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Tired of uneven roads, potholes, road work, icy roads, or even shoveling snow?  Love clean/sustainable energy, job creation across the country, and new technology?  Well then you should know about Solar Roadways.  This idea made its way out to the internet world earlier this year with a video entitled Solar FREAKIN’ Roadways.  Since then, this video has gotten more than 18 million views and has educated even more than that. You NEED to watch this entire video to get a grasp on all that can be done with Solar Roadways.  There are tons of little things you don’t think about that will go along with this new roadway technology, and all those things are explained in the video. This is already a big project but it is going to be something huge by the time it is done.  So far, engineering couple Scott and Julie Brusaw have gotten funding from the Federal Highway Administration for $750,000.  They have also raised over 2 million dollars from regular people like you and me on a crowdfunding website called Indiegogo.com.  This “thing” is actually happening, and hopefully people, municipalities, and towns will be willing to try it.  If they try implementing it in smaller places like parking lots, driveways, and bike paths first, then law makers and other influential people will see how well it works and hopefully get behind it in order for it to grow.  As a matter of fact, this is not the only attempt at a solar panel roadway. Just last week in Amsterdam, Holland, they converted a 70 yard stretch of bike path into solar panels named SolaRoad.  They did not use the hexagonal design that The Brusaws came up with, but the idea is very similar.  It is said that up to 2,000 commuters will walk and bike on the path every day.  Back here in America, The Brusaws have already built a prototype parking lot on their property in Sagle, Idaho, and have many projects set up to start for businesses all around their hometown in the near future. It is things like the bike path in Amsterdam and the parking lots The Brusaws are building with the FHA grant that will get this energy revolution moving along.  There are tons of advantages to this type of system.  The biggest one was pointed out toward the end of the video above; Solar Roadways, if implemented on all major highways in the US, would generate 3X’s the amount of energy we currently use.  It would also create an amazing number of jobs for engineering, construction, and maintenance of these systems for now and throughout the future.  It will help prevent accidents with its pressure system; warning you of something stationary on the road ahead.  There are countless benefits and of course some obstacles but nothing that is insurmountable. People are getting excited about this revolutionary idea.  It could be upon us sooner than we think too.  Scott Brusaw says, “With this team in place, we hope to finalize the product for market by the end of this year.”  That doesn’t mean all the roads will be replaced immediately, but it is coming.  Soon enough we will all be driving on these new Solar Roadways.

Gas prices have been on a steady decline for the past six months.  That is a direct result of the decrease in crude oil prices.  As you can see from the chart below, there is a direct correlation between the two prices.  At one point in 2008 crude oil was nearly $150/barrel!  And only four months ago it was at $100/barrel.  Now, crude oil has dropped below $80/barrel.  Therefore, according to the AAA, the national average for gasoline has dipped below $3/gallon for the first time since 2010. People are loving the decreasing gas prices, and researchers say that the cheaper cost of gasoline should make people more frugal with the money that they are not spending at the pump anymore.  Ironically enough, Americans tend to spend more when fuel prices are low.  However, that has not been the case so far.  But here at the Preston Autoplex we have tons of Model Year End Deals to entice you to spend that extra money.  We even have some of the most fuel efficient cars – and we think you should know about them! 2014 Mazda Mazda2 This sedan will get 28 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway!  With its 1.5-Liter 4-Cylinder engine, this small sedan has plenty of zip from the tiny, fuel-efficient engine. 2015 Mazda Mazda3 Another Mazda, this one will achieve 29 mpg in the city and 41 highway!  It is a slightly bigger sedan with a slightly bigger 2.0L engine, but the Skyactiv technology enables the outstanding fuel-efficiency. 2015 Nissan Versa The Versa has a 1.6L 4-cylinder engine just like the Mazda2, but will actually get greater fuel-economy.  It boasts 31 city and 40 highway miles per gallon!  Never dipping below 30 mpg you can cover huge distances on a small amount of gasoline.  For instance, you could get from Preston to Ocean City, MD and back 3 times on one tank that cost you only $32! 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid The Sonata Hybrid is run by a 2.4L Atkinson Cycle 4-cylinder hybrid engine.  That means it is geared for city use that is why it runs at 36 mpg in the city.  It still achieves an even greater 40 mpg on the highway.  In fact, you could get from Preston, MD, to Los Angeles, CA, which is just about 2700 miles away on only 4 tanks of gas!  That would set you back a miniscule $200; averaging out to be 13.5 cents/mile. Bottom line: With gas prices dropping lower and lower for the foreseeable future, people are going to be spending more money and traveling by car.  You can get a great deal on a gas-saver, and save even more in the long run.  Come see us at the Preston Autoplex in Preston, Maryland; we are getting more 2015 vehicles in stock every single day.  You can also visit us on the web at www.prestonmotor.com and pick one of our nine locations from there!

