Car recalls are an important part of keeping vehicles on UK roads safe. If a manufacturer discovers a serious safety defect affecting a vehicle, it may work with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to arrange a recall and have the problem fixed.
If your car is recalled, that does not necessarily mean it is immediately dangerous. A recall means a safety problem has been identified that needs to be addressed. In most cases, the manufacturer will arrange the necessary repair or replacement without charging you for the work.
In this guide, we’ll explain what car recalls are, why they happen, how to check whether your vehicle is affected and what you should do if you receive a recall notification.
A car recall is an action taken by a manufacturer to address a serious safety defect affecting a vehicle or one of its components.
The UK’s vehicle safety recall system is overseen by the DVSA, which works with vehicle manufacturers and other organisations to investigate potential safety defects and agree appropriate action.
Car recalls can involve many different parts of a vehicle, including:
Recalls aren’t limited to cars, either. The UK system also covers motorcycles, commercial vehicles, caravans, trailers and certain vehicle components and accessories.
A recall can affect a small number of vehicles or a very large production run, depending on how widespread the problem is.
Car recalls usually happen when a manufacturer identifies a defect that could create a safety risk.
Problems can be discovered through:
Under the UK’s vehicle safety system, manufacturers have responsibilities for monitoring the safety of products they have placed on the market and must notify the DVSA when a confirmed safety defect meets the relevant criteria.
The DVSA can investigate potential safety defects and work with manufacturers to determine what action is required.
This means a recall shouldn’t automatically be viewed as evidence that a particular car is badly designed or unreliable. Identifying and fixing safety problems is an important part of vehicle ownership and manufacturer responsibility.
When a potential safety problem is identified, the manufacturer investigates the issue and assesses the risk.
If a serious safety defect is confirmed, the manufacturer must notify the DVSA and agree appropriate action. This can result in a formal safety recall.
The manufacturer will provide information about the affected vehicles, the defect and the action required to fix the problem.
Owners are normally contacted using keeper information where appropriate. This is one reason why it is important to keep your vehicle and keeper details up to date.
If your car is affected, the manufacturer will normally explain:
The repair could involve replacing a component, carrying out a modification or installing a software update, depending on the nature of the defect.
You don’t have to wait for a letter before checking whether your vehicle has an outstanding recall.
The easiest place to start is the official GOV.UK car recall checker.
You can check a car using its registration number. The service can show safety recalls that have not been checked or fixed and can also provide access to the vehicle’s MOT history.
If you don’t know the registration number, GOV.UK also allows you to check using the manufacturer, model and year of manufacture.
Another option is the SMMT Vehicle Safety Recall Look-Up Service, which provides information on outstanding safety recalls.
It’s also worth checking the manufacturer’s own website or contacting an authorised dealer if you have concerns about a particular vehicle.
Absolutely.
Checking for outstanding car recalls should be part of the process whenever you’re considering a used vehicle. A quick recall check can help you identify car recalls that may have been issued before the vehicle changed hands.
The official GOV.UK used-car buying guidance specifically recommends checking whether a vehicle has been recalled because of a serious safety issue.
This is particularly important when buying privately or when purchasing an older vehicle, as previous recall correspondence may not have reached you.
Before buying, check:
If you’re buying a used car through MotorHype, you can also browse used cars for sale and carry out your own checks before completing the purchase.
If your car is affected by a recall, don’t ignore the notification.
Start by contacting the manufacturer or authorised dealer using the details provided in the recall notice.
They should be able to confirm:
Have your registration number and VIN available if requested, as these can help identify the exact vehicle.
Most importantly, follow the manufacturer’s instructions about whether the car can still be driven.
If the manufacturer or recall notice tells you not to drive the vehicle, don’t drive it to the dealership. Arrange appropriate recovery instead.
Safety recall repairs are normally carried out without charge to the vehicle owner.
GOV.UK states that you will not usually have to pay for repairs or parts required under a safety recall.
