How to find out if your vehicle has a recall, what it means and what drivers need to know

It's OK, most of us have done it. We see headline after headline about yet another safety recall of thousands, if not millions, of cars or trucks – and never check to see whether our car or truck is among them. Or we get a snail-mail recall notice that some of us mistake for junk and quickly toss in the trash.

Here's what to do instead to make sure that the Ford or Ferrari parked in your garage is up to snuff safety-wise.

What is a safety defect?

A safety defect is a problem in your car or truck that poses an unreasonable risk to safety. It may exist in other vehicles of the same design by an automaker or different models from the same auto company. The defect may also affect similar parts used by different automakers.

How do recalls work?

Federal standards set minimum requirements for parts of a vehicle involved in its safe operation. Those mandates are also used to protect drivers and passengers from death or serious injury in the event of a crash. A recall is required when a vehicle or a part of a car or truck does not meet those performance standards.

More: Millions of older cars, trucks with dangerous defects aren't getting fixed

How big of a deal is a recall?

It's a big deal. Recalls can include safety-related defects that could lead to a loss of steering control, wiring problems that could lead to fire, airbags that deploy and injure occupants. They don't include nonsafety issues, such as a busted air-conditioning system or staticky radio.

Right, but how do I know if it's a really big deal?

Auto manufacturers send heightened alerts when the risk of the defect is seen as especially high. Two of these are “Do Not Drive” and “Park Outside” notifications. “Do Not Drive” instructs drivers not to operate their cars or trucks because a serious safety issue could spark an accident or physical harm. A “Park Outside” notice is sent out for vehicles with a high risk of causing a fire. Those owners are told to park their cars and trucks outside of garages and parking structures and away from their homes and other buildings.

More: The auto industry has a recall problem: Here's why proposed solutions haven't passed yet

How do I find out if I have a recalled car or truck?

By law, you should receive a notification in the mail from the maker of your car or truck. You can also search the website for the federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration . Many news organizations also report on widespread safety recalls for cars and trucks.

What information will display in the online search results on the NHTSA website?

When searching by license plate or vehicle identification number, you’ll learn if your car or truck is under a recall and needs to be repaired. When searching using more general information about a vehicle’s year, make and model, you'll get information about recalls, investigations, complaints and communications from carmakers.

That's fine, but what if I want to stay in the know about recalls affecting me?

There's more. You can sign up to receive NHTSA email recall notifications that affect your make and model. You can download the Safercar mobile app for iPhones or Safercar mobile app for Androids to have recall alerts sent to your phone. If you want another way to stay in touch, subscribe to RSS feeds about safety-related recalls .

Are there any other ways to find out about a safety recall on my vehicle?

Yes. Automakers often have their own websites with information, including the General Motors site . Ford Motor Co. has a mobile phone app called FordPass, which has a tab with recall information and a notification feature to push out the latest information. The nonprofit Center for Auto Safety has a lookup tool on its website. The private data company Carfax warns its 30 million Car Care members when there’s an unfixed recall for their vehicle. Government and businesses can also sign up for a service to check their vehicle fleets. In select states partnering with the federal government, the secretary of state or department of motor vehicles may check your car or truck against recall information and alert you separately about an outstanding safety issue. Other resources include the National Safety Council's Check to Protect campaign .

How do I check for recalls on my own?

Go online to NHTSA’s website and use its lookup tool to check your license plate number or VIN for any open safety recalls. Look on the lower left of your car's windshield for your 17-digit VIN. It's also on your vehicle registration card and it may be on your insurance card, too.

Where do I get it fixed?

You can take your vehicle to an authorized manufacturer dealership for repairs. But increasingly with the advent of the massive Takata airbag recall, automakers are coming to customers, performing mobile recall repairs at owners' homes and workplaces. Ford, for example, offers complimentary pickup and delivery through participating dealerships for recall repairs.

How much will it cost to fix?

Nothing, in almost every case. If there is a safety recall, your manufacturer is required to fix the problem free of charge. There are some exceptions. A manufacturer may or may not pay for repairs on vehicles older than 15 years.

Stay safe: Use your Vehicle Identification Number here to check whether your car or truck has an open safety recall.

What if they tell me the fix is not known or the new part is not available?

You'll have to wait. The manufacturer's notice will sometimes indicate when a fix is expected to be available. And they will often notify you again once it is.

I want to buy a used car. Is it legal to buy one with a safety defect that hasn't been fixed?

In most places, yes. There is no federal law that prohibits the sale of used cars with an open recall. Many nationwide used-car retailers now warn customers about the recall status of the car or truck they intend to buy. If you go ahead and buy the vehicle anyway, Consumer Reports and others suggest you make sure your registration has your current address. Also consider subscribing to email alerts about safety recalls and registering with a private data company like Carfax for updates. Finally, you should think about reaching out to the auto manufacturer directly about your used car purchase so they have your contact information.

This report received funding from the Abrams Nieman Fellowships for Local Investigative Journalis m.

Contact Matthew Dolan: 313-223-4743 or msdolan@freepress.com . Follow him on X at @matthewsdolan

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How to find out if your vehicle has a recall, what it means and what drivers need to know