Every year, thousands of vehicles are recalled by their manufacturers due to defects, design flaws, and issues with manufacturing. While there is no dedicated season for vehicle recalls, there tends to be an influx of them toward the end of summer due to more people hitting the road for long periods and experiencing issues. Just recently, Ford recalled 355,000 pickup trucks for an instrument cluster problem, and over half a million Hyundai Palisades were recalled for a car seat belt flaw.

As modern vehicles get more complex, safety recalls become more common, and that is why it is so important to stay up to date on your car’s potential issues so you can get them fixed. Setting up vehicle identification number (VIN) alerts for your car will help you stay on top of any recalls as a vehicle owner, so you can stay safe all year long.

Why Recalls Spike and How Alerts Save Time

There are a wide range of reasons why vehicle safety recalls spike in the late summer, but the main one is that more people are taking their vehicles out on road trips and spending time in the driver’s seat. Unfortunately, this also means that there are more accidents, which can help expose potential safety issues and equipment failures. When enough of these complaints show up, manufacturers will recall the vehicle to get it fixed.

The last thing you want is to miss a recall that could have something to do with your safety and the safety of your family. Alerts allow you to do constant checks on your vehicle instead of waiting for the manufacturer to contact you. Administrative oversights and address changes can make it difficult to contact you for an automotive recall, so having alerts is a great way to stay informed and stay safe when you are behind the wheel.

Step-by-Step: SaferCar App and Email VIN Registration

While it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to get in touch with you about a recall, it might not always be possible Fortunately, several different ways to find out if your vehicle has any active recalls. Two of those ways, the SaferCar App and email VIN registration, allow you to receive alerts so you don’t waste a minute being unsafe in your vehicle.

SaferCar App

• Download the App – You can get the app from the App Store or Google Play, depending on whether you have an iOS or Android phone.
• Add Vehicle – To add your vehicle, open the app and enter your vehicle’s 17-character VIN. This should be on your title, but it can also be found on the badge inside your driver’s side door.
• Enable Notifications – By enabling notifications on the app, you can get alerted right away if your vehicle is the subject of a recall.
• Repeat – Repeat this process for all the vehicles in your household. This will ensure that everyone stays safe and that nothing gets missed.

​Email VIN Registration

• Go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Website – You can register your vehicle with the NHTSA at NHTSA.gov/alerts.
• Register – Enter your VIN and your email address, which you will confirm with a verification email from the agency for recall information.
• Repeat – Just like with the app, you can enter all the vehicles in your household to have alerts about open recalls sent to your email address.
• Keep Contact Info Updated – If you change your email address, be sure to change it with NHTSA as well so you don’t miss any recall notices.

Reading a Recall Notice and Booking Service

​When you get a notification about a recall for your motor vehicle, it is important to know how to read it and what actions you should be taking. Recall notices generally include a description of the defect, the risk that is associated with it, and what actions you need to take to rectify the problem. Sometimes, an unrepaired recall will present an immediate safety risk, and it is crucial that you take action. If, for example, there is an airbag recall, immediate attention is required.

Once you review the notice, you can then contact the dealership that is authorized by the manufacturer to fix the problem. They will help you schedule a service appointment but you will need to provide information like your VIN, the notice details, and any service you may have gotten in the last year. Getting in touch with the dealership as soon as possible is important because they may be backed up due to the recall. This is why having alerts set up is such a good idea.

Setting Alerts for Family Vehicles

If your household has more than one vehicle, you need to set up alerts for each one. Managing the recall notifications for every car seems like it would be overwhelming, but if you have alerts set up, you can assess the severity of each one in real time and get all your appointments taken care of. Be sure to share any information you get about recalls with each of your family members so they can be aware of any issues or symptoms that they should keep an eye out for.

Endurance Auto Protection for Extra Peace of Mind

​While a problem with your vehicle that has caused a recall will not cost you anything to fix, you never know when an unrelated expensive repair could come up. If you are someone who is passionate about keeping your vehicle safe and in good working order, it is important to stay on top of repairs, whether they are due to a recall or not. An unexpected repair, though, could be a major financial burden, and if your vehicle is no longer under the manufacturer’s warranty that it came with, you could be looking at a big bill to deal with.

If you want to protect your car and your bank account from expensive repair bills, an extended warranty from a third-party provider is your best option. An extended warranty, which is more accurately called a vehicle service contract (VSC), can help you pay for repairs as soon as they come up, so you don’t end up having to dip into your emergency fund or ignore the problem until it gets worse.

Endurance offers a wide range of protection plans for everything from high-mileage vehicles to top-of-the-line luxury or exotic cars. Endurance even covers vehicles that other providers won’t, such as Canadian Gray Market cars, vehicles with a salvage or rebuilt title, and cars used for commercial purposes like rideshare or delivery. With recall notifications and an Endurance plan in place, you can rest easy knowing that you will always be on top of repairs.

Keep Your Car Running Smoothly With Endurance

Recall alerts are a great way to ensure that you don’t miss any known issues with your vehicle. If you want extra protection for the problems that aren’t covered by the dealership, Endurance is here for you. With an Endurance plan, you can rest easy knowing that you will be able to get repairs and get back on the road without your wallet having to suffer in the process.

In addition to excellent coverage, Endurance customers also get a large suite of standard benefits. These include things like 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption protection. You can also get a free year of access Endurance’s Elite Benefits, which come with tire repair or replacement, key fob replacement, windshield coverage, and more.*

If you are ready for quality coverage for your vehicle, get in touch with plan advisors at (800) 253-8203 for a FREE quote. You can also see your price and plan recommendations right away on our eStore—to make the right decision for your budget and needs.

For more auto expert resources, be sure to check out the Endurance Warranty blog. There, you will find helpful tips and tricks, DIY guides, provider comparisons, and much more.