Wireless Wednesday Live with Tanya Topka, Director, Office of Defects Investigation (NHTSA)

Do you have an outstanding safety recall on a vehicle you own?

Rick talks with Tanya Topka, Director, Office of Defects Investigation (NHTSA) on how you can find out.

Have a listen:

As we prepare for Daylight Saving Time on March 10, 2024, many Americans are reminded to conduct simple safety checks around the home, such as changing the batteries in their smoke detectors and furnace filters. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) continues its effort to ‘spring forward’ to safety by encouraging consumers to check their vehicles for safety recalls twice a year—timed conveniently with the beginning and end of Daylight Saving Time. During the annual Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, drivers are urged to utilize NHTSA’s free VIN lookup tool on NHTSA.gov and the SaferCar app. This year, we’re excited to launch a new license plate look-up feature to NHTSA’s recalls look-up tool. This year, we’re excited to launch a new look-up feature – more to come in March!

DID YOU KNOW?

Your dealer will fix your vehicle safety recall for free! Manufacturers are required to fix the problem by repairing it, replacing it or offering a refund.

By using the VIN lookup tool, you can access recall information provided by the manufacturer that may not be posted yet on NHTSA’s site.

Your dealer will fix your recall for free. Manufacturers are required to fix the problem by repairing it, replacing it or offering a refund.

The SaferCar app can quickly notify consumers of a recall on any of their vehicles and related equipment such as tires or car seats.

Topics:

What is Vehicle Safety Recalls Week and why does it fall around Daylight Saving Time?

How can we find out if our vehicle has an open recall?

If a vehicle has an open recall, how do you move forward with getting it serviced?

How does keeping track of vehicle recalls keep our roads safer?

Where can listeners go for more information?

For more information, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls

Tanya Topka is the Director, Office of Defects Investigation at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Her office is responsible for the identification, investigation, and recall of safety related defects in vehicles, child seats, and vehicle equipment. This includes administering the agency’s safety recall program that monitors recall notification and remedy campaigns by manufacturers and providing accurate and timely recall information to the public. Consumers can search for recalls by VIN, plate number, and model on nhtsa.gov or review interactive dashboards on recalls and recall completion rates. In her five years at NHTSA, Tanya has been the Deputy Director of ODI, the Division Chief for the Trends Analysis Division, and the Vehicle Defects Division A Chief.

Prior to joining NHTSA, Tanya held leadership and investigative positions at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for 17 years. She started at CPSC as a Product Safety Investigator focusing on investigating fires and defects in consumer products. She worked as a Compliance Officer investigating defects and conducting recalls across various product areas in the over 15, 000 consumer products regulated by CPSC with a focus on off-road vehicles, battery hazards, power tools, appliances, fire hazards, new and emerging technology, cell phones, and computers. She served as the Lead for both the Fast Track Recall Division and the Fire, Electrical, and Mechanical Hazards Division. She managed some of the largest recalls in CPSC history.

Tanya holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminology from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is also a certified small engine mechanic.