Experienced. Resourceful. Effective.

Exterior of Office Building of VanNess & VanNess , P.A .

Auto recalls in the U.S. reach a new high in 2015

On Behalf of | Feb 12, 2016 | Auto Product Liability

If you were to scan the recent headlines concerning recalls for auto defects, you would soon learn that as recently as this week, several hundred thousand vehicles were recalled for everything from faulty fuel filler pipes to malfunctioning engines.

If it seems as if these types of recalls have become increasingly common, it’s not your imagination. Indeed, statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that while the auto industry recalled no more than 20.3 million vehicles in a single year from 2005 to 2013, this number jumped to 51 million vehicles in 2014, a new modern-day record.

Interestingly enough, the NHTSA recently released its recall figures for 2015 and they reveal that we actually broke the 2014 record, as an astounding 51.2 million vehicles were recalled over the last 12 months here in the U.S.

Experts indicate that the recent jump in recalls can be attributed to enhanced efforts by the federal government to both identify and rectify auto defects, as well as a renewed spirit of cooperation by the auto industry, which has been beset by scandal over the last few years concerning cover-ups of major safety issues (faulty ignition switches, airbag inflators, etc.).

The good news is that it doesn’t appear as if this commitment to making vehicles safer is in danger of losing any steam. Indeed, the NHTSA announced last month that it had reached an agreement with 18 automakers to foster greater cooperation regarding basic proactive safety measures and improve recall completion rates.

Furthermore, it also announced the launch of a yearlong online campaign called “Safe Cars, Safe Lives” designed to persuade consumers to bring their cars in for the necessary recall work as soon as possible.    

It’s encouraging to see such an improvement in auto recall efforts. Here’s hoping we see this trend continue in 2016.

If you or a loved one was seriously injured in an accident that you believe may have been attributable to an auto defect, please consider speaking with an experienced legal professional who can conduct the necessary investigation and take the necessary action. 

Archives

FindLaw Network