An Individualized Motor Vehicle Recall Information Data Base?

Will OEMs and Suppliers Get the Bill?

An Overview of Proposed Amendments to Defect Notification and Early Warning Reporting Regulations

Tucked away in the recently enacted 584 page "Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act" is a small provision directing NHTSA to make individualized motor vehicle recall information publically available in a searchable on-line database. The idea is that any vehicle owner using his or her VIN could search for any recalls related to that specific vehicle and determine if or when the recall repairs have been performed. On Monday, September 10, 2012, NHTSA published proposed rules that would, among other things, amend defect reporting requirements in order to facilitate the creation of that data base. NHTSA is now seeking comments on the proposed amendments.