Car makers in Britain have launched a new safety net for motorists to catch recalled models.
In future it will be possible to check if the new or used car you have bought has been subject to a safety recall notice, and if it has been repaired.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and garage standards body, Motor Codes, has launched a new consumer-facing web portal to enable motorists to identify if their vehicle is on a safety recall list.
Customers will also be directed to their nearest dealer so that any necessary remedial work can be carried out as quickly as possible.
The Vehicle Safety Recall search tool, which operates using the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), is a one-stop-shop for car owners and buyers of used cars and vans to check if the vehicle is subject to an outstanding safety recall that they, or a previous owner, may have missed.
The new service is available online via Motor Codes (motorcodes.co.uk), the automotive industry’s government-approved regulatory body, and is funded and managed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The UK’s vehicle recall process, administered by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), is already stringent and highly successful.
The number of vehicles repaired following a recall campaign in the UK consistently exceeds 90% – one of the most successful compliance records anywhere in the world, and some two and a half times higher than the average rate for all consumer goods in the UK.
The number of recall campaigns in the UK has fallen b