There’s more to CPO’s than what initially comes to mind.  The misconceptions that a Certified Pre-Owned car is the same as a used car could not be further from the truth.  In this article, you will learn the many advantages to purchasing a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. The main reason can be simply stated – the warranties.  Each Mazda Certified Pre-Owned vehicle comes with a confidence-inspiring 12-month/12,000-Mile Limited Warranty.  That comes with absolutely no deductible on covered repairs, which begins when the factory warranty ends.  If the vehicle is out of warranty, then the Limited Warranty begins on the CPO purchase date.  This gives owners peace of mind knowing that if something goes wrong you will be covered within the first year of owning your Certified Pre-Owned vehicle. Another warranty you get with all Mazda Certified Pre-Owned vehicles is the outstanding 7-year/100,000-Mile Limited Powertrain Warranty.  This covers a variety of things all stemming from the parts that “make your car go.”  The engine, transmission, and drivetrain (the components that get the engines power to the wheels) are all parts that are encompassed by the Powertrain Warranty.  It doesn’t cover things that are expected to be replaced regularly, though.  Parts such as the clutch, brake pads, or certain belts will not be covered because they are considered regular maintenance. A third advantage to a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle from Preston Mazda is 24-Hour Emergency Roadside Assistance.  Certified Pre-Owned buyers – even qualified family members – are covered 24/7 with the complimentary Emergency Roadside Assistance Program for the duration of the Powertrain Warranty.  Clearly, the aim of CPO’s is to give owners peace of mind without paying for new car prices. Mazda also requires a 150-Point Detailed Inspection.  Each Certified Pre-Owned vehicle goes through a mandatory inspection.  This is performed by a factory-trained, Mazda technician right here on site at the Preston Mazda Service Building. Buyers also get added confidence with an Autocheck Vehicle History Report and 3-Year Buyback program.  In order to make sure you know exactly what you are getting into, each Mazda Certified Pre-Owned vehicle comes with a full Autocheck.  This is basically the same thing as a Carfax – it reports previous owners, accidents, repairs, and more.  It also comes with 3-Year Buyback Protection from Experian. We’re still not done!  There are other advantages, such as the Available Extended Coverage.  There are various available term and mileage intervals to extend the coverage of your CPO vehicle.  Finally, owners have Transfer Benefits with a Certified Pre-Owned Mazda.  When the time comes to sell your Certified Mazda, it will look even more attractive to potential buyers because the Limited Vehicle and Limited Powertrain Warranties are transferable to future owners – at no cost! Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles bring about a great sense of relief and confidence even though you are technically buying a used car.  CPO’s, as you can tell, are miles above any regular used car. Interesting Fact: Not all dealerships have Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles! It’s easy to find a regular used car on any dealership lot because they are constantly getting traded in.  However, finding dealers that offer Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles is less common.  But here at Preston Mazda in Hurlock, Maryland, we have a great selection of Mazda CPO’s, which you can check out on our website!  Not only do we have Mazda, but we also have Ford, Hyundai, and Nissan Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles.  Our selection is incredible so be sure to check it out!

