Should Car Dealers Check Their Used Inventory For Recalls?

Are you actively checking your used vehicle inventory for open safety recalls?

Do you have a written policy that clearly explains how and when recalls are checked?

Have your employees signed that policy acknowledging they will follow it?

If not, it is worth asking why.

Why Recall Checks Matter More Than You Think

A recall is issued when a vehicle presents a safety risk or fails to meet minimum federal safety standards. These determinations are made by manufacturers or by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

If a dealership sells a used vehicle with an open safety recall, it may be placing customers and the public in harm’s way. This is not a theoretical risk. It is a known and documented safety issue that has already been identified at a federal level.

The Risk of Not Having a Written Policy

Without a written recall-checking policy, there is no consistency, no accountability, and no way to prove good-faith compliance if a problem arises. A policy creates structure and shows that recall checks are part of your normal operating procedures, not an afterthought.

Employee sign-offs matter. They demonstrate training, awareness, and responsibility, all of which are critical if a regulator, attorney, or insurer asks questions later.

What You Should Do Next

Review your current used inventory process and confirm when recall checks occur. If the answer is “sometimes” or “we assume it’s handled,” that is not enough.

Take a few minutes to watch the short video linked below and consider whether your current process would withstand scrutiny.

Thanks for seeing things from a Better Vantage Point.

Click HERE to watch the video.

Read the New York Times article HERE.

NHTSA recall information available HERE.