According to the Driver and Vehicle Standard Agency (DVSA)’s Code of Practice, a ‘safety defect’ is defined as ‘a failure due to design and/or construction, which is likely to affect the safe operation of the product – and pose a significant risk to the driver, occupants and others’. For example, this could be a fault which prevents an airbag from deploying.  

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The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is the government-appointed authority responsible for product safety in the UK’s automotive sector, and oversees the UK’s safety recall scheme for vehicles in the UK. 

The DVSA’s Code of Practice outlines the process for managing vehicle safety defects and recalls in this country.
Vehicles will not show as having been recalled until the manufacturer has informed the DVSA about the need to take such action.

Vehicles will not show as having been recalled until the manufacturer has informed the DVSA about the need to take such action.

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A vehicle safety recall can be defined as where a car manufacturer announces that a specific model, or models, requires one or more components to be replaced, due to one or more safety defects being found, which could put driver, occupant, and other road user safety at risk.

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Vehicle recalls are fairly common, and are often widely publicised by the media when a large volume of vehicles are affected (i.e. the number runs into the thousands or millions, for example). The frequency has also risen over the decades due to the growing complexity of modern vehicles.

For example, according to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), 1.1 million cars (and almost 1.2 million vehicles in total) were recalled in the first eight months of 2024.

This equated to 3% of the UK car parc (i.e. the total number of cars on UK roads), which stood at 36,165,401 in 2024, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

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You may see a recall announced in the press or on social media, and this could be the first time that you hear about it.

However, the vehicle manufacturer will formally notify you in a written letter and/or via their app as appropriate, highlighting the safety related concerns with the vehicle, what repairs are needed, and the next steps to have repairs completed.

You can also check whether your car is affected by a recall here.

The post How will I be notified by a recall that affects my vehicle? appeared first on The Motor Ombudsman.

To find out whether a specific vehicle is subject to a recall, you can enter the car’s 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on The Motor Ombudsman’s dedicated online recalls portal.

Alternatively, the Government’s MOT history service (for cars aged three years and above) will also highlight whether a vehicle has an outstanding recall when a vehicle registration is entered.

The post Where can I find out if my car, or one that I am interested in buying, is subject to a recall? appeared first on The Motor Ombudsman.

The communication from the vehicle manufacturer will often detail the next steps, which will likely provide the contact information to book in an appointment at a local franchise dealership to have the necessary repairs carried out. These should be at no cost to yourself, as repairs relate to the manufacturing of the vehicle itself. 

The post What do I do if I have been told by the manufacturer that my vehicle is affected by a recall? appeared first on The Motor Ombudsman.

When vehicles are recalled by manufacturers, you will typically be asked to take your car to one of the vehicle manufacturer’s franchise dealerships to have the necessary repairs carried out.

Franchise dealers accredited to The Motor Ombudsman’s Codes of Practice are listed on The Motor Ombudsman’s Business Finder.

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Any work that is undertaken in relation to a recall notice is at no cost to vehicle owners, and you should not be charged for the work. 

The post Do I need to pay for repairs completed as part of a recall? appeared first on The Motor Ombudsman.

The Motor Ombudsman is unable to review consumer complaints that relate to the issuing itself of a recall by a vehicle manufacturer, as this falls within the scope of the Driver Vehicle and Standards Agency (DVSA).

However, examples of types of disputes that The Motor Ombudsman may be able to consider under its Codes of Practice (if these have not been resolved in the first instance with a business), are as follows (please note that this list is not exhaustive):

• The standard of work carried out by a repairer in relation to a recall not being of the correct standard (Service and Repair Code); and
• A vehicle being knowingly sold with an outstanding recall and faults at the point of sale (Vehicle Sales Code).

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 states that goods, such as vehicles, should be of ‘satisfactory quality’, fit for purpose, and match the description provided.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act, part of which came into force in 2025, requires businesses to provide clear and accurate information about vehicles, including their specification, history, and any potential issues, whilst it also enhances existing consumer rights, such as those in relation to the provision of information, unfair business practices, and misleading actions and omissions.

Please note that for The Motor Ombudsman to review a dispute, it needs to relate to a business that is accredited to one or more of its Codes of Practice.

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