The precise arrangements can vary depending on the manufacturer and the circumstances, so it’s always worth confirming what is covered when you book the repair.
If a dealer tells you that there will be a charge for recall work, ask them to clarify whether the work is actually part of the manufacturer’s safety recall or whether they are recommending additional work unrelated to the recall.
A safety recall does not simply disappear because a certain amount of time has passed.
The SMMT states that recall notices remain open indefinitely so that as many affected vehicles as possible can be returned to authorised repairers and fixed.
That is particularly important when buying a used car.
A vehicle could have changed hands several times since a recall was first issued, meaning a previous owner may have missed the notification.
If you’re buying an older used car, don’t assume that an old recall is no longer relevant simply because it was issued years ago.
Check the vehicle’s current recall status and contact the manufacturer if you need clarification.
The consequences depend on the nature of the defect.
Some recalls involve problems that need to be fixed promptly, while others may present a more serious and immediate safety risk.
If a manufacturer tells you that a vehicle should not be driven, you should follow that instruction.
GOV.UK states that vehicle owners are legally responsible for ensuring their vehicle is kept in a safe condition and is safe to drive.
Failing to address a serious safety problem could put you and other road users at risk. It could also affect an insurance claim in certain circumstances.
For that reason, car recalls should never be treated as something that can simply be ignored.
A safety recall and an MOT are separate things, but they can overlap.
The MOT test checks whether a vehicle meets the required roadworthiness standards at the time of the test. A recall addresses a known safety defect identified by a manufacturer or through the vehicle safety system.
GOV.UK says that your MOT history may also tell you if your vehicle has been recalled for a safety reason, depending on the manufacturer.
If you’re preparing your vehicle for its MOT, our MOT test preparation checklist can help you check some of the key areas before the test.
A recall does not automatically mean your car insurance is invalid.
However, ignoring a serious safety defect could create problems if you subsequently make an insurance claim, particularly where the defect is relevant to an incident.
The safest approach is simple: follow the manufacturer’s recall instructions and have the required work completed as soon as reasonably possible.
If the manufacturer specifically tells you not to drive the vehicle, don’t continue using it until you’ve been told it is safe to do so.
The UK has seen many high-profile recalls over the years involving airbags, braking systems, electrical faults and other safety-critical components.
One particularly significant example involved Takata airbags. Various manufacturers recalled affected vehicles because faulty airbag inflators could rupture and potentially cause serious injuries.
The important point is that recalls can affect almost any manufacturer, regardless of the reputation, age or price of the vehicle.
A recall should therefore be viewed as a safety action rather than automatically as a judgement on the quality of the entire car.
Car recalls are a normal part of the modern vehicle industry.
Modern cars contain thousands of components and increasingly sophisticated electrical and software systems. Manufacturers, regulators and owners can identify potential problems through testing, monitoring and reports from vehicles already in use.
The fact that a manufacturer issues car recalls can actually be a positive sign that a problem has been identified and action is being taken.
What matters most with car recalls is that affected vehicles are repaired properly.
Not necessarily.
Finding out that your car has an outstanding recall can be worrying, but a recall does not automatically mean your vehicle is about to fail or that it is unsafe to drive immediately.
The seriousness depends on the specific defect.
Some recalls can be dealt with through a relatively straightforward repair, while others may require urgent action or instructions not to drive the vehicle.
The important thing is to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and arrange the required repair rather than ignoring the problem.
Car recalls are an important part of keeping vehicles safe throughout their lives.
If your car receives a recall notification, there’s usually no reason to panic. The manufacturer has identified a problem and is providing a way to put it right.
The most important thing is to take the notification seriously, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and arrange the repair as soon as you can.
And if you’re buying a used car, checking for outstanding car recalls should be part of your normal buying process. It only takes a few minutes and could help you identify an important safety issue before you buy.
Check your vehicle for recalls on GOV.UK before you buy or continue driving a vehicle with an unknown recall.
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