how long automakers are obligated to provide free remedies for recalls

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cwerdna

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Jun 3, 2011
Messages
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Location
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So, this relates to a claim, which seems to be an urban legend about automakers being required "by law" to have parts on hand for 10 years (e.g. at https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=296555#p296555). MNL is most certainly not the only place I've heard it. And, I've heard other claims as to the length (e.g. 7 years). I've never been able to find any proof of such a law.

But, at https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=609826#p609826, I posted about a 10 year obligation for free recall remedies (there's more to it there). The document is gone but a copy can be found at https://web.archive.org/web/20220117160650/https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/recallprocess.cfm.

Today, while digging for something else, I found https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/14218-mvsdefectsandrecalls_041619-v2-tag.pdf. It seems the 10 years has been changed or upped, maybe. From page 13:
Are There Any Limitations to My Right to Have My Vehicle
Remedied at No Charge?
Yes. There is a limitation based on the age of the vehicle. In order to
be eligible for a free remedy, the vehicle cannot be more than 15 years
old on the date the defect or noncompliance is determined. Under the
law, the age of the vehicle is calculated from the date of sale to the
first purchaser.
For example, if a defect is found in 2003 and a recall
ordered, manufacturers are required to make the correction available at no
charge only for vehicles purchased new in 1994 through 2003. However,
consumers should realize that even though manufacturers are not obligated
to remedy safety defects in older cars, a safety problem might still exist. If
you receive notification of a defect on a vehicle older than 15 years, take
the responsibility to have your car repaired at your own expense – and
eliminate unnecessary safety risks.
 
What is strange is that the free “software update “ that GM was providing to Volt owners for a battery balancing issue had a very specific timetable and I thought was a result of a recall, perhaps I was wrong.

Back in the Ralph Nader era I thought there was legislation to require auto makers to provide parts for a specific time after your car was made in general and I would be curious if that still exists given how difficult getting parts the last 3 can be.
 
I think the worst case is if somehow parts/remedy isn't available, the automaker may have to buyback the cars.

I learned of https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-04-fi-19061-story.html (Nissan to Buy Back 33,000 Defective Minivans : Autos: All owners will receive up to $7,000. The action on the fire-prone vehicle could cost more than $200 million) from 1994 via something else a few months back.
 
The EU recently enacted a 'right to repair' law for kitchen appliances that requires parts availability for up to 10 years. The pundits say that cars are next in line for the same legal treatment.
 
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