It’s November and the cold weather is setting in on Delmarva and around the country.  Cold weather can bring about some things that make life more difficult.  Knowing this, I’ve put together a list of life hacks.  I’m sure most of you have seen the various life hacks that show up on your Facebook news feed every now and then.  These life hacks are all about how the cold weather affects you and your vehicle. Put some hand sanitizer on your car key if the lock is frozen. If you still must use a key instead of a fob to unlock your car, then this is a good one for you.  Any amount of moisture that gets trapped in your car lock will freeze on a cold night.  So, squeezing some hand sanitizer directly into the lock will melt the ice because of the alcohol content of the sanitizer.  You could also apply it to your key and insert it into the lock.  Either way the alcohol will break down the ice and unfreeze it. Park your car facing east to defrost the windshield. Overnight your car is sure to accumulate some frost or ice on the windshield when the weather gets close to or below freezing temperature.  Parking it facing the east will enable the morning sun to clear some of the ice off before you actually come out to do it yourself before you leave for work.  Depending on how bright the sun and how long your car sits in the sun, you may not have to even scrape any ice off at all.  Now, that would make for a good start to the day! Carry a little bit of kitty litter in your car all winter long. If you get stuck in the snow this little life hack will come in handy this winter.  Say you’re tires are spinning in the snow; you’re stuck.  Sprinkle a bit of kitty litter in front of each tire in order help you gain traction.  The next life hack is a little extension of this idea.  Also it may not be a bad idea to keep a small shovel in your car during the winter months to help dig you out of some tight spots when kitty litter just won’t do the job. As a last resort use the car’s floor mats to help you get traction. If you don’t have kitty litter, salt, or a shovel, you can take your car mats off the floor and lay them on the ground in front of the drive tires to gain traction.  This may damage your mats, so this should be used as a final resort. Stick your windshield wipers up off the glass to prevent ice from sticking to them. Anytime you are not using your car, pull the wiper blades up so they stick out perpendicular to the windshield.  This way they will not become frozen to the windshield if it were to snow.  This is great to do overnight or even when you’re parked all day at work.  Ice can damage your blades over time and could even scratch your windshield if you were to try to use the wipers with ice stuck to them. Ice-proof your car by misting a 3:1 mixture of distilled vinegar and water before a storm. This will prohibit ice from forming on any surface that you spray.  You will still have to clean the snow off, but at least there will be no ice underneath!  And if you forget to do this before the storm, you could spray the mixture directly onto your icy windows to melt the ice. Finally, don’t leave electronics in your car. The cold air will drain the battery without even using them.  If you usually keep your iPod in your car for music while driving; don’t.  The battery will almost surely be drained the next time you get in.  Especially don’t leave more expensive electronics in there like your laptop, tablet, or phone.  This may do more than drain the battery; it may actually have more lasting effects. Hopefully these cold weather life hacks will get you through the winter this year!

Since Halloween is upon us I thought I would put together a list of the biggest tricks and treats of the new 2015 automotive class.  All of these vehicles that made the cut are actually in stock at one of the Preston Automotive Group Dealers.  So after you're done reading, be sure to visit our website to find the treat with the coolest trick! Tricks The 2015 Hyundai Genesis is considered the best midsize car at its price point.  One of the coolest tricks this car has up its sleeve is the Automatic Emergency Braking.  This feature works slightly different depending on what speed you’re going.  The Genesis is able to apply full braking from 5-50 mph.  And from 50-112 mph it will apply partial braking and warn you of a possible collision with another car or even a pedestrian.  This is a neat safety trick that will, in theory, result in a lot less collisions. Certain 2015 Mazda’s are equipped with a trick that will regenerate power.  The Intelligent Energy Loop (i-ELOOP) is a brake energy regeneration system that converts a vehicle’s kinetic energy into electricity as the car decelerates.  Mazda has found a way to power headlights, AC/Heat, or your audio system with this stored energy.  This reduces the need for the engine to burn extra fuel in order to generate electricity, thus, improving fuel economy.  Mazda is estimating that i-ELOOP may bump up fuel efficiency by as much as 10 percent!  This i-ELOOP will be available on most Grand Touring models in the 2015 class of vehicles. Ford had a neat trick up their sleeve that they released on the 2013 Escape: A hands-free liftgate.  This simple trick makes life so much easier for all the times where your hands are full but you need to open up the hatch.  