E-mail service aims to speed up car recalls

About a third of all car and truck owners who receive recall notices do not take their vehicles in for the free repairs, safety officials say

July 24, 2000
Web posted at: 9:54 p.m. EDT (0154 GMT)

From Ed Garsten
CNN Detroit Bureau Chief

DETROIT (CNN) -- A new Internet service will e-mail consumers if their car is being recalled.

Car manufacturers issue about 20 to 30 recalls each month for defects ranging from a wiring problem that could lead to a fire, to a faulty lift-gate latch or seat belt or an engine oil leak.

"We know that right now, even though the auto manufacturers, once the decision is made, they try to get a hold of everybody, but it could be two, three months lag time before all those letters go out," said Gerald Basch of AAA Michigan.

Autobytel.com is offering to get notices out faster.

"You can get an e-mail notification directly from us whenever a recall notice goes out to a car that you've posted to "My Garage," explained Mark Lorimer, the CEO of Autobytel.com.

	VIDEO
CNN's Ed Garsten reports on internet automotive recalls Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Car owners who have registered their name, vehicles and e-mail addresses with the site get an instant list of any recalls, plus future notification of recalls.

Recall information is also available on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site, where you can enter the make, model and year of the vehicle you're researching and a current list of recalls is displayed.

According to the NTSA, about a third of all vehicle owners who receive recall notices don't bother to take their cars or trucks in for the free repairs, possibly endangering themselves and their passengers.

Advocacy group urges Chrysler to recall '97 minivans
May 18, 1999
Ford announces vehicle recall
April 25, 1996

Autobytel.com
AAA
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - vehicle recalls

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