NHTSA Aims To Mandate Electronic Recall Notices
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Automakers would have to expand recall notifications to include email, phone calls or other electronic means under a rule proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that aims to spur more owners to get repairs done.
Carmakers still would have to issue the notices via mail and the rule allows them to pick the electronic channel or channels they find most effective. Many are trying such alternatives now, at least in major recalls such as the Takata airbag campaign, and in comments ahead of the proposal, expressed preferences or reservations about particular methods.
Among the "electronic means" NHTSA offered as options in the proposal: "electronic mail, text messages, radio or television notifications, vehicle infotainment console messages, over-the-air alerts [to connected cars], social media or targeted online campaigns, phone calls, including automated phone calls, or other real-time means."
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group representing a dozen major auto companies, also expressed support for the rule in a statement: "Primary notification by mail is still the gold standard, but automakers support supplemental outreach and are already doing it in many ways." It also lauded the flexibility. "A range of tools is important because people like to get information in different ways. Some people place a high priority on emails, while others view emails as least effective because they get jumbled in with junk mail. Some people love social media notices, while others shun social media and want phone calls."
The automakers would file their proposed electronic notices with NHTSA, as they do now with the mailings, and under the proposal, they would not have to conform to a template as the mail notices do. It attempts to offer some flexibility by medium. For example, a character-limited Twitter notice could include a link to more information.
However, NHTSA says that it retains the authority to give a thumbs up or thumbs down on compliance for the notices, and to require additional efforts.
The proposal begins a 60-day comment period before a final rule.
Carmakers still would have to issue the notices via mail and the rule allows them to pick the electronic channel or channels they find most effective. Many are trying such alternatives now, at least in major recalls such as the Takata airbag campaign, and in comments ahead of the proposal, expressed preferences or reservations about particular methods.
Among the "electronic means" NHTSA offered as options in the proposal: "electronic mail, text messages, radio or television notifications, vehicle infotainment console messages, over-the-air alerts [to connected cars], social media or targeted online campaigns, phone calls, including automated phone calls, or other real-time means."
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group representing a dozen major auto companies, also expressed support for the rule in a statement: "Primary notification by mail is still the gold standard, but automakers support supplemental outreach and are already doing it in many ways." It also lauded the flexibility. "A range of tools is important because people like to get information in different ways. Some people place a high priority on emails, while others view emails as least effective because they get jumbled in with junk mail. Some people love social media notices, while others shun social media and want phone calls."
The automakers would file their proposed electronic notices with NHTSA, as they do now with the mailings, and under the proposal, they would not have to conform to a template as the mail notices do. It attempts to offer some flexibility by medium. For example, a character-limited Twitter notice could include a link to more information.
However, NHTSA says that it retains the authority to give a thumbs up or thumbs down on compliance for the notices, and to require additional efforts.
The proposal begins a 60-day comment period before a final rule.
