JUST THIS MONTH both BMW and the Volkswagen Group have issued recalls for some of their vehicles. Recalls usually happen for safety reasons and should be taken seriously. If you’re worried about the implications for you and your car, here’s everything you need to know.

Check the VIN

If you hear of a recall of a specific model manufactured between a certain date and you are unsure if this applies to your car you can check your car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to see when the car was made.

You can find the VIN on the at the base of the windscreen on the driver’s side, on a sticker on the driver’s door or in the front of the engine block.

You can then use a free online VIN decoder to find out when your car was manufactured.

You will receive a letter

Normally, manufacturers that issue recalls send letters in the post to all potentially affected customers. The letter will contain advice on how the recall will be conducted.

Manufacturers use the assistance of data from the Department of Transport’s National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) to contact customers. Therefore, it is important that your NVDF information is up to date at all times.

If you wish to amend these details, for example, if you change address, you should contact :

Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division,
Department of Transport, Shannon Town Centre,
Shannon,
Co. Clare.
Locall: 0818 411 412
Fax: (061) 363480
Email: motortax@transport.ie

Contact the manufacturer

If you have concerns, you can also contact the manufacturer’s local retailer directly. Your local retailer will advise if your car is affected or not. You can find your local retailer on the manufacturer’s website.

When a recall is issued, most manufacturers also set up a dedicated phone number and website to deal with queries. You can usually find this information on the manufacturer’s main website.

For example, on the BMW Ireland Facebook page, the recall notice states that customers can contact the BMW team via social media or email or phone. It also advises customers to have their car’s chassis number (VIN) handy.

No cost to you

When you make contact with the manufacturer you will be advised of the recall process and how to get your car fixed. The car will be fixed without any cost to the customer. The cost of repair or adjustment is borne by the manufacturer and this is a legal requirement for all vehicles sold in Europe.

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