Defective products come in all shapes and sizes, and any product with production or design issues can be dangerous to the public. Companies recall food over reports of food poisoning, medications over contamination and even toys because they turn out to be dangerous.
Vehicle recalls are among the most critical to consumer safety. When something goes wrong with a vehicle, it can lead to a crash that claims lives. The last decade has seen recalls of vehicles due to defective airbags, issues with engines randomly shutting off, hoods that open and block the windshield while vehicles are in motion and now, spontaneous vehicle fires. The unfortunate thing about vehicle recalls is that they often take too long – leaving people at continued risk.
Currently, General Motors is in the process of recalling thousands of vehicles because of a fire risk. The recall affects Chevy Bolt electric vehicles (EVs).
How vehicle recalls work
It is only after consumers or regulatory agencies notice an issue that a recall starts in most cases. Owners with affected vehicles will receive notice either directly from the manufacturer or more likely from the dealership where they purchased the vehicle. They will then need to make an appointment to take the vehicle in and have repairs made to replace the defective parts.
It could be weeks or even months before a manufacturer and their various dealerships successfully address the defective component in all of the affected vehicles. In the interim, people could get hurt or even die because of those defective parts.
Initiating a recall does not completely absolve the company of responsibility for defective products. Learning more about your rights as a consumer can help you push back if you suffer injuries because of a poorly-designed or manufactured product.
