Carfax recall app keeps you, everyone safe

NAPLES, Fla. More than 4 million cars on Florida roads have open recalls, and Naples is one of the worst areas.

“In this area, minivans and SUV’s are the vehicles that are most likely to have unfixed recalls,” Chris Basso with Carfax said.

The Carfax recall app can show consumers what recalls are listed for their vehicles, all that is needed is their license plate number.

WINK News Call for Action reporter Lindsey Sablan and Basso put this app to the test and entered Desiree Amyradakis’ license plate number. They learned that her 2015 Toyota Sienna minivan has an open recall for the power sliding door.

“So, we looked at it and the recall was issued in November of 2016, so about eight months ago and it’s for the power sliding door,” Basso said.

Amyradakis was shocked at first, but then remembered she has been having an issue with one of the doors.

“I have a problem with the power sliding door,” Amyradakis said. “Every time I open the one on the passenger side, it gives it a pop, like ‘pop!'”

Linda Jackson also has an open recall for her minivan door.

“I just forgot,” Jackson said. “But, it’s amazing that I have to be put on television to prod me to take care of it because I’m so safety conscious. I guess, like a lot of people, it’s not going to happen to me, and you should never, ever think that way.”

Carfax estimates 1 in 5 cars have unfixed recalls in Naples. This is almost a 50 percent jump compared to last year.

“The thing to know is that these are safety related recalls,” Basso said. “They cause things like crashes, fires, exploding airbags, real safety issues.”

It is free to get safety recalls fixed. Call the local dealership and see if they can take the car in.

Another way to check on open recalls is by going to the National Highway Transportation website and entering the vin number. The website will then list if there is an open recall or not.