Database Tracks Car Recalls

Used vehicle buyers will soon have a new information tool at hand to help them determine if a safety-related recall has been issued for a specific car, truck or motorcycle that’s under their consideration. Most importantly, they’ll be able to determine if a given defect has since been corrected, and if not, what action still needs to be taken. This is courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in Washington, D.C., which hopes to make such information, searchable by a car’s vehicle identification number (commonly called a VIN), available beginning next year via the SaferCar.gov website. “By making individual VIN searches readily available, we’re providing another service to car, light truck and motorcycle owners and potential owners - the peace of mind knowing that the vehicle they own, or that they are thinking of buying, is safe,” says NHTSA administrator David Strickland.