There are more than 63 million active vehicles with safety recalls, which is a 34 percent increase from 2016's numbers.
One in four vehicles on roads in the United States is operating with an unfixed safety recall, according to a recent Carfax study.
There are more than 63 million active vehicles with safety recalls, which is a 34 percent increase from 2016's numbers.
"Reducing the number of open recalls on the road is an ongoing effort," Larry Gamache, Carfax communications director, said in the report. "Safety is our number one concern. Carfax, manufacturers and government are working together to make it easier for drivers to get accurate information and timely alerts about open recalls.
"It may be inconvenient, but people driving recalled cars should make getting them fixed a high priority."
With a safety recall, the manufacturer first notifies the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, then a notice is sent to vehicle owners informing them to take the vehicle to a local dealership who generally makes the fixes free of charge.
Texas, Hawaii, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama are the five states, in that order, with the highest rates in the nation. California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania and New York are the states with the most open recalls on vehicles.
Carfax points to "family life" as a major contributing factor to the growing number of unfixed recalls, as minivans and SUVs are those most likely to operate with an open notice.
To search active recalls, use the NHTSA's website to search your 17-character VIN at this link. VIN numbers are typically located under the driver's side windshield, or along the inside of the doors behind the seat or under the steering wheel. To sign up for NHTSA safety alerts for a specific vehicle, sign up at this link.
One notable recall from 2016 was the ongoing Takata airbag recalls, which includes 19 automakers, 22 brands and more than 42 million vehicles. Almost 70 million air bag inflators are or will be under recall by 2019, in what some regulators have called the largest and most complex auto safety recall in U.S. history.
Some recent vehicle recalls: