McLEAN, Va. — The National Automobile Dealers Association issued a statement today in support of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s new Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) look-up tool for vehicle recall information.

The tool was developed after Congress passed a law in 2012 which instructed the NHTSA to create a new, VIN-searchable database for consumers and dealers to determine whether a vehicle is under open recall.

“The new online look-up tool will help new-car dealerships identify whether a used car or light truck has an unremedied safety recall prior to making a purchase or taking in a trade,” said Forrest McConnell, chairman of the NADA and a Honda/Acura dealer in Montgomery, Ala. “It will also help dealerships to determine whether used vehicles in inventory are under recall and to provide used-car shoppers with useful safety recall information.

“To improve vehicle safety, NADA urges every car owner who receives a recall notice from a manufacturer to visit his or her local new-car dealership to have the vehicle inspected, and if necessary, fixed at no charge. Historically, less than 70% of all recalled vehicles get fixed. Our goal is to see 100% of those vehicles remedied.”

Dealers and consumers can access the new tool from NHTSA at www.safercar.gov.