Carfax: 1 in 5 cars nationwide has unfixed recall

SAN FRANCISCO (Jan. 27, 2015) — Millions of cars with unfixed recalls are on the road and up for sale right now, according to new research from Carfax.

Data from the vehicle history-gathering firm suggests millions of people may be driving, buying or selling potentially dangerous cars due to an unfixed recall. Carfax said its annual research indicates more than 46 million cars nationwide have at least one safety recall that's never been fixed — and 5 million of them were bought and sold by potentially unsuspecting consumers in 2014.

One of the most alarming discoveries, according to Carfax, is that people driving or buying family-oriented vehicles — specifically minivans and SUVs — are most at risk, with one in three minivans and one in five SUVs having an unfixed recall.

“America's cavalier response to manufacturer safety recalls is putting lives at risk,” said Larry Gamache, Carfax communications director. “Every morning millions of people drive

to work, school and other places in a potential ticking time bomb. Fires, crashes and serious injury are just a few consequences of letting recalls go unfixed. The minor inconvenience that comes from having a recall fixed pales in comparison to what can happen if you don't.”

While every state has a significant number of unfixed recalled cars, Carfax said California, Texas, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania top the list, but the risk is greatest in West Virginia, Michigan, Mississippi, Wyoming and New Jersey, which have the highest ratios of unfixed recalled cars in the nation.

Mr. Gamache noted that “Carfax and the auto manufacturers are working hard to help eliminate this problem.”

Carfax is offering a free app — myCarfax — through which car owners and buyers can find out about open recalls as well as Carfax vehicle history reports. The “Carfax Reports” mobile app is available for download from the App Store and Google Play.

More information about Carfax, a unit of IHS Inc., is available on its website.