Van Nuys Auto Repair & Service Center

Recalls are a fact of life. In 2014, there were 803 recalls for problems with more than 63.9 million vehicles. Yes, it is up to auto manufacturers to let you know about a recall, but it isn't that simple. Consumers have to be on the ball, too. A recall is issued when a manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) determines that a vehicle, car seat, tire, or any equipment creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum safety standards. Manufacturers are required to fix the problem by repairing it, replacing it, offering a refund, or in rare cases, repurchasing the vehicle. If you were one of the people who didn't respond to a recall, then you may not have known about it. Or maybe you just didn't care. There are many reasons why vehicles don't get repaired. "Consumers have many different responses to recall letters," says Carroll Lachnit, an editor for car-shopping website Edmunds.com. "Some people just ig ... read more

  Did you know there was an estimated 9.5 percent increase in traffic fatalities in the first quarter of 2015? Or that there has been little progress in improving the fuel economy of vehicles since the early 1990s? Factoids such as these come through my e-mail pretty much daily and, while each one does not merit a full article, combined they do offer something interesting for everyone. Here are some recent news items drivers will find of interest. -- Despite advances in fuel-saving technologies in the last 25 years, the on-road fuel economy for all vehicles (cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles) has improved by less than 1 mile per gallon during that time, according to a study by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. Part of the reason is that it takes many years to turn over the fleet. The average age of a light-duty vehicle on the road is currently 11.4 years. So, man ... read more

      Thanks to my wife Debbie for the warm, wonderful and inviting Holiday Decorations at the Shop. Please stop by  for a Hot Cocoa, Cookies and Candy Cane. Or just to say Hello. Happy Holidays!