New York City: First City to Ban Used Car Sales with Safety Recalls

New York City is not letting any used cars with safety recalls on its streets without the repairs made.  NYC is the first city to ban the sale of such used vehicles and is cracking down on used car dealerships that are attempting to do just that.  The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) announced last week that they are launching an investigation into all licensed used car dealerships in the metropolitan area regarding the sale of used vehicles with active safety recalls.

DCA Commissioner Julie Menin will not overlook the record-breaking number of recalls in 2014 and will hold used car dealers accountable, saying that “we’re not going to wait for tragic statistics to demand that dealers repair these ticking time bombs.”  Legislation regarding used vehicles and safety recalls may not be enacted yet, but the federal law is clear about the prohibition of selling new cars with recalled parts.   Yet Menin proclaims, “Consumers shouldn’t have to wait for new legislation, a court battle, or a tragedy, to know the car they bought is safe as required by law,” 

So far this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) lists approximately 37.5 million recalled vehicles in the U.S., beating the previous record of 30.8 million in 2004.