It is now possible in certain 2015 Ford Escape models to open the liftgate without using your hands.  It is a very simple life-hack but it can be extremely helpful. The last trick, but certainly not least, comes to us from Nissan Innovations.  Just this year Nissan came up with something called the Smart Rearview Mirror.  I think most people would agree that rearview mirrors are very nice to have – especially anyone who has ever driven a box truck that doesn’t have a rearview mirror.  Well, what if your rearview mirror was a mirror and a camera.  Check out this video for all the details, but basically here’s how it works.  Consider the times when your car is jam packed with people or gear.  This new technology will enable you to turn your plain, old mirror into a video monitor.  At the flick of a switch you can get the view from a camera located on the back of your vehicle.  It’s a very neat trick that enables you to see behind your car or truck no matter what is in the way.  This cool, new technology will be available on select 2015 vehicles, which have yet to been named. http://www.nissanusa.com/content/dam/nissan/innovation/article/smart-rearview-mirror/smart-rearview-mirror-video.mp4 Treats The 2015 Hyundai Genesis has some neat tricks but it is also one fantastic treat.  This completely redesigned luxury sedan is only celebrating its sixth anniversary this year, but it is proving to be stiff competition for other luxury brands such as Cadillac, Audi, and BMW.  Its 3.8-liter V6 engine is a treat because it is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission; making this car extremely desirable. Another treat here at the Preston Autoplex is the 2015 Mazda6.  This midsize sedan has tons of room and a sleek design. Its signature Skyactiv engine is one of the most efficient out there getting up to 38 mpg on the highway.  It also has tons of leg room for the driver and passengers.  All in all this new Mazda6 is a treat of a car to drive. One of the most anticipated cars on the market for 2015 comes from Ford, and that is the 2015 Mustang!  This car is such a treat it is considered the best Mustang in its 50 year history.  The new ‘Stangs have an aggressive design, with an exceptionally powerful engine.  Here at Preston Ford we will also be receiving eleven Roush Mustangs which will have even more horsepower than the 420 that the 5.0L puts out. Finally, but again certainly not least is the 2015 Nissan GT-R Black Edition that we have on our lot here at Preston Nissan in Hurlock, MD.  This speedster is easily the biggest treat we have in stock.  It is one of the best treats on the entire Eastern Shore so far.  It can go 0-60 in a mere 3.2 seconds, and gallops with an astounding 545 horses!  Those numbers are insane, which is why this sportster is such a Halloween treat.

Here in the Delmarva region we sure are excited about our sport’s teams.  The Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals are in the 2014 MLB Postseason.  The O’s are looking great after completing a 3-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers.  While the Nationals are unfortunately withering – on the brink of being swept themselves – even though we are hopeful of a comeback.  And of course we have the Ravens and Redskins in the middle of their NFL seasons.  What does it all add up to?  Primetime tailgating season. Now, to have a truly great tailgate you need certain things like music, a grill, coolers, food, beverages, folding table and chairs, and some friends to enjoy it with.  And in order to get all that stuff to the tailgate party, you’re going to need an SUV or Truck that can handle it.  Here at the Preston Autoplex we compiled a list of our top three tailgate worthy vehicles. We’ll start with #3 on our list: The 2015 Mazda CX-5.  This is a Crossover with tons of cargo room for a smaller SUV.  It has a large cargo capacity at 34.1 ft³ even with all the seats in place.  That is plenty of space for 5 people plus all the amenities for a top-notch tailgate.  We have tons of 2015 CX-5’s at Preston Mazda in Maryland. Coming in at #2 is the 2014 Ford Flex.  This wagon is long, seats seven, and is actually very stylish.  This vehicle is somewhat box-like; however, its square shape makes for optimized space.  For instance, where other SUVs or Wagons cut corners with curved edges, the Flex squares them off – adding some style and extra cubic feet.  With seven passengers you’ll have 20 ft³ of storage space – but if you wanted to leave some passengers at home in order to fit more gear, you could fold some seats down and utilize the maximum cargo capacity of 83.2 ft³!  In other words, you’ll have plenty of room. Finally, our #1 pick for best tailgate vehicle is the 2014 or 2015 Ford F-150.  Obviously any truck is going to be awesome for tailgating.  You can fit 5 passengers without worrying about where your stuff will fit.  The 2015 F-150 is even going to be better on fuel economy because of its lighter, aluminum body. Here at Preston Ford in Maryland we have nearly three hundred 2014 F-150’s in stock, with the 2015’s on the way!  We also have 2014 Flex’s in stock, which were #2 on our list.  So if you’re loving the success of the Orioles or Nationals, as well as the Ravens or Redskins, be sure to come out to the Preston Autoplex and check out a new vehicle to make you the king of tailgate season.

