Technological advancements are reaching new heights with every passing day. Tasks once carried out by humans, are now easily carried out by machines. The technological wave has also taken over the automotive industry and we can witness extraordinary features included in the vehicles. However, advancements go through a process of trial and error, at times technology can also experience failures before becoming available to the public; even after the launch in some cases. With so many innovations, errors are bound to appear and one such common problem in the automobile industry is vehicle recalls.
Automobile models or anything for that fact, even after being made accessible to the public can experience some technical issues. The manufacturers become aware of the issues after customer complaints and then they gear up to fix the persisting problems. Vehicle recalls are a good example of technological or physical failures. Let’s go through a detailed guide and learn all about car recalls and how to handle this problem.
What is Recall for Car?
Cars have evolved over the years. We have seen vehicles transition from conventional petrol cars to electric cars and solar cars. With all these changes and advancements, new sorts of issues can arise even after all the evaluations. Here is where the car recall process comes into play.
Put in simple words, car recall is a process when the manufacturers recall vehicles because of technical, physical or any other issue in the car. Any issue that can pose a threat to the driver’s safety can be a reason for car recall. Usually, the issues are identified by manufacturing engineers during production or after warranty claims have been filed for a common issue.
Customer safety is paramount and manufacturers along with governments take added measures to ensure the vehicles produced are safe to drive. Automotive manufacturers have introduced modern car safety features to further enhance vehicle safety. The problems can persist in a single model or an entire lineup. In 2018, over 70,000 vehicles were recalled by the Ministry of Economy in the UAE. This shows the government of UAE’s unparalleled interest in ensuring vehicle safety.
Types of Vehicle Recalls
A car can be recalled for several reasons but they are divided into two main types. Detailed below are the car recall types.
SAFETY-RELATED RECALLS
The safety-related recalls occur when any of the car components are found to be faulty and pose a risk to vehicle safety. Safety-related issues can occur in vehicles with similar equipment, design or manufacturer. Some common types of safety issues include:
- Steering components failure leading to partial or total loss of vehicle control
- Defective windshield wiper assemblies affecting the driver’s view
- Sticking of braking or gas pedal
- Faulty seats and seat backs
- Faulty wire system that can cause fire or loss of lighting
- Defective airbags
- Faulty wheels that can break down and cause loss of control
- Failure of any other vital components that can pose threat to driver or passenger’s safety
NON-SAFETY-RELATED RECALLS
Non-safety-related recalls don’t necessarily pose a threat to safety but are more about cosmetic issues. Any cosmetic error from the manufacturer’s side can also lead to vehicle recalls. Some common types of non-safety-related recalls are listed as follows:
- Faulty stereo systems and air conditioning or heating components
- Poor paint quality
- Rusting
- Premature wear on parts like shocks or brakes
Vehicle Recall Process
How do I know if my vehicle is recalled or has my car been recalled? Questions like these may rise in your mind about car recalls. However, the car recall process is rather simple. Once the fault has been identified, vehicle owners are informed by email. Customers usually receive these emails before the news has been made public. This is to ensure that no accidents occur because of a particular manufacturing fault. In the UAE, the Competition and Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy oversees product recalls.
If you learn about the recall of a model you currently own, get in touch with the official dealer. The dealer will give you an appointment date to get the fault fixed. Manufacturers are bound to fix any faults without charging any additional amount to the consumers. This also applies to second-hand car owners.
Is it Safe to Drive a Recalled Vehicle?
Whether to drive a recalled vehicle or not depends on the severity of the issue. If your car has been recalled because of non-safety-related issues such as bad paint or rust then you can drive the vehicle. However, if the vehicle recall is because of safety-related issues, it is advised to avoid driving the vehicle.
If the car recall advisory mentions issues which can lead to car brake failure or acceleration issues, etc. then it is unsafe to drive. Failure to comply with the guidelines can result in your car stopping midway or getting involved in an accident. It is best to get your car towed to the dealership if the issue is a severe one. However, if your car stops midway for any reason, you can follow these roadside assistance safety tips to avoid any further inconvenience.
Time Taken for Repairs After Vehicle Recalls
The time taken for repairs usually depends on the nature of the issue. If the issue requires complete engine inspection then it can take some time. However, if there’s a minor technical issue or a small update, it can be fixed rather quickly. The time frame can also vary depending on the number of cars recalled. In many cases, there are thousands of recalled vehicles. You can get delayed appointment dates because of a large number of vehicles already in line.
This was everything about recall vehicle meaning, types and process. Although automobiles are put through several tests before they are launched, there remains a slim chance for issues to emerge. The good thing is you get notified promptly because the UAE government strictly adheres to safety. Additionally, the manufacturers bear all the repairing costs.
If your car requires frequent visits to the mechanic even after the recall process, it is a viable option to go for a vehicle change. Browse through these used cars for sale in the UAE and select from a wide variety of vehicles listed.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more information.
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