The end of Daylight Saving Time is around the corner ­– at 2:00 AM this Sunday, November 6.  In my household, we like to take this opportunity to make sure our safety checklist is up to date by doing things like checking the batteries in our smoke detectors and the charge in our fire extinguishers.

We also check for open recalls on our family cars. Vehicle recalls occur on a daily basis, and the few minutes spent preparing your family can help keep everyone safe on the road ahead. 

That’s why NHTSA provides the VIN Look-Up tool  to help indicate if your vehicle is under a recall.

A recall means that your vehicle’s manufacturer or NHTSA has determined there is a defect in your vehicle which represents a risk to your safety, or that the vehicle doesn’t meet basic Federal safety regulations that all vehicles sold in the United States must meet.

It could be a defect that causes you to lose control of your car, a defect that causes safety features such as air bags or seat belts to fail their job of protecting you, or a violation of the standards for how well your vehicle should protect you and your family in a crash.

These are not problems to be taken lightly – they threaten your safety and the safety of everyone in your vehicle, and even those on the road with you.

All recall repairs are free. If your vehicle is recalled, please call your local dealer as soon as possible to make an appointment for a free remedy. Click here to see a video on how recalls work.

Use NHTSA’s VIN Look-Up tool on SaferCar.gov regularly to see if your vehicle is under a recall; at least twice a year. To remember to check, time it with Daylight Saving Time – every November when setting clocks back and every March when setting clocks forward.

You can click here to watch a step-by-step video on how to check your VIN.

Remember: “Safe Cars Save Lives.”