Several new laws went into effect in Maryland on October 1, 2014.  A couple of those laws will directly impact drivers in Maryland. The first one is referred to as Jake’s Law and it strengthens the penalties for distracted driving.  Anyone who texts or reads messages while driving and causes an accident that kills or seriously injures another will face up to a year in jail plus a $5,000 fine.  That will be in addition to any other violations you may get charged with such as involuntary man slaughter or reckless driving. This law was named after Jake Owen who was killed in a crash in 2011 by a driver who was talking on his cell phone and rear ended the parents’ car, killing the 5 year old boy who was in the back seat.  Its aim is to be an extension of the handheld device law that prohibits talking on your cell phone while driving. No matter how many laws are put into place, there will still be people that think they need to send that last message or make that quick phone call while driving.  Check out this powerful public service announcement regarding texting and driving. The other law concerning drivers in Maryland is an addendum to the Move-Over Law that is already in place.  You already know that you must move over or slow down for emergency vehicles on the side of the road.  That includes police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, etc.  And now you will have to move over for tow trucks as well.  This new law in will require all vehicles to move over into the next lane, or simply slow down if there is no lane to move into.  It's normally a common courtesy, but failure to comply will result in a minimum $100 fine or 1 point on your license. The common denominator between these two new laws is safety.  This is another step toward making our roadways safer here in Maryland and maybe even other states will follow our lead.  In the event you do get in an accident, trust Preston Automotive Towing to come get your vehicle and one of our three auto body shops to make the repairs at the best price around!

They say change is good right?  Well the same goes for the oil in your vehicle.  The fact is, motor oil is the lifeblood of your engine.  So, the best way to extend the life and fuel economy of your car, truck, or SUV is to have the oil changed regularly. The purpose of motor oil is to lube up the moving parts of the engine while keeping all the seals tight.  However, with the high temperature of the engine, the oil is put under great stress.  The thermal breakdown wears on the oil’s additives and lubrication.  When the lubrication wears down, parts of the engine may start to rub together.  The thermal breakdowns will also cause gaps to form in the various seals; this is where dirt and debris can sneak into the engine.  When you have your oil changed here at any Preston location, you will also get a new oil filter.  The filter works to keep the sludge from getting to your engine.  If it becomes clogged with too much gunk, it will decrease the amount of good oil that reaches your engine. These are all ways that unchanged oil could negatively affect the life of your vehicle.  So basically, the way to prevent all of this is to check your oil often and get it changed regularly.  We make that easy for you here at Preston Nissan and Mazda.  We have a deal so amazing it seems too good to be true – but it’s not!  Our Triple Play Oil Change gets you your first oil change for $19.95, your second for $12.95, and your third one is absolutely free!  The only stipulation is that they all have to be done within a year from your first one.  Which, if you are following the expert recommendations, you should be getting three or four oil changes per year anyway.  So, this deal is saving you money that you would otherwise have to spend no matter what.  Drop your car off today to start taking advantage of this great deal!

Mazda has recently been churning out great cars, and 2014 was no different.  Therefore, they have been busy all year accepting awards from various publications.  Two of their main sedans really cleaned up this year: The Mazda3 and the Mazda6. Every award that they won they actually shared.  For instance, the Mazda3 won Motor Trend’s “Big Test” Award, Car & Driver’s “10 Best” Award, and Road & Track’s “Best of Everything” Award.  The Mazda6 also won all three of those same awards!  The most recent one was awarded in June; however, that one did not go to both sedans.  The 3 won Automobile Magazine’s “All-Star” Award. The Big Test Award is a comparison award given out by Motor Trend.  It pits similar cars up against each other for multiple tests.  Mazda3 and Mazda6 defeated compact and mid-size sedans such as the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, and Chevy Malibu. Car & Driver has the “10 Best” Award, and that is obviously given to the ten best cars or sometime sets of cars.  In this instance, the 3 and 6 won it together.  To make the list, they both actually bullied their sibling off the list this year – the Miata. The last award they won together was the Best of Everything Award from Road & Track.  This is given out every year, and the 3 won it in the compact category, while the 6 won it in the mid-size category. The final award won by the Mazda3 was the All-Star Award from Automobile Magazine. The stylish 3 breathes new life into the crowded compact-car arena: it drives with even more poise than before, returns superb fuel economy, and has an interior that shames pricier cars. The 3 joins the likes of the Cadillac CTS and the BMW 3 Series with their win in this category. Here at Preston Mazda in Maryland, we have the 2014 Mazda3’s and Mazda6’s in stock if you’d like to come in for a test drive.  Also, for the remainder of September 2014 we are letting you pay what we pay!  That’s right employee pricing is as good as it gets for brand new cars, and until the end of the month every single car on the Preston Autoplex is priced to sell at employee pricing.

