Safety and Recall Information to be Added to BAR-OIS
Unaddressed vehicle safety recalls may adversely affect drivability and may lead to an increased chance of serious injury or death during a collision. Examples of vehicle safety systems that could be impacted are brakes, airbags, and advanced driver assistance systems. Vehicle manufacturers attempt to notify vehicle owners, but many recalls are not addressed even though repairs are offered at no cost. To improve consumer protection, the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) is working to update the BAR On-Board Diagnostic Inspection System (BAR-OIS) to display and print safety recalls.
Upon implementation of this update later this year, the BAR-OIS will use the vehicle identification number to retrieve vehicle-specific recall information from the Vehicle Recall Search Service. The real-time service, jointly developed by Carfax and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, returns one of the following results: recalls, no recalls found, or no recalls found because the vehicle manufacturer is not participating. Recall information provided includes the recall date, campaign number, and a description of the recall to aid in repair. The recall results are displayed to the Smog Check inspector and are also printed on the vehicle inspection report, a copy of which is provided to the consumer. This service covers all but a few small vehicle manufacturers who are not participating.
Earlier this year, BAR also joined the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other states in a campaign to inform consumers of important steps to follow to ensure their recalled vehicle is repaired. BAR is committed to enhancing outreach aimed at positively influencing safety recall rates and protecting consumers in California.
For additional information on safety recalls and repairing recalled vehicles, visit NHTSA’s website at www.nhtsa.gov.