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Recalls Of The Week: Rethinking Used-Car Safety

The AP reported Wednesday on a recent Carfax study that investigated why the flawed recall system is dangerous to used-car buyers. In this report, Auto Writers Tom Krisher and Dee-Ann Durbin write, “More than 46 million cars and trucks on the road...

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The AP reported Wednesday on a recent Carfax study that investigated why the flawed recall system is dangerous to used-car buyers.

In this report, Auto Writers Tom Krisher and Dee-Ann Durbin write, “More than 46 million cars and trucks on the road in the U.S. — about one-fifth the total — were recalled because of safety defects but never repaired.”

Dealers and sellers are not required to fix repairs, or even inform the buyer if the car is under recall, before the car is sold.

The high number of recalls in 2014 adds to the existing problem, because many of the defective cars on the road today will someday end up in a used car lot. When a car changes hands, neither the carmaker nor the used dealership are responsible for informing the new driver of the car’s recall history.

According to the AP, “A number of attempts to pass laws requiring dealers to fix recalled cars or disclose problems have stalled under opposition from carmakers, auto dealers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.” For example, the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association opposes requiring dealers to repair unfixed recalls, because it would unfairly affect independent dealerships.

Do you think used car dealers have an obligation to fix defects and disclose recalls to buyers? Comment below or tweet me @MNetBridget.

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