Media Release

Total recall: Rise in car defects putting Aussie drivers at risk

        • Car recalls up by 176% since 2014
        • 145,055 vehicles impacted in May alone
        • How to check if your vehicle is affected

24 July, 2019, Sydney, Australia – Australia has experienced an alarming increase in car recalls over the past five years according to Finder, Australia's most visited comparison site.

Car manufacturers have issued 135 recalls in the first half of 2019 alone, with the overall number of recalls skyrocketing by 176% since 20141

A record number of car recalls occurred in 2018, after 214 vehicles were found to have a safety related defect, owing partly to faulty Takata airbags.

Taylor Blackburn, insurance specialist at Finder, said that car recalls are happening far more often than people realise, and ignoring the warning signs could be fatal.

"Vehicle recalls are becoming all too common in the automotive industry. Drivers who receive a letter from their car manufacturer should take immediate action to avoid unnecessary danger on the roads,

"Many drivers aren't aware that if they're notified of a recall against their vehicle and fail to get it repaired, this can potentially void their car insurance,

"Insurers won't cover you for accidents or injuries if you deliberately ignore a defective issue relating to your vehicle," he said.

The total number of Aussie auto recalls for 2019 rose to 21 in May, affecting 145,055 vehicles across the country - almost 5,000 cars per day.

By comparison, just 92,561 vehicles were sold during the same period, meaning more cars were recalled on a daily basis than they were purchased.

Blackburn said that all drivers have an obligation to keep their vehicle in a safe and roadworthy condition.

"By failing to get the required repairs you not only put your own life at risk, you jeopardise the lives of other motorists too— including your passengers."

"If your car malfunctions, the manufacturer is obliged to fix the problem for free. This means there's no excuse to be driving around in an unsafe vehicle."

Top five recalled brands:

ManufacturerNumber of recalls (2019)
Toyota202
Mercedes Benz201
Holden186
Ford184
Chrystler157

Source: ACCC Product Safety Australia, Recalls - Cars

How to check if your car has been recalled:

  • Check your mail. Car manufacturers will contact you in writing if there's an active recall on your car. But keep in mind that if you're not the first owner, they might have trouble tracking you down.
  • Have a look online. Visit the www.productsafety.gov.au website to see if there are any open recalls for your particular year, make, and model.
  • Contact your vehicle manufacturer. This is the safest option if you're unsure about whether a recall will affect you, and what the next steps will be if it does.

1Finder analysis of ACCC Product Safety Australia, Recalls

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For further information

Disclaimer

The information in this release is accurate as of the date published, but rates, fees and other product features may have changed. Please see updated product information on finder.com.au's review pages for the current correct values.

About Finder

Every month 2.6 million unique visitors turn to Finder to save money and time, and to make important life choices. We compare virtually everything from credit cards, phone plans, health insurance, travel deals and much more.

Our free service is 100% independently-owned by three Australians: Fred Schebesta, Frank Restuccia and Jeremy Cabral. Since launching in 2006, Finder has helped Aussies find what they need from 1,800+ brands across 100+ categories.

We continue to expand and launch around the globe, and now have offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Poland and the Philippines. For further information visit www.finder.com.au.

12.6 million average unique monthly audience (June- September 2019), Nielsen Digital Panel

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