Be sure to check to see if a car you’re planning to buy has a recall issue

Photo: Ryan Hildebrand

If you’re going to buy a car, be sure to find out if it’s been part of a recall. Only 75 percent of vehicles involved in a recall are actually repaired, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Car dealers and other companies that sell cars may not let you know about recalled cars that haven’t had repairs made. 

A coalition of 35 attorneys general received $1 million from CarMax in a settlement Thursday for failing to disclose open safety recalls on their used vehicles to consumers before sales.

CarMax didn’t provide consumers with information about safety recalls on critical vehicle parts, such as brakes and fuel pumps, before selling vehicles.

“When someone buys a car, they need to know that it will keep them safe,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James.

To check for any open recalls on their vehicle, consumers can use this online tool.

Congratulations again to U.S. attorneys generals who took this action to protect the nation’s consumers.