Don’t forget to check out Who Can Fix My Car, the UK’s specialist in Car Repairs, which brought you this post.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Robert Couse-Baker/flickr
Several years ago I had a minivan that I LOVED. It was the first car that I had ever purchased myself. Unfortunately, one part kept breaking. I must have fixed it four times. I finally just gave the car away. A few months later, I was talking to a mechanic and mentioned how many times I had fixed that part. “Oh yes,” he said, “that part was a factory recall.”
“A factory recall?” What is that?
Turns out that every car has a list of problems that so many people have had with that particular year, make and model, that the factory agrees it screwed up and will replace it FOR FREE!
Instead of paying to fix a part four times, I could have
taken it to the dealer and they would have fixed it FOR FREE! The catch is that unless you are the original owner of the car and are registered with the dealer, you will never hear about this recall.
Fast forward to present time. Here I am with another van that I love. There are things wrong with the van, but I can fix them. THEN, the horn stops working, the cruise control stops working, and the air bag light comes on. Yikes! I take it to several mechanics and get quotes from $60 to $800. Oh dear.
This repair sends the cost of keeping the van over the top. I have to get rid of it. But then I remember my earlier adventure and go and check this website that lists all the factory recalls on cars. I find the year, make, and model of my car. Lo and behold, it turns out my van’s problem is on the lifetime factory recall list.
First thing in the morning, I call the dealer. Make an appointment and take it in. After two hours and ZERO dollars, my problem is solved. Unbelievable!
Find your car on the above list and see if your vehicle’s problem is covered under factory recall. You might be in for a pleasant money-saving surprise.
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
I just checked for my 2003 MINI Cooper and there were three repairs. Two were for headlights, which I’ve had to replace multiple times. I wonder if I’ve already fixed something, can I still take it in when it breaks next time?
@bargainbabe I have seen recall listings that state that the owner will be reimbursed if they paid for the repair themselves. It is worth calling the dealer to check to see if that is the case for your repairs.
Whenever you buy a used car it is good to take it to the dealer to see if there are any recall notices for your vehicle. These will be fixed before you have a lot of expense and aggravation. They will also put you into the computer so if anything else does come up, you will be notified.
If the company doesn’t know about you, they won’t contact you.
I don’t know whether I’m lucky, or that my son chose well when I bought my 2003 Camry LE new. There is only one recall, and it’s for a side/window air bag. Sadly, the cost for replacing a cracked engine block (on a car that had never been in an accident) wasn’t covered, and wasn’t on recall.
My son was 18 yrs old, just bought a brand new Geo Metro. ( this has been about 20 yrs ago). Anyway he was headed for duty down at the base in Norfolk VA, and the car blew up. Luckily he has an aunt that lives down there and they piccked him up and got him to base on time.
Also very lucky that he had the car under a paid warranty and they replaced the engine for free. If he had not have bought that warranty , he would have been out of luck.
@ Ellie, you do not have to be in a accident to get a cracked block. There are many things that cause a cracked block. One is putting cold water in your radiator when the engine is hot. That will do it. It has nothing, if little to do with an accident.
@Susie A. ~ Thanks for that info, which the dealership was unable/unwilling to provide. And the warranty had expired 5 days earlier!
I don’t put any fluids in the car when it’s hot, as my sons had cautioned me about that before. The dealership said it was due to the fact that the car is never in the garage, and sits outside all the time. Does that make sense to you? I’m really ignorant about things mechanical and technological!
Here’s the US govt site for recalls. You can check makes & models you’re thinking about buying. You can also register up to 5 vehicle make/models so they can email YOU if there’s a recall!
http://www.recalls.gov/nhtsa.html
@Rebecca Quinn Thanks for the info. This is a great resource!
@Rebecca Quinn Thanks for the great link.
If you have paid out of pocket to fix a vehicle (a single or numerous times) and subsequently discover the problem was under a recall, the maker will reimburse you for your expenses, but (there’s always a but) you do need the receipt for the paid repairs and there may be expiration dates.
@Teri Darn, I’ve replaced the headlights multiple times on my MINI, but I doubt I saved the receipt for such a small purchase. Luckily, I just bought the lights and had help installing them instead of paying a mechanic to do it.
@all ~ There’s some really good information here. Thank you.
What a great site. Luckily my car is in the clear.
this is one of the greatest posts i’ve seen! I only wish i was the 1st owner of my car… darnnit!
Thanks Julia & Bobbi 🙂
Here’s another tip: ASK! When things go wrong with my vehicle, I jump online and just search. Often you come up with many of the same complaint, especially in the car forums.
You may get easy fixes but if complicated, take it to the dealer & let them know you see tons of complaints. Also call the manufacturer. I got GM to drastically reduce price of a repair because, although it wasn’t a recall, it was a known issue with “technical bulletins.”
I also have gotten a friend to read the trouble code, searched it online, bought the part, taken it to mechanic I know, and paid about 1/4 the dealer price!
Now my usual reaction to anything is go on twitter and contact the company. The social media teams are super responsive compared to call centers. Haven’t done it with car yet, but have with AT&T for example 🙂
@Rebecca Quinn Wow! Excellent advice – all of it. Thanks!
@Meital You don’t have to be the first owner of your car to take advantage of recalls. Check out the list of recalls on your car. Then call the dealer to see if it is a lifetime recall. It doesn’t matter that you aren’t the original owner.