Stericycle Expert Solutions Survey Shows Consumers Claim to Comply with Automotive Recalls at a Higher Rate than Figures Supplied by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 11, 2017 -- A recent consumer survey from Stericycle Expert Solutions found that a majority of Americans claim to take action when they receive automotive recall notices. But data from other industry sources suggests those consumers may believe they are more compliant than they actually are.

The survey1 of more than 1,100 Americans revealed that an astounding 87 percent of respondents say they act on automotive recall notices most or all of the time. Yet NHTSA, which tracks automotive recalls more precisely based on actual automobile Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), found that only 61.7 percent of recalled cars get repaired2, even after sending car owners multiple recall notices over 18 months.

"The results suggest a discrepancy between the good intentions of automobile owners and what they actually do when they receive a recall notice," said Wayne Mitchell, Director of Automotive Solutions, Stericycle Expert Solutions. "The lesson for automobile manufacturers is to explore new communication channels for reaching consumers and to provide more convenient options for them to respond."