DOT Auto Safety Hotline 1-888-DASH-2-DOT 1-888-327-4236 Freqently Asked Questions and Answers

HOW CAN YOUR CALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

• The toll-free DOT Auto Safety Hotline is your chance to help identify safety problems in motor vehicles, tires and automotive equipment such as child safety seats, or get safety information.
• The Hotline is run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
• Your call or electronic submissions help lead to recalls. You provide the first information we use to identify safety problems.
• We review your complaint and compare it to other complaints. If a trend develops, it prompts us to open an investigation.
• We also let the manufacturer know about your complaint and sometimes that leads to a settlement for you.
• If a safety-related defect exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment, the manufacturer has to fix it at no cost to the owner. We use the information from your calls and WWW form submissions to get the process started.

Safety-related defects are problems that exist in a vehicle or a part of its equipment that:
1. pose a risk to safety and
2. are common to a group of vehicles of the same design or manufacture or items of equipment of the same type and manufacture.
Examples Include:
• Steering components that may break suddenly causing partial or complete loss of vehicle control;
• Complete or partial loss of brakes;
• Problems with fuel systems that results in a fuel leak that could cause a fire;
• Improperly designed or constructed tires that may blow out unexpectedly;
• Accelerator controls that may break or stick;
• Wiring problems that result in a fire or loss of lighting;
• Car ramps or jacks that collapse causing injury to someone working on a vehicle, or
• Buckles on child safety seats that release in a crash.
Some problems that would not be considered safety-related defects:
• Air conditioners and radios that don't work properly;
• Routine engine or transmission malfunctions that provide ample warning of failure through noise, vibration and fluid leakage;
• Ordinary wear of items that have to be inspected, maintained and replaced periodically, such as shock absorbers, batteries, brake pads and shoes and exhaust systems;
• Nonstructural or body panel rust.

HOW DO YOU FILE A COMPLAINT?

• File a complaint electronically by clicking here.
• Dial toll free at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
• The toll-free DOT Auto Safety Hotline number 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (888-327-4236) can be reached from anywhere in the United States including Alaska, Hawaii, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
• Hotline operators are on duty Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time. An answering system is set up 24 hours a day, seven days a week to get your name, number and request. Fax-on-demand is also available.
• A Spanish-speaking operator is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time.
• The Hotline is available to the hearing impaired through a teleprinter (TDD) number: (800) 424-9153.

HOW THE RECALL PROCESS WORKS?

• We do not have to receive a set number of reports before we look into a problem. We gather all available information on a problem. That is why your calls are important to us.
• Government engineers analyze the problem. If warranted, the manufacturer is asked to conduct a recall.
• If the manufacturer does not initiate a recall, the government can order the manufacturer to do a recall.

WHAT INFORMATION WE CAN PROVIDE TO YOU?

• You can either download or Hotline operators can send you information on motor vehicle safety recalls including recalls of child safety seats.
• You can also receive a postage-paid questionnaire so you can provide more detailed information about your complaint and return it to us.
• Alternatively, this questionnaire is available on-line.
• We'll send you a follow-up letter letting you know when your safety concern has prompted a recall.

WHERE TO GO FOR NON-SAFETY DEFECT PROBLEMS?

• Our Hotline concentrates on safety problems. If your problem is not safety related, we'll help you by directing you to the right government agency that can help.
• The Federal Trade Commission handles inquiries on automobile warranties and problems with dealers. The FTC number is (202) 326-2222.
• The Consumer Product Safety Commission will assist you with consumer products other than vehicle and vehicle equipment. The CPSC telephone number is (800)-638-2772.
• The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for emission control systems. If you have an emission problem, call the EPA at (202) 260-7645.
• For a brochure on fuel economy ratings, which is handled by the EPA and the Department of Energy, call (202) 260-2080.

AUTO SAFETY LITERATURE AVAILABLE ON-LINE

You can also download or request a variety of safety literature from the Auto Safety Hotline. Just click on the following links, or call the Hotline to order the information via mail or fax.
• Vehicle Owner's Questionnaire to report a problem.
• Search the Consumer Complaints Database for a specific make, model and range of years.
• Search the Recalls Database for a specific make, model and year.
• Search the Technical Service Bulletins Database for a specific make, model and year.
• Download the Various Databases
• Download Defect and Noncompliance Report Forms
• Air Bags: Questions and Answers
• Important Information About School Bus Recalls
• New Car Crash Test Results
• News & Public Affairs
• Published Auto Recalls
• Campaign Safe & Sober
• Child Safety Seat Registration Form (csregform.pdf, 6K)

AUTO SAFETY LITERATURE AVAILABLE BY PHONE

Additional literature is available by calling the Auto Safety Hotline and requesting any of the following:

• Child Safety Seat Package
• Safety Belts and Air Bags
• Child Safety Seat Registration Form
• Bicycle Package
• Insurance Discount Fact Sheet
• Anti-lock Braking System Fact Sheet

 




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