Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- CARFAX reports over 161,000 vehicles in Utah have at least two unfixed recalls.
- Unfixed recalls, including airbags and brakes, pose safety risks and financial burdens.
SALT LAKE CITY — From airbags to brakes and tires to seatbelts, when something goes wrong at freeway speeds, it can have catastrophic consequences. Making matters worse, millions of cars and trucks have dangerous defects, putting drivers and passengers at risk.
In fact, the latest CARFAX data shows there are more than 58 million cars with an unfixed recall. That's one out of every five cars. Perhaps even more alarming, that data shows a 16% increase in unfixed recalls in just two years.
"Some people may feel a little complacent," said Em Nguyen of CARFAX.
If you need a reason not to be complacent, consider Maritza Vasquez's story.
"There were two recalls on the vehicle," Vasquez said of her 2015 Hyundai Sonata.
She was unaware that her car had open recalls until she brought it into a shop with a blown engine. Because she didn't get those recalls fixed, she said Hyundai refused to cover the replacement engine.
"Life isn't fair," she laughed.
Vasquez is far from being alone in driving a car with multiple recalls. In fact, CARFAX has found there are 161,000 cars and trucks on Utah roads right now with two or more open recalls.
"Neglecting to fix recalls can absolutely affect your wallet in the long run," Nguyen warned. "Of course, recalls are free to fix."
Not only does an unfixed recall threaten your wallet and your safety, but it also threatens the safety of other drivers on the road around you.
Unsure if your car or truck has one or even several open recalls? You can check its VIN or license plate number with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or on CARFAX. Both tools are free.
By law, you can take your car to an authorized dealership, and they must repair an open recall for free on cars up to 15 years old — even if you're not the original owner.
