ORLANDO – Toyota recalls have been filling news reports lately, and Honda has had its share of time in the news spotlight.
On the show floor of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention in Orlando, Zurich shared information with clients and potential customers on responding to automobile safety recalls.
The company says that it’s important for an automotive business to have a plan in place to address potential issues that can come about following recalls. Here are some tips Zurich suggests to successfully create a plan for such circumstances.
First, know when to go public. Many vehicle issues affect non-safety related systems, Zurich states, and can be addressed during regular vehicle maintenance services. But when safety components are affected, that’s when manufacturers go public.
To communicate this information, manufacturers are required to file a public report describing the safety-related defect or non-compliance with a motor vehicle safety standard, the corrective action being taken and provide warnings to the public, and any involved or related parties, according to a Zurich loss prevention bulletin. They also must notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Back to the technicians doing the work. Zurich encourages you to follow manufacturers’ advice on recalls. Your shop’s plan should include maintaining detailed service and repair records, and properly backing up and storing them. Information to include in the records is who fixed the vehicle, what procedures and tests were completed and by whom, when they were completed and a confirmation of the work by the service manager to verify it was done correctly, Zurich says.
The company stresses that repair shops should follow the advice and direction from manufacturers for all recall repairs. You also should notify customers bringing recalled vehicles into your shop that their vehicle is subject to the recall, provide them with a printed recall notification and ask them to sign a disclosure statement acknowledging receipt.
It also says you should not try to provide an interim remedy of your own or any repairs not specifically directed by the manufacturer. And, as an independent, stay on top of this information by continually monitoring the manufacturers’ Web sites for the latest recall information.
For more information on protecting your business while working on recalled vehicles, visit www.zurichna.com/zdu.
