Two Democratic senators have proposed a bill that will require owners of cars and trucks subject to recalls to have their vehicles repaired before being allowed to renew their registration.

Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut introduced the Repair Every Car to Avoid Lost Lives (RECALL) Act in the latest congressional response to the massive amount of recalls made by automakers last year, particularly to the millions of vehicles that were recalled due to General Motors' deadly ignition switch problem and Japanese airbag maker Takata's exploding airbags.

More than 64 million vehicles were recalled in the U.S. due to various problems last year. However, Sens. Markey and Blumenthal say more than a third of the vehicles affected have not yet been fixed a year and a half after the recalls were announced, posing a danger to the vehicles' owners, their passengers, and other cars on the road.

If approved, the RECALL Act will require states to notify car and truck owners of any recalls for their vehicles in their registration notices and requests for proof of documentation for new vehicles. Meanwhile, owners will be required to have their vehicles fixed before registration, with exceptions given when the state failed to notify them, the manufacturer does not have the necessary labor or parts to fix the problem, or if the owner can show proof that he has not had the chance to have his vehicle fixed.

The bill drew immediate support from road safety groups, including the Center for Auto Safety, the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and the Consumer Federation of America. Japanese automaker Honda also voice support for the bill immediately, saying that it had made a similar hearing at a congressional hearing to require vehicle owners to have all outstanding recall repairs completed before being allowed to renew their vehicle's registration.

Rick Schostek, executive vice president of Honda North America, says despite the car manufacturer's efforts in notifying its customers, the reality is many of the vehicles affected by the recalls are 10 years old, making it difficult for car companies to track down every customer and notify them of the recalls.

Schostek believes the bill has enough precedent to be received positively in Congress, pointing out that many states already require vehicles to pass a tailpipe emissions test before receiving registration. A requirement to have safety recalls repaired could easily become part of the routine that millions of vehicle owners go through every year. Still, Schostek says automakers will always have a "critical responsibility" to inform their customers of recalls.

"In the coming days, we will work together to move this proposal forward," Schostek says. "When it comes to ensuring that safety-related recalls are completed, automakers, government and concerned citizens need to work together to protect drivers, passengers, and others on the road. Everyone has an important stake in making sure these vehicles are repaired."

Photo: Ian Muttoo | Flickr

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