FAQs about
   auto recalls car reports for new and used cars  

1. How can myCarStats help me?

2. What does myCarStats do?

3. How do I use the site?

4. What is myCarStats’ Summary Stats?

5. Where does this information come from?  How frequently is it updated?

6. When is automobile recall information sent out?

7. How many cars may I have in myCarStats profile?

8. What information will be included in the monthly email from myCarStats?

9. What is myCarStats’ Expanded Report?

10. How do I get the detail information for my car?

11. What is the cost for a Detail Report?

12. Will the Report for my car have enough information on it that I can make a case for my squeal, rattle, or shimmy at my auto service center?

13. What is a Service Bulletin?

14. How can I file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration?

1. How can myCarStats help me?
You can use the site to learn the latest safety and mechanical concerns for specific year, make, and model vehicles.  Should you learn that your vehicle suffers from one of the reported Problems you can create a custom report.  When you take the vehicle in for repair you may follow up your discussion with the repair technician with your Custom Report.  If your vehicle is in warranty, there will probably be no charge for the repair.

2. What does myCarStats do?
Informs you.  This site provides mechanical and safety statistics for vehicles.  For the vehicle of your choice, you may opt to receive email informing you of Recalls when they are issued, instead of months later.  You may opt to receive monthly email showing new Problems reported on the year, make, and model you have chosen. 

3. How do I use the site?

• Use the site to stay informed about what has been reported on vehicles of your choice. 

• List your own cars on your Safety Station page -- and warranty dates.  myCarStats will remind you when it is time for your warranty to expire.  You may wish to get in to see the dealer before the warranty runs out.  Have repairs made at ‘no charge’ while still under warranty.

• Create Custom Reports that can save you time and dollars as you maintain and repair your vehicle.

• Compare safety and mechanical statistics on vehicles as part of the process of purchasing a used vehicle. 

• myCarStats offers safety products such as First Aid Kits, Flares, Fire Extinguishers, and more in our Safety Store.

• Check out myCarStats' choice for extended car warranties.

4. What is myCarStats’ Summary Stats?
Summary Stats list the number of Bulletins, Recalls, Investigations, and Complaints by year, make, and model.

5. Where does this information come from?  How frequently is it updated?
Vehicle manufacturers and the Trend and Analysis Division of The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration collect the safety and statistical data that is entered in our databases.  myCarStats’ databases are updated weekly.

• Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) are issued by vehicle manufacturers to help automotive technicians diagnose and repair problems reported by consumers and repair shops.  Over 6,000 bulletins are issued by car manufacturers every year.

• Complaints -- You can lodge a complaint about your car with NHTSA.  If the agency receives similar reports from a number of people, this frequently indicates that a safety-related defect may exist which warrants investigation.

• Investigations -- After reviewing consumer complaints, if the Trend and Analysis Division of The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes that the available information indicates that a safety-related trend or catastrophic failure is developing, the appropriate investigative division is notified.  If the data developed indicates that a safety-related defect exists, a Recall Request Letter may be sent to the manufacturer.

• Recalls -- Automobile manufacturers issue Official Safety Recall Notices to inform vehicle owners of car defects that have come to the manufacturer’s attention. 

6. When is automobile recall information sent out?
As safety Problems are recognized, automobile manufacturers send out Recall Notices to inform vehicle owners of defects that have come to their attention.

7. How many cars may I have in myCarStats profile?
You may have as many vehicles as you wish saved in your Safety Station page.

8. What information will be included in the monthly email from myCarStats?
Your monthly email will notify you when new Problems are added to our database about your year, make, and model car(s) you have registered with us.

9. What is myCarStats’ Expanded Stats Report?
By selecting Bulletins, Recalls, Investigations, or Complaints from myCarStats Expanded Stats for a specific year, make, and model, you can see the total presented in fourteen categories; steering, suspension, brakes, parking brake, engine, fuel, power train, electrical, lighting, visual, heater/air conditioner, interior, structure, and equipment. You will see the number of reported items for each component category in the Safety Station.

10. How do I get the detail information for my car?
Just register with myCarStats to receive free  reports of Bulletins, Recalls, Investigations, or Complaints.  See the number of items reported for each of the vehicle’s components (Brakes, Electrical System, Emergency Parking Brake . . .) within that report type.  Choose a component.  The Detail Report that appears contains the description for each Problem reported.  The Detail Report allows you to select specific items to print.  Your selected items will appear in a Custom Report.  Take this report with you when you go to the service center for your vehicle maintenance and/or repair. 

11. What is the cost for a Detail Report?
This a a free courtesy service provided to consumers. There is no charges associated with our service.

12. Will the Custom Report for my car have enough information on it that I can make a case for my squeal, rattle, or shimmy at my auto service center?
Yes.  Upon review of a Detail Report, you may select specific reported incidents that pertain to your vehicle.  A Custom Report is then created showing only the reported incidents that you have selected.  This report can then be printed as a Certified myCarStats Custom Report.  IMPORTANT: Custom Reports are most useful when presented to your service center manager and will assist you in supporting your claim(s) of the mechanical or safety Problems pertaining to your vehicle. 

13. What is a Service Bulletin?
A Service Bulletin, also know as a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB), is an advisory issued by the manufacturer to help automotive technicians diagnose and repair problems reported by consumers and dealership service departments.  TSBs contain up-to-date factory fixes for difficult to diagnose problems such as rough idles, intermittent stalls, hard starts, and all kinds of “shakes”, “rattles” and “clunks” that can sometimes drive you nuts. 

14. How can I make a complaint?
You can lodge a complaint about your car with NHTSA.  If the agency receives similar reports from a number of people, this frequently indicates that a safety-related defect may exist which warrants investigation. 

Use NHTSA’s form only to report a problem.  If you prefer, call the DOT Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236) and a NHTSA representative will record your report. Your report will be entered into NHTSA's vehicle owner's complaint database and used with other reports to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.

If a safety-related defect exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment, the manufacturer must fix it at no cost to the owner. Your report is the first step in the process.  Government engineers analyze the problem. If warranted, the manufacturer is asked to conduct a recall. If the manufacturer does not initiate a recall, the government can order the manufacturer to do a recall. 

Your Consumer Advocate