Vehicle recalls are something that happen more often than you might think, but owners may not always know their recalled vehicle needs to be repaired.  Just to be clear, I’m not referring to any major recalls like the Toyota sticking gas pedal incident or the Firestone tires on Ford SUV’s because of course those are recalls that everyone hears about on national news.  I’m talking about those smaller recalls that just about every car brand has at one time or another for things such as faulty airbags or switches for example.  So, it is just as important to know about the little recalls as it is to know about the larger ones because they are both threats to your safety.  And now there is any easy way to keep up on those threats with safercar.gov. Safercar.gov is a government website run by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA).  This site exists solely to inform consumers on everything to do with vehicle safety.  From recalls, to investigations, even to common complaints – safercar.gov is the catch-all site to ensure you and your family are safe in your vehicle. There are a couple ways to see if your car is on a recall list.  You could search as specifically as the VIN number or as general as the vehicle year, make, and model.  Regardless of how dependable your make of car usually is, everyone should take a look at this site anyway.  It’s fast, simple and you have nothing to lose except about thirty seconds of your time.  However, if you do end up finding something about your car involving a recalled item, then I’ll bet you’ll be glad you checked.  And even more than that, taking a couple seconds to check for your car could save your life or many others. If you got your car, truck, or SUV from Preston Automotive Group and it turns out to have a recall, no matter how small or large, you can be sure that one of our three auto body shops – in Preston, Snow Hill, or Cambridge – will be able to help get you in-and-out and safely back on the road.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau announced its Hot Wheels report last week, the bureau’s annual release of the ten most stolen vehicles in the United States. The list features a perfect split between import and domestic automakers, with Honda’s Accord and Civic cars topping the list. Full-size pickups made up a considerable chunk of the list, taking the Nos. 3, 4 and 6 spots. Two other Japanese automakers also made the list with two from Toyota and one from Nissan. The following lists include figures with total thefts based on data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Information Center. NICB’s 2013 Hot Wheels Top-Ten Most Stolen Cars in the U.S. Honda Accord (53,995) Honda Civic (45,001) Chevrolet Pickup, Full Size (27,809) Ford Pickup, Full Size (26,494) Toyota Camry (14,420) Dodge Pickup, Full Size (11,347) Dodge Caravan (10,911) Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee (9,272) Toyota Corolla (9,010) Nissan Altima (8,892) The report also included the top 10 model-year 2013 vehicles stolen in the same year. NICB’s 2013 Hot Wheels Top-Ten Most Stolen MY 2013s in 2013 in the U.S. Nissan Altima (810) Ford Fusion (793) Ford Pickup, Full Size (775) Toyota Corolla (669) Chevrolet Impala (654) Hyundai Elantra (541) Dodge Charger (536) Chevrolet Malibu (529) Chevrolet Cruze (499) Ford Focus (483)

There have recently been an abundance of vehicle recalls on many models.  You should know what to do in the case where your vehicle is recalled, or is recalled for a safety recall.  Recalls are happening more and more often.  In the year 2013 there were 632 recalls which impacted 22 million vehicles according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  In the year 2014 there have already been more than 120 recalls affecting nearly 13 million cars.  This means this year is on pace to break the previous record which was set ten years ago. Recalls are issued because the defect or possible defect might make the vehicle unsafe.  For any recall, defective parts are placed at no cost to the owner.  Engineering errors which can be both large and small can cause significant defect that can compromise the driver’s safety and require a recall.  These types of errors are usually on specific models produced during a specific period of time at the manufacturing plant. The most common defects include: Wiring or leaks that cause fire Accelerators that break suddenly Ineffective steering parts that may cause a loss of control Air bags that deploy late Faulty seat belts that break An official safety recall notice is sent to vehicle owners at risk.  These owners are typically identified through DMV records.  The notice explains the following things; the safety hazards that may result from the defect, how to fix the defect and eliminate the safety hazard, when the defect repair will be available and how long it will take to be completed, and who to contact in the case of difficulty. Remember that recalls are meant to protect you!  This doesn’t mean you purchased a lousy vehicle.  New vehicles are made with millions of moving parts and mistakes are bound to happen.  Even for the biggest automotive manufacturers, these recalls are meant to fix the wrong doings!  Ignoring a recall is not a good idea, as soon as you are notified you should try to get the recall fixed!