NHTSA: GM owner website gives faulty info on recalls

Associated Press

DETROIT

The government and General Motors are warning vehicle owners that GM’s recall website may not be listing all the cars that need recall repairs.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday that GM’s vehicle identification number, or VIN, look-up system has been incorrectly telling some owners that their cars aren’t involved in recalls if parts for the repairs aren’t ready. The system should say which cars are under active recalls even if the parts aren’t ready.

The agency said it asked GM to fix the problem.

GM said Friday evening that it is making the necessary changes to the site so customers can identify which vehicles need to be repaired. Until the update is complete, customers should call the phone numbers listed on GM’s customer-service website if they want to confirm that their vehicles are being recalled, the company said.

GM has issued 60 recalls covering 29 million vehicles this year.

Starting Aug. 20, all automakers must have systems that allow owners to search recall information by VIN, NHTSA said.