Recalls are more common than most drivers realize. Many are minor, but some involve safety defects that can cause serious crashes or make injuries worse. If your car has an open recall, taking the right steps protects your safety and preserves the value of any future personal injury claim.
At Atlee Hall, we hold careless drivers and negligent manufacturers accountable. Getting your car repaired or replaced is just one of your concerns after a car accident. Our Lancaster County car defect lawyers can help you file a claim to protect your future.
What Is a Vehicle Safety Recall?
A safety recall is issued when a vehicle or component has a defect that could affect safe operation or fail to meet federal safety standards. The manufacturer must provide a free repair, replacement, or refund for eligible vehicles. Dealers cannot charge you for a safety recall fix.
Not every notice you receive is a safety recall. Manufacturers also issue service campaigns or technical service bulletins that address quality issues without a safety risk. Your paperwork will identify whether it is a safety recall.
Common Safety Defects We See
- Airbags that fail to deploy or deploy unintentionally
- Seat belts or pretensioners that do not restrain occupants
- Brake system failures or loss of assist
- Electrical shorts and fuel system issues that lead to fires
- Tire defects, wheel or hub failures
- Malfunctioning driver-assistance features that create new hazards
How to Check Whether Your Car Has a Recall
Recalls don’t always make the national news, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be proactive. If you want to know if your car has been in a recall, you can take these easy steps to get started.
Step 1: Find your VIN
Your 17-character Vehicle Identification Number is on:
- The dashboard near the windshield on the driver’s side
- The driver’s door jamb label
- Your registration and insurance card
Step 2: Run a recall search
- Use the federal VIN lookup to check for open safety recalls specific to your car.
- You can also enter your VIN on your manufacturer’s website.
- If you prefer, call a local dealership service department and ask them to check by VIN.
Step 3: Act on the result
- If there is an open safety recall: schedule the free repair as soon as possible and keep the written repair order.
- If parts are backordered: ask the dealer to note your VIN on a repair order, give you a written ETA, and confirm whether a loaner is available for serious safety defects.
- If no recall appears but your car shows symptoms: document the problem and request an inspection. Defects can exist before a formal recall is issued.
Quick Checklist to Save
- A screenshot or printout of recall search results
- Dealer communications, repair orders, and invoices
- Photos or videos of the defect behavior and any warning lights
- Notes on dates, mileage, and discussions with service staff
Why Addressing a Recall Matters After a Crash
Car accidents can cause serious injuries and severely damage your vehicle. Even if your car isn’t totalled, it can be a hassle to get insurance companies to comply and pay a settlement to cover your damages. Recalls can be another hurdle to delay a settlement.
Your safety comes first
A known safety defect can cause a collision or make injuries worse. Promptly completing the recall reduces risk to you and your passengers.
Comparative negligence can reduce recovery
Pennsylvania follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If an insurer argues that you knew about a safety recall and chose not to fix it, they may try to reduce your compensation by the percentage they claim your inaction contributed to the crash or to the severity of your injuries. If you are found 51 percent or more at fault, you cannot recover from the other party. Taking reasonable steps to fix known safety issues helps protect your claim.
Mitigation of damages
Injury victims are expected to take reasonable steps to limit harm. Scheduling the free recall repair, keeping your appointment confirmation, and documenting parts delays show that you acted responsibly.
Evidence tells the full story
If you complete the recall and are later hurt because a different defect caused the crash, or because another driver was negligent, your records help focus the case on the true cause. If parts were unavailable or the fix did not work, your paper trail helps rebut blame shifting.
What If There Is a Recall but No Fix Yet?
Serious defects sometimes outpace parts supply. If a dealer tells you parts are not available:
- Ask the dealer to open a repair order tied to your VIN and mark parts pending.
- Get written guidance on whether it is safe to drive. If the manufacturer advises do not drive, follow that guidance.
- Ask about a loaner vehicle for urgent recalls. If none is available, keep written confirmation of the request and the response.
- Minimize driving and document any warning messages or abnormal behavior. If symptoms worsen, return to the dealer and update the paper trail.
These steps show you did everything reasonably possible to address the safety issue.
What If I Already Had a Crash Involving a Recalled or Defective Part?
You may still have a strong case even if a recall was outstanding. Liability can involve multiple parties: the other driver who caused the collision, the vehicle manufacturer, a component supplier, or a dealership. The details matter.
Preserve critical evidence immediately
- Do not allow the vehicle or failed parts to be destroyed or scrapped without legal advice.
- Photograph the vehicle and the crash scene from multiple angles.
- Obtain the police report and all medical records.
- Save event data recorder downloads and dealership diagnostic printouts if available.
- Keep every notice, email, and text related to the recall and repair attempts.
Early expert inspection is often the difference in proving whether a defect caused the crash or worsened the injuries.
Potential damages in an individual case
- Economic losses: medical bills, future care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, out-of-pocket costs
- Non-economic harms: pain and suffering, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death and survival damages in fatal cases
- Loss of consortium for spouses
Our role is to document the full impact of your injuries and build a compelling, evidence-based claim for the maximum compensation the law allows.
FAQs about Recalls & Defective Car Parts
Is every recalled vehicle unsafe to drive?
Not always. Read the recall notice and dealer guidance. Some repairs are urgent and require parking the car until fixed. Others can be scheduled within a reasonable time.
Do recall repairs cost me anything?
No, safety recall repairs are free for eligible vehicles. If you paid for a related fix before the recall, ask about reimbursement and keep your receipts.
I never received a recall letter. Will that be held against me?
Lack of notice helps explain why you did not complete the repair. Ownership history, address updates, and your timely actions once you learned of the recall are important.
I fixed the recall but was still injured. Do I have a case?
Possibly. The repair may have been inadequate, another component may have failed, or another driver may be at fault. Preserve the vehicle and records, then speak with an attorney.
Can a recall help my case?
Sometimes. A safety recall can corroborate that a defect exists, but you still need to prove that the defect contributed to the crash or to the severity of your injuries.
When should I contact a lawyer?
If you’re suffering from serious or catastrophic injuries from a car accident, even if it seemed minor, you need to contact a lawyer right away. Injuries that are disproportionate to the accident (like if one passenger received more damage than anyone else in the same accident), that could be a sign of a manufacturing defect or a problem with the vehicle’s design.
That defect could be part of an active recall or it could highlight the need for a recall. By working with a car accident attorney with experience dealing with defective cars, you can seek the compensation you deserve from a defective product while also protecting your fellow drivers and passengers. These situations are complex, and can create questions about vehicle safety, crash dynamics, and liability. An experienced car accident and recall attorney can investigate the cause of your crash, protect your rights, and protect the community. Don’t wait to call, and don’t underestimate your injuries.
How Atlee Hall Helps
We Investigate
We conduct an independent investigation, gather police reports, photos, videos, and witness statements, and collaborate with respected automotive and product experts to identify whether a defect or a negligent driver caused your injuries.
We Analyze
We get to the root cause and identify every responsible party. Whether your case is framed as negligence, product liability, or both, we prepare as if it will go to trial.
We Demonstrate
We document your injuries and losses in detail so insurers and juries understand how your life has changed and what it will take to make you whole.
Contact a Car Defect Injury Lawyer Now
If you are in Lancaster County and your vehicle has an open recall, schedule the free repair now and keep your records. If you have already been hurt in a crash and think a recall or defect played a role, contact Atlee Hall for a free consultation. Early evidence preservation can make all the difference.
Call (717) 393-9596 or contact us online to get started.
