[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/carriers-avoid-recall-process-to-keep-trucks-on-the-road\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/carriers-avoid-recall-process-to-keep-trucks-on-the-road\/","headline":"Carriers Avoid Recall Process to Keep Trucks on the Road","name":"Carriers Avoid Recall Process to Keep Trucks on the Road","description":"Despite relatively easy reporting and repair or replacement of a defective vehicle or part at no cost, some truck fleets delay reporting and fixing defects to avoid lost revenue from sidelined equipment. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) depends on truck fleets to report a dangerous vehicle manufacturing or design defect, so that...","datePublished":"2017-05-22","dateModified":"2024-05-22","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/author\/rizklaw\/#Person","name":"Rizk Law","url":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/author\/rizklaw\/","identifier":9,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/10e23ce5e6c4dadb4589cd8edf2c3f59ac356a6e876c3656917777913d9c3bc1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/10e23ce5e6c4dadb4589cd8edf2c3f59ac356a6e876c3656917777913d9c3bc1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Rizk Law","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rizk-law-logo-footer.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/rizk-law-logo-footer.jpg","width":278,"height":65}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Richard-Rizk-headshot.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Richard-Rizk-headshot.jpg","width":383,"height":427},"url":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/carriers-avoid-recall-process-to-keep-trucks-on-the-road\/","about":["Auto Accident"],"wordCount":724,"articleBody":"Despite relatively easy reporting and repair or replacement of a defective vehicle or part at no cost, some truck fleets delay reporting and fixing defects to avoid lost revenue from sidelined equipment.The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) depends on truck fleets to report a dangerous vehicle manufacturing or design defect, so that it can investigate and issue a recall if necessary. However, while about 235 million vehicles in the U.S. generate about 45,000 complaints a year to NHTSA, 9 million trucks only generate 600 calls.NHTSA Makes Reporting Truck Defects EasierIn an effort to streamline the reporting process, NHTSA offers four ways carriers can report a problem.TelephoneThe Vehicle Safety Hotline can be reached at 888-327-4236 from anywhere in the United States, including the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, where representatives are on duty from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST Monday through Friday.MailA letter can be sent describing the problem with a phone number, so the person reporting can be reached for more information. NHTSA can also send a postage-paid complaint form to provide information about the complaint. Carriers can call 888-327-4236 to obtain the form.All correspondence can be sent to:NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (NEF-100)West Building1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E.Washington, DC 20590FaxFax a letter or complaint form to: 202-366-1767.NHTSA\u2019s Investigative Recall ProcessAfter NHTSA receives a certain number of complaints on any specific line of vehicles, tires or equipment that has a potential for causing a risk to safety, it opens an investigation. During that investigation, investigators perform a detailed technical analysis of the issue using all available information.The investigation includes, but is not limited to, service bulletins, consumer complaints, warranty claims, crash and injury data, part sales, inspections, tests, surveys and other documents prepared by the manufacturers.NHTSA\u2019s investigative process consists of:A review of customer complaintsAn analysis of any petitions calling for defect investigations and\/or reviews of safety-related recallsThe investigation of alleged safety defectsAn investigation into the effectiveness of safety recallsIf NHTSA\u2019s analysis of the data indicates a safety defect exists, the manufacturer must fix it at no charge to the vehicle\u2019s owner. A potential problem can be anything related to electronics or mechanical equipment. A recall may also be issued when a vehicle is not in compliance with a motor vehicle safety standard.NHTSA Reaches Out with Recall NoticesEach owner of a vehicle affected by a recall receives a \u201cSafety Recall Notice\u201d via first-class mail. Dealers receive specific information on the part that must be used, the labor involved and how they will be compensated for the work. They also receive a list of the chassis and vehicle identification numbers in the area and what they sold to customers. After that, it is the responsibility of the dealers to contact those customers and coordinate a repair. NHTSA also requires vehicle lessors that receive a recall notification to notify their lessees within 10 days of their receipt of the notice.Manufacturer Campaigns Independent of NHTSA Recall ProcessManufacturers may also initiate an equipment fix that is termed a \u201ccampaign\u201d and doesn\u2019t require involvement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If they discover a safety defect in their equipment, manufacturers must follow specific procedures. They must notify NHTSA, equipment owners, dealers and distributors of the defect, and then remedy the problem at no charge to the owner of the vehicle.The manufacturer\u2019s report includes:A description of the safety-related defectThe scopeThe owner notification timingRecall Fix Reimbursement Doesn\u2019t Include Vehicle Downtime and ExpensesWhile manufacturers are legally required to cover the cost of a recall fix, they don\u2019t cover expenses for the travel to get a truck to a dealership or the downtime of the vehicle. The closing date of eligibility for reimbursement of repair for a motor vehicle is 10 days after the manufacturer mails the last of the owner notices informing them of the defect. For equipment, the closing date is 30 days after the manufacturer\u2019s closing of its notifications. Some carriers delay non-safety related repairs until it needs to be done, even when they miss the reimbursement window.For more information about trucking laws and liability, contact a\u00a0Portland truck accident lawyer\u00a0from Rizk Law today. Ph:\u00a0503.245.5677."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Carriers Avoid Recall Process to Keep Trucks on the Road","item":"https:\/\/www.rizklaw.com\/blog\/carriers-avoid-recall-process-to-keep-trucks-on-the-road\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]