What to do if your car is recalled.

By CATHY JETT

Date published: 3/20/2005

As instances continue to rise, experts share tips for having problems taken care of quickly

Automakers are increasingly making headlines for recalls as they introduce new models.

The number of affected vehicles topped 30.5 million last year, a 60 percent jump over 2003.

Yet about one out of every four owners will fail to follow up on a recall notification, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"They may not think it's a big deal or they may think it will involve too much of their time," said Liz Neblett, spokeswoman for the federal agency. "It may involve some time, but it may also be your life."

So just what is involved in a vehicle recall? And how can you make the process as painless as possible?

Recalls typically start when a manufacturer realizes a faulty part was used, Neblett said.

General Motors Corp., for example, recently issued a voluntary recall for nearly 200,000 vehicles because of safety defects with brakes, gas pedals and windshields. And Ford Motor Co. voluntarily recalled 358,857 Focuses because their rear passenger doors may not latch properly.

NHTSA also may open an investigation if it receives complaints from owners or notices a trend in technical service bulletins issued by manufacturers.

"It might say something like, 'If you don't turn this widget three cranks to the right, the steering wheel won't fall off,'" Neblett said. "The steering wheel? Hmm, maybe we should investigate."

Once the need for a recall is determined, manufacturers will mail a recall notice to owners of the affected vehicles. The information also is posted on a searchable database on NHTSA's Web site, nhtsa.dot.gov.

Ford Motor Co., which owns such brands as Mercury, Mazda and Volvo, sends letters to owners at the address given when the vehicle was purchased if that sale is less than 10 months old, said Ford spokeswoman Kathleen Vokes.

"Anything 10 months or older could already be sold, so we cross reference with R.L. Polk [an automotive data broker], and come up with a list of current owners," she said.

Customers who register online at the Ford Web site for their make and model also receive notification by e-mail, Vokes said. And they can log on to see if there are any outstanding recalls, or call Ford's customer service department.

Date published: 3/20/2005