A concerning new study by CarFax reveals that millions of California drivers may be operating unsafe vehicles on public roads. The report shows that more than 6.2 million vehicles in California have at least one unresolved safety recall, with over 1.5 million having two or more unfixed issues.
The findings place California at the top of the list nationally for vehicles with open recalls. Los Angeles alone accounts for over 3 million affected vehicles – the highest number for any city in the United States.
These recalls address manufacturing defects that could pose serious safety risks. One notable example is the Takata airbag recall, which affects 67 million airbags. These faulty units can explode and project metal fragments toward vehicle occupants, having already caused 28 deaths and over 400 injuries.
Last year saw more than 800 recall notices issued across various vehicle makes and models. While some newer vehicles can receive fixes through software updates, most recalls require a visit to an authorized dealer for repairs. All recall-related repairs are provided at no cost to vehicle owners.
The problem extends beyond California's borders. Texas leads the nation with 1.6 million vehicles having multiple open recalls, followed by California's 1.5 million and Florida's 900,000.
Vehicle owners can check their car's recall status by entering their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's database. The VIN can typically be found at the base of the windshield on the driver's side or on the B-pillar sticker.
This rising trend in unresolved recalls represents a 16% increase compared to two years ago, highlighting growing safety concerns on American roads.