Tens of Millions of Recalled Cars Still on the Roads
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iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — There’s an epidemic in this country and it’s on the nation’s roads. With a record number of vehicles having been recalled for a variety of defects, it seems that millions of owners aren’t bothering to bring their cars, trucks and SUVs in for necessary repairs.
Carfax, which sells automotive data, estimates that over 46 million cars currently fit this description. A year ago, only about three million vehicles in the U.S. that were recalled were still being operated without going to the shop. The dramatic increase is the result of a surge in the number of recalls, led by General Motors.
Carfax says the danger to motorists is heightened by the fact that many big vehicles have an unfixed recall: a third of all minivans and 20 percent of SUVs.
And what exacerbates the problem is that many car owners who get the recall notice have already sold their vehicles to someone else who might be entirely unaware of the defect.
Larry Gamache, communications director at Carfax, contends, “America’s cavalier response to manufacturer safety recalls is putting lives at risk…The minor inconvenience that comes from having a recall fixed pales in comparison to what can happen if you don’t.”
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