How must manufacturers notify owners about a vehicle recall? Answer in under 100 words. Cite only eCFR (www.ecfr.gov) sources.

Details / How it works

When a manufacturer determines that a vehicle or replacement equipment contains a safety-related defect or fails to conform to a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, the manufacturer must provide notification in accordance with § 577.5 and § 577.7(a).

The notification must begin with "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL" in capital letters larger than the body text, followed by the statement that the notice applies to the owner's vehicle with the specific Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) inserted. The letter must also state that it is sent pursuant to the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and include a defect description, risk evaluation, and remedy information.

For owners in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the notification must be written in both English and Spanish.

Numbers & thresholds

Exceptions & edge cases

The NHTSA Administrator may grant an exemption from notification requirements under 49 U.S.C. 30118(d) or 30120(h). Where the envelope format has been previously approved by the Recall Management Division, a new five-day pre-submission is not required. Any lessor receiving a notification for a leased vehicle must send a copy to the lessee as prescribed by § 577.7(a)(2)(iv), unless the manufacturer has notified the lessees directly.