Occasionally, motor vehicle buyers will find they have purchased a 'lemon' - a car that isn’t fit for purpose. How do you know if you've bought a lemon, and what can you do about it?
Motoring
Car recalls in Australia – what to do if your car is recalled
Vehicle recalls are more common than you might think. Here’s how to know if your car has been recalled and what to do next.
With potentially lethal consequences and around three million cars affected (and 100 million worldwide), the Takata airbag recall might be the most notable vehicle recall in Australian motor history.
But while they might not always make the same headlines as the Takata recall, car recalls happen all the time in Australia. Between January and November 2023, more than half a million vehicles were recalled across the country according to Federal Government data, with 218 recall notices issued during that period.
The reasons behind vehicle recalls can vary, with some as serious as the Takata airbag and some as seemingly innocuous as a mislabeled part.
While discovering your car has been recalled can be frustrating, it’s important to heed any recall notices to ensure your safety and that of other road users.
Common reasons for car recalls
Not all reasons for car recalls are as serious as the Takata airbag recall.
Common reasons for car recalls include:
- A car or component in the car not working or not working as intended
- A car or component in the car having been incorrectly manufactured or installed.
The Australian Design Rules (ADR) are the national standards concerning road vehicle safety, anti-theft and emissions. When a car is recalled it is often because the vehicle is in breach of these standards, even if the issue may not pose an imminent safety issue or greatly impact driver experience.
How do I know if my car has been recalled?
In most cases the manufacturer will contact you directly if your vehicle is part of a recall. They may do this by post, email or SMS.
Even if you own a second-hand car, manufacturers are usually able to contact you if your vehicle is recalled by using the vehicle identification number and current registration details.
Motorists can also check if their car is part of a recall by visiting vehiclerecalls.gov.au. This government website publishes the details of all current car recalls in Australia. This website also displays recalls for trucks, buses, caravans, trailers, motorcycles and motorhomes.
If buying a used car, cross-referencing the details of your potential new car with this website can help ensure you make a confident purchase.
More: Are there lemon laws for new and used cars?
What to do if your car has been recalled
There are two types of vehicle recalls in Australia.
Voluntary recalls
This is when a potential safety or non-compliance issue has been identified with either the vehicle or a component in the vehicle. Action is taken by the vehicle or component manufacturer to rectify the issue.
Compulsory recalls
A compulsory recall happens when the responsible Commonwealth Minister issues a compulsory recall notice to suppliers because it appears that they have not taken satisfactory action to prevent injury or fix a non-compliance issue with applicable standards.
If your vehicle is part of a recall, you will be informed of the next steps when the supplier or manufacturer contacts you. Often this will involve you having to return the vehicle to the supplier or manufacturer for the problem to be rectified free-of-charge.
You may also be issued a notice not to drive the vehicle until the works have been carried out, or to keep the vehicle parked outside (if the reason for recall poses a fire danger).
What is the difference between a car service campaign and a recall?
Car service or safety campaigns are instigated by manufacturers when an update may be needed to a part or software in a vehicle. They usually involve a quality control issue, not a safety issue.
Unlike with a recall, you may not be notified of the service campaign until your car is next serviced. You may also be able to search if your vehicle has any current service campaigns via the manufacturer’s website.
Even though they are less urgent to address, you should still have any issues identified by a service campaign attended to when next serviced.
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions, please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
