Changes to the Motor Vehicle Recall Program Could Reduce Potential Safety Hazards

摘要

Nearly 128 million vehicles, tires, and other related items have been recalled because of safety defects, thereby reducing their potential to cause accidents. In many cases the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's defect investigation process has taken years to complete. Meanwhile, owners continue to drive vehicles that could be defective. About half of the millions of owners receiving recall letters fail to respond by having their safety defects corrected. Some owners do not perceive the defects as problems or do not believe the recalls are important. GAO found that nearly all the recall letters it reviewed were written at too high a reading level and were difficult to understand. Lowering the reading level could increase owner response rates.