How Do I Know If My
Motorcycle Has a Recall?
What
is a recall?
A recall occurs when a manufacturer or the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (the “NHTSA”) determines that a model (or several models) has a
safety-related
defect or does not comply
with a federal safety standard. When this happens, the manufacturer is
obligated to alert owners to the problem and usually offer a free repair.
If
my motorcycle has a recall, will I be notified?
Manufacturers are required to send written
notice, via first class mail, to the original purchasers and registered owners of
vehicles affected by a recall. Manufacturers
get information from their records and state DMV records.
However, if you recently purchased your motorcycle as a used vehicle the
manufacturer will likely be unaware of your ownership of the vehicle with
regard to open recalls that predate your purchase of the bike. Instead, you should be proactive when
purchasing a used motorcycle to make sure that there are no open recalls affecting your vehicle. The good news is that
whether you received a letter or not, the manufacturer is still obligated to
repair the defect (for free in almost all instances).
How
can I check for open recalls?
To check for open recalls you will need the Vehicle
Identification Number (the “VIN number”) for the motorcycle. The VIN number can be found on the state DMV
registration for the motorcycle, the title to the motorcycle and on the frame
of the motorcycle. With the VIN number
available to you, you will want to visit these two websites to search for free
for open recalls:
What should I do if I
received a recall letter or I found an open recall for my motorcycle on the internet?
The written recall letter should have detailed
instructions as to the steps for you to take to have the vehicle repaired. In
most instances, the written recall notice will instruct you to call the local
dealer to set up a repair appointment.
If you did not receive a written recall notice and instead found an open
recall using the VIN number search, call the local dealer and tell them the
recall that you found and the VIN number for your vehicle. They should then set up an appointment to
repair your motorcycle.
If
you have any trouble researching whether your motorcycle has any open recalls,
give us a call at 828-505-7575
today and we will help you research the issue. All of our staff at Blue Ridge
Riders are motorcycle enthusiasts who regularly ride. We want to help you make sure that your bike
is safe and ready to ride.
