Three U.S. senators filed a bill that would require car dealers to repair any outstanding safety recall on used cars before selling, leasing or loaning them to customers.
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward Markey (D-MA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) filed the bill.
“Whether a car is brand new or used, nobody should be at risk of purchasing an unsafe car,” Markey said in a press release. “And it doesn’t matter if a car is still on the lot or in a driveway, it needs to be made safe.”
The bill specifically addresses safety recalls. According to Blumenthal’s press release on the bill, manufacturers will be required to provide dealers with parts to make the necessary repairs within 60 days or reimburse the dealers.
The bill does provide exceptions, including recall information not being available at the time of the sale, vehicles being sold at wholesale and vehicles being sold as junk.
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report issued earlier this month, the agency issued 1,000 recalls for vehicles, car seats, tires, RVs and other equipment in 2023. Nearly 35 million vehicles were recalled in 2023.