit VIN into the search bar OR select your state and enter your vehicle's license plate number.
3. Review the search results, which will indicate if there’s an open safety recall affecting your vehicle and what steps to take.

Vehicle owners can also sign up for recall alerts. If a vehicle is included in a future recall, you'll receive an email letting you know.

SaferCar App

1. Download the free SaferCar app, which is available for iOS and Android.
2. In the app, enter a vehicle’s VIN and NHTSA will send an alert if a safety recall is issued.
3. Once you download the app, you can add any vehicle or related equipment, like tires, trailers, and car seats. SaferCar will notify you of all related recalls. If you already downloaded the app, Vehicle Safety Recalls Week is a good time to make sure your vehicle and equipment information are up-to-date in the app.

If your vehicle has an open recall, immediately get the vehicle repaired for free at a local dealership. The vehicle’s manufacturer is required by law to address the recall for free.

Recalls are also issued for child car seats, tires and vehicle-related equipment — like bike racks. If any of these items are recalled, manufacturers are required to fix the problem by repairing it, replacing it or offering a refund. You can check for these safety recalls at NHTSA.gov/Recalls.

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