Ohio BMV awarded funding to continue recall notification program
COLUMBUS — The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded Ohio $1.3 million to continue its vehicle recall notification program.
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles was among the first in the nation to launch a vehicle safety recall notification program in January 2020 using the state's vehicle registration renewal process. Through the program, which was created in-house at no extra cost to taxpayers, personalized vehicle safety recall information is printed on registration renewal notices and sent through the mail. Often, drivers who are not the original owners of their vehicle may not be aware of an open recall or inadvertently dismissed the notification from the manufacturer. Ohio registers more than 12 million vehicles per year.
"Securing this grant allows us to enhance and improve this important consumer protection element," BMV Registrar Charles Norman said in a news release. "Being made aware of an open recall is a significant step toward maintaining a safe vehicle, and ultimately safer roads."
According to NHTSA, there were 966 safety recalls impacting more than 53 million vehicles and motor vehicle equipment across the country in 2019. Despite recall notices and public warnings, NHTSA estimates that 25 percent of recalled vehicles still go unrepaired.
This story was originally published February 2, 2021 at 4:45 AM with the headline "Ohio BMV awarded funding to continue recall notification program."