Officials from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles are strongly recommending that New Yorkers check for recalls during Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, which runs through Sunday.
Recalls can affect almost every part of the car, from potentially deadly Takata airbags to tires and even child car seats.
“Vehicle Safety Recalls Week is a great reminder to check whether there are repairs needed on your vehicle and its safety features,” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, DMV commissioner and chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. “It only takes a couple of minutes to check for recalls, but doing so can potentially save your life or the lives of others on the road.”
Data suggests that one out of every five cars on the road had an open recall in 2024, with more than 2 million of those in New York. Light trucks had the most recalls, with 24% needing repair work. Twenty-three percent of minivans and 21% of cars also had recalls.
The DMV website links to an online tool to identify open recalls and instantly get information on how to fix or replace the part(s) free of charge. You will need your license plate number or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Your 17-character VIN is on your car’s registration or insurance card and on the driver’s side of the dashboard near the windshield or on the driver’s side doorjamb.
As part of their annual vehicle inspections, New Yorkers are alerted to recalls affecting their vehicles. They can also sign up for Recall Alerts. Vehicle owners may not be able to get a vehicle inspected or registered until a high-risk safety recall repair is completed.
In 2024, 1,073 recalls were issued for vehicles, car seats, tires, RVs and other equipment, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. More than 29 million vehicles were recalled nationwide. Hundreds of recalls are issued every year.
The Takata airbag recall is the largest single recall in U.S. history, impacting roughly 42 million vehicles. The affected airbags can explode, sending sharp metal fragments flying at 200 miles per hour. If your vehicle is subject to a “Do Not Drive” warning due to an unresolved Takata airbag recall, you will not be able to get it inspected until the recall is addressed. DMV has facilitated 7,181 of these critical repairs since 2023.
Recalls are also issued for child car seats, tires and vehicle-related equipment, such as bike racks. If any of these items are affected, manufacturers must repair or replace the item or offer a refund. New Yorkers can check for such product recalls on the NHTSA website.