New SIAM database lets you check if your vehicle was recalled

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has unveiled a new database that compiles information on voluntary manufacturer recalls in the country. Vinod Dasari, president of SIAM, announced recently at the body's 57th annual convention that the database is accessible to the general public and was created at the behest of the ministry of heavy industries, Government of India.

Hosted on SIAM’s website, the new database shows records of voluntary vehicle recalls by manufacturers since 2012 and includes details likemanufacturer and model names, and the manufacturing date of the recalled vehicles, along with a brief description of their respective faults. According to the database, a total of 26.61 lakh vehicles, comprising motorcycles, passenger and commercial vehicles, have been issued recalled notifications so far.

Recalls of defective vehicles by manufacturers in India have been on a voluntary basis for now, but this is expected to change soon, with the Lok Sabha passing new amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Act. When enacted as a law, it will mandates an automobile company to rectify any faults or defects observed in its vehicles. It will also provision that manufacturers of faulty vehicles, or those that do not meet required quality criteria, be penalised by up to Rs 